march2024 – Fylde Council

Swimming Pool Support Fund Phase 2 Application Successful!

Fylde Council — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:00:26 +0000

Fylde Council are delighted to confirm that the application for the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF) Phase 2 has been successful for St Annes YMCA Pool.

The funding allocation of £220,000 will allow for the implementation of photovoltaic (PV) panels and the replacement of aging gas boilers with newer more efficient models, helping to reduce energy consumption levels and lower the cost of running the facility. A condition for accepting the grant from Sport England is an assurance that the pool will remain open for the next 10 years as a minimum.

The Phase 2 fund is solely for capital investment to improve the energy efficiency of facilities in the medium to long term and follows a successful Phase 1 fund allocation of £59,189 last November used to mitigate the pressure of increased running costs. The St Annes YMCA Pool, which is owned by Fylde Council and operated by the YMCA, was eligible for both phases of funding.

Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our applications for both phases of the Swimming Pool Support Fund. The award of nearly £60,000 last November was much needed to mitigate increased energy costs. The capital award of £220,000 will address capital expenditure and forms part of our plan to ensure the long-term future of St Annes Pool remains secure. It is a well-used facility and is under increased demand from residents and school children across Fylde whilst the future of provision in and around Kirkham is under consideration.

“The physical and mental health benefits of swimming are well established which is why we are seeking all opportunities for funding to maintain St Annes Pool as well as consulting with the rural community on their needs following the decision by the YMCA to close Kirkham Rural Splash.”

Cllr Jayne Nixon, Fylde Council’s Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure & Culture, said: “Leisure provision remains one of our major priorities. In partnership with Active Lancashire, we recently concluded a community-wide consultation inviting those living and working within Fylde to feedback on sports and leisure provision in the borough, particularly swimming opportunities. We eagerly anticipate the findings from Active Lancashire which also includes further focused consultations with swimming providers, schools and residents to establish the need for community swimming facilities.

“The valuable opinions we receive will be used to further inform our strategies for development in rural Fylde and Lytham St Annes, which we are proud to support.”

Over 500 capital interventions in over 300 facilities with swimming pools have been awarded funding from the Government and Sport England’s £60m capital investment programme. The interventions include photo-voltaic cells, LED lights and pool covers as well as variety of other capital improvements aimed at improving the energy efficiency of public facilities with pools in the medium to long term. 264 local authorities have received a share of the funding, of which £20m has been provided by Sport England via the National Lottery and just over £40m has been provided by the Government as part of their commitment to support the long-term sustainability of public leisure.

Further details about Fylde Council and YMCA Fylde Coast’s award from the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund can be found in our previous press release here.

For more information about the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund, please visit the Sport England website.

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Ballam Road Car Park in Lytham to Become Public Pay-And-Display

Fylde Council — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 15:57:41 +0000

The 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.

Fylde Council’s Executive Committee resolved to support the recommendations put forward to address the need for public car parking in or near Lytham town centre, as well as facilitate overnight motorhome parking in the area.

Currently, the Ballam Road car park – located 300 metres to the north of Lytham railway station and within 10 minutes walking distance from Clifton Square – is leased from the council by a private operator and limited to business permit holders during the working week. With the lease due to expire, Fylde Council wish to use the car park to help meet the wider needs of the community.

Cllr Michelle Morris, Lead Member for Customer and Operational Services, said: “Lytham is a vibrant town with significant demand for parking from residents, workers and visitors competing for parking spaces. We have heard these concerns, both in comments and in consultations, and by establishing Ballam Road as a public use facility during the week, we will be providing another convenient location for people to park and enjoy everything the town has to offer.”

The proposals recommend that permits for business users continue to be offered, though there would be no designated area for these permit holders. Other users would be able to use the car park for long-stay off-street parking on a pay-and-display basis at the lower end of the Council’s charging structure, and the facility would also be added to the Fylde Resident Permit Scheme. Additionally, the distance from residential properties allows for space to be designated for overnight motorhome parking.

