Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative West Lancashire LSP Forum Briefing by Peter Bradford - WLDC and Martin Trengove - WLCVS 28th March, 2008 Venue: Edge Hill University

Burscough Market Town Initiative Object of this briefing • To provide the LSP with a summary of the findings to date of the Market Towns Planning process for Ormskirk and Burscough

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Background • NWDA Funded Programme • Commenced in January 2006 • Aim to provide a basis for developing and revitalising market towns to give them a role in the 21st Century

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative • The Process • Set up a ‘Partnership’ that represents the people living in the town • Carry out a Health Check and set out a vision for the town and its rural area • Prepare an Action Plan • Put the Plan into Action

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative The Partnership – as represented by the Steering Group • Voluntary Sector / Community Reps • Schools and Colleges • Business Groups • Service Providers - such as Health, Transport, Crime, Housing, Tourism etc. • Local Government – Parish, District and County

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Working Groups • Set up thematic groups looking at four specific areas:- Environment Economy Social and Community Transport and Accessibility • Thematic Groups open to local residents and others interested in the particular topic

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Health Check • Carry out a snap shot of the town and surrounding area by researching and answering predetermined questions

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Action Plans • Assess the data collected during the Health Checks and other available data, such as the 2005 Burscough Parish Plan and the Erskine Report on the Rural Economy of West Lancashire completed in 2006 • Develop Action Plans around the four main themes

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative • Community Consultation • Consult the whole Community through a questionnaire on Draft Action Plan ideas • A ‘55 question’ questionnaire sent to residents and businesses and Priory School in Burscough • A ‘72 question’ questionnaire sent to residents, businesses and senior schools in Ormskirk • In total approx. 12,000 questionnaires posted to homes and business in the area

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Questionnaire Returns - Burscough • Residents 839 returns – 21.6% response rate • Businesses 23 returns – 6.6% response rate • Priory School - 86 completed questionnairesIn total 52,140 individual responses collected and analysed !!

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Questionnaire Returns - Ormskirk • Residents 1981 returns – 27.0% response rate • Businesses 79 returns – 14% response rate • School [St Bedes] - 124 completed questionnaires*In total 157,248 individual responses collected and analysed !! * Ormskirk School Questionnaire returns awaited

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative The Big Issues for Burscough • Infrastructure Improvement • Traffic and Transport • Economic Regeneration • Environment • Young People and Youth • Wharf & Community Development

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Infrastructure Improvement – Burscough • Sewerage and surface water drainagecapacity to be improved • Increased GP capacity to be provided to match population needs • Emergency Services - Satellite Navigation systems to be updated • Buildings of historical importance to be listed • Affordable housing to be planned into any future development

Traffic & Transport - Burscough Retention and improvement of existing car parks Improved public transport to local hospitals Creation of a rear service loading facility for shops in village area Better rail service to Liverpool, Ormskirk & Preston, Maintain and further develop the community bus service Higher standard of buses / Quality Bus Routes Enforcement of parking restrictions near primary schools Commissioning of a road safety study Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative

Traffic & Transport - Burscough Develop accessible information sources about public transport Develop a project to help schools implement travel plans Develop a supervised walk to school service Develop safe cycling / pedestrian routes ‘Garden’ traffic island to be constructed at Pippin St. Policing of parking restrictions / ‘on pavement’ parking Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative

Economic Regeneration - Burscough Development of the Wharf Buildings and the Canal Side for community benefit and economic regeneration Help for local traders to offset supermarket competition A relief road is neededto divert through traffic from the town centre Development of incentives to persuade business to re-locate to the area Establish a business development group Promotion of the town as a visitor venue Development of a local town market Examine ways in which the Ribble Estuary development can be linked to other developments to establish the town as a tourist venue. Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative

Environment – Burscough Preservation of the historic aspect of the town Development of a joint management group (land owners / farmers& localresidents)to facilitate countryside management Commission a study into ‘renewables’ Development of woodland / reed fringe as windbreak & as creative ‘set-aside’ Further development of nature conservation areas Undertake a survey of local wildlife and in particular establishwhereabouts of rareor endangered species Development of more allotment spaceto ‘grow local’ Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Young People andYouth – Burscough • Development of youth facilities in the town to include a central focal point for youth • Development of a group of youth & local residents to manage youth facilities • Better supervision of parks and play areas required • More and better play equipment for parks and play areas required • More junior football facilities are required • Development of an Internet Café with Wi-Fi facilities for the youth.

