Huge update on lease as Fleetwood's multi-million pound People's Pier project moves forward
“Even if just means shovelling sand, we can make a start.”
Fleetwood People’s Pier CIC- the group behind ambitious plans to bring Fleetwood Pier back to life - have agreed in principle to secure the lease for the site and say they’ll be taking it on ‘soon’ once paperwork has been signed off.
That will mean that work can begin on the 2000 sqm site - even if it just means a clean-up operation.
Jane Couch MBE, who is the brainchild behind the impressive scheme and is working tirelessly behind the scenes with a group of dedicated volunteers, said: “We have bought the lease for the pier site in principle, subject to finalising a few small details, and once it has been completed we can start straight way.
“Even if just means shovelling sand, we can make a start.
“The ground needs flattening and the water and electrics, I think it will cost around £5m to get it off the ground but once we have the lease, we can apply for grants and funding, there are plenty out there.”
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When Pride in Fleetwood held FleetFest - a family festival last month designed to bring the community together and to find out how they think £20m Pride in Place funding should be spent - Jane said the concept for People’s Pier was backed by 74% of people asked.
Fleetwood will benefit from the government’s expanded Pride in Place programme and will receive £2million for the next ten years to revive its public spaces, high street and community assets.
A key part of this scheme – hailed as one of the biggest Fleetwood projects for decades – is the fact that local people will help decide how the money is spent.
“The money is for Pharos and Mount wards and it’s up to the people how it is spent,” said Jane.
“There’s another meeting in November where people can go and have their say and is great for those who don’t use the Internet.
“People’s Pier will create a lot of jobs, the businesses will hopefully run rent free so that saving can be passed on to customers.”
What would People’s Pier include:
- 10-12 independent restaurants, cafes and food businesses
- 10-15 modern holiday accommodation units
- A large open-air courtyard
- Fully accessible for SEND children and people with disabilities
- Space for events and music festivals
“We have a long way to go but we have already invested a lot of money into it and have fundraising events coming up. But it’s not set in stone, we want to know what people would like to see.”
The next meeting of Pride in Place takes place on November 19 at Emmanuel Church from 5.30pm to 7.30pm in the Community Hall, Emmanuel on the Mount Church, Fleetwood.