To progress the proposal, Fylde Council will need to provide a minimum of six months’ notice to the tenant and initiate the legal process to obtain possession of the premises, as well as start the process of adding the car park to council’s Traffic Regulation Order. The initial costs of setting up the car park as a pay and display facility will be drawn from the 2024/25 capital programme for Car Park Improvements.

For more information about Fylde Council operated car parks, including a full list of short stay and long stay facilities, please visit the Fylde Council website.

Consultation on Parish Councils for Ansdell and Lytham

Fylde Council — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:00:42 +0000

A new consultation is asking for the opinions of Ansdell and Lytham residents on the creation of parish councils to provide the opportunity for further democratic accountability and decision-making power.

Ansdell and Lytham are the only areas in Fylde that don’t have a parish council. We want to know what you think about some options for establishing parish councils in these areas. The options are the creation of two parish councils, one for ‘Ansdell’ and one for ‘Lytham’. Or the creation of one combined parish council across both Ansdell and Lytham.

Cllr Ellie Gaunt, Fylde Council’s Lead Member for Finance & Resources, said: “Parish councils are the first tier of government. They are at the heart of many communities, giving neighbourhoods a democratic voice beyond voting in elections, and can help people feel more involved in decisions which affect them. We are keen to hear the thoughts of these communities on whether they would like to see the introduction of parish councils with elected members for these areas.”

Participating in the consultation is as simple as completing a five-minute survey at the following link: www.fylde.gov.uk/parish-councils-review

Alternatively, you can:

Email comments to democracy@fylde.gov.uk
Write to Parish Review, Fylde Council, Town Hall, St Annes Road West, Lytham St Annes FY8 1LW.
Request paper copies from the Town Hall, Ansdell Library, or Lytham Library.

The survey is aimed at residents living in the boundary areas Ansdell & Fairhaven, Park, Lytham East, and Lytham West. Locally based community groups and businesses are also invited to participate. As part of completing the survey, we will verify your postcode to ensure that you are within the boundary area.

The deadline to complete this consultation is Tuesday 23^rd April 2024.

You can also get involved by visiting us at pop up events taking place within the community. These events will take place as follows:

Lytham Library/Assembly Rooms between 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm on Friday 22nd March.
Ansdell Library between 10:30 am to 1:30 pm on Tuesday 26th March.
Lytham Square between 11:30 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday 6th April.
Ansdell outside the Co-Op store between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm on Saturday 13th April.

New Business? Sign Up For A Digital Marketing Masterclass With Boost Flying Start!

Fylde Council — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:28:41 +0000

New businesses in Fylde can sign up to a free Digital Marketing Masterclass taking place on Wednesday 20 March 2024.

As part of the Boost Flying Start programme, this expert-led event in Fylde for pre-start and start-ups will help give your new business a competitive advantage in navigating the world of digital marketing.

Flying Start Advisor Alistair Clarke and guest speaker Ged Mills, Director of Content Creators in Lancashire, will guide delegates on how best to use platforms such as Google and Youtube to market new businesses. Learn how to integrate these services with various social media channels and websites to give your new business a more complete digital footprint and highlight the impact of your activity on your local area.

Delivered by Boost Flying Start, this session is ideal for people looking to get ahead of their competition and reach more potential customers with new techniques, gain a better understanding of what makes effective digital marketing, and learn how to turn enquiries into sales.

Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council and Lead Member for Corporate and Economic Development, said: “This masterclass is just one of the many benefits for Fylde businesses of our partnership with Boost, made possible by our UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation. Through our Invest in Fylde service, we can support both existing and prospective businesses across the borough, from business networking and upskilling to carbon reduction and financial advice, and we are always looking for innovative ways to provide more assistance.”

The Digital Marketing Masterclass is targeted at pre-start businesses and anyone who has been trading for less than three years. Details of the event are as follows:

Date: Wednesday 20 March, 2024

Time: 14:00 – 16:00

Location: Fylde Council, Town Hall, St Annes Rd West, St Annes, FY8 1LW

For more information, including how to book your place online, visit the Boost website.

