Countryside Rangers - Service Standards
Read on, or download our service standards for
the Countryside Ranger Service.
West Lancashire has over 350 hectares of attractive open spaces.
The district is a largely rural area and takes in:
- Tawd Valley Park, Skelmersdale
- Platts Lane Lakes, Burscough
- Beacon Country Park, Up Holland
- Ruff Wood, Ormskirk
- Fairy Glen, Appley Bridge
- Dean Wood, Up Holland
- Cheshire Lines, Downholland
- Abbey Lakes, Up Holland
- Chequer Lane Lake, Up Holland
- Hunters Hill Quarry, Hilldale
We try and ensure that these areas are attractive, accessible
and well maintained for you and your family to use. Our outdoor
spaces help the council meet its corporate priorities around:
- Providing opportunities for leisure and culture
- Protecting and improving street scene and the environment
This information explains what facilities we offer, what
activities take place there, what standards you can expect from us
and gives further contact details.
What we do
The Countryside Rangers look after a variety of outdoor open spaces
and are based at Beacon Country Park in Up Holland. The service is
part of the Leisure, Culture, Culture and Arts Section of the
Community Services Division. The Countryside and Outdoor Recreation
Service has a wide remit. Through its Ranger Service it is
responsible for the patrolling and wardening of our sites, habitat
management conservation and non-routine maintenance (complementing
the grounds maintenance function), public events and activities,
publicity and promotion, and an on-going environmental education
programme.
Our teams of Countryside Rangers work closely with local
communities, creating opportunities for you to get involved with
exciting and innovative projects which will help to shape your
local countryside. As well as all this, we offer opportunities such
as illustrated talks, guided walks and conservation projects with
schools and groups. We also offer a Junior Rangers' Club especially
for children and a volunteer Ranger service for adults.
Fees and payment
There are no fees for visiting these outdoor spaces - but there may
be fees for events, or products such as maps. Payment is by cash
only.
Our service promise
We will ensure that:
- Litter is cleared promptly
- Public paths and walkways are well maintained and
accessible.
- Countryside furniture is well maintained and comfortable and
repairs are carried out within 10 days of reporting.
- Events are publicised, information points are updated regularly
and signage is clear and well maintained.
- Areas are patrolled taking effective action against litter, dog
fouling, vandalism and other anti-social behaviour.
- For educational activities, we provide you with a range of
exciting countryside activities including a Natural Learning
environmental education pack, and opportunities to develop
countryside skills and knowledge.
How you can help us
- Please check before visiting that any special events are
on.
- If you are accompanying children, people with disabilities or a
group, please ensure that they are supervised and you adhere to the
Country Code.
- Please ensure that you have suitable clothing, equipment, and
protection for your activity.
- We are happy to assist all our customers with special needs.
Please mention this to our staff when you contact them.
- Please tell us about any build up of litter, vandalism, or need
for repairs.
Our general corporate standards
We have a number of general standards, which apply to all services
across West Lancashire District Council. You may find these useful
to note:
- We aim to answer letters and emails within 10 working
days.
- If you request a fuller reply, or the matter requires detailed
investigation, we will send you an acknowledgment within 10 days,
which will set out what action is being taken and when you are
likely to receive a detailed response.
- We aim to answer your phone calls within 10 seconds.
- You can make an appointment to see a manager or speak to staff
in confidence.
- At all times our staff will show courtesy, respect and
sensitivity.
- To view our general standards in full see Corporate
Standards.
Give us your feedback
We want to provide services that delight our customers and which
are second to none. We monitor the standards we set but also value
feedback from our customers and residents on how we can further
improve services. If you have any comments, compliments or
complaints, there is a form on which you can make any suggestions.
These are available by downloading a copy from our website or by
visiting our main offices. Alternatively you can call Customer
Services and one of our advisers will complete a form with you over
the phone.
If you do make a complaint about our services, please note that we
have a formal process for dealing with these. These should
initially be addressed to the service manager whose details are
given below. Our promise to you is that any complaint will be
answered within 10 working days.
Contacting us
Click: Countryside
Email: beacon.park@westlancsdc.gov.uk
Call: 01695 577177 or 01695 622794
Come in: Ranger Office
Beacon Country Park
Beacon Lane
Up Holland WN8 7RY
Our Customer Contact Centre is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to
Friday for telephone calls.
We can provide this information upon request on audiotape, in large
print, in Braille and in other languages.