september2021 – Fylde Council

St Annes Regeneration – Appointment of Masterplan Consultant

Fylde Council — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 10:06:14 +0000

Fylde Council is delighted to confirm the appointment of Building Design Partnership Ltd (BDP) to help us shape the long-term regeneration of St Annes.

The approach will be undertaken in three distinct phases which include:

Gathering a comprehensive evidence base and commercial potential assessment
Creating a physical Masterplan that will act as the blueprint to define future development
Producing a Destination Management Plan.

The commission will focus on two main study areas including the Town Centre and the Island site. The work is scheduled to be completed by April 2022 to align with anticipated timescales for Round 2 of the Government’s Levelling up Funding Programme.

The commission will be funded by Fylde Council and Lancashire County Council.

Councillor Richard Redcliffe, the Chairman of the Town Centres Working Group said:

“I look forward to welcoming the team from BDP as they commence work with Fylde Council and the local community to deliver a bright and exciting future for the resort of St Annes.

“Their bid emerged from an exceptionally strong field of potential candidates following a rigorous selection process. I am confident that the vision, enthusiasm and expertise that their team displays will allow us to develop a masterplan that will secure the prosperity of St Annes and ensure it has a vibrant future as a place to live, work and visit.”

Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council added:

“Our ambition to regenerate and revitalise St Annes Town Centre and Island site has taken a major step forward with the appointment of BDP. It is over 20 years now since the start of the last main refurbishment works in St Annes and whilst shopping and leisure habits have changed gradually over time, they have been singularly transformed over the last 18 months due to the Covid pandemic.

“I am looking forward to a blueprint fit for the future with full input from the town, its representatives and residents, and an exciting vision that will lever in much-needed Government funds.”

BDP commented:

“St Annes is a classic ‘bucket and spade’ seaside town, loved by visitors who return time after time. We’re looking forward to working with the council and the community to attract further investment, to address the challenges of the changing nature of high streets and to explore new opportunities linked to the enduring appeal of living, working and enjoying time off by the sea.”

The development of the Masterplan includes funding from Lancashire County Council’s £12.8m Economic Recovery Growth Fund, which supports projects to help local economies to bounce back from the impacts of Covid-19.

The aim is to kickstart the development of transformational schemes that will make a major economic recovery contribution and create jobs in parts of Lancashire which have been hardest hit, stimulating growth and unlocking further investment.

County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, said:

“Lancashire’s tourism sector has been significantly affected by Covid, but we recognise that there are some great opportunities to help to create an improved and diverse offer. The aim of our fund is to support the development of exciting new schemes in our communities such as in St Annes.

“Attracting more people into the town brings money into the local economy and creates new jobs, spreading the benefits to other parts of Lancashire.”

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Lose weight healthily with Let’s Feel Good Fylde and the Change programme

Fylde Council — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 16:14:29 +0000

Fylde Council is helping people to ‘Change’ to lose weight, lower their BMI and get healthier as part of its Let’s Feel Good Fylde initiative.

The popular, free Change plan has already helped lots of people shed their unwanted extra pounds.

Residents that want to lose weight and enjoy a new lease of life (with more energy and a better fitting wardrobe) are invited to refer themselves online to start their journey.

Change has a rolling programme each Monday from 12pm to 1pm at Fairhaven Lake and runs eight-week courses throughout the year at Kirkham Community Centre.

There’s also a new evening session launching at Fairhaven Lake on Thursday 7^th October from 6pm.

Participants receive a free support booklet as well as group and one-to-one advice about nutrition, exercise and managing weight in a healthy and sustainable way.

Sessions include tips, advice and information about eating well, portion control, food labels, exercise and more – providing all the tools needed to make informed choices for long-lasting health.

Previous attendees have described their success with the programme and comments have included:

I would thoroughly recommend this programme for anyone who battles with weight.
I can’t thank Sarah enough. She manages the programme in such a positive, enthusiastic and supportive way.
Thanks to the healthy eating instructions, hints and tips and support from the instructor, during the 8 week Change Programme, I’ve managed to lose my first stone and reduce my BMI.

Fylde’s Adult Weight Management Officer Sarah Salthouse says: “We’d love to see more people join the programme, we’re very welcoming!

“The course is versatile and ideal for people who have felt daunted by weight loss in the past, as we start with small changes that go on to make a big difference.

