Accrington Web - Ambition Lancashire

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CONTENTS
1. Introduction 3
2. Background 4
3. Our Overall Vision 7
4. Our Ambitions
♦ Prosperous Lancashire 9
♦ Living in Lancashire 15
♦ Image of Lancashire 19
♦ Learning Lancashire 23
♦ Cultural Lancashire 29
♦ Every Child Matters in Lancashire 34
♦ Older People’s Lancashire 40
♦ Caring and Healthy Lancashire 45
♦ Welcoming and Harmonious Lancashire 52
♦ Safer Lancashire 57
♦ Greener Lancashire 62
♦ Accessible Lancashire 69
♦ Dynamic Rural Lancashire 74
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Introduction
ambition lancashire: a Community Strategy for the Future of Lancashire
People who live or work in Lancashire, or who visit our county, know that it is a very special place. From our outstanding landscape to our unmistakable, proud heritage, we have many things going for us. But we also face some critical challenges.

ambition lancashire is about the future of Lancashire. It is about sustaining our positive attributes and tackling the critical challenges to create the conditions to make Lancashire truly exceptional.

ambition lancashire focuses on the future, looking forward to the next 20 years. This will be a time of considerable change and experience shows this change will be very rapid.
Predicting the future is notoriously difficult. By mapping out a future direction for Lancashire, the main agencies in the county can collectively focus resources and investment on a shared vision that reflects the aspirations of the people of Lancashire.

This is very much the start of a process. ambitionlancashire is the first Community Strategy for Lancashire. It will develop and evolve over the coming years.
The key is to ensure that the Vision transcends organisational boundaries and allows everyone with a stake in Lancashire to shape the future of our proud and historic county.

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Background
Strategy Preparation Process
Priorities and services have developed over many years and provide a starting point from which to improve and develop our approaches through one integrated strategy. The topics covered in this document reflect recent work, Government priorities and
known future needs and requirements. The ‘State of Lancashire’ report, which highlights key trends and challenges facing the County, has underpinned this development work.

Moreover, during 2003 and 2004 the Lancashire Partnership has used a range of opportunities for wide ranging discussion with individuals, community representatives, groups and partner organisations about the contents of ambitionlancashire.
The needs of Lancashire will vary over time, as will the opportunities available, so ambitionlancashire will not be a fixed blueprint for the future. Information about services and the changing circumstances of the County will be monitored and the
Strategy reviewed to keep it focused on key issues and priorities.

The needs of the people of Lancashire vary throughout the County. The Lancashire Partnership will continue to work with District Councils, county level agencies and other Local Strategic Partnerships to develop joint approaches to issues of common
concern.
A key aim is to add value and complement the work of district level Local Strategic Partnerships.
The preparation of this draft Community Strategy has been informed principally by:
• The views of the Lancashire Partnership Executive.
• The ‘Imagine Lancashire’ strategic visioning event held in Autumn 2003, and attended by over 150 individuals from a broad range of agencies in the county.
• The ‘State of Lancashire’ report that analyses social, economic and environmental conditions in Lancashire.
• An analysis of the issues emerging from the Community Strategies of the twelve Local Strategic Partnerships in Lancashire.
• The strategic issues set out in a number of Lancashire level plans and sub regional strategies.
• The views of each LSP in Lancashire (consulted in November/December 2003 and again in April/May 2004)
• Views from 2,500 residents in the’ Life in Lancashire’ MORI survey.

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• Comments from Lancashire people in response to the winter 2003 consultation. These include: comments received following a front page article (and invitation to comment) in the ‘Vision’ newspaper; comments received via the Lancashire Partnership web site; comments received via a freephone telephone line.
• Comments from Parish and Town Council’s. All Lancashire Parish and Town Councils were consulted.
• Comments received from the district level Community Networks.
• A special ‘Imagine Lancashire in 2024’ event for and by young people in the Lancashire Youth Council who told us what they wanted for the year 2024.

