Build me a venue worthy of Preston, government told by city

But can Preston and Blackpool both secure new venues?

Hello and welcome to The Lancashire Lead.

Today we report the latest on a widely-backed petition - both from the public and public figures - to support the building of a brand new venue in a city that has been without one for too long.

Preston has The Ferret, New Continental, Vinyl Tap and loads more doing cool things - but for touring artists that might attract thousands to the city centre, there is nowhere.

But the fact remains that both Preston and Blackpool are on the hunt for a new venue - and it seems unlikely that both will get what they want.

It was backed in December 2024 that we exclusively reported Preston City Council was looking at the idea of a new venue - specifically an arena - to replace Preston Guild Hall.

We’ve also covered the idea that this places Blackpool and Preston into competition.

You can see the petition here.

Lancashire briefing

⚡ More than 30 villages and towns in rural parts of Lancashire are set to receive faster broadband as part of a government-backed upgrade. Project Gigabit will see more reliable, full-fibre connections installed in dozens of ‘hard-to-reach’ areas in the county that might otherwise have been left behind. The move – part of a nationwide initiative – has been welcomed by one Lancashire business group, which described it as “essential” for firms based in places that have traditionally struggled with slow internet. The government says what it describes as a “once-in-a-generation” improvement will not only boost businesses, but also enable households to connect multiple devices at gigabit-capable speeds. The scheme is being delivered by Openreach and is expected to next arrive in: Bashall Eaves, Belmont, Blacko, Briercliffe, Clayton-le-Dale, Clitheroe, Great Harwood, Hesketh Bank, Holcombe, Hundred End, Hutton, Inskip, Longton, Mere Brow, Nateby, Oswaldtwistle, Pendleton, Pleasington, Scarisbrick, Scorton, Southfield, Tarleton, Tockholes, Turton, Waddington, West Bradford, Whalley, Whalley Banks and Whittle‑le‑Woods – as well as the rural fringes of Leyland and Ormskirk.

🎥 The ODEON cinema chain says it has no plans to close its Preston multiplex – in spite of a proposal emerging to turn it into a self-storage facility. A planning application has been lodged with Preston City Council for the conversion of the Port Way venue – near the city’s docks – which has been in operation since 1990. Permission for the change of use has been sought by the site’s landowner to prevent the plot from standing empty should the 10-screen cinema be vacated at some point in the future. However, documents submitted to town hall planners on behalf of the unnamed applicant stress “for absolute clarity” that the current occupiers of the premises “have not advised…of any intention to cease operating the building as a cinema”.

🍎 New ideas to spend more cash on Clitheroe Market will be looked at by Ribble Valley councillors. Better guidance for visitors around the town, greenery to enhance ‘stark’ areas and a ‘road train’ for tourists, are all on the cards for investment. Other ideas include new roller doors for market traders’ cabins, a ‘living wall’ of plants, and paying experts for a study on better walking and cycling routes. Councillors on Ribble Valley’s Health & Housing Committee will look at different ideas this month. Previous market improvements have already been made including new stalls in the bull ring area, new canopies on large cabins and upgrades to paving, lighting and toilets. But more council money has been earmarked and a new report for the committee includes further recommendations from the council’s Market Working Group. Early recommendations include new planters, possibly looked after by Clitheroe Civic Society, new bins and a bench, costing a total estimated £8,600. The working group said the market is ‘very stark’ and needs greenery.

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Build me a venue worthy of Preston, government told by city

Preston Guild Hall.

By Luke Beardsworth

Over 2,000 people have signed a petition urging the UK government to give Preston the major venue that it deserves.

The Blog Preston petition was launched last week and encourages Lisa Nandy, Labour’s Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, to provide the tools, resources and support to Preston City Council to be able to give Preston a modern venue to replace (or help with rebuilding) Preston Guild Hall.

Preston Guild Hall has been closed since May 2019 due to a mixture of legal wranglings with its late former owner Simon Rigby and the suspected presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in some sections of the buildings roof.

The petition states: “For our children, for all our communities, for our nightlife, for our city centre businesses, for the hospitality industry, for our creative sector, for our bands, for our comedians, for our panto performers, for our dance groups - heck - even for the election counts and nights in there!

“We’re not interested in how we got here with the Guild Hall, we are interested in how we move forward.”

That petition came after Preston City Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Martyn Rawlinson, said that the council would pursue a “twin-track” approach for the next 12 months of assessing renovation costs for the existing building – including a new roof – while also exploring whether funding could be raised for a brand new attraction.

The authority has been quoted figures of £60m-£100m for a new-build scheme. It says that, either way, the aim is for an operational venue to be in place in time for the Preston Guild celebrations in 2032, or even sooner.

The Blackpool question

The idea that both Preston and Blackpool are delivered a brand new venue in the next decade is fanciful at best. The cynics among us would be tempted to say ‘neither’ was the most likely outcome.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has made calls for a ‘world-class’ arena to be built at the site of Blackpool Central and has been doing so since his by-election victory in 2024.

Much like in Preston, he believes Blackpool has a void that needs filling and that it could have a transformational impact on the town.

But news this week perhaps leaves the door ajar for Preston.