“The fact that the course is free means there’s really nothing to lose but the weight. So come along and join us.

“It is great to be part of the Let’s Feel Good Fylde initiative as it brings together everything we have in Fylde, from beautiful parks and beaches for people to exercise and walk in as well as a fantastic community of sport and wellbeing organisations.

“It is never too late to start your journey to a healthier, happier you and we are ready and waiting to help!”

To find out more, visit new.fylde.gov.uk/change or email sarah.salthouse@fylde.gov.uk

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Fylde Council offers advice ahead of autumn and winter

Fylde Council — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 16:02:50 +0000

Fylde Council’s Health Protection Practitioner, Richard Hurt, is reminding residents to continue taking precautions against Covid-19 ahead of the autumn and winter months.

His advice comes after an increase in overall cases in recent weeks, including those aged 60 and over.

He said: “Covid-19 is still very much with us and it is really important that while we do enjoy seeing family and friends again and get back to doing the things we love, we need to continue to be very careful.

“We welcomed the news that over 50s are to be offered a third booster vaccination and I would urge everyone that is eligible to come forward when contacted.

‘It is vital that everyone else who is able to have a vaccination does so, and they should always get their second dose for maximum protection.

“I also want to ask people not to become complacent when it comes to testing for Covid-19. Anyone with any symptoms should book a PCR test and isolate if it is positive.

“Regular asymptomatic testing with free lateral flow tests will also help to stop Covid-19 in its tracks and the latest data shows that a quarter of people carrying, and therefore potentially spreading, the virus does not show symptoms.

“There are lots of other sensible actions people can take to minimise their risk. Washing hands regularly should be part of everyone’s routine by now and I would still strongly advise people to wear face coverings in crowded places such as public transport or when moving around in shops or restaurants.

“Government advice is to meet outdoors with friends and family and if that is not possible then please open windows to allow the air to flow.

“We are blessed to have so many gorgeous outdoor areas here in Fylde, so there are plenty of options available.

“We have come so far and the community has pulled together to keep everyone safe, so I am sure this will continue.”

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Cooking up a culinary treat in the heart of historic Kirkham

Fylde Council — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:03:46 +0000

“It’s exciting times for Kirkham – there is a real sense the town is on the up,” says restaurant boss

Restaurateur Andrew Booker firmly believes Kirkham has turned a corner and can flourish. So much so, in fact, he has firmly put his money where his mouth is and invested in the high street’s future.

Andrew and son James have opened the ancient market town’s newest fine dining establishment – The Old Bank on Poulton Street – to widespread acclaim.

They have transformed the former Midland/HSBC bank premises into a 44-cover restaurant serving the best in British cuisine, all created using quality, locally sourced ingredients.

The Old Bank has been the talk of the town ever since a stunning Griffin sculpture first appeared above the door to the premises during lockdown.

Modelled in part on the old Midland bank logo, ‘Archie’ (as he has affectionately been nicknamed after he was created at Kirkham’s Archforge blacksmiths) has become a famous local landmark already.

Andrew and James are no strangers to Kirkham having set up their popular Tap and Vent brewhouse, also on Poulton Street, three years ago.

Their creation of the Old Bank – which boasts a stunning décor and hi-spec finish, together with two kitchens (one housed inside the former bank’s safe!) – took place during last year’s many lockdowns.

The result is testament to James and Andrew’s belief there is a bright future for Kirkham which is at the start of a £10m regeneration masterplan thanks to funding from both Historic England and the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

‍Andrew said: “Our plans for the restaurant were in place before the pandemic. We identified that Kirkham was crying out for dining out establishments.

“We always felt a high-quality eatery should be well received and it has been great to finally welcome customers, whether they’re visitors to the area or locals. The feedback since we opened has been really pleasing.”

Kirkham has been awarded £6.3m from the Government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF) – the only town in Lancashire to win a slice of the fund. This followed hot-on-the-heels of the £3.6m secured through Kirkham’s successful bid to become one of Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zones (HS HAZ).

With the money, historic buildings are being bought and transformed – with a range of innovative new uses planned. Major improvements will be made to the public realm and opportunities created to not only help existing businesses bounce back and thrive post-pandemic but encourage new ones to open on the high street.

