TOURISM chiefs in Blackpool had 20 million reasons to be cheerful yesterday (August 2) as the resort received the full amount of its bid for Single Regeneration Budget money.

The Blackpool Challenge Partnership is overjoyed at the news from the North West Development Agency that the town will receive a total of £20 million funding from the Government. This means a seven-year programme of investment can begin which, it is hoped, will once again make Blackpool the UK's premier seaside resort.

And the investment will draw in a further £50 million from the private sector and £23 million from the public sector over the next seven years.

Alan Cavill, manager of the Blackpool Challenge Partnership, said he was over the moon at the news, which means that a proposed multi million-pound conference centre on the site of the old Central Station could finally become a reality.

Alan said: "The announcement of funding is a big hurdle to get over, but there are several more stages yet, like planning permission and site assembly."

He also pointed out that the conference centre itself would not make a lot of money, but the secondary income from Blackpool's shops and hotels would, so investment was needed in those areas too. However, he went on to say that in the first year the funding would concentrate on the community rather than tourism, making Blackpool a better place for residents first and foremost. This could mean the preservation of more than 2,000 jobs, a severe crackdown on crime and more community learning centres.

As well as the conference centre, other plans in the pipeline to benefit tourism include a makeover of the Tower, a new grading system for accommodation and a special tourism 'centre of excellence' for training and skills development.

Alan said: "We made a strong, solid case and this has obviously been recognised.

"Now we have six months to prepare a delivery plan for how the money will be used over the next seven years."

Gordon Marsden, MP for Blackpool South, said: "I'm delighted that Blackpool has won this money as I have been lobbying since the start.

"Every credit to the council, the Challenge Partnership and all the private companies involved -- it will benefit residents and also help revive and regenerate the town's appeal to tourists."