Invest in Fylde is an invaluable resource administered by the Economic Development and Regeneration Team at Fylde Council to help you locate, grow and scale your business in this dynamic district. World-class businesses across aerospace, manufacturing, tech, retail and hospitality have chosen Fylde to springboard their business growth. Fylde fuses a highly-skilled workforce, strong visitor economy, and property and land opportunities with a wealth of business support, funding and expertise.

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

Fylde Garden Waste Subscriptions Now Open For 2024/25

Fylde Council — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:42:49 +0000

Subscriptions for Fylde Council’s 2024/25 Garden Waste Collection Service are now open. Residents can subscribe or renew online by visiting www.fylde.gov.uk/greenwaste

The green waste collection service offers residents a convenient way to recycle their garden waste at home. Collecting garden waste separately in the green wheeled bins is a natural method of processing the material, so by recycling the garden waste at home, residents are helping the environment.

Cllr Michelle Morris, Lead Member for Customer & Operational Services, said: “The Garden Waste Collection Service always proves popular, with over 19,000 subscribers every year. We’re proud to continue offering an excellent value service to the benefit of both our residents and the natural world.”

The 2024/25 subscription charge is £36 per green bin, equating to just £1.44 per collection. Fylde Council offers 25 collections throughout the year, except for the Christmas and New Year period when the service is suspended.

For more information about the Garden Waste Collection Service, include how to subscribe and what types of waste can be accepted, please visit the Fylde Council website: www.fylde.gov.uk/greenwaste

Fylde’s Tree Planting Programme Gets Going With Public Planting Events

Fylde Council — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:29:26 +0000

Over 2,200 trees have been procured through Fylde Council’s tree planting programme this financial year to expand tree canopy coverage across the borough, as community tree planting events continue to give Fylde residents the chance to pitch in and help spruce up their local spaces.

The Capital Programme 2023/24 approved in January 2024 invested £25,000 of revenue to improving tree coverage through Fylde, supplemented by an additional £9,000 brought forward from the previous year. Fylde Council’s Parks and Coastal Services staff have been working in close partnership with Town and Parish Councils and community groups to identify suitable land areas for large-scale planting.

The Ranger Service and Arboricultural Team, alongside community groups, will be leading on the planting throughout Lytham, St Annes, Kirkham, Elswick, Newton, Treales and Freckleton over the coming weeks to ensure all trees are planted before spring.

Two recent public planting events in Lytham and St Annes saw residents get involved in planting new trees in Mornington Park and Ramsgate Park, with another event scheduled for Wednesday 6th March at William Segar Hodgson Park in Kirkham.

Cllr Tommy Threlfall, Lead Member for Environment, said: “I’m firmly in favour of Fylde Council securing this budget and continuing our programme of tree planting throughout the borough. By working with our partners, we’re demonstrating our green values and our commitment to bettering the environment for everyone’s benefit. I myself took part in planting in my home of Freckleton and it was a pleasure to work with the Parish Council and the members of Freckleton in Bloom.”

Tree canopy coverage is a useful metric for measuring the number of trees in areas across the country. Urban trees provide great benefits for people and communities, offering contact with the natural world and helping alleviate stress and ease anxiety, as well as providing a pleasing setting for exercise, socialising, and recreation.

Trees form a vital element of the ecosystem, acting as a natural carbon sink through the absorption of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases from the environment, improving air quality and assisting in addressing climate change. By providing habitats for a variety of birds, insects and other wildlife, tree coverage improves biodiversity and helps preserve the ecological stability of the natural world.

The trees chosen for planting as part of this programme, comprising over 40 different native species, have been carefully picked to provide a healthily mixed habitat for wildlife, as well as some ornamental species for planting in the more formal areas of parks.

If you would like to help and get your hands dirty, why not join us at our next public tree planting event:

WHERE: William Segar Hodgson Park, Kirkham

WHEN: Wednesday 6 March 10.00am – 12:00pm

All equipment will be provided – we hope to see you there!