Blackpool is following Ashford’s lead and adopting a shared space scheme.

It is one of a growing number of towns considering doing away with signs, signals and pavements and introducing an area where pedestrians and traffic mix, as has happened in Ashford’s Elwick Road, Forge Lane, West Street and Bank Street.

Twelve places are thinking of getting cars and pedestrians to share space, including Oxford, Colchester, Felixstowe, Ipswich, Poynton and Macclesfield in Cheshire, Torquay and Babbacombe in Devon, various sites in Dorset and Stromness on Orkney.

This follows news earlier this year that Staines, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Hereford and Edbinburgh are considering converting areas to shared space too.

But as was the case in Ashford, some in Blackpool are doubtful about the scheme before it gets underway.

One reader wrote a letter to the Blackpool Gazette predicting problems.

The letter said: “Imagine having to share space with hoards of stag night revellers dressed in a variety of outfits.

“After I’ve had a bad day in the office those afore-mentioned revellers will have to wait until I complete my hour-long eight mile journey home before being peeled off the front of my car.”