The Old Bank certainly fits into this category. Open Thursday to Sunday, and boasting a relaxed atmosphere where diners are not rushed, it is already becoming a popular new addition to the high street.

Together with Archie there is plenty more eye-catching artwork inside – created by local artist Jo Catlow-Morris – alongside many pictures charting Kirkham’s proud history.

Kirkham, as a town, can trace its roots back to before the days it was a Roman garrison. Its boomtime came in the days of cotton and the manufacture of sailcloth for the Royal Navy.

However, like many towns of its size its historic high street has faced some challenging times. But with more new shops and businesses being attracted to the town – such as Bull Horns Smokehouse which is another fine new eatery on Poulton Street – there is a real buzz about the place right now.

Andrew, who previously ran Hastings restaurant in Lytham, and set up Lytham Brewery with James, added: “I think it’s very exciting times for Kirkham – there is a real sense that the town is on the up.

“We do have a few empty shops, but not as many as other similar towns, and I think Kirkham is up and rising.

“What’s important is we create a culture where people are choosing not to go out of town to eat and actually stop in their hometown. I really think that is changing for the better.

“It’s a great time to invest in the town. The cost of properties is a lot less than other areas on the Fylde coast. Put simply it is a great location with good transport links and has great potential.”

‍James added: “When we first opened Tap and Vent, the initial comments we had was that this would never work in Kirkham – it has enough pubs.

“Our mantra was we only stocked premium products and it worked – we created something new for the town.

“We got a lot of people visiting us who had never been out for a drink in Kirkham. And with all the new homes being built there is a real untapped market. Kirkham now has many different options of where to go and that is great for everyone.”

Andrew and James project managed The Old Bank’s build themselves and were assisted along the way by a £10,000 grant from Fylde Council’s ARG Vacant Premises Grant scheme.

The partnership between the Old Bank and Archforge not only created a stunning new piece of high street art, but is an example of Andrew and James’ aim to work with local firms.

Andrew explained: “If we can look after each other’s businesses it creates a nice future for the town.

“For instance, during the build we used Grundy’s ironmongers and Peter Miller Plumbing and Heating – our next-door neighbours – together with Red Rose Carpets who are also on Poulton Street. The more we could source locally we did. That was really important to us.

“For those who don’t know this used to be the Midland Bank and the symbol of the Midland Bank was a griffin, so we felt it appropriate that if we had something that reflected both the past and the future of the town. It was handmade by Archforge in Kirkham as a bespoke piece.

“We wanted to create a talking point and we think we have achieved that with Archie!”

For more information, reservations and to check out the menu go to www.theoldbankkirkham.co.uk or call 01772 382401

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Signs go digital in Fylde

Fylde Council — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 11:00:13 +0000

Fylde Council has recently installed two new digital signs on the coast to help communicate important messages to visitors.

The signs will provide up to date information including beach safety messages such as tide times and how to stay safe whilst visiting the area.

The signs are located at the beach entrance to the South side of the pier, and near to Lytham Windmill by the RNLI building. They are vandalism-proof and have an eco-power mode meaning they will automatically turn off overnight so as not to waste energy or disturb local residents.

The new digital signage presents the opportunity to communicate important messages to the general public immediately. This includes information regarding local events or warning messages relating to the beach such as high tides, water quality and the discovery of palm oil. Palm oil is toxic to dogs, and as many people enjoy letting their four-legged friends exercise on our beaches it’s important to be aware of if palm oil has been discovered recently.

Councillor Michael Sayward, Chair of the Tourism and Leisure Committee for Fylde Council said:

“This is part of a series of coastal improvements to support borough initiatives, and with the popularity of staycations continuing after the pandemic we expect the high level of footfall along our coast to continue. This means adequate and up to date signage is important to enable residents and visitors to feel informed about what the local area has to offer, and how to responsibly enjoy their time visiting our coast.”

The signs were originally ordered to arrive for install much earlier in the year and in time for the beginning of the summer season. However, delays were encountered during the shipping stages with the units being ‘stuck’ in the Suez Canal in early summer.

The Council feel it is still very important however to continue to communicate important safety messages throughout the quieter autumn and winter months. Many people continue to visit the beaches during this time and are very unaware of the dangers of fast tides and unsafe conditions. The signs will continue to not only promote the offerings of the borough whilst visiting the area but highlight any current risks on the beaches. This will include our life saving advice for if people do find themselves in difficulty, such as calling 999 and asking for the coast guard and the ‘float to live’ message.

