35. Poulton Forum May 2025

Your PUBLIC FORUM. Hosted by Poulton & Carleton Residents’ Association – save the date for the next Poulton Forum May 2025.

Poulton Forum Tuesday 6 May 2025

Tuesday 6 May in St Chads Church starting at 7pm
(Hosted by POULTON & CARLETON RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION)

Summary of main points discussed, decisions and action agreed

1. Introductions and Finances

1.1 Lesley Middleton (Residents’ Association Chair) welcomed those present to the 35^th Forum meeting. Approximately 70 members of the public attended plus Lancashire County Councillor Alf Clempson, and Wyre Councillors Roger Berry, Colette Birch (who had apologised for expected late arrival), Simon Bridge, Peter Le Marinel, Lesley McKay, Steven Nicholls, and Jan Schofield.

1.2. For the benefit of newcomers, Lesley explained that the Residents’ Association has no political affiliation and is run by volunteers who are not employed by or subsidised by Wyre Council. The Association’s aim is to bring residents in touch with their Councillors, help residents find out where to go to have queries answered and problems resolved, and to provide updates on issues of local interest. As advised at the last Forum, Lesley and her team are to step down and Lesley introduced Slav Baran who will be taking over her role in the coming months. Slav will need volunteers to help him with tasks such as minute writing, manning the door and managing the roving microphone. Without volunteers Forum meetings, which have averaged 2 per year in recent years, will cease. Anyone willing to help should contact Lesley (lesleymiddleton84@gmail.com)

1.3. Lesley reported that there is currently c£15 in the Association’s bank account, monies that are used to meet running costs such as the IT platform used to issue updates etc to a 500+ mailing list, donations to some speakers and venue hire – though the latter would not apply tonight thanks to Rev Canon Keighley. Donation boxes were available at the back of the Church and attendees and email recipients wishing to make a donation electronically should contact Lesley for bank details (lesleymiddleton84@gmail.com)

2. Hedgehog Rescue Blackpool

2.1. Carolyn Bamber, a volunteer with Hedgehog Rescue, gave a presentation about the organisation. It was first established in 2015, became a Registered Charity in 2020 and covers a wide area, including the Fylde. The Charity provides advice and takes in animals that are injured or ill. In 2017 they admitted 121 hedgehogs and in 2024 took in 1068. This increase is attributed both to people’s increasing awareness and to the animals’ shrinking territory. In the 1950s there were estimated to be 30 million hedgehogs in the UK and by 2018 that number had fallen to 879,000. Carolyn highlighted some key facts such as that the average hedgehog has 3-5 thousand quills and they do not shed them except in their first few months or if ill and, in the wild, can live up 6 years. They are nocturnal, they hibernate and they breed in the Summer, usually in June and sometimes also in September. They can travel up to 1km each night in search of food (hence the importance of having gaps in your garden fence) and that food includes insects, slugs, and snails (never bread and milk!). Hedgehogs are good swimmers – the problem with garden ponds is their steep sides which prevent the animal climbing out. Other dangers in the garden include slug pellets, unlit bonfires, strimmers and mowers.

2.2. The Charity is always in need of sponsors, donors, volunteers, and fosterers; the latter takes just 5 minutes a day. They have a website (www.hedgehogrescueblackpool.co.uk) which provides more information, including telephone contact numbers, and are on Facebook.

3. Local Authority Re-organisation

3.1. Councillor Roger Berry gave an update on the Council’s response to the Government’s Local Authority re-organisation plans. The intention is to re-organise two-tier authorities into single-tier structures. Local councils have been asked to submit re-structuring proposals and to do so in consultation with neighbouring authorities. The new unitary councils are expected to be the right size to achieve efficiency, improve capacity, absorb financial shocks and, in most cases, serve a population of c 500,000. The Government’s timetable required an interim response by February 2025 to be followed by a final response later this year. Final decisions are expected by August 2026 with new structures implemented in April 2027 or 2028. The relevant (2007) legislation requires those final decisions to be made by the Secretary of State. Affected Councils do not have to give formal consent and there is no mechanism for the public to support or oppose the decision through a petition or referendum.

