#central drive

[blackpoolhistory]

Various aeriel views of the Central Train Station from the top of the Tower.

With the platforms & tracks removed the area was redeveloped with the addition of the towns main police station and courtrooms, the station survived as a Bingo hall for a few years until it was demolished to make way for the Coral Island amusement centre which opened in the late 1970's.

The area is once again under redevelopment.

The court & police buildings have all been demolished with a new purpose-built police headquarters located off Clifton Street and new court buildings are earmarked to be built on the site of the former Devonshire Road hospital.

[blackpoolhistory]

Step back in time almost 100 years to the junction of Bank Hey Street & Albert Road viewed from Central Drive.

The Central Train Station on the left which would later be demolished to eventually make way for the Coral Island amusements, and the buildings on the right would make way for a newly constructed Marks & Spencer store, which would eventually become a McDonald's restaurant.

The Clarke & Heap building in the center would make way for the Palatine Buildings which would house the Palace Nightclub until 2018 when demolition works began to make way for a modern glass structure that we have today.

[blackpoolhistory]

A view of the corner buildings at the junction of Central Drive and Chapel Street during three very different periods with the period photograph showing just how busy Blackpool used to be.

The entire area has been rundown since the 1980's and in more recent years it has seen an influx of immigrants populating this part of Central Drive.

Regeneration efforts are earmarked for the future but whether the council does a good job of that remains to be seen.

[blackpoolhistory]

A view of commercial properties on Central Drive from near the junction with Chapel Street.

[blackpoolhistory]

Junction of Waterloo Road, Central Drive and St. Annes Road, South Shore.

[blackpoolhistory]

Takeaway premises at the junction between Central Drive and Hull Road in 1958 and today's view.

[blackpoolhistory]

Small parade of shops on Central Drive, opposite Bethesda Square.

[blackpoolhistory]

A view up Central Drive from the 1970's with Princess Street in the background compared with today's grim view.