New tech driving Blackpool Illuminations

The schemes were included in an annual report updating the council’s tourism, economy and communities scrutiny committee on progress at the Illuminations department which has an annual budget of £1.7m.

A bid for £4m to modernise the Illuminations was included in the Town Deal, with a total of £39.5m handed to Blackpool by the Government.

The total is around £10m less than the bid, meaning there will be less money available than the £4m asked for.

But the council’s head of tourism Philip Welsh said the investment would be spent on rebuilding infrastructure and bringing something fresh to the annual display.

He said this was an “opportunity to do something different” which includes “working with high calibre artists around installations.”

Other investment this year includes the acquisition of a robotic cutting arm and 3D printing equipment to use in the manufacture of new features.

The commercial arm of the Illuminations department has also successfully carried out a number of contracts to supply features for lights displays in other towns.

A business development manager has been appointed to seek out commercial opportunities, and this year’s target of raising £168,000 from sponsorship, advertising and donations has been reached.

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