Britannia Hotels has responded to calls to restore Blackpool's Metropole Hotel 'to former glory' after nearly five years of being used as accommodation for asylum seekers. The Home Office confirmed last week that migrants currently staying at the seafront property have been given notice to leave in July.
MP Launches Petition for Tourist Revival
Blackpool South MP Chris Webb, a long-standing critic of the hotel's use for housing migrants, welcomed the news and has called for the locally-listed hotel to be restored as a tourist destination once the families depart. He has launched a petition to gather support, which is already gaining traction.
The Metropole, owned by Britannia Hotels Group, is one of Blackpool's grandest architecturally significant hotels and uniquely sits on the sea side of the famous tram tracks. Webb stated: 'The Metropole should never have lost its purpose as a tourist destination. No more wasted potential. No more excuses. If you care about Blackpool's future, take 30 seconds and sign my petition. I need your support.'
Britannia's Response
Britannia Hotels has now responded. A spokesperson said: 'We welcome constructive conversation regarding the future of The Metropole Hotel in Blackpool and fully understand the local interest in restoring this iconic hotel as a community asset. We are currently reviewing our options while giving due consideration to local perspectives, and we will share further updates with the community once a plan has been finalised.'
Former hotelier and StayBlackpool director Ian White praised the hotel group's work in the resort: 'I very much appreciate the immense effort the Britannia group has made across Blackpool and I trust the same ethos will follow at the Metropole once it is returned to the Britannia Group. With the end date stated as sometime in July, there must be a period of refurbishment before the rooms are returned to general holiday use.'
Concerns Over Bed Space Oversupply
White added: 'With Blackpool having such an extreme oversupply of holiday bed spaces we desperately need Chris Webb to deliver the promised Short Stay Accommodation registration scheme as a matter of urgency. It is appreciated this will take time to roll out in a way that it can deliver a credible scheme, plus clarity on the powers that will be provided to the council to protect the public from unfit, possibly dangerous properties.'
Webb has denied social media suggestions that migrants would move to another local hotel after leaving the Metropole, stating they would be sent to other locations on Serco sites across the country or in new-build military bases. The petition is available on his website.
