Keep on digging

No this is not a reference to the current craze for growing one's own fruit and veg. And boy, oh boy is my local independent garden centre (the Plant Place) doing a roaring trade in plant plugs to get the gardener on her way.

I am of course referring to the landscaping of Blackpool town centre. Whilst there is never a right time to dig up the road, divert the traffic and create mayhem, with the increase of domestic visitors to our seaside resorts due to the Credit Crunch, parts of Blackpool could be looking a little better.

The area in front of the iconic Winter Gardens is having a new surface laid - and good it looks too - but it better be ready soon, what with Her Majesty visiting for the Royal Variety Performance in December. Yes the Opera House, located within the Winter Gardens hosts this year's event. And the council have taken advantage to showcase the world famous Illuminations to Her Majesty when she comes.

So Blackpool is fighting back. The opening of the revamped and expanded Houndshill Shopping Centre has brought new retailers to the town yet has seen a shift in the gravity of the town centre as retailers relocated into the new centre. This will create a new set of challenges in avoiding long term vacancies.

Having managed a large store in Blackpool (way back in the last century as I am wont to say to my students) it is great to see some long overdue improvements to the town centre.