Council approves new CIL funding bids for local projects
- £1.3m of CIL funding approved to support 17 projects across the Borough
- Projects include improvements to children’s playgrounds and sports facilities, and support for GP surgeries
- Approval at Cabinet comes after a recent public consultation
West Lancashire Borough Council's Cabinet have agreed to allocate £1.3m of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding to 17 projects across the Borough, following a round of public consultation.
Approved projects include improvements to children’s playgrounds, Ormskirk West End Football Club and Ormskirk Rugby Club facilities and increasing space at three NHS GP Surgeries in Aughton, Ormskirk and Skelmersdale. Funding is also being awarded to projects delivering green space enhancements including Fairy Glen and the Canal Towpath between Halsall and Scarisbrick, in partnership with the Canal and River Trust.
The Community Infrastructure Levy has been charged by West Lancashire Borough Council to property developers since 2014 and the money raised can be used to pay for a wide range of community infrastructure that is needed to support the new developments. The total cost of all projects including match funding amounts is £2,532,287.61, of which 51% has been requested as CIL funding.
The full list of 17 projects that have secured funding are:
- Holmeswood Play Area Fence Replacement, Rufford and Holmeswood Parish Council - £3,000
- Holmeswood MUGA (Phase 2), Rufford and Holmeswood Parish Council - £13,000
- Replacement Bus Shelters in Rufford and Holmeswood, Rufford and Holmeswood Parish Council - £9,900
- Rufford Park Play Area, Rufford and Holmeswood Parish Council - £4,500
- Aughton Surgery, Aughton - To increase capacity to deliver GP and primary care NHS provision, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) - £50,000
- Hall Green Surgery, Skelmersdale - To increase capacity to deliver GP and primary care NHS provision, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) - £25,000
- Hants Lane Clinic, Ormskirk -To increase capacity for the provision of GP and primary care services, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) - £50,000
- Fairy Glen Green Infrastructure Improvements, WLBC - £55,000
- Environmental site enhancements at Kiln Lane and Tongbarn playing fields, Skelmersdale, WLBC - £62,700
- Halsall-Scarisbrick Canal Towpath Improvements, Canal and River Trust - £175,095.14
- UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Community Grant Scheme Match Funding, WLBC - £344,410.50
- Beacon Country Park Play Area Improvements, WLBC - £346,500
- Whittle Drive Changing Facilities, WLBC - £40,000
- West End Park Improvements, WLBC - £80,000
- Halsall Lane Park Improvements, WLBC - £16,500
- Green Lane Rugby Pitch Improvements, Ormskirk Rugby Club - £9,261.97
- Whittle Drive Pitch Improvements, Ormskirk West End Football Club - £6,100
Councillor Gareth Dowling, Deputy Leader of the Council and portfolio holder for Planning and Community Safety, said: "We are pleased to have approved the allocation of CIL funding for these excellent projects that add real value to our communities and provide fantastic new facilities across West Lancashire.
"It's great that we can allocate these funds to support under-pressure NHS health clinics to improve existing facilities that can really make a difference to our communities.
"I'd like to thank everybody who took part in our consultation to make a positive change in their local area and support the work we are doing to invest in our communities - this being among the largest ever spending investments made by West Lancashire Borough Council in our community facilities over the past ten years.
"While we are investing heavily, we'd like to thank our partners, such as the NHS and Canal and River Trust, for enabling us to bring the total funding committed to over £2.5million."
