Planning for the Future -Building A Bigger and Better Burscough Summary Report, December 2014


Introduction

  1. This short report sets out the outcomes of thePlanning for the Future - Building a Bigger and Better Burscough launch sessionsheld during November 2014. The sessions were held at the earliest opportunity to begin to engage local residents, groups and businesses on the Burscough Neighbourhood Development Plan.
  1. Neighbourhood Development Plans are a new part of the planning system. This gives Parish Councils the power to set planning policy for the future of their area. This power must be exercised within the framework set by national planning policy and the planning policy contained in the West Lancashire Local Plan.
  1. In November 2014 Burscough Parish Council were designated by West Lancashire Borough Council as the neighbourhood planning body for the Parish.
  1. The rest of this report summarises:

The format of the four launch sessions;

What was said at each of those sessions;

Summarises the key themes emerging from those sessions; and

Identifies the key actions or next steps that need to be taken in producing the Burscough Neighbourhood Development Plan (BNDP)

The Launch Sessions

  1. Four Launch Sessions were held in November 2014, these were as follows:

Business, 19th of November (morning)

Community, 26th of November (afternoon)

Natural Environment, 26th of November (evening)

Built Environment, 27th of November (afternoon)

A list of those attending is included at Appendix 1 [to be inserted].

  1. Each session followed a common format. An introduction explaining why Burscough Parish Council had decided to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan and why they wanted to engage as openly as possible with as many people, groups and businesses in the area as possible. This was because the plan would be Burscough’s plan not the Parish Council’s plan. This was followed by a brief presentation on the key features of Neighbourhood Development Plans – what it would take to prepare one; the benefits of preparing a neighbourhood plan and the ultimate impact on Burscough, see Appendix 2 to this report. The main body of the meeting was then a break out in to small groups to identify and discuss the key issues facing Burscough relevant to each particular meeting. Each session then concluded with feedback from the groups and a summary of the key issues identified.

Feedback from the Launch Sessions

Business

  1. The business session was attended by over [number to be inserted] businesses and the following issues were highlighted.
  1. What is good about Burscough?
  • community spirit
  • village centre
  • reasonably free of litter
  • Wharf facility
  • junior football facilities (when in use)
  • good schools
  • proactive parish council - councillors accessible
  • Tesco positive impact
  • Christmas decorations admired by residents and visitors
  • canal strong visitor attraction
  • Martin Mere strong visitor attraction (200k visitors /year)
  • rail connections good
  • The Grove works to an extent
  • employers who have a long history/association with Burscough
  • some very good employers/industrial estate brings employment
  • good events that attract children
  • road network just about OK
  • low crime rate
  • local social life is good
  • sports facilities are generally good
  • The Grove is a good facility
  • Wharf events work for local people
  • new businesses opening but..
  • growth of quality businesses Hopvine/Tesco
  • Booths
  • services and related shopping, all in Burscough, in one spot
  • people coming in from other areas attracted to Burscough
  • poor electricity supply on industrial estate
  • visitor economy important
  • number and breadth of businesses/services/products available
  • opportunities to promote tourism - can we create a "day out"
  • community events
  • Facebook page - images of Burscough
  • train cycle availability
  • heritage
  1. When asked “what does not work in Burscough the following issues were raised:
  • Wharf is good but needs further development
  • schools will need to improve capacity in future
  • bus service to industrial estate
  • train service connection (at Ormskirk) poor
  • lack of policing and CCTV coverage
  • lack of parking
  • lack of secondary and primary school facilities
  • business and parish council relationship could be better
  • access/exit for Tesco doesn’t work well/dangerous
  • Tesco negative impact
  • rolling stock bad
  • Grove needs improving
  • surface water drainage
  • sewers
  • highway issues
  • development could threaten community spirit
  • over-subscription of GPs/dentists
  • bus services (general)
  • planned development contrary to public wishes
  • businesses need to work together/not work in isolation
  • calendar of events needed for whole of Burscough
  • markets to be regular in the Wharf
  • Heathfields Estate isolated
  • shortage of affordable housing
  • library not big enough for area
  • lack of pavements on industrial estate
  • work urgently needed on Abbey Lane Sports field
  • No youth centre
  • public landscaping is poor
  • moorings at canal need to be developed for business
  • new businesses opening but make sure they stay
  • local people don’t support local business
  • not all know about local business
  • Sunday main day at Wharf
  • not enough marketing of village and Wharf
  • more advance advertising and communication
  • parish council newsletter is not being received by all businesses
  • poor electricity supply on industrial estate
  • old infrastructure added to over years
  • poor mobile phone signal (O2)
  • slow internet
  • disruption due to Booths development
  • should arrange that work is done overnight
  • car boot sales are a problem causing congestion
  • wrong type of trader in car boot sales
  • limits needed on number of properties to let to students in Burscough
  • Wharf is at the heart of Burscough - or where?
  • Can it be built better for gatherings?
  • cultural heart of Lancashire
  • need to define identity of Burscough
  • utilise Visit Lancashire website
  • signage "welcome to Burscough" needed
  • marketing is poor
  1. When asked to highlight the key issues the groups identified the following:
  • lack of infrastructure
  • lack of social provision for teenagers and pre-teens
  • fracturing of community between Burscough Bridge and Burscough town
  • possible separate identity of Heathfields and Yew Tree Farm
  • affordable housing key issue - urgent
  • moorings at canal for business use
  • encourage tourism footfall
  • communication is central
  • more advertising
  • get business together with parishioners
  • traffic on Liverpool Road
  • a central point to advertise local jobs because we do not have a job centre or recruitment agency for local people
  • poor electricity
  • poor sewerage
  • bus service to industrial estate
  • public transport generally poor
  • use CIL to subsidise public transport
  • higher parking standards on new developments required
  • developing a "Brand Burscough"- who is marketing aimed at
  • importance of Hooper Swan
  • piggy back on Martin Mere reputation
  • external perception of Burscough
  • marketing Lancashire, using Lancaster as focal point, pulls away from Burscough
  • sell Burscough as package
  • first impressions important
  • appalling signage at top of Abbey Lane - bad entrance
  • maximise accommodation - B&B etc.
  • 70% of Martin Mere visitors are general 30% are niche 60% within an hours travel time £5m in local economy
  • can we use weddings in Burscough "Weddings at the Wharf?"
  • differentiate internal/external marketing
  • market with other destinations e.g. Rufford Old Hall
  • use of social media
  • collate attractions together
  • attract coach companies to stop off
  • we need a package
  • twin Burscough with Icelandic town where swans breed
  1. Many of these detailed issues can be dealt with in the BNDP. The key themes to emerge are:

