Blackpool: Beachgoers enjoy summer sun in 2022
Blackpool is one of the most iconic seaside resorts in Britain.
The Lancashire coastal town is known for its illuminations, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and of course the tower.
The town continues to attract tens of thousands of visitors a year, with many coming to enjoy its beach, attractions or just a night out.
However there’s another side to the resort that many of those enjoying a weekend away or a stag party might not notice.
And that is that life for many of those who actually call the town home may go downhill rapidly after 40.
Thousands visit Blackpool every year (Image: Getty)
The Lancashire town faces issues with frailty (Image: Getty)
Drug and alcohol misuse are major factors in people becoming frail early, with concerns raised earlier this week by a council health chief.
Karen Smith, director of adult social services at Blackpool Council, said: “In Blackpool frailty starts in the mid-forties for a lot of our population who have drug and alcohol problems, and major issues with their relationships and housing.”
Stuart Kirk, who works in mental health, often visits Blackpool as part of his job and he believes deprivation plays a role - and that the town isn’t the only Lancashire seaside town affected.
Speaking to LancashireLive, the 52-year-old said: "I think there is a lot of ill-health in these seaside towns, because Morecambe is one as well, where there is a lot of deprivation.
"That does obviously have an effect on people's health in both of them really, in Morecambe and Blackpool, they're very similar.
Stuart Kirk believes Blackpool isn't the only seaside town facing problems (Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)
“They get a lot of people who are on unemployment benefit and they get put in certain areas and you do see a lot of ill-health.
"Unfortunately and not stigmatising anyone on benefits, but a lot of their money sometimes goes on to cigarettes and alcohol and drugs. It is a well-known fact that unfortunately, people do turn to them."
Stuart added peer pressure was also a contributing factor. He said: "A lot of peer pressure, because if kids are being brought up around that sort of lifestyle, they do unfortunately fall into that kind of lifestyle themselves.
"It's life limiting for them as well - drugs, alcohol and smoking. I mean, we know that it does reduce your lifespan by a substantial amount. We find that in mental health as well, a lot of our mental health patients are dual-diagnosis.
"So they might have schizophrenia, but it's also linked to alcohol, drug use, smoking as well. It does go hand-in-hand.”
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Jo believes the seasonal nature of many jobs in the town may be a factor (Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live))
Linda Wright and Jo Joseph have both lived in Blackpool for most of their lives and believe people in the town are experiencing more ill-health compared to wealthier parts of the country.
Linda, aged 50, said: "Based on our age, everything's sort of going downhill isn't it?”
Jo, also aged 50, added: "There's a lot of alcohol and drug abuse in Blackpool as well and I think there is a lot more people on the poverty line. I've just done a nursing course, so we've just kind of gone down that route.
"It is massive, Blackpool does come high on the list for that."
Jo also believes the town’s job market and the nature of the tourist industry may also be factors.
She said: "It's a seaside town so it's seasonal isn't it? Apart from obviously, your main shops, a lot of the work is seasonal. So it's job wise as well."
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However not everyone agrees with the assessment that the town has a particular issue. Karen Gilliard works in retail and says she sees people of different age groups everyday.
She said: "I've just turned 50 and I'm fit as a butcher's dog."
"The ill-health around here is drugs and drink. The amount of people that are going into work, with cans of beer in their hand and working."
Some holidaymakers who have noticed the plight of some in the town believe the lack of things to do in the town may lead to people looking for escapism elsewhere.
A 74-year-old mum from Scotland on holiday with her daughter said: "If the weather isn't right, there's nothing to do. Unless you're going to clubs, or unless there's entertainment in your hotel. What is there for a particular age?
"There isn't anything for my age. We went bowling yesterday, I haven't been bowling since I was 18."
Her daughter added: "People are struggling. People are struggling, you can see it, the homeless and the unemployment."
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