Scope and Structure
This report is divided into thirteen themes. The themes represent subject specific visions. Collectively they forge a strategic vision for the future of Lancashire.
Each chapter follows a standard format.
First there is the vision for the year 2024 which describes a compelling picture of a successful future. Also described is a series
of specific achievements, imagining that today is the future, and described in the present tense and in positive terms.
Each is built on the premise that starting from a position of success is more motivating than focusing on challenges. Drawing on
the ‘Imagine’ visioning process organised by the Lancashire Partnership, this Strategy focuses on successes that might be
achieved rather than challenges to be overcome.
The second section sets out the results of the Lancashire quality of life survey commissioned by the Lancashire Partnership, and
undertaken by MORI in 2003. The data sets out a range of views and aspirations on general quality of life issues, and these
have been used to shape the Community Strategy.
The third section contains a series of ‘ambitions’ to work towards over the short, medium and long term. Each ambition is
evidence based, containing a reasoned justification for pursuing the ambition.
The fourth section is entitled ‘Lancashire’s Headline Targets’. The section sets out the important targets for Lancashire relevant
to that topic. The targets are brought together from three sources:
• headline targets from key Lancashire plans and strategies
• Lancashire’s local public service agreements targets
• unique targets developed by the Lancashire Partnership
Lead agencies are italicised.
Finally, the last section sets out the key plans, strategies, organisations and partnerships that will have an important role in the
delivery of the ambitions and headline targets.
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Why Prepare a Community Strategy?
The Lancashire Partnership works together in the belief that many of the County’s opportunities and challenges can be achieved
more effectively by working in partnership. The Local Government Act 2000 places a duty on Lancashire County Council to
prepare a “Community Strategy” to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of the County through a multiagency
partnership.
The County Council and other organisations have decided to work together through the Lancashire Partnership to prepare this
Strategy.
Statutory guidance suggests the Community Strategy should aim to:
• Develop a long-term vision for Lancashire focusing on the outcomes that are to be achieved
• Agree what local services and developments are needed and agree an action plan
• Ensure joint commitment to achieving targets and goals and to monitor progress
• Involve local people and communities throughout
ambitionlancashire will not cover everything - the range of activity of partner organisations is too wide and too detailed. It can
not meet everybody’s aspirations and must be realistic. Resources are limited and services must conform to minimum legal
requirements and central Government targets and expectations.
However, substantial change and improvement is possible and the community strategy process reflects our commitment to
achieve the best we can with the resources at our disposal.
Next Steps
Following the close of this second round of consultation (10th September 2004) a revised and final version of the Community
Strategy will be presented to the Lancashire Partnership Executive for consideration and adoption at its October meeting.
ambitionlancashire will then move into the delivery phase. Delivery plans will be prepared with Lancashire level organisations
and partnerships (eg the Lancashire Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership). Some actions are already underway.
Others will be worked up in more detail over the next 12 months.
Contact
For more information please contact Emma Bridge on 01772 532681 or email [email protected]. Consultation
responses should be sent to Emma at the Policy Unit, PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston, PR1 8XJ.
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Comments from the district Community NOur Overall Vision
To position Lancashire by 2024 as an area of outstanding opportunity,
combining a world-class economy with a breathtaking environment and
exceptional communities.
Lancashire’s towns, cities and rural areas maintain their separate identities, but
inter-dependence is strengthened through strong economic, social and
environmental connections.
This means that by 2024:
• Lancashire is an economically prosperous County, characterised by innovative and dynamic businesses, social enterprise,
training opportunities and its skilled workforce. Major new developments in key locations have created the conditions for
growth throughout Lancashire.
• Lancashire has range of well-designed and affordable housing options in attractive and safe settings making the County a
place of choice to live and enjoy life.
• Lancashire is ‘the’ place where people choose to live, work and enjoy life.
• Lancashire is a learning county where children and adults are enabled to achieve their full potential and contribute towards
the growth of Lancashire. Education and training opportunities are available to everyone to develop new knowledge and
skills.
• Lancashire is a county of culture with something for everyone. First-class arts, sports and cultural facilities celebrate our rich
and unmistakable cultural identity rooted in the diversity of our communities.
• Lancashire is a county where the contributions of children and young people are at the forefront of life in Lancashire. They
are actively involved in taking decisions that affect them, and are supported and cared for at every stage of their growth and
development.
• Lancashire is a county where older people are empowered to live their lives in the way they choose and where the skills and
expertise of older people are valued.
• Lancashire is a county where people are enabled to make good choices about their lifestyle, and where income and social
class are no longer major factors in life expectancy.
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• Lancashire is welcoming, ambitious and harmonious. Diversity is celebrated. Tolerance and pride is embedded in a modern
multi-cultural Lancashire.
• Lancashire is a safe place to grow, live and work. There is a strong sense of community responsibility and involvement in
community life.
• Lancashire is a county where the dramatic beauty of our landscape and wildlife is cherished, and our urban areas contain fine
buildings and inviting open spaces. Lancashire plays its part in addressing global environment issues.
• Lancashire’s first class travel infrastructure means that travel is safe, clean and accessible. Our modern communications
system minimises the need to travel.
• Lancashire is a county with a dynamic rural economy that is financially, socially and environmentally sustainable.