The community spirit and strong identity

The importance of the village centre

The existing road and rail links

The importance of the industrial estate

The potential to build on benefit from visitors to the area, particularly Martin Mere

The benefit of local heritage including the canal and Wharf

Infrastructure

  1. There was an interesting comment that the mistakes made at the Heathfields development should not be repeated and this could be a key focal point of the BNDP particularly given the large-scale development proposed at Yew Tree Farm.
  1. As well as these “planning” issues the session raised a number of non-planning issues. The one that came through very strongly was around the branding and marketing of Burscough. This is not an issue for the BNDP but could be dealt with elsewhere. In a related way the BNDP itself needs a strong brand and needs to be marketed in the right way so as many residents, people working in the area and businesses know about the BNDP and have the opportunity to comment on it as possible.

Community

  1. When asked a similar set of questions the audience at the Community event identified the following:

Good about our community / Bad about our community / What could we do about it in a Neighbourhood Plan?
Strong sense of village identity
Face to face contact
Schools / Schools - Threat from new provision – re selection and expansion
Schools parking – not just for students – not enough for staff
Quality of life
Urban/rural balance
Rail and road links / Railway not so good if you need your car to get to railway
Good number of buildings for community use / Lack of facilities for young people (14 – 18) / Engaging young people – partly through schools
Audit of what is available and costs
Public transport to industrial estate non-existent – not fair on young/apprentices who cannot afford car
Public transport – some links to surrounding areas are poor.
Integrating new development
Pace of change
Things to protect
Cemetery space
Brownfield sites should be used first
Housing and facilities for all – ageing pop. And disability included
IT for public use
Identity and quality of life / These need to be protected
The Plan should be based on fairness and equality
Links to visitor economy / Must be supported and developed
Traffic and Air quality / Must be dealt with
Flooding risk and infrastructure / Are probably important
GPs and dentists will become over subscribed
Leisure facilities require protecting and enhancing
Burscough FC / Important to Burscough
Agriculture / Needs protecting
Police fire community safety – will become more stretched.
  1. The key issue from this group were:

The strong sense of identity

Car parking and traffic

Quality of life and the urban/rural balance

Lack of facilities for young people

Lack of public transport in key areas

The visitor economy

Infrastructure

Natural Environment

  1. The group looking at natural environment issues identified the following:

Good / Bad / What could we do about it in a Neighbourhood Plan?
Martin Mere / Encourage expansion. Protection of existence and character.
Encourage linkages between facility and Burscough village.
Coach parking
Richmond Park and other parks / Protection and enhancement
Play areas / Protection and enhancement
Good network of footpaths/canal towpath / Lack of Bridleways.
Lack of lighting on footpaths, linear paths etc.
Lack of cycleways.
Canal – dirty (Waterways Trust) / Protect, maintain and enhance.
Make linkages/Improve connectivity within and beyond Burscough.
Links to green infrastructure.
Access for all
Informal open spaces (wildlife areas)
Brickie – Rich wildlife
Fishing Lakes etc. / Potential for better use. / Protection as open space/wildlife sites
Rural setting and accessibility to open countryside / Protection and enhancement
Village identity / Protection and retention of existing scale
Top Locks/Canal Heritage / Protection
Agricultural land / Protection
Renewable Energy / Potential on buildings
Wind power / Encourage but needs management
Poor drainage/sewage/surface
water run off / Encourage SuDs, water attenuation, water recycling
Lack of informal play space
Parking/Access at Richmond Park/Schools / Address parking issues within the Parish
Hydro power
Burscough Curves – Need bringing back into use.
Lack of maintenance of outside playing areas at sports centre
Air Quality
Intensive and overdevelopment does not work.
  1. In summary the key issues from this group were:

