The Council at its meeting on 21 October 2015 approved a draft Leisure Strategy and a draft Playing Pitch Strategy for consultation.
The draft Strategies cover the period 2015-2025 and encompass the Council's built sports facilities, arts and ranger services, a community centre, play provision and playing pitches. The draft Strategies set out a proposed strategic direction for Leisure and Cultural Services going forward and would replace the Council's existing 2004 strategies.
The Strategies outline key aims and actions including establishing a Project Team to undertake the procurement of a new partnership arrangement from 1 April 2020, when the current arrangement with West Lancashire Community Leisure Trust/Serco comes to an end. This would include options for securing significant capital investment for the Council's built sports provision, subject to the finances available, as follows:
- Developing a new sports centre for Skelmersdale, to replace Nye Bevan Pool
- Replacing Ormskirk's Park Pool
- Refurbishing and/or enhancing the sports facilities at Burscough Racquets and Fitness Centre and Bank Sports Centre
Other key Aims/Actions include:
- Addressing the under provision of football pitches at youth and junior level
- Supporting the development of linear parks and other cycle routes linking urban areas within the borough
- Working with partners to expand the GP Referral Scheme and develop sports activities for young people to tackle childhood obesity
- Providing enhancements to the Chapel Gallery and producing a commercial development plan which includes the scope to rent studio/display space
The Borough Council is launching a public consultation on its draft Leisure and Playing Pitch Strategies for the next 10 years and wants to hear your views on these very important documents.
A full copy of the draft leisure strategy will be available at your views from Monday 2 November, where you will also be able to give your views on the draft strategy. The public consultation runs from Monday 2 November 2015 until Sunday 10 January 2016. The Council will take into account the views we receive through the consultation in forming the final strategy.