january2024 – Fylde Council

Fylde Ice Festival 2024 Coming to Kirkham in February

Fylde Council — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:45:32 +0000

The free Fylde Ice Festival is returning for 2024!

After the hugely successful inaugural event on the Mussel Tanks in Lytham in 2023, this free daylong festival will return to Fylde on Saturday 10 February 2024, taking place in the People’s Park in the heart of Kirkham.

Come marvel at breathtaking pre-carved sculptures, try out your own sculpting skills on the ice carving wall, and watch a live ice-carving demonstration by award-winning professional ice artists Glacial Art.

Cllr Jayne Nixon, Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure & Culture, said: “We are delighted to be working once again with Glacial Art Ice Sculptors to bring the fabulous Fylde Ice Festival to Kirkham. Last year’s Lytham event was very well received, and I’m certain that visitors to the Kirkham event will be amazed.”

The Fylde Ice Festival 2024 will take place at the People’s Park in Kirkham on Saturday 10 February, from 10am – 4pm, subject to weather conditions. Entry is completely free.

The People’s Park can be found opposite the War Memorial in Kirkham, along the path linking St Michael’s Church to the Morrisons store. For a Google Maps link, click here.

Attendees will be able to purchase food and drink from vendors at the event.

Event sponsors Story Homes will also be promoting their Heaton Green development – come find out more on the day, or visit the Story Homes website for more information.

The Fylde Ice Festival 2024 is made possible through funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). To read more about Fylde Council’s UKSPF investment prospectus, visit the Fylde Council website: https://new.fylde.gov.uk/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-ukspf/

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

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Kirkham Futures: Poulton Street Road Closure Extended Until Friday 9 February

Fylde Council — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:33:59 +0000

The Kirkham Public Realm road closure in Kirkham town centre has been extended until 5pm on Friday 9 February 2024.

The works, involving full carriageway reconstruction on Poulton Street to the junction of Kirkgate and its junctions with Freckleton Street and Preston Street, are a crucial part of the Kirkham Futures regeneration project.

The reconstruction works have required full excavation and replacement of the carriageway foundation in addition to the surfacing layers.

Additional works are needed due to the unexpected presence of shallow-laying services such as pipes and cables, as well as the varying construction thicknesses in some areas of the street.

On completion of the closure, the carriageway will have its final finishes and be fully open to traffic once again.

Kirkham Futures is a 4-year programme of work to revitalise the town centre, representing the biggest investment in Kirkham in a generation, funded by the Historic England High Street Heritage Action Zone, the Government’s Future High Street Fund, and contributions from Lancashire County Council, Fylde Council, and Kirkham Town Council.

All partners in the Kirkham Futures project are committed to delivering a high-quality development for Kirkham, and value the support that has been evident throughout the programme.

For further information, including the changes to bus services and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the Kirkham Futures website: https://www.kirkhamfutures.org/plans/public-realm-streetscape-interventions

Fylde Christmas Tree Collection Raises £19,275 for Trinity Hospice

Fylde Council — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 13:21:32 +0000

Over the weekend of 13-14 January 2024, Fylde Council’s Waste Minimisation Team working in partnership with Trinity Hospice and 41 volunteers from the community delivered Fylde Council’s annual doorstep collection of real Christmas trees.

The event was a huge success, collecting a total of 1282 real Christmas trees from households in Fylde, and raising £19,275 (excluding gift aid) in donations for Trinity Hospice.

When added to the doorstep real Christmas tree collections in neighbouring Blackpool and Wyre, a total of almost £32,000 was raised for patient care in the hospice and around the community of the Fylde coast.

Cllr Michelle Morris, Lead Member for Customer & Operational Services, said: “Another year brings another tremendous success. On behalf of Fylde Council, I would like to give thanks to the partners and volunteers who helped us deliver the Christmas tree collection service, and to everyone who generously made a donation.

“We are proud to be able to support our local charities, and the trees will find a good home as part of the Sand Dune Restoration Project.”

It is estimated that the total number of trees donated from doorstep collection and drop-off points in Kirkham and St Annes is an incredible 2,100 trees. These trees will be used as part of the Sand Dune Restoration Project in early February, helping to reduce the erosion of the dunes to preserve their unique ecology and maintain natural coastal defences.

Household Support Fund Still Available for Fylde Residents

Fylde Council — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:14:31 +0000

Fylde Council seeks to remind eligible residents that they can still apply for help through the Household Support Fund until 31 March 2024.

Assistance with short-term living costs such as food bills, energy and water bills, clothing and other essentials is available for eligible households in Fylde who are experiencing financial hardship and do not have the resources to meet their immediate short-term needs.

The scheme will also signpost residents to other sources of advice and support to ensure that they are receiving all the assistance they may entitled to. This assistance is intended to help residents in the long-term and includes guidance on welfare and benefit eligibility as well as debt management advice.