Councillor Sayward added:

“For the summer season 2022, we envisage being able to communicate the rules and regulations of visiting our coast, such as the dog exclusion zone on St Annes Beach which is in place from Good Friday to 30^th September each year, and also the many events and leisure activities the Council provides throughout the summer months.”

“We are looking forward to using the digital signs to the best of their ability. They will not only be imperative to communicating life-saving messages and important safety information, but also give the opportunity to promote everything our coastal towns have to offer. This is an exciting step forward for Fylde.”

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Lytham In Bloom install stone sculpture to pay tribute to the Ribble Estuary

Fylde Council — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 15:14:52 +0000

A stone sculpture featuring migrating birds has been installed at the end of Fairlawn Road between The Triangle and Lytham Green promenade.

The Lytham in Bloom group prides itself on providing street furniture with features of artistic merit within the Borough. The bronze Shrimper (fountain) and clock in the herbaceous border both in Lowther Gardens are some local examples of the installations provided by the group.

Following discussions with Sculptor Thompson Dagnall, it was agreed a large boulder would be sculpted with motifs of several bird species associated with the estuary. Flying motifs were decided to reflect the migratory nature of the many species that visit the estuary.

The installation is accompanied by a plaque that explains the significance of the sculpture and the meaning behind it.

In the coming weeks, thousands of Pink-footed Geese will leave their breeding grounds on the arctic tundra and arrive on the Ribble Estuary. Some will stay as winter visitors on the saltmarsh whilst others head towards East Anglia before returning in the spring on their journey back north to Greenland, Iceland or Svalbard. Not only is the site of thousands of geese arriving spectacular, but the evocative sound adds to the atmosphere of the Ribble’s winter soundscape.

In spring and autumn, the estuary hosts thousands of waders on migration as they use the Ribble to refuel and rest before heading towards their breeding grounds on the high arctic. The journey is repeated when in autumn they return before continuing south towards the continent and into Africa.

Trevor Mackey, Chair of Lytham in Bloom said:

“Over many years Lytham in Bloom have celebrated Lytham’s heritage in both permanent and floral sculptures. Notable have been many references to the shrimping industry, and the summer

spectacle of the floral windmill, Clifton Square. Upon deciding on the production of a further artwork, we were again drawn to celebrate our close neighbour, the beauty and naturalness of the

Ribble Estuary. We chose to highlight its rich bird life, the idea prompted by the visual and aural experience of ribbons of geese filling Lytham’s airspace, morning and evening in the winter

months.”

Trevor grew up on the shores of Strangford Lough, Co Down, a sea lough renowned for its winter influx of Whooper swans and thousands of Brent Geese.

Cllr Michael Sayward, Chair of the Tourism and Leisure Committee for Fylde Council added:

“We are looking forward to welcoming the latest artistic installation here in Fylde and are confident it will become as renowned as the others already here.

The attention to detail by Mr Dagnall is superb and the sculpture perfectly represents the value the Ribble Estuary has on the Fylde.”

Jo Taylor, RSPB Learning and Visitor Experience Officer at RSPB Fairhaven Lake commented:

“The Ribble estuary is home to over a quarter of a million wading birds each winter, making it one of the most important estuarine sites in the country. The mudflats here are a veritable larder for these birds, being jam packed with vast quantities of molluscs and crustaceans. Birds such as black tailed godwit, dunlin and curlew just to name a few have their own niche within this ecosystem and they are uniquely adapted to this habitat. Many of these birds will be arriving from their breeding grounds in the Arctic Tundra, Iceland and Greenland any day now, filling the mudflats and the autumn skies.

This beautiful stone carved sculpture pays homage to this perfectly, highlighting the intrinsic importance of the estuary for a wide variety of bird life and is a fitting attribute to this.

How many of the birds featured in the carving will you find out there?”

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Let’s Feel Good Fylde!

Fylde Council — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 11:29:50 +0000

Fylde Council is kicking off a five-week ‘Let’s Feel Good Fylde’ awareness campaign to encourage residents to get out and be active, culminating in the Fylde Sports Festival at the end of October.

