Transforming Cities Fund a big opportunity for the Fylde Coast. The Department for Transport is calling for applications from local authorities regarding their new Transforming Cities Fund. The fund is primarily aimed at improving transport links within urban regions. Although Blackpool and the Fylde Coast is not technically a city region, Trams to Lytham's correspondence with the DfT regarding eligibility indicated that because the term 'city' is widely contested, any urban region above or around a population of 200,000 would be eligible. The wider Blackpool Urban area (inc. parts of Wyre and Fylde) easily passes this number. Naturally this presents a huge opportunity to invest in Blackpool's Tramway, and at the first meeting of the newly-formed Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Economic Prosperity Board, the following was agreed: "The EPB discussed the submission of a bid for funding under the Transforming Cities Fund for potential extensions of the light rail/ tram system and agreed that the Growth and Prosperity Programme Director, Blackpool Council take the lead in consulting with Lancashire County Council (LCC) on a Fylde Coast funding bid linked, if possible with LCC." This chance must be seized by all involved parties, and may well be an open door to delivering the light rail project that the people of the Fylde Coast want and deserve. Trams to Lytham strongly believe a funding application MUST be submitted for the extension of trams to South Fylde before the deadline of June 8. This so far one of the most critical junctures in our campaign, because if an application is successful, the process may be accelerated by a factor of many years. We need our supporters to contact the various local authorities, saying exactly why an application for this project would benefit the region. Please email one or more of the following regarding this issue as soon as possible: customer.first@blackpool.gov.uk listening@fylde.gov.uk enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk Thank you for your tremendous support so far and we hope, with your help, this could be a major turning point. Please share this post. Read about the fund here: http://democracy.blackpool.gov.uk/documents/s35462/Item%208%20-%20Transforming%20Cities%20Fund.pdf