Diversion and public transport changes ahead of Promenade closures

Scenes for the upcoming feature film, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, which is being directed by superstar director and self-confessed lover of Blackpool, Tim Burton, are being shot in the resort next week.

The nature of the filming means the Promenade will be closed between 9:30am on Tuesday May 5 until Saturday May 9 at 8am between Church Street and Adelaide Street West.

The sections of Promenade between Chapel Street to Adelaide Street West and Talbot Road to Church will also be restricted to buses and taxis only (apart from access for servicing of premises).

The diversion route for traffic during the Promenade closure will be:

Northbound

Promenade, Chapel Street, Central Drive, Albert Road, Regent Road, Cookson Street, Talbot Road, Promenade.

Southbound

Promenade, Pleasant Street, Dickson Road, Springfield Road, High Street, Talbot Road, Buchanan Street, George Street, Grosvenor Street, Church Street, Park Road, Reads Avenue, Central Drive, Chapel Street, Promenade.

As part of the filming, technical vehicles will park inside special compounds within the set area as well as on Adelaide Street West, Victoria Street and Foxhall Village coach and car park while taxi ranks in front of the Tower are suspended.

There will also be significant changes to public transport with both trams and buses affected.

With open air filming taking place, the crew are in the hands of the British weather and, with favourable conditions, filming will be wrapped up within the proposed timescale.

However, if weather does not allow completion of the project, a further road closure, with the same specifications, could run into the following week with backup filming days scheduled between Monday May 11 9:30am and Saturday May 16at 8am.

There will also be two further Promenade closures on Sunday May 10.

The Promenade will close between Gynn Square and Burlington Road West between 8am and 1pm for the annual Beaverbrooks 10K fun run.

After this event, the road will also remain closed from 1pm to 4pm between Talbot Road and Watson Road for the fire service to carry out an operational test.

Alan Cavill, Blackpool Council’s Director of Place, said: “The decision to allow closures of part of the Promenade have not been taken lightly.

We understand that, as well as being an attractive area for people and tourists to flock to; it is also an important commuter route and a key road for local people.

“We also appreciate that many people use the trams and bus routes on the Promenade and will have to use alternatives or diversions for a short period.

“However, we believe the benefits by far outweigh the negatives.

”The positive association with what, it is hoped, will be a blockbuster Hollywood feature film will bring exposure and publicity to the town that money simply cannot buy.

“This could help us to attract significant investment.

“Meanwhile, the presence of a huge crew and cast will provide an economic boost worth more than a million pounds over the next few weeks making it an amazing opportunity for the town that we simply could not refuse.

“We appreciate the closure will cause difficulties for a short period for some people in terms of transportation and commuting and we apologise for the inconvenience.”

TRAMWAY INFORMATION

Wednesday May 6 – Friday May 8 (subject to filming being completed on time)

The first two trams from Starr Gate at 5am and 5.30am will operate to Fleetwood.

From 6am to 3pm, the service will split into North and South services with the North service operating between North Pier and Fleetwood and the South service operating between Starr Gate and Rigby Road.

Services will resume normal schedules in the afternoon with the first tram from Fleetwood to Starr Gate leaving Fleetwood at 2:27pm while the first tram the opposite way will set off from Starr Gate at 3pm.

During the closure, through ticketing will not be available but Blackpool1 Tickets can be used on Blackpool Transport buses and trams for onward travel.

BUS INFORMATION

Tuesday May 5 to Saturday May 9 (subject to filming being completed on time)

All buses will continue to serve the main town centre stops in Market Street, Clifton Street and Abingdon Street using diversions.

A temporary stop will be sited outside Argos for Northbound services.

BUS DIVERSIONS

Service 1 South: normal route to Talbot Sq, Talbot Rd, Cookson St, George St, Grosvenor St, Park Rd, Reads Ave, Central Drive, Rigby Rd (stop outside Transport Offices) to Man Sq/Promenade and normal route.

Service 1 North: Normal route to Manchester Sq, Rigby Rd- Central Drive, Albert Rd, Regent Rd, Cookson St, Talbot Rd to North Pier and then normal route.

Service 2/2C To Town Centre: normal route to Church St then via St Johns Sq, (temporary stop outside the Coop, Abingdon St) Talbot Rd, Market St, Corporation St.

Service 2/2C: To Poulton and Knott End – normal route

Service 3 and to Mereside Tesco: Normal route using normal stop on Abingdon Street

Service 3 and 4 to Cleveleys: Normal route to Church St then via St Johns Square,

(temporary stop outside the Coop, Abingdon St) Abingdon St, Talbot Rd and normal route.

Service 5 to Halfway House: Normal route to Market St, Church St, Corporation St, Talbot Rd (right at Ramsden Arms) George St, Grosvenor St, Park Rd, Reads Ave to Central Drive and normal route.

Service 5 to Victoria Hospital: Normal route to Central Drive then via Albert Rd, Regent Rd, Church St, St Johns Sq, Abingdon St, Talbot Rd and then to normal route.

Services 7 and 14 Southbound: Normal route to Market St then via Church St, Corporation St, Talbot Rd, George St, Grosvenor St, Park Rd, Reads Avenue to Central Drive and normal route.

Services 7 and 14 Northbound: Normal route to Central Drive then via Albert Rd, Regent Rd, Cookson St, Talbot Rd, Clifton St to normal route.

Service 9: normal route

Services 10 and 17 to Town Centre:- Normal route to New Bonny Street and Promenade then Adelaide St West where they will terminate.

Service 17 will use the bus stop at TKMaxx. Service 10 will use the 5 & 7 bus stop.

Service 10+17: Southbound: Normal route from TKMaxx.

Service 11 to Lytham: Normal route to Church St then via St Johns Sq, (temporary stop outside the Coop, Abingdon Street) Talbot Rd, Market St, Church St, Corporation St, Talbot Rd, Cookson St, Grosvenor St, Park Rd, Reads Ave, Central Drive, Rigby Rd to traffic lights turn left onto Lytham Rd and normal route

Service 11 to Grange Park: Normal route to Lytham Rd then via Tyldesley Rd, Rigby Rd, Central Drive, Albert Rd, Regent Rd, Cookson St, Talbot Rd, Clifton St to normal route.

Service 16 to North Station: normal route to Church St then via St Johns Sq, Abingdon St, Talbot Rd to North Station.

Service 16 to Poulton:  Normal route