With summer turning to autumn and the festive season on the horizon, the council’s sports development and parks and coastal teams are urging people to take advantage of everything the borough has to offer.

Starting on September 20th, each week there will be a different theme and first up is ‘Doing It For The Kids’ which is highlighting all the opportunities available for young people to make new friends and improve their health.

Weight loss, wellbeing, enjoying the outdoors and promoting facilities for people of all ages are among the key themes across the campaign.

Ian Brookes, Sports Development Officer at Fylde Council, is also working with organisations and youth groups to pull together a programme of activities.

He said: “We’re very lucky to have so many wonderful facilities for young people to enjoy here in Fylde and we want to help raise awareness of what is on offer to everyone in the coming weeks.

“More than 18 months of lockdowns and closures has affected both the providers of activities as well as the physical and mental wellbeing of our children and as we step ever closer to normality we want to get everyone out and about and enjoy themselves again.

“With so much on offer for young people in Fylde there really is something for everyone to get involved in. From athletics to boxing and cricket to football, you don’t need to go far to get fit in Fylde.

“In addition, we are blessed with a huge amount of beautiful outdoor spaces including our award-winning beaches, stunning parks and open green spaces

“We have produced a directory of clubs and organisations, a weekly timetable of activities and information about our outdoors spaces on our Let’s Feel Good Fylde pages on our website at xxxx.

This campaign follows the launch of a new grant scheme aimed at encouraging new and exciting activities for young people in the borough.

The ARG Youth Activity Scheme will contribute up to £10,000 to not-for-profit organisations to set up youth clubs, health and mental wellbeing activities, sports and recreational groups, volunteering in the community and youth and family interventions.

Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, is backing the initiative. She said: “Let’s Feel Good Fylde is a great way to raise awareness of everything we have to offer in the borough and I look forward to seeing our wonderful groups in the spotlight in the coming weeks.

“The pandemic hit the sports industry very hard and young people in particular suffered by not being able to take part in their favourite sports or spend time with their teammates, so now is the time to get back out there.

“While we do have a huge amount to offer in Fylde there is always room for more, especially when it comes to getting children involved in activities, and that is why we have launched the youth activity funding.

“The Sports Development team here at Fylde are all dedicated to helping people across the borough and Let’s Feel Good Fylde, along with the Fylde Sports Festival will go a long way to providing a much needed boost to this sector in Fylde.”

Let’s Feel Good Fylde schedule

20th September – Doing it for the kids

27th September – CHANGE weight loss programme

4th October – Age is just a number

11th October – Welcome to wellbeing

18th October – Getting out and active in Fylde – parks, beaches, open spaces, activities and Fylde Sports Festival

For more information please visit: http://www.fylde.gov.uk/feelgoodfylde

To add your organisation or activity to the online directory or timetable of activity please contact ian.brookes@fylde.gov.uk

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Take it, Don’t Leave It hits the mark

Fylde Council — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 11:03:32 +0000

A campaign to help reduce litter across Fylde during an exceptionally busy summer has been hailed a resounding success.

Fylde Council’s Take It, Don’t Leave It campaign has led to a significant reduction in litter and has encouraged even more volunteers to support clean-up operations on beaches and in rural communities.

The campaign was launched in July in partnership with local volunteer group, The Tossers / Wombles to raise awareness among visitors, holiday makers as well as local people and businesses.

A series of competitions, sand art installations and videos to highlight the types of litter left behind, the dangers of disposable BBQs and the devastating effects of rubbish on marine wildlife ran throughout the summer.

The theme of ‘Leave nothing but your footprints’ was the inspiration behind a series of 10-metre-long footprints spectacularly created in Fylde.

A total of 10 footprints were raked into the sand on the beach at St Annes and were captured in a stunning video and imagery that was shared hundreds of times on social media.

The second sand art installation of a dolphin was etched into the sand alongside the Take It, Don’t Leave It message which was also captured in a series of pictures and a video.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and local volunteers made heartfelt pleas to ask people to think twice before lighting BBQs or littering.

The council also invested in additional staff, bins and collections and introduced bucket and spade trade recycling facilities on the beach.

A competition to reward little litter pickers was also launched and prizes were donated from across the Fylde coast with local businesses and attractions more than happy to support the campaign.

