Estate transformation in Skelmersdale, new play areas in Ormskirk and Burscough, and extra CCTV for West Lancashire's rural areas have been unveiled by the Conservative Borough Council.
The new schemes, announced at the council's budget meeting on Wednesday night, come as the Conservatives froze the Borough Council's share of council tax for the fifth year in a row.
A package of measures includes:
- £490,000 boost to improve town and village centres, such as Burscough
- £90,000 for new play areas in Coronation Park, Ormskirk, and Richmond Park in Burscough
- £65,000 for new CCTV in Downholland, Scarisbrick, Tarleton and Burscough
- £30,000 towards a canal towpath upgrade in Rufford
- £10,000 to help tackle night time nuisance in Ormskirk town centre
- Continued funding of voluntary sector organisations
- Freezing councillors' allowances
Labour councillors refused to support any of these plans.
Cllr David Westley, Conservative finan ce spokesman, said: "This is a budget for the whole of West Lancashire, and is as a result of sound financial management by this Conservative administration.
"We are continuing to invest in the borough without hiking up council tax, as the Labour group at County Hall have done.
"The council has had to make some tough decisions but through prudent financial control, we are able to announce some exciting projects at a time when many Labour-run authorities in the area are having to slam on the brakes."
On the evening, plans were also revealed for estate revival in Beechtrees, Digmoor, Skelmersdale.
Cllr Adrian Owens, deputy Conservative group leader and spokesman for housing finance, said: "I'm particularly pleased to announce the new estate revival plan for Beechtrees. This follows on from the excellent progress we have made in Firbeck and Findon.
"The transformation which is starting to take shape there is one we want to spread to other areas making those inroads into the design errors of the 1960s and 1970s in Skelmersdale New Town."
Conservative Group leader Cllr Ian Grant said: "Over the past decade, good solid management of the council by local Conservatives has meant that, when times are tough, we are still able to invest in our communities.
"We also have had the lowest council tax rises in the whole of Lancashire during that period. Through our Business Plan, we've set out a strategy to live within our means and rejected Labour's 'open chequebook' policies which would have left the coffers practically bare by now."
"We have a record of investment, along with prudent financial management, which even in tough times is benefitting communities across West Lancashire."
Burscough Conservative Cllr Ruth Melling welcomed the announcement of new CCTV and investment in public open spaces in the village.
She said: "Burscough has been transformed in the past decade thanks to investment by the Conservative council. It's important we continue this and not allow Labour back in. Last time they ran the council they jacked up council tax by 15% and almost doubled councillors' allowances."