3.2. In Lancashire there are 15 councils – county, unitary, district and borough – and Council leaders have been in discussion about the options available. An interim response was submitted to Government in February indicating that Lancashire had not yet decided on the final option and asking for clarity on some of the criteria, including population. A reply is awaited. Councillor Berry emphasised that Wyre councillors much prefer to work with fellow Lancashire Authorities to reach an agreed approach rather than have a decision imposed by the centre and will endeavour to keep residents informed as matters progress.

4. Wyre Council Update

Councillor Peter LeMarinel gave an update on various planning issues. Recent changes to the national flood map mean that the risk associated with the Fouldrey Road development has been increased. This will require plans to be reconsidered. The Council will arrange another residents’ meeting if a new application is received from the developer. He has no information about suggestions that phase 2 of the Holts Lane development has been abandoned but will check and provide an update. Plans for the new pavilion at Cottam Hall can be seen on the Council website. The development looks impressive and represents a good investment for the area. Councillor McKay confirmed that the pavilion is just part of the plan for the fields and work on it and various other developments will be ongoing through the year. In response to questions, it was reported that the developer was declining to ‘top-off’ the new properties on Carr Head Lane until they had all been sold.

5. Lancashire County Council Update

5.1. LCC Councillor Alf Clempson provided the following updates. He and Andrew Snowden, MP have been in discussion with the Post Office about the future of the Teanlowe Crown Post Office. They have been assured that it will become a franchised operation and not be closed. Nothing is yet set in stone and they will both be keeping the pressure on. Progressing the possibility of having a Banking Hub has been deferred until the PO situation is confirmed. In the meantime, he is grateful to the local shopkeeper who has provided a free cash point.

5.2. Regarding roads, Alf reiterated his opposition to Fouldrey Road development, not least because of the implicit heavy traffic on a road that has two schools. He was pleased to report that his pothole ‘hotspots’ on Vicarage Road, Stocks Court and Chapel Street had all been fixed during night-time works and are looking good. Next up on his pothole list are Tithebarn Street and Breck, Station, Vicarage and Curzon Roads. As ever, Alf relies on residents for evidence and he suggested that anyone spotting potholes that met the 40mm depth threshold could use an app called “Love Clean Streets” to report them. He continues to press for pedestrian islands on Garstang Road West and again, would welcome ammunition from residents. The roadworks outside the library are causing chaos and Alf has been pressing to get the work done as speedily as possible. Concerns have been raised about the Norcross Roundabout, which some residents are avoiding, and he has raised this with Highways England. Regarding pavements, Poulton has done quite well over recent years but residents should email him about any problems and he will chase.

5.3. Speeding is a problem all round Poulton and Alf has discussed this with Poulton’s new Police Inspector. The Inspector seems keen and Alf is hoping for his proactive support. More generally, Alf meets the local Police once a month to discuss residents’ issues and he is happy to pass on comments. In response to a question about flooding caused by gullies not being cleared, Alf reported that LCC are improving, now being both proactive and reactive on this issue. Problems are often caused by parked cars but he will keep pressing them.

(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 Poulton Gala: – will take place on Saturday 7^th June. The procession will leave Cottam Hall at 12 noon, wind around the town and return to Cottam Hall where there will be a funfair, live entertainment, full bar etc. On Sunday 8^th June there will be a Music Festival between 12 and 7pm, again at Cottam Hall, with live music, stalls, food, and drink. Admission is free on both days but donations will be welcome.

6.2. Wyre Council’s Wanderland Family Festival: – will take place at Cottam Hall on Saturday 26^th July between 11 and 5pm. There will be a variety of entertainment including live music, stage performances and Europe’s largest walking T-Rex dinosaur. Food and drink will be on sale. There is an admission charge and tickets can be purchased via the Council website (www.wyre.gov.uk).

6.3. VE Day: – There will be flag raising ceremonies on Thursday 8^th May at 9.00am at the Civic Hall and then in the Market Square and at the Community Centre. There will be a beacon lighting and wreath laying ceremony in the Market Square in the evening.

6.4. Vote of Thanks: Peter Gibson proposed a vote of thanks to Lesley and her team for all their hard work over the last 14 years and wished good luck to the new Chair.

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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