They included family passes to Fylde’s Adventure Golf, Blackpool Zoo, Sandcastle and Wild Discovery at Ribby Hall as well as a Beach Hut for the day from St Annes Beach Huts, boat hire for six people on Fairhaven Lake, tickets to the drive-in cinema at Lowther Gardens and some poppets from the Pier Beach shop in St Annes.

To say thank you to the army of volunteers, the Fylde community organised a thank you event.

St Annes Beach Apartments donated five beach huts and other groups and organisations, including Fylde Council, provided refreshments and party supplies.

Cllr Roger Small, Deputy Leader and Chairman of Operational Management at Fylde Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the results of the Take It, Don’t Leave It initiative which has gone a long way to making people think twice before leaving their litter behind.

“The incredible work carried out by our amazing volunteers, along with our teams from the council, has meant that Fylde has been clean and tidy throughout the summer.

“We wanted to support all our local volunteers with a campaign that would amplify the fantastic work they do all year round and we have had a lot of positive feedback from residents, businesses and visitors.

“The last two years have been the most challenging any of us can remember, with staycations meaning huge numbers have descended on our area.

“The seven day a week sessions carried out by staff, in addition to their normal duties, has been superb.

“We however are hugely grateful to the army of volunteers for their unstinting efforts. We could not have done without you, so from all of us to all of you, a sincere thank you.”

Coastal Conservationist and Marine Medic, Tracey Hope is the lead coordinator for the volunteers and has been supporting the campaign throughout summer.

She said: “During the May half term holiday this year we were inundated with visitors and we saw more litter than ever before, which was heart breaking to see.

“With more people holidaying in the UK this year we were expecting the same during the summer but we think the campaign has made a real difference to the amount of rubbish left behind.

“We saw a significant reduction in litter and a really promising increase in the number of people stepping forward to volunteer – including lots of young people and children – which is fantastic.

“I think that highlighting the plight of marine wildlife really helped and we had lots of people telling us that they didn’t know that we had porpoises, dolphins and seals in our waters.

“There was an increase in visibility in volunteers and council staff and the additional bins and collections played a vital part too.

“On behalf of all the volunteers, I would like to thank Fylde Council for their unwavering support in our fight against litter, this is ‘partnership working’ at its best.

“Everyone really enjoyed our ‘end of season party’ too and again we would like to thank St Annes Beach Huts and everyone else that came together to make it a fantastic day.

“The work doesn’t stop there though and we will continue to be out and about keeping our multi-award-winning beach, and the surrounding areas, clean and tidy every day.”

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Fylde Council staff based at Snowdon Road Depot benefit from much needed facilities upgrade

Fylde Council — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 10:53:59 +0000

Employees at Snowdon Road Depot have recently benefitted from a modern upgrade to the facilities there.

The Council has invested much needed funds in completely renovating the office and workspace area at the Snowdon Road Depot with fantastic new modern facilities for all the employees that work from the location.

There is now a clean, efficient, and fit for purpose office, a canteen, meeting rooms, showers, toilets and dedicated drying room for staff who continue to deliver excellent services day in day out, no matter what the weather.

Councillor Roger Small, Chair of the Operational Management Committee said:

“The teams based at the depot have done fantastic work throughout the pandemic with no services being cancelled. Extra demands have been put on them throughout this time as these are the ‘dirty’ jobs we all depend on.”

“The old facilities were outdated with the staff working out of old portacabins which were cramped and without proper changing and drying rooms.”

“This is just one way of showing we value everything our staff do here at Fylde. We want to make sure they have the resources and facilities to continue the great job they do on our behalf.”

The main contract was undertaken by Parkinson’s Contractors with a total scheme capital budget of £414k. The redevelopment began in March 2021 and took 6 months to complete.

Initial feedback from the staff working from the new and improved depot has been fantastic and it is hoped the facilities will enable the employees to continue to feel valued whilst delivering efficient front-line services for the residents of Fylde.

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Fylde Council commits to more effective CCTV provisions to protect the Borough

Fylde Council — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 09:19:25 +0000

Fylde Council is committing to tackling the levels of Anti-Social Behaviour in the Borough through improving the CCTV provision in town centres and supporting community partnerships to engage the younger generation.

