One of the brand-new LGBTQ+ rainbow zebra crossings in Blackpool has been vandalised and has been sprayed with black paint. The crossing was defaced just 24 hours after it was given a multi-coloured makeover. Blackpool Council said the vandalism has been reported to Lancashire Police and a CCTV investigation is under way.
‘I just can’t get my head around it,’ said Blackpool Council’s Jane Hugo adding that it was ‘sad and disappointing’ that the crossing had been defaced, but stressed there had been far more positive responses to the rainbow designs than negative ones. She added, ‘It’s really sad that in this day and age people are having such negative feelings about it and then to physically go out and spray over the zebra crossing. This is something that we sought funding for to create a really safe, accepting area, so that when people come to Blackpool they know they can be safe.’
Councillor Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council said’ ‘We were disgusted and saddened to find that the new multi-coloured crossings have already been defaced. Inclusion and diversity is a key priority for the council. This sort of behaviour has no place in Blackpool and will not be tolerated. Rest assured we are accessing the CCTV in the area and we have reported it to the police.
The ‘Be Who You Want To Be’ project is a community led project initiated by the community in and around the Claremont area and is supported by Blackpool Council. The rainbow crossings are a small part of this project and were laid down after many discussions and engagement with the community. Those discussions told us that people want the area to look and feel better, brighter and want to start to build a sense of identity. This is now a key theme within the action plan.
This senseless and mindless act will not deter us and we will continue with delivering the action plan and support all those that want to be involved with it – I hope that is as many people in Blackpool as possible.
The crossings will be cleaned and we will continue to move forward to support the residents with their plans.’
The Council had previously said that the new thermoplastic rainbow zebra crossing graphics represent solidarity with Blackpool’s LGBTQ+ community.
Lytham St. Anne’s News reported on the installation of the Rainbow Zebra Crossings yesterday (Wednesday 20th March): https://www.lythamstannes.news/news/lgbtq-rainbows-appear-on-blackpool-zebra-crossings/
Central Radio have also reported this vandalism (see below):
