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RNLI Warns Blackpool Beach Defenses Pose Life Risk
17 Apr
Summary
- RNLI formally objects to Blackpool's £57m beach scheme.
- Rock groynes deemed a significant safety risk by RNLI.
- Council insists groynes are vital for coastal protection.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has formally objected to a £57 million beach management scheme proposed by Blackpool Council. The charity warns that the planned construction of 17 rock groynes poses a significant safety risk to beachgoers and the lifeboat crews themselves.
The RNLI claims that crucial safety concerns, raised during consultations, have been ignored by the council since July 2025. They argue the groynes could impede rescue operations and increase risks for vessels, particularly those unfamiliar with the local waters.
Blackpool Council, however, asserts that the rock groynes are vital for protecting over 6,000 homes and businesses from coastal erosion and flooding. The council has engaged maritime experts to develop safety protocols for rescue operations around the groynes, emphasizing their effectiveness in coastal defense strategies used nationwide.