At a recent meeting of the Environment, Health and Housing Committee, Members agreed to approve the replacement of the strategic town centre cameras in St Annes, Lytham and Kirkham in principle, subject to Capital budgetary provision being confirmed through the 2022/23 budget process.

It is envisaged that four rapid deployable cameras will also replace the current CCTV vans, and the town and parish Council’s will be encouraged to fund further supplementary cameras to ensure a thorough coverage of the Borough.

The Committee is keen to improve the CCTV provision across the Borough because of its remit for community safety and its status as the statutory crime and disorder committee for the purposes of the Police and Justice Act 2006.

The Council currently controls fifteen static CCTV cameras in town centre locations. The cameras are in in St Annes (8 cameras), Lytham (4) and Kirkham (3). The cameras are maintained under an agreement with Blackpool Council and operated and monitored through an arrangement with Wyre Council.

Information supplied by Lancashire Constabulary and by the Partnerships Officer at Wyre Council, who oversees the Fylde CCTV operations, underlines the usefulness of the town centre cameras.

Recent data from Autumn 2019 to Winter 2020 showed that 2133 incidents were recorded in St Anne’s town centre alone. These were classified by the police as including 198 nuisance incidents, 47 suspicious circumstances, 177 concern for safety incidents and 143 incidents of theft.

Lytham data showed that 547 incidents were recorded, with Kirkham recording 677 incidents, all including nuisance, suspicious circumstances and theft as in St Annes.

As well as the town centre cameras, the Council has historically also been able to deploy two mobile CCTV vehicles which were moved quickly to address problem areas on a temporary basis.

Four rapid redeployable cameras (RRCs) will replace the mobile CCTV cameras with the Council being responsible for their use and regulatory compliance. RRCs are specifically designed to deliver live and recorded high‐definition images via 4G mobile transmission.

The associated costs with improving the provision of CCTV across the Borough are just over £76,000, and the Budget Working Group has recommended that funding for replacing the present town centre cameras be included in the budget for 2022/23.

Councillor Tommy Threlfall, Chair of the Environment, Health and Housing Committee said:

“Community safety is greatly important to us at Fylde. Having effective CCTV across the Borough’s town centres and hot spots is imperative to keeping our residents and visitors safe.

It is clear from the number of incidents recorded throughout 2019 – 2020 that CCTV is a necessity in not only tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, but in helping the Police to bring those responsible to justice.

We are fully committed at the Council to always striving to improve services which benefit the Borough and help to keep it safe. The new CCTV provision looks to do just this, and we are looking forward to having a modern, reliable and rapidly available service when required.”

Councillors also heard at the meeting of a new initiative to tackle underage drinking in Fylde through engaging the younger community.

A Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) was launched on September 7th to highlight the risks of underage drinking and improve the health and wellbeing of local young people.

The CAP will work with youth services and local organisations to provide alcohol-free leisure and sports activities for young people. It will also work with local schools to take a proactive approach to alcohol education and ensure that young people are equipped to make the right decisions about issues including alcohol and drugs and anti-social and criminal behaviour.

Working with local retailers the CAP aims to help them avoid making underage sales and reduce ‘proxy’ sales where adults buy alcohol for under-18s.

CAPs are made up of partnerships between local authorities, police, schools, retailers, neighbourhood groups and health providers, working together to prevent alcohol-related harm to young people and improve the quality of life for residents. More than 200 schemes have now been launched across England, Scotland and Wales.

In Fylde, partners include Fylde Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Police, AFC Fylde Community Foundation, Fylde Rugby Foundation and Streetwise Youth Community plus local schools and retailers.

Kate Winstanley, Director of Community Alcohol Partnerships said:

“I am delighted to see the launch of a CAP in Fylde. Underage drinking is associated with school and educational problems, unprotected sex, drug-taking, violence and drinking problems in later life.

In just over a decade CAP has set up more than 200 partnerships around the UK and our evaluations show they are having a significant impact on reducing children’s alcohol consumption, improving their health and wellbeing and enhancing the communities where they live.”

Ian Brookes, Sports Development Officer at Fylde Brough Council said:

“Concerns were raised by the community about young people’s drinking and anti-social behaviour, and after consulting with local young people, we decided to tackle the issue by setting up a Community Alcohol Partnership, with partner agencies working together to help reduce some of the harm that alcohol causes in our communities and to our young people. We believe it will be a really positive influence on the area.”