Cllr Chris Dixon, Lead Member for Social Wellbeing, said: “As the new year begins and winter continues, people may be struggling to afford the essentials. The Household Support Fund is one of the many ways we can help particularly vulnerable people, both with their immediate needs and to provide guidance to set them on the right path going forward.”

The Household Support Fund is administered by Citizens Advice Fylde on behalf of Fylde Council. For the full eligibility criteria and information on how to apply, including what the scheme does not cover, please visit the Household Support Funding page on the Fylde Council website.

A wide range of cost-of-living support and resources, including housing guidance, mental health support and debt advice, can also be found on the Fylde Council website here.

Further Healthy Weight Services Funding Secured as CHANGE Weight Management Programme Continues to Make Big Difference

Fylde Council — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:08:40 +0000

Fylde Council’s highly successful CHANGE free adult weight management programme has been funded for another five years, with a right to extend for another three, through a Lancashire County Council Healthy Weight Services Grant.

From April 2024, Fylde Council’s new Healthy Weight Services programme will also include family sessions, building on the success of the current delivery over the past three years and providing a lifestyle multi-component weight management service supporting people to lose weight and improving associated knowledge and skills in both children and adults.

CHANGE (Creating Healthy Activities and Nutritious Gains to Empower change) is designed specifically for adult Fylde residents and is delivered by local community weight management services, providing community-based diet, nutrition, lifestyle and behavioural change advice. The group sessions and 1:1 support show people how to implement positive lifestyle changes over an eight-week course, helping participants learn how to manage their weight in a healthy and long-lasting way, plus physical activity sessions such has low-impact circuits and tennis.

Cllr Chris Dixon, Lead Member for Wellbeing, said: “Our CHANGE weight management programme has been a fantastic success, as shown both by Lancashire County Council’s reporting and the excellent feedback we’ve received from those who’ve taken part, and I’m to be able to confirm it will continue alongside our new programme designed for families.

“The first step towards any lifestyle change can often feel like the hardest, and we’re proud to be making it easier for our residents. I’d encourage anyone with an interest to visit the Fylde Council website and see how easy it can be to join a community of supportive, like-minded people.”

Between April 2022 and May 2023, the CHANGE programme received 121 registrations, and participants have been hugely complimentary of the sessions and their delivery. Of the twelve districts running similar programmes, Fylde had the third highest average weight loss and an average overall rating of 9 out of 10 from its participants. Special praise was given for the accessibility of the service and its links to other local activities, such as frequent taster sessions helping people build the confidence to join other groups and try out activities they’d never have had the chance to try themselves.

The current funding for CHANGE continues until March 2023, after which the grant originating from the government will fund the delivery of Healthy Weight Services through £47,981 per annum via the collaboration between Fylde Council and Lancashire County Council. This funding is secured for the next five years, with the right to extend for a further three.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care, obesity costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year and is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer. Over one in four (26%) adults and 23.4% of children aged 10-11 in England are living with obesity, placing huge pressure on the health and care system. The NHS describes obesity as a complex issue with many causes, and one which is increasingly common because the environment we live in makes it difficult for many people to eat healthily and do enough physical activity.

If you are a Fylde resident interested in learning how to healthily manage weight in a community-based and accessible way, why not book your friendly telephone assessment today? Go to https://new.fylde.gov.uk/change/ to find out more and start your journey to a healthier, happier you.

Further details on the Family programme will be available once finalised. To keep up to date with the latest news from Fylde Council, why not sign up to our weekly email newsletter?

Active Lancashire Announces Sport and Leisure Provision Survey In Partnership With Fylde Council

Fylde Council — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:31:49 +0000

Active Lancashire, in partnership with Fylde Council, announces a community-wide consultation initiative aimed at shaping the future of sport and leisure facilities in Fylde. This initiative will help to strategically plan the future of leisure and sport activities in Fylde, and is designed to gather input from Fylde residents and community organisations.

The survey invites those living and working within Fylde to contribute their perspectives on a variety of topics related to sport and leisure, with a particular focus on swimming opportunities.

Cllr Jayne Nixon, Fylde Council’s Lead Member for Tourism, Culture & Leisure, said: “The commissioning of this survey is a crucial keystone in the development of our plans for amenities and activities in the borough.

“Fylde is home to people of many differing ages and abilities, and we are adamant that any future provision for sport and leisure must be accessible, accommodating, and beneficial to all. The best way to ensure this is to seek the opinion of the residents and groups who will use them.

“Whatever your activity level, we would be grateful to hear from you.”

As an expression of gratitude for completing the survey, respondents have the chance to enter a prize draw, offering an opportunity to win one of three £20 Love2Shop vouchers.

Residents are encouraged to visit https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Fylde_Swimming_Public_Consultation to complete the survey and contribute to shaping the future of sport and leisure facilities in Fylde. The consultation will remain open until Wednesday 31 January 2024, affording Fylde residents sufficient time to provide their valuable input.