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Wharf & Community Development – B’cough • Development of the Wharf Buildings and Canal Side for community benefit and economic regeneration • Development of a project to help schools implement travel plans • Increasedvisibility of local policing required • Renovation of listed buildings such as the Wharf • Development of a supervised walk to school service • Improved library facility • Promotion of ‘healthy living’ initiatives

Ormskirk and BurscoughMarket Town Initiative • The Big Issues for Ormskirk • Traffic, Transport and Congestion • Town Centre Development • Impact of University Expansion • Promotion of Health and Well Being • Care of Rural and Urban Environment • Creating a voice for Ormskirk

Ormskirk and BurscoughMarket Town Initiative Traffic, Transport and Congestion - Ormskirk • Introduce quality bus routes to Southport Hospital • Develop a properly integrated transport system for Ormskirk • More and safer road crossings for vulnerable road users • Reinstate the Burscough Curves to give direct rail access to Southport • Improve bus service to Burscough Bridge Station • Introduce Shuttle Bus connecting hospital, shops, stations, schools etc • Introduce weight restrictions on Halsall Lane and Cottage Lane • Improve and electrify rail service to Preston

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Traffic, Transport and Congestion - Ormskirk • More carriages on Liverpool rail service at peak times • Stricter policing of parking on footpaths • Schools to implement their school travel plans • Introduce Safe Routes to school • Access to station needed from both sides of the track • Build the Ormskirk Bypass • Control hours of deliveries to shops using pedestrian areas • More secure cycle parking at Railway stations

Ormskirk and BurscoughMarket Town Initiative Town Centre Development - Ormskirk • Attract quality Shops • Preserve Historic Building and Surrounds • Market locally produce products • Improve the Indoor and Outdoor Markets • Improve facilities for disabled • Raise profile of Ormskirk as an Historic town / hold themed events • Provide coach parking for visitors • Improve the Town Centre guide • Have a new Hotel in Ormskirk

Ormskirk and BurscoughMarket Town Initiative Impact of University Expansion - Ormskirk • Educate students not to cause undue disturbance • Edge Hill to provide adequate student accommodation if further expanded • Attract more shops aimed at young people

Ormskirk and BurscoughMarket Town Initiative Promotion of Health / Well Being – Ormskirk • Focus on crime, noise, alcohol abuse, anti-social behaviour • Develop initiatives aimed at reducing the fear of crime • Improved facilities for those with disabilities; better facilities on trains, dropped kerbs, wheel chair friendly taxis etc.. • Improve health of residents by promoting sport and healthy lifestyles • Introduce cycle routes through the Town Centre • More effective strategies to encourage walking and cycling

Ormskirk and BurscoughMarket Town Initiative Care of Environment [Rural] - Ormskirk • Protect the green belt around the town • Promote countryside access walking route schemes • Local footpaths to be better maintained • Look after and care for Ruff Wood • Create a community forest between the proposed bypass and the town

Ormskirk and BurscoughMarket Town Initiative Care of Environment [Urban] - Ormskirk • Preserve historic buildings and surrounding areas • Tackle litter, raise awareness, education and enforcement • More litter bins in the Town Centre • Public rights of way to be clearly marked • Promote town / countryside links • Reduce the effects of light pollution • Bring allotments back into use - negotiations underway • More plants and planters in the Town Centre • Improve and protect playing fields • Take action against landlords / business with poorly maintained property

Ormskirk and BurscoughMarket Town Initiative Creating a ‘Voice’ for Ormskirk • Need to involve more people in community activities aimed at the development / improvement of the town • Establish a Community Partnership for Ormskirk [OCP] leading eventually to a Town Council for Ormskirk if required • Use ‘OCP’ to promote and lobby for the needs of residents and drive through the recommendations of the Market Towns Initiative

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative Market Towns – The Next Steps • Liaise with Statutory Agencies and seek their inputs • Write up, complete and publish the Market Towns Initiative Plans for both towns by June 2008 • Seek support from the LSP, WLDC, LCC and other statutory agencies to pursue the recommendations of the Plan

Ormskirk and Burscough Market Town Initiative