Despite the fact that we are currently in incredibly uncertain times the latest report of the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Economic Prosperity Board (BFWEPB) has given assurances that they remain committed towards bidding for government funding toward a feasibility study on the plans to construct a Fylde Coast Tram loop. Funding through the Future High Street Fund (FHSF) is likely to be delayed in light of the Coronavirus pandemic but all three councils who are part of the BFWEPB are still progressing with their bids.
As we’ve previously mentioned the overall plan for the Fylde Coast Tram loop could see trams running across the Fylde Coast including not only the current Blackpool Tramway but also the Network Rail line to Lytham, St Annes, Kirkham and Wsham and Poulton-le-Fylde before using the old railway line from there to Fleetwood. Before detailed plans and a business case can be put together a feasibility study needs to be undertaken and it is this that each Council is pledging to bid for £800,000 to achieve.
The three councils – Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre – are at different stages of their bids with Wyre in the first phase and so they need to submit a draft bid by the end of January and a full bid by the end of April, although this has now been extended to June. Both Blackpool and Fylde are at a later stage and were due to submit draft bids by 16th March and full bids by 30th June but this can now be delayed until 31st July.
Each bid contains a £800,000 bid for resources to support a comprehensive feasibility study and outline business case to provide a sufficiently developed preferred option, which could then be implemented if future funding did become available.
Wyre Council have received feedback to their bid but this included no mention whatsoever of the Fylde Coast Tram Loop line which could either be seen as a good or a bad sign, but in these times you just don’t know!
The plan does remain current but it is almost inevitable that there will be delays to discovering whether the feasibility study funding is successful as with other funding priorities now out there it could be that this fund cannot release as much as had been hoped for.