Welcome to the Fylde Review 2024
Welcome to our annual feature in which we showcase the accomplishments Fylde Council have delivered for the people of the Borough in the preceding twelve months and look to what’s yet to come.
The services of the council affect us all and the list of statutory services we provide is lengthy. The cost of providing these services, like everything over this past year, has been affected by high inflation and increased energy costs. The increase in council tax from April is 2.99% and whilst we’d all rather there was no increase, it equates to a rise of just £6.54 on an average Band D property. For more information, please read our Council Tax FAQs
What We’ve Achieved
Invest in Fylde
One of our flagship projects empowered through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Invest in Fylde website is a comprehensive resource for businesses, whether already in Fylde or seeking to establish themselves here. Invest in Fylde provides a wealth of in-depth business knowledge and support on a variety of topics from networking and business resilience to skills training for employers and employees both. The service also offers support for individuals looking to get into work or upskill, including apprenticeship opportunities.
Examples of Invest in Fylde programmes for businesses:
Fylde Council partners with Boost to provide new funded support to Fylde Businesses
Carbon Reduction Business Support Programme with Chamber Low Carbon
Find out more here.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme
Our allocation from the UKSPF has already enabled numerous successful projects, including the launch of the Invest in Fylde brand, the Community Wellbeing Fund, the VCFSE Sector Study to help the Council better understand how local organisations can be supported, and the Apprenticeship Project and Employment Skills Project, both great successes through a partnership with the AFC Fylde Community Foundation.
Community Support
As residents continue to feel the pressure of the increased cost of living, we have ensured we continue to support our communities through our Warm Spaces initiative, our Household Support Fund, and our wide range of general Cost of Living Support, alongside individual community programmes such as the Monday Supper Club in St Annes.
Talking Bench and Letters to Heaven Post Box
We were humbled to be able to support the unveiling of a suicide bereavement ‘talking’ bench and a ‘Letters to Heaven’ post box at Lytham Park Cemetery & Crematorium in November 2023.
Read more here.
The Eco Maker’s Market
Building on the success of 2022’s Green Loop environmental arts project, the Eco Maker’s Market brought an array of handmade sustainable green and eco-creative products to Lytham Institute in September, featuring the work of around 30 talented creators and curated by Hopeful and Glorious.
Read more here.
Operation Centurion
The county-wide Operation Centurion campaign brought additional police foot patrols to St Annes, working with Fylde Council’s Community Safety Enforcement Officers to crack down on incidents of anti-social behaviour throughout the community.
Read more here.
Fylde Sand Dune Christmas Tree Planting
The annual Christmas tree planting event at the Fylde sand dunes saw more than 600 volunteers come together across two days to plant trees donated by local households to support our natural sea defences. Almost 4,000 trees were collected, and over £19,725 raised for local charity Trinity Hospice.
Read more here.
Fylde Ice Festival 2024
Our second annual Fylde Ice Festival enjoyed perfect weather and a wonderful turnout, as partners Glacial Art Ice Sculptors wowed attendees with sculptures themed around the heritage of Kirkham and the surrounding areas.
Read more here.
St Annes International Kite Festival 2023
St Annes International Kite Festival made a welcome return to our beaches in September 2023 for a three-day event filling the skies with colour and wonder.
Read more here.
Swimming Pool Support Fund
A successful application to Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund by Fylde Council and YMCA Fylde Coast provided an award of almost £60,000 to support the St Annes YMCA Pool in mitigating the pressure of increased running costs for the facility.
Read more here.
Tree Planting Programme
Over 2,200 were procured to expand tree canopy coverage across the borough, as community tree planting events gave residents the chance to pitch in and help spruce up their local spaces.
What’s coming next?
Healthy Weight Services
Building on three years of highly successful CHANGE Weight Management delivery, the new Healthy Weight Services programme will also include family sessions. The new scheme will provide a lifestyle multi-component weight-management service supporting people to lose weight and improve associated knowledge and skills in both children and adults.
Read more here.
Empty Homes Fund
Fylde Council’s Executive Committee have approved a fund to help transform empty residences across Fylde into affordable housing as part of the Council’s Empty Homes Strategy. The strategy aims to maximise the number of empty homes returned into use as affordable housing as part of the Council’s plan to increase availability of homes for Fylde residents while reducing the pressure to build new ones.
Read more here.
Beach Hub
A proposal to turn the St Annes beach furniture unit into a ‘Beach Hub’ facility will provide a multipurpose focal point for customers, volunteers, partner agencies and employees in an ideal location at the primary entry point to the beach. This new hub will be a base for coastal resources such as rangers and tourist information staff, a first aid and lost child point, beach wheelchair hire, and more.
Project Vento
A new project at Granny’s Bay will see the construction of a brand-new ice-cream kiosk and cafe to replace the old existing structure, enhancing the amenity space for visitors and residents, and helping promote Granny’s Bay as a tourism destination in its own right. Planning permission was granted on 6 March 2024 and the next steps will be to tender for the works.
Lytham Hall Art Gallery
Following an capital investment of £65,000 by Fylde Council, a new gallery located in the former Long Room at Lytham Hall will be a fit for purpose display space designed to Arts Council England ‘Spectrum’ standards, providing an opportunity for the public to view paintings from the Lytham St Annes art collection. Access to the collection will remain free.
Read more here.
Increased Public Car Parking
A proposal has been approved to convert Ballam Road car park in Lytham from a privately operated facility to a public pay-and-display car park, helping to address the need for public car parking in the vicinity of Lytham, as well as facilitating overnight motorhome parking in the area.
