'This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these Blackpool communities, we must get it right'

More than 300 residents across Layton and Grange Park have given their views how £20m government cash could be spent in the area.

The first meeting of the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board has taken place, setting the direction for £20million of investment in Layton and Grange Park.

Held at The Boathouse Youth Centre and chaired by newly appointed Chair Sarah Lindsay, the Neighbourhood Board brings together representatives from schools, charities, businesses, councillors and a youth voice to oversee the programme.

The meeting follows community engagement led by Blackpool South MP Chris Webb, which reached more than 300 residents through a survey and six in-person events. Every household across both neighbourhoods was contacted.

Clear priorities from residents

The findings show two neighbourhoods with different needs but a shared ambition for visible change.

In Layton, residents want to improve and maintain what already works. Top priorities include tackling crime and anti-social behaviour (67%), improving green spaces (53%) and fixing roads and pavements (43%). Kingscote Park was identified as the area’s biggest opportunity, with calls for better lighting, safety and new facilities.

In Grange Park, residents highlighted the loss of shops and services as the defining issue. Priorities include access to affordable food and local services (62%), tackling crime and anti-social behaviour (59%) and improving public spaces. The former Dinmore site emerged as a key opportunity to create a new community hub with shops, food provision and space for local businesses.

Across both areas, residents called for cleaner, safer streets, better youth provision and more accessible community services.

Community-led approach

Opening the meeting, Chair Sarah Lindsay emphasised the importance of changing perceptions and putting residents at the heart of decision-making.

She spoke about the need to change the narrative around both communities, “turning the ship around” and making sure investment is done with local people, not to them, adding: “this is their money, we just need to help them steer the ship.”

She said: “This is a once in a lifetime for these communities and we need to get it right and I am going to be the person to get it right and make the change that these communities want and need.

“It’s a massive deal and in the first meeting that’s where you set the tone, you set the culture, you set the standard. And I think reflecting on that now we really got across the need for this to be community led.

“One of the things we need moving forward is more community voice because this is for the communities and if their voice isn't being represented entirely, why are we doing it?”

Chris Webb MP said the engagement showed communities already understand what needs to change.

“These communities have the solutions to their own problems, they just need the investment to make it happen,” he said.

He added that building trust will be key: “People have told us they don’t believe this money is real or that change will come. We need to show them that it will.”

Amy Butler, Director of strategic partnerships at Empowerment Charity, said: “I think there’s so many opportunities and there was a real enthusiasm and energy in the room to drive forward and make sure the Layton and Grange Park residents' voices are at the heart of what we do from here. That was so clear from all the board members – we really want to make sure there’s that meaningful involvement from residents.

“I think my big ambition is that in 10 years time we can look around our communities and see that young people feel there are opportunities for them and they are proud of where they live. That people’s health and wellbeing has improved and that the things that matter to them have really been driven forward.

Strong focus on inclusion and youth voice

Board members emphasised the importance of meaningful engagement, particularly with those who are often excluded.

Amy Butler of Empowerment Charity said there was “real enthusiasm and energy” to ensure residents’ voices shape decisions, adding she hopes the programme will lead to “improved life chances and stronger community infrastructure” over the next decade.

Josh Fowler, Boathouse Youth young leader and a student at Blackpool 6th Form said: “I’ve grown up on this estate and there are things that need to happen in the community to make it better. There are desirable things about the community but it’s not a ‘nice place’ to grow up and I want to make sure that for future generations it is and it’s somewhere to be proud of.

“The meeting was very interesting. Some of the things we spoke about were things I hadn’t thought about before. All these different people have all these different experiences in the community and it’s so good to have that group where everyone can feed that in together.

“I think Youth voice is so so important because at the end of the day the young people are the people who are going to be living in this community in 15/20 years time so this money is going to really benefit them.”

Early action agreed

The Board agreed on a number of immediate projects, including continued funding for the Grange Park Freezer Food Club following strong community feedback, and two large community events in Layton and Grange Park.

Mark Walmsley, Chair of Layton Together and the Forward Project, said: “The opportunity to be working together on this is amazing and we’re really looking forward to the next steps.

“The passion and the desire to make the right decisions for the residents really came through today. We want to meet the needs of the residents.

“My ambition is to put youth at the heart of the design because they’re the ones who are going to take us into the future.”

The Pride in Place Grange Park Community Fun Day will take place on Saturday, May 16 at The Grange.

Cllr Adrian Hoyle, who represents Park Ward on Blakcpool Council, said: “I’ve been invited to be part of the board for Pride in Place and I’m really excited about this. I think it’s a once in a generation opportunity. My personal area of concern is encouraging as much as possible for our young people in our areas of Layton and Grange because they’re the future here for us and we want to really make sure we can get the best life outcomes out of this as we can get them.

“The first board meeting had so much good come out of it, there was some really positive feedback and more importantly some really good people here who have lots of experience. All we need to do now is encourage our residents to become involved in this because it is going to be a resident driven neighbourhood board that at the end of the day the residents are going to benefit from.”

Get involved

Chris Webb MP is now calling on more residents to get involved as plans develop.

“This is your home and your community and you will decide how this £20 million is spent,” he said. “Come to the events, fill in the survey and share your ideas so we can build something that lasts.

“So make sure you fill in the survey online, come along to the events, share your ideas and thoughts and together we can build a better Grange Park and Layton.”

Residents can complete the survey at chriswebb.org/prideinplace or express interest in joining the Board by emailing [email protected].