16 July 2007, 07/239
Don't miss the chance to give your views on
Skelmersdale
Don't miss the chance to give your views on the proposals for the
regeneration of Skelmersdale town centre.
That's the message from West Lancashire District Council which is
advising local people to make sure they fill in their
questionnaires before the 24 July deadline.
Cllr Ian Grant, portfolio holder for regeneration, said: "So far
we've had a good response to the consultation - we've already
received more than 1,700 questionnaires and we hope many more
people will complete them. We appreciate that many people have
strong feelings about some of the options and I want to stress that
at this stage no decisions have been made. We have put forward
options and proposals and we will take everyone's views into
account."
The exciting new proposals have been put forward with the overall
aim of marking a new beginning for the town, creating brand new
shopping, community and leisure facilities along with new housing
and office development.
The views of local people are sought on some important options
which include:
Shopping and leisure
There will be a new 'high street' with new shops - possibly linking
Asda and the Concourse plus a new library, leisure centre,
community centre and college. People are asked to give their views
on where the new high street should go; whether an additional
supermarket is needed, and what range of facilities should be
provided.
Transport
People are asked for their views on whether traffic should be
allowed along the new high street, or if it should be a
pedestrian-only area. Views are also sought on whether there should
be a new location for the bus station.
Tawd Valley
It is proposed to clean up the valley to make it safer and more
accessible. People are asked if they agree with this plan, and are
also invited to give views on whether specialised leisure
activities such as ropewalks should be provided in the valley and
how far access should be improved
Housing
A range of new housing is proposed and people are asked if they
think some should be build on the open land near the town centre
and near the Tawd Valley. New housing is vital to get more people
living in the new centre to help sustain the new facilities, and
also to assist with the funding of moving key facilities such as
the Ecumenical Centre, Leisure Centre and the Library.
The Council is also seeking views on whether the houses at Firbeck,
close to the town centre, should be improved, or if the whole
estate should be redeveloped as part of the wider scheme to
regenerate and improve the town centre as a whole. This would mean
that residents and businesses in the area would need to be
relocated. The Council has written to all the residents and
businesses at Firbeck and held special drop-in sessions to inform
them of the proposals and how possible development could affect
them and to seek their views.
The Council will take account of all the views put forward before
it draws up a masterplan to set out in detail how the proposals
might be implemented. Further consultation on the draft masterplan
will also take place later this year.
Anyone with queries about the proposals can contact the helpline on
0845 230 8586.
How to give your views:
Complete the questionnaire that has been sent to every home in the
town, or visit Your
views and complete the survey online
The proposals for the town centre have been put together by West
Lancashire District Council in partnership with national
regeneration agency English Partnerships. St Modwen Properties PLC
,the UK's leading regeneration specialist, has been chosen as the
preferred developer for the plans.
Related information
> Council
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> Skelmersdale