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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Blackpool deckchairs folded away by council | Blackpool deckchairs folded away by council |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Blackpool has sold off one of the traditional sights of the British seaside - its deckchairs. | Blackpool has sold off one of the traditional sights of the British seaside - its deckchairs. |
| The resort's council said its 6,000 chairs had been mothballed for the past three years. | The resort's council said its 6,000 chairs had been mothballed for the past three years. |
| It said holidaymakers would rather sit on the benches on its remodelled seafront. | It said holidaymakers would rather sit on the benches on its remodelled seafront. |
| The stock has been sold to Cheshire company Deckchairstripes which will be hiring out the refurbished chairs elsewhere. | The stock has been sold to Cheshire company Deckchairstripes which will be hiring out the refurbished chairs elsewhere. |
| Graham Cain, Blackpool council cabinet member for tourism said: "For decades the deckchairs were a familiar sight along Blackpool's seafront. | Graham Cain, Blackpool council cabinet member for tourism said: "For decades the deckchairs were a familiar sight along Blackpool's seafront. |
| "However, over time they were used less and less until the service ceased in 2011. | "However, over time they were used less and less until the service ceased in 2011. |
| "The new design of the seafront means that people have more places to sit than previously. | "The new design of the seafront means that people have more places to sit than previously. |
| "We found that the majority of people would sit on the new benches or the Spanish steps and there was no longer a demand for the deckchairs." | "We found that the majority of people would sit on the new benches or the Spanish steps and there was no longer a demand for the deckchairs." |
| 'Empty place' | 'Empty place' |
| Claire Smith, president of StayBlackpool, which represents the resort's hoteliers, said: " I would love them to come back - bucket and spades, donkey rides and deckchairs are part of the British seaside. | Claire Smith, president of StayBlackpool, which represents the resort's hoteliers, said: " I would love them to come back - bucket and spades, donkey rides and deckchairs are part of the British seaside. |
| "You don't know if people are going to use them unless they are available." | "You don't know if people are going to use them unless they are available." |
| Local writer and former deckchair attendant Barry McCann said: "The promenade will seem an empty place without them. | Local writer and former deckchair attendant Barry McCann said: "The promenade will seem an empty place without them. |
| "I'll also miss the fantastic suntans I used to get when working as a deckie." | "I'll also miss the fantastic suntans I used to get when working as a deckie." |
| The current stock of council-owned chairs was bought in the 1970s. | The current stock of council-owned chairs was bought in the 1970s. |
| 'Out of date' | |
| However, their future has looked precarious for the past 10 years. | |
| Some councillors first called for their scrapping in 2004 arguing they were out of date. | |
| In addition to buying the chairs, Deckchairstripes bought 1,000 windbreaks and 120 ticket machines. It will spend £25,000 on refurbishment. | |
| The chairs are to be marketed as "Blackpool's iconic" deckchairs for weddings, festivals, outdoor concerts and other events. | |
| Blackpool's deckchairs have featured on TV programmes such as Downton Abbey. | |
| Other councils around the country still hire deckchairs to holidaymakers. | |
| Scarborough Council owns chairs in Whitby, Filey and South Bay at Scarborough, while Bridlington's are owned by East Riding Council. | |
| On the south coast Eastbourne has council-owned chairs. The deckchairs in Brighton, Margate and Broadstairs are in private hands. |