West Lancashire Borough Council approves major funding to enhance local infrastructure and community facilities

WEST Lancashire Borough Council's Policy and Resources Committee has agreed to allocate �1.29m of funding across 13 projects following a round of public consultation.

Together, these projects will enhance over 2.8 miles of towpaths, restore the famous Ormskirk Clock Tower ahead of its 150 year Anniversary in 2026, upgrade play and sports facilities for hundreds of families and create new green spaces and heritage improvements that will benefit residents right across West Lancashire.

13 projects have secured funding to be delivered in 2026 to 2028 following an extensive public consultation to ensure the projects reflect local priorities. These are:-

Burscough to Parbold towpath improvements (Canal and River Trust); �683,875
West Lancashire Light Railway Y Caban multipurpose building (West Lancashire Light Railway Trust); �90,200
Rufford Recreation Ground Play Area Safety Upgrade (Rufford Parish Council); �12,660
Burscough Community Orchard (Burscough Town Council); �17,916
Parbold Memorial Stone (Parbold Memorial Stone Committee); �3,250
Ormskirk Town Centre Access Restriction Measures (WLBC Economic Regeneration); �79,200
Wigan Road, Ormskirk Bus Stop enhancements (Lancashire County Council); �48,500
St Helens Road, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk Bus Stop enhancements (Lancashire County Council); �48,500
Ormskirk Clock Tower Repairs and Maintenance (WLBC Economic Regeneration); �48,750
Whittle Drive Pitch developments (Ormskirk West End Football Club); �31,304
Whittle Drive Changing Facilities renovations (WLBC Leisure); �100,000
Waterworks Road Public Right of Way (Lancashire County Council); �42,300
Long Hey Kickabout Area, Skelmersdale (WLBC Ranger Service); �15,000 of Neighbourhood CIL monies, �30,750 of Strategic CIL and �45,000 of Section 106 monies (total �90,750)

Councillor Gareth Dowling, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Planning and Community Safety, said:- "We are pleased to have approved the allocation of almost �1.3m worth of Community funding for these excellent projects to improve facilities and add value to our communities across West Lancashire. Improvements to our green infrastructure such as:- open spaces, footpaths and play areas, will encourage, enable and promote walking and cycling as well as improving accessibility for everyone who wishes to enjoy our beautiful borough. I'm delighted to see we are continuing in our pursuit to have a fully accessible canal towpath right across the borough for residents to enjoy and drive tourism and inward investment. We're investing in play areas across Ormskirk, Skelmersdale and Rufford as well as improving the safety of Ormskirk Town Centre through additional vehicle restrictions in the pedestrianised area. And I'm pleased to finally be able to fund the upgrade of bus stops by the hospital. The funding will also help to preserve some of our most treasured local heritage assets for current and future generations. I look forward to seeing the projects come to fruition over the next few years as our residents begin to enjoy their many benefits."

Southport Charity Parenting 2000 Purchases Alchemy Youth Hall, Saving Vital Community Asset from Development

SOUTHPORT'S Parenting 2000, a leading children, young people, and family charity, is proud to announce it has officially purchased its Mornington Road Youth Centre, the Alchemy Youth Hall, after leasing the site for over 12 years.

The building and its accompanying 1.5 acres of land were recently placed on the market via competitive tender. Despite significant interest from property developers, Parenting 2000 emerged as the successful bidder, ensuring the site remains a dedicated community asset rather than a residential or commercial development.

"Securing this building and land is a monumental win for the charity and the Southport community. Over the last decade, we have invested heavily in transforming Alchemy Hall into a vibrant hub. Purchasing the site protects that investment and, more importantly, ensures our vital services have a permanent home." said the Janine Lloyd, Chief Executive of Parenting 2000.

Alchemy Youth Hall is a cornerstone of local support, currently serving:-

Youth Services - Over 120 young people attend weekly youth clubs, mentoring sessions, and activities run by Parenting 2000 and by other community organisations
Mental Health Support - The site hosts the Sefton Mental Health Adult Crisis Caf� during weekends.
Community Space - The hall remains available for local organisations and groups to hire for daytime activities.

Founded in 1994 by a group of local parents, Parenting 2000 provides a wide range of emotional, health, and practical support delivered from their 2 sites at:- Mornington site and also from Crosby Youth and Community Centre. Their services include therapeutic counselling for children and young people, family and support for struggling parents, Alchemy Youth Club, for:- 11 to 18 year olds, Youth mentoring and an extensive range of youth activities which currently includes:- free weekly Boxing training with Local MMA star and UFC professional Nathan Fletcher and Football coaching with professional coaches Pro Sport. By securing the Alchemy Youth Hall and its grounds, Parenting 2000 guarantees that these essential services will continue to thrive in the heart of the Town Centre for generations to come.

For more information on services, please visit the Parenting 2000 website.

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West Lancashire Borough Council approves major funding to enhance local infrastructure and community facilities

Southport Charity Parenting 2000 Purchases Alchemy Youth Hall, Saving Vital Community Asset from Development