BLACKPOOL FIRE IN TALBOT SQUARE AND CLIFTON STREET

That this House expresses its dismay at the devastating fire which swept down Talbot Square on Clifton Street in the centre of Blackpool on 15 February 2009, gutting the historic 115 year old Yates' Wine Lodge and other buildings there, causing millions of pounds worth of damage and resulting in the tragic deaths of hundreds of animals in a pet shop which was destroyed; pays tribute to the bravery of nearly 100 Lancashire firefighters whose courage prevented the blaze spreading further, and the dedication of police, emergency and council support services during the fire and its aftermath; calls for the businesses affected to be fully supported and if necessary relocated as soon as possible with whatever support is necessary; and hopes it may yet be possible to save the iconic rotunda of Yates, loved by residents and visitors alike, and that renewal will take place in the spirit of Blackpool's ongoing regeneration.