A business leader credited with the revival of a Merseyside seaside town has announced his intention to step back after nearly eight years of involvement.
Dan Davies has been instrumental in the transformation of New Brighton, having invested millions from the sale of his company, CPL Training Group, into revitalising Victoria Road with the acquisition of pubs and shops. Previously described as desolate, the road is now bustling with popular bars, eateries, and various businesses.
The rejuvenated area is often likened to Liverpool's Lark Lane and has served as a launchpad for bands such as the Mysterines. In contrast to the decline seen on many high streets, Victoria Road is perceived as showing the way for other high streets, reports .
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Reflecting on the journey, Mr Davies said the creation of Rockpoint Leisure was aimed at community-level regeneration, supporting independent ventures and commissioning artists for murals that now adorn the resort. He said: "We wanted to create an ecosystem that attracted talent, retained talent, and championed independent businesses."
Mr Davies, who has also chaired the Institute of Licensing and addressed Parliament on the future of seaside towns, added: "You can't regenerate a place behind a desk; you can't regenerate a place remotely. This wasn't about me running a few businesses.
"This was trying to change the fortunes of the place I grew up in, and it used to p*** me off every time I came back from London seeing it go down and down. Seven and a half years later, it's working.
"100% of the road is occupied, and you have only got to look at pictures from seven years ago and now to see the difference."
He added: "New Brighton is doing a damn sight better now than it would have done if we hadn't intervened. I think a lot of this road would be completely gone forever. Half of it had already gone.
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"High streets have been in terminal decline for a long time. You've only got to drive from where we are now to Wallasey Town Hall, and you will see what happens when you don't have a plan, when there's no placemaking, and there's no thought.
"You then get a mismatch of shops and boarding up frontages that have been turned into residential, often poor quality. It's not just around here; it's the length and breadth of the country."
Mr Davies is looking to step back from his venture that he started in 2017. Though he said there was no risk of liquidation, the Liverpool Echo recently reported on legal action brought by HMRC against Rockpoint Leisure over unpaid taxes.
Following a tumultuous period marked by the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on businesses, the cost of living crisis, a cancer diagnosis in 2022, and recent issues with HMRC, Mr Davies has made the difficult decision to step back. The past few years have taken a toll on him personally, as he told the Echo: "I have come to a very hard decision that I have taken New Brighton with what I've got as far as I can at this moment.
"I have put my house on the market, and what I have been doing over the last few years is selling everything I can personally to prop this up. I am running out of things to sell."
His plans include selling several assets, such as properties on Victoria Road, and he has already cashed in his pension.
He said: "I will always champion New Brighton.
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"I will never not fight for New Brighton, but the reality is I need to pass the baton on and give the opportunity for the people who live in New Brighton, the people who think it's worth fighting for, to take over. I also need to draw a line in the sand where I can move on and back New Brighton at a higher level.
"I'm proud of the fact we've proved you can turn a high street around and you can get it open and you can get it vibrant. I've had to spend a lot of money on things I do not own."
Visibly emotional, he added: "Every single builder, plumber, electrician, everyone lives off these streets. Being proud of where you live is one of the most important things.
"Who wouldn't want to be proud of where they live? It gives you a better start as well in life if you are living in an area where you have got some opportunity and pride. You don't just exist."
Mr Davies' prominence in the town means he has also faced some criticism. He said: "A bit of scepticism isn't a bad thing. When we started, people were going "Oh, who's this guy coming in?
"Over the passage of time, we've been visible; I'm here day and night, and we have tried to listen and drive things from the street level up.
"I spent a disproportionate amount of time on things I'm not getting paid to do. On a daily basis, you end up giving a lot of things that are important to deal with and giving up a lot of time. It's not just me.
"We are dealing with a lot of issues that are a sign of the times we live in. I can be a p***k sometimes, but it's through frustration – frustration when things that are so obvious get left or we get messed around.
"It was that much of an affront to me to see this place going downhill. It's very easy to be a critic. It's a damn sight harder to be an author. I'd do it again, but I'd do it differently."
Looking ahead, Mr Davies harbours concerns for the future of the properties he intends to auction off, which will not include the James Atherton, Rockpoint Records, and Habibi. The properties to be auctioned will go under the hammer on July 24.
He is keen to see the council preserve the distinctive character of Victoria Road, including its arts and cultural scene, and is eager to maintain collaborative efforts with the local authority's new leadership to enhance this through additional backing. Although Mr Davies has previously criticised the council for perceived insufficient support, he now feels that a more constructive relationship is possible in the future.
Reflecting on a recent regeneration committee meeting, he shared his enthusiasm, describing it as "a breath of fresh air" characterised by bipartisan optimism, and expressing his belief that there's "an opportunity to really start backing and supporting what we have done."
He highlighted the establishment of the New Brighton Partnership and the instrumental role played by Jayne Casey, who played a key role in , as significant steps forward.
He is optimistic about the council's direction under new leader Cllr Paula Basnett's leadership, saying she recognises the need for "a seismic change". He added: "I am positive about New Brighton's future. I think this could be the wake-up call and slap in the face the council needs.
"Paula has the ability. I have known Paula for 30 years, and I think if she focuses on making some big changes quickly, I think we could really turn around New Brighton, and I think New Brighton has a massive positive future, and I will help any way I can."