Fylde Council’s Executive Committee will meet this evening (Thursday 23rd May) to discuss a more ambitious events space being developed in St Anne’s Square West, complete with amphitheatre-style seating. As well as the main event square, the enhanced plans will see improvements to lighting, signage and CCTV. Surrounding streets will be blocked off to traffic when events are held. This major development to the previous plan follows the public consultation last summer about ideas for the St Anne’s Event Space project.
The Council says that feedback from more than 200 people has led to this more ambitious scheme, complete with amphitheatre-style seating and costing £2.91m, being developed. Half of the funding has already been approved and this evening members of Fylde Council’s Executive Committee will discuss granting a remaining £1.4m. If approved, Council Deputy Leader Richard Redcliffe told BBC Radio Lancashire that he hopes work will start in September with the aim of opening in Spring 2025.
Fylde Council had originally submitted a bid to the government’s Levelling-Up Fund to help pay for the scheme, but found out in November 2023 that had been unsuccessful. Council Leader Karen Buckley said: ‘Despite this set back, our determination to invest in St Anne’s Square remains. Of our three town centres in Fylde, St Anne’s has struggled most to adapt to online shopping trends and recover from the pandemic.
While the beach and promenade remain a popular destination, bringing people into the town centre to enjoy the hospitality, shops and businesses on offer is a priority for this council and so the plan is to invest in the more ambitious scheme for greater impact.’
Council Deputy Leader Richard Redcliffe speaking on BBC Radio Lancashire added: ‘If we can create the event space we will pull in large numbers of people which will boost the tourist economy and revitalise the town centre. I think we’d already have people who are organising events who want to move in. The potential is enormous.’
This evening’s meeting document details state, ‘ It is intended to deliver the construction works for the scheme between September 2024 and May 2025, with a detailed programme to be developed and agreed upon procurement of the main contract. It is anticipated that a report to request expenditure for the main contract award will be brought to the Executive Committee meeting on 17th September 2024. ‘
To see the full agenda go to https://fylde.cmis.uk.com/fylde/MeetingsCalendar/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/1478/Committee/49/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx
