Richard Hunt

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is consulting 144 managerial staff about moving employees on pay bands 6 to 8 down one grade, potentially reducing salaries, to save about £500,000. The Managers in Partnership union says the plan would have little financial benefit while damaging morale and potentially undermining patient safety and service delivery. Chief executive Maggie Oldham says only a small number of staff are expected to be affected and that no decision will be made until the consultation, which ends on 30 August, has concluded.

Chris Webb, MP for Blackpool South, expressed continued hope for reviving Blackpool Airport, though he acknowledged that commercial passenger services are not currently viable. Airlines, including Jet2, have shown no interest in returning. The airport, owned by Blackpool Council, has operated only general aviation, training, and offshore helicopter services since commercial operations ceased in 2014 following financial difficulties. A London-based businessman plans to launch a small airline within two years and wants to include Blackpool, but says improved facilities would be required to make operations feasible.