Benefit of Martin Mere

The area’s parks

The network of footpaths – but lack of cycle and bridleways

The area’s rural setting

The village identity

Car parking

The Burscough Curves need bringing back in to use

Built Environment

  1. The Built Environment group identified the following:

Good / Bad / What could we do about it in a Neighbourhood Plan?
Canal and associated Heritage
Martin Mere
Existing open spaces / Protection and enhancement of local green spaces
Rural identity
Independent rural businesses (Taylors) / Support and protect
Footpaths
Fairy Lights / Street furniture policy
Industrial estate – expanding well; no amenity issues.
Reasonably good mix of housing stock small townhouses to 4/5 bed detached. (Not necessarily priced affordable)
Ainscough’s Mill being developed in a sympathetic manner
Martland Mill – works well
Original factory fronts (Superwoods) are assets to the area. Should be improved. / Possibility of a local list of importance
Good mix of churches designed well. Heritage. / Possibility of a local list of importance
Lot of remnants on Ringtail Industrial Estate. / Possibility of a local list of importance
Canal towpath and other areas are not accessible to all. / Policies to address accessibility
Public Transport is not accessible to all / Design policies to encourage equality and fairness and accessibility
Affordable Local Houses – more required. / Policy to address. Housing Needs Survey required.
Car Parking – Burscough has a shortage of car parks in the village centre.
Shop front design – required
Variety/type/style and size of houses – not a repeat of Heathfields / Integration
Width of footpaths/cyclepaths etc
Footway on Industrial Estate – non existent
Victoria, Orrell and Mart Lane – area has a character should be protected
Landscaping required on Industrial Estate
Wharf does and doesn’t work
  1. In summary, the key issues emerging from this group were:

The canal and associated heritage

The benefits stemming from Martin Mere

The area’s open spaces

The area’s rural identity

The industrial estate and independent rural businesses

The mix of churches

The area’s original factory fronts

Accessibility issues in terms of public transport and the canal towpath

The mistakes made at Heathfields should not be repeated

Key Themes to Emerge from the Four Groups

  1. The key themes to emerge from the four groups are as follows:

The community spirit and strong sense of identity

The importance of the village centre

The existing road and rail links

The importance of the industrial estate and other businesses

The potential to build on benefit from visitors to the area, particularly Martin Mere

The benefit of local heritage including the canal and Wharf

The need to upgrade the area’s infrastructure to keep pace with future growth

Transport issues – including traffic, car parking, the network of footpaths – but lack of cycle and bridleways

Quality of life and the urban/rural balance

Lack of facilities for young people

The area’s parks and open spaces

  1. It is recommended now that these key themes are worked up in to the Vision and objectives for the BNDP.
  1. A basis for the Vision could be the strong sense of identity and the desire to preserve the urban/rural balance that gives the area its special quality and character.
  1. Each of the themes should also be worked up in to an objective e.g.

“The area’s parks and open spaces” could be worked up as the following objective – To protect and enhance the area’s local green spaces

Or:

Transport issues – including traffic, car parking,the network of footpaths – but lack of cycle and bridleways – could be worked up to be – To improve movement and accessibility for all modes of transport

  1. Each of these objectives could also use the more detailed information collected at the four sessions. For example on transport that would include things such as public transport, the lack of cycle and bridleways, Burscough Curves and car parking around schools.
  1. It should also be remembered that there is also opportunity for those preparing the BNDP to add to this list, or take away, as the plan develops.
  1. One final theme that should be considered in the BNDP is links and integration of Yew Tree Farm with the existing community in Burscough. Particularly, given the strong feelings the Heathfields development generates.

Next Steps: Actions

  1. A number of key actions are recommended to move the BNDP on:
  1. A Vision is developed for the plan based on the key themes identified in para 20 above. This could be based on the strong sense of identity and the desire to preserve the urban/rural balance of the area that came through in all four sessions;
  2. A set of objectives and targets needs to be developed from each of the themes identified in para. 20. These could be added to by the BNDP Working Group;
  3. The next phase of community engagement needs to be identified as part of a long-term work programme. This should include feedback on the four launch sessions. This should take the form of “you said this, this what we think and how we think we can tackle it”;
  4. This report should be made publicly available and put on the Parish Council web site; and
  5. The Steering Group should give some thought to the branding of the BNDP and the key messages needed to both publicise and raise awareness on the BNDP and to ensure people understand what it can, and cannot do.

APPENDIX 1 – LAUNCH EVENTS – LIST OF ATTENDEES

Neighbourhood Planning: Building a Bigger and Better Burscough

Numbers

EventTotal numberNumber from target group

Business and the Economy4731 businesses represented

Community1612 residents or representatives of community groups

Natural Environment126 residents or representatives of community groups

Built Environment & Heritage159 residents or representatives of community groups