34. Poulton Forum July 2024

Your PUBLIC FORUM. Hosted by Poulton & Carleton Residents’ Association – save the date for the next Poulton Forum July 2024.

Poulton Forum Wednesday 31 July 2024

Wednesday 31 July in St Chads Church starting at 7pm
(Hosted by POULTON & CARLETON RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION)

Notes from the Meeting

Summary of main points discussed, decisions and action agreed

1. Introductions and Finances

Lesley Middleton (Residents’ Association Chair) welcomed those present to the 34^th Forum meeting. Approximately 60 members of the public attended plus Lancashire County Councillor Alf Clempson, and Wyre Councillors Roger Berry, Colette Birch, Simon Bridge, Peter Le Marinel, Lesley McKay, Steve Nicholls, Jane Preston, and Andy Walker. Apologies had been received from some members of the public and Councillor Steve Nicholls. Lesley reported that there is currently c£145 in the Association’s bank account, monies used to meet running costs such as admin and the IT platform.

2. Police Community Support Officer Report

2.1. Denise Creighton, Wyre PCSO, gave a presentation about the role. She has been a PCSO for 3 years and her patch covers Poulton, Over Wyre, and Garstang where she is based. Poulton had a new ‘Neighbourhood Bobby’ appointed six weeks ago. Mark Stringer (on holiday so unable to attend the Forum) is an experienced officer who residents are encouraged to approach. PCSOs are not response officers and cannot arrest people. Their role is to implement Lancashire Constabulary’s Neighbourhood Policing policy by engaging with residents, problem solving and targeting specific issues. They aim to keep the community safe and feeling safe, focus on crime prevention and on reducing repeat offenders. Nuisance events, such as door knocking, social media abuse and anti-social behaviour are a focus. If, by liaising with schools, they can identify young people involved in such activity they have a process in place to escalate and manage the situation through Youth Referrals.

2.2. In response to questions, Denise confirmed residents’ CCTV and door-bell camera footage can legally be used by the Police. (Call 101 and details of an upload link will be advised.) Councillor Berry added that latest anti-social behaviour figures for Poulton/Carleton are improving, stand at 18% (compared to Fleetwood’s 40%) and largely involve disputes between neighbours. He also reported that more volunteers are needed to join the CCTV monitoring team and anyone interested should contact the Civic Centre.

3. Wyre’s Local Plan

3.1. Fiona Riley, Planning Policy Manager at Wyre Council, gave a presentation on the Local Plan. She explained that Councils have a statutory duty to produce a Plan looking ahead 15 years and detailing policies that will guide decisions on planning applications. These policies include meeting housing needs but also address employment, health and wellbeing, the natural environment, built environment and heritage, town and retail centres, the infrastructure and tackling climate change. There is a process to be followed, the end-result is vetted by Central Government and must be reviewed regularly. Wyre’s last Plan was done in 2019 with a partial update in 2023. The Plan now being worked on will cover the period 2022 – 2040.

3.2. Wyre has now produced an Issues and Options consultation document. Public consultation will run from 29 July to 10 September. Comments can be made on-line (www.wyre.gov.uk/local-plan), by completing a form available at the Library, and by sending a letter to the Civic Centre (anonymous written comments cannot be accepted). There will also be an event at Poulton Community Hall on 17 August (and provisionally, another in the Market Place on 19 August). Fiona explained that, in respect of housing, the options being presented are based on the targets set by the previous Government. The new Government’s planning reforms are subject to consultation until 24 September so the impact cannot be confirmed but it is believed that the housing target will increase. A new National Planning Policy Framework (the national equivalent of the Local Plan) is awaited and the impact of this on issues such as Green Belt designation is yet to be confirmed. In light of all this uncertainty Wyre did consider abandoning the current consultation exercise but decided to go ahead to explain what is happening and allow issues other than housing to be addressed.

3.3. In response to questions, it was confirmed that the housing target number is set by central Government and cannot be challenged; the LA’s role is to decide where to build. The type of housing will be calculated based on evidence, which currently suggests smaller and more affordable properties. But developments do need to be financially viable from the housebuilders’ perspective. On the question of infrastructure associated with new builds (e.g. roads, schools, GPs etc) decisions on spending the so-called Section 106 monies are made by the delivery authority e.g. LCC, Integrated Care Board etc. Details of these decisions can be seen on the Wyre website. Wyre’s role is to facilitate by allocating land.

4. Wyre Council Update

In response to questions Peter LeMarinel advised that, although not yet confirmed, the Poulton to Fleetwood railway project was now looking very doubtful. He also confirmed that, although there had been no news about Blackpool FC’s proposed training ground on Garstang Road, they do have planning permission.

5. Lancashire County Council Update

5.1. LCC Councillor Alf Clempson provided the following updates. Chapel Street Mews has been adopted by LCC and repairs undertaken. The result is not perfect but it is safe and the next step will be to secure funds to allow its historical significance to be illustrated.  Resurfacing is underway on Rydal Avenue. Once done the issue of parking will be tackled. Options for there, Derby Road and Elletson Street will be subject to a formal consultation exercise in October. LCC is starting to catch up on pothole repairs, improving both roads and pavements. Elletson Street, Tithebarn Place, Stocks Court, Vicarage Road are among the priorities.

5.2. Pavement issues are often caused by Utility Companies and Alf continues to press LCC to inspect these works. Alf is also widely raising questions about the plans to install new poles for a 6G aerial broadband network – reportedly as many as 150 in the area. This is in line with Government policy to improve broadband but there is an argument that urban areas do not need this in the same way as rural. The poles will be on LCC land and Alf is pressing for this work to be inspected. Cllr Berry said that he had raised the poles issue with new MP Andrew Snowden who is to raise with other Lancashire MPs. A question was asked about the open brook on Ladybower Lane Estate and Cllr Birch reported that the Environment Agency has been monitoring this and it is on their programme for action but she will raise it with then again.

(Alf encourages residents to contact him about their concerns at any time. His contact details are: email alf.clempson@lancashire.gov.uk , mobile 07983335630 and at his informal surgery in the New Penny Café between 10.00 and 12.00 on Saturday mornings and in Poulton Library between 9.00 and 12.00 on Tuesdays and Fridays)

6. Any Other Business

6.1 Masterplan for Cottam Hall Playing Fields

Dean Blackhurst gave an update following his presentation at the last Forum. The master plan was completed in December and a baseline report and community consultation report published. Wyre Council have been looking at the options for the Sports Pavilion. A draft Master Plan is in place for a consultation exercise that began 27 September. There are provisional plans for a drop-in event at Poulton FC on 14 September – details will be confirmed on Wyre’s website.

6.2. Succession Planning

Lesley re-iterated that this was her 34^th Forum (the inaugural meeting was 7 November 2011!) and that she believes the time is right to look for a new Chair. She is not planning an immediate resignation but wants to step down for someone new who, in 2025, may do things differently; put their own spin on it. Lesley has been helped by a small group of colleagues and her successor would need their own team. If a name surfaces, please advise Lesley (lesleymiddleton84@gmail.com) and she will have a chat.

7. Date of Next Meeting

Details of the next meeting will be advised in due course.

Notes of previous meetings and local events can all be found in this section on www.visitpoulton-le-fylde.co.uk

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