Residents in the seaside town of Blyth have warned a £90million investment into their home is being squandered as their high street “wastes away”.
Locals in the coastal Northumberland town had been handed an eight-figure funding drive by the former Conservative Government some years ago.
But despite the significant investment, they now feel “forgotten” – and could spark a political shockwave as a result.
The construction of a new cinema complex in Blyth as part of a “Culture Hub” has become a lightning rod for criticism, with many questioning the priorities behind the town’s regeneration efforts.
“Blyth has been given money, but it’s mismanaged,” one resident told The Sun.
The controversial Culture Hub project includes three cinema screens, a cafe, and an events space for cultural activities.
The controversial Culture Hub project includes three cinema screens, a cafe, and an events space for cultural activities
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL
Locals in the coastal Northumberland town had been handed an eight-figure funding drive some years ago
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“They’re building a cinema in the centre, but why? There used to be four cinemas in Blyth and they all closed,” said another local.
“We need shops, a thriving market. Not three cinema screens,” they added.
The project comes after the town’s Keel Row Shopping Centre was demolished last year.
The Red Wall town has suffered a series of economic blows over decades, including the closure of shipyards and coal mines.
In 2019, Blyth elected its first Tory MP since the seat was created in 1950.
Then last year, Labour veteran Ian Lavery claimed the seat after the constituency merged with neighbouring Ashington.
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‘We need shops, a thriving market. Not three cinema screens,’ one local said
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Now, many voters are considering switching to Reform UK in the upcoming local elections.
“I’m only voting for Reform because I’m sick of Labour and the Conservatives,” said Robert Millican, 42.
“The biggest issues in Blyth are shoplifting and drug abuse, and there are no resources to tackle them,” he explained.
Millican also lamented how his town had become “plagued” by heroin problems – with drug addicts begging outside its Morrisons.
“It’s almost lawless. The staff in stores are terrified half the time,” he added.
The once bustling town centre is now filled with vape shops, charity shops and boarded-up premises.
“It’s awful. It started to decline in the 90s. Before that, it had a thriving market, but there’s nothing here now,” said Mary Baxter, 72.
‘I’m only voting for Reform because I’m sick of Labour and the Conservatives,’ 42-year-old Robert Millican said
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Blyth was given hope when plans for an electric car battery plant were laid out in 2020 – but the facility was later scrapped
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In 2020, Blyth was given hope when plans for an electric car battery plant were announced, promising 8,000 jobs.
However, the project was scrapped after Britishvolt hit financial difficulties and sold the land to US investment firm Blackstone.
The site will now become an AI data centre, but residents fear it won’t create as many jobs.
“Local people won’t get those jobs, they will be bringing their own people over because it’s specialist work,” Millican warned.
Glen Sanderson, the leader of Northumberland County Council, defended the investments, telling The Sun that Blyth “is becoming a hive of activity and renaissance.”
He highlighted the importance of the Port of Blyth to the North East, pointed to the £10billion Data Centre campus investment as “the largest ever seen in the county”, and hailed the reopening of the Northumberland Line railway, claiming around 250,000 journeys have been taken in just five months.