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Prosperous Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is an economically prosperous County, characterised by innovative and dynamic businesses, social
enterprise, training opportunities and its skilled workforce. Major new developments in key locations have created the
conditions for growth throughout Lancashire.
What's so special about Lancashire's economy in 2024?
Growth the Northern Way – The economic inter-dependence of Lancashire’s towns, cities and rural areas has combined to form
a critical mass– of markets, businesses, universities, and entrepreneurs – which together enables the County to compete more
effectively in Europe and the world.
Competing with the Best - Lancashire has created the conditions in which existing, new and inward investing business can
prosper and achieve a competitive advantage. This has enabled Lancashire to be among Europe's most business friendly
regions. Growing business confidence, allied to a strong focus on small business support, means that Lancashire has once
again taken its place as a leading entrepreneurial hub. A culture of enterprise and innovation is embedded throughout
Lancashire’s business community.
Business Clusters - Lancashire's cluster development programme has transformed the County's indigenous economic base by
exploiting the growth potential of thriving businesses and the networks to support them. By building on the strengths of
geographically clustered groups of industries that trade with each other or share the same infrastructure, Lancashire has created
the right operating environment for growth, new start-ups and inward investment.
Preston – Third City of the North West – Preston is one of the flourishing cities in the North West, having capitalised on its
strengths of good transport links, excellent higher education and high quality retail experiences. The Tithebarn project has
enhanced Preston’s role as a high performing city. Its fine public realm and impressive historic core has attracted wider
investments.
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Lancashire People said:
When asked about Lancashire’s economy
51%
42%
35%
34%
33%
28%
20%
17%
17%
Encourage more jobs
Improve / support existing businesses
Top Mentions
Supporting rural communities
Improve training opportunities
Support disadvantaged people in their
personal development
Raise wages in existing jobs
Encourage more small businesses in
traditional sectors
Attract businesses in new sectors
Encourage a more diverse range of
businesses to set up here
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Our Ambitions
Why?
Diversify Lancashire’s economy by
encouraging and supporting a broader
range of business sectors.
Almost 21% of people in the County work in manufacturing, compared to 14%
nationally. In east Lancashire the figure is almost 30%, and is 36% in Pendle.
Financial and business service sectors are under represented in the County,
accounting for only 13% of jobs.
Lancashire has high levels of low value-added/low wage and vulnerable industries
and services.1
Strengthen the provision of specialist advice
and support to help Lancashire's
businesses find new ways of increasing
their competitiveness and profitability.
Lancashire has a high level of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) (often
family owned) with weak managerial capacities, that are not yet fully equipped to
deal with new opportunities and challenges.2
Increase the start-up and survival rates of
new businesses in the County.
Between 1994 and 2002 the stock of VAT registered businesses in Lancashire fell
by 5%. This compares with a net gain in the UK of 3%. In the Fylde and some
western Lancashire districts the net change in stock is between -3 and -30%.3
Maximise development, competitiveness
and sustainable growth for minority ethnic
businesses (MEBs), whilst facilitating and
increasing the integrated working between
businesses of all origins.
Ethnic minority businesses in Lancashire are under-represented in the take-up of
mainstream business support, but are one of the fastest growing sectors in
Lancashire. There is also an under-representation of Lancashire people from
minority ethnic communities in management positions.4
Establish and support new high-tech and
knowledge based incubators and networks
exploiting Lancashire's research and
development strengths and linking to
Lancashire’s strong university and
aerospace sectors.
Lancashire has few free-standing Research & Development centres of excellence
and a paucity of IT and science based industries in general. Conversely the
county has a relatively high level of low value-added businesses, and incomes are
11% below the national average.
Gross Value Added per head in Lancashire reached 85% of the UK average in
2001.5
Continue to invest, innovate and diversify
our tourism industry, building on our
strengths (e.g. coastal resorts, Lancashire's
hill country, waterways, sporting assets and
landscape beauty) and developing new
Tourism is a major economic activity and one of Lancashire’s most important
industries. In 2001 there were 47,600 tourism-related jobs accounting for 8.1% of
all jobs in the County, compared with 7.4% for GB as a whole. Structurally, the
tourism industry in Lancashire is a highly fragmented amalgam of small
independent businesses and a few large multi-interest groups. The County’s
1 State of the Northwest Economy 2004
2 Lancashire Profile
3 State of Lancashire Report 2003
4www.enterprise4all.co.uk
5 Lancashire Profile
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Our Ambitions
Why?
initiatives. coastal resorts face particular challenges associated with the decline or change in
traditional family holidays.6
Develop a range of high quality serviced
and readily accessible business
development sites, including the
development of three regional investment
sites in Cuerden, Euxton, Bailrigg and
Whitebirk.
Whilst Lancashire has much business and industrial land (estimated at 855
hectares), many sites are underused and bear little relation to where potential
workers live. There is a need for market ready sites in suitable locations.
The four regional investment sites will support the NWDA’s Regional Economic
Strategy.7
These Regional Development Sites have been identified for investment to support
the region’s sectoral priorities (chemicals, textiles, aerospace, mechanical ,
engineering, energy infrastructure and food and drink)8
Develop the sites at the Royal Ordnance
Site (Buckshaw Village), Fleetwood (docks
area and North East Thornton), Euxton and
Goosnargh/Whittingham, to provide for a
variety of uses (housing, business, retailing
etc) and providing a comprehensive
approach to each areas, including phasing
infrastructure, public transport and the
needs of nature conservation.
See Headline Target 1 (f) below
Focussing development in strategic locations will provide a more sustainable
pattern of development, reducing the need to travel. Development at these
locations will take place within the context of a comprehensive approach to each
area, including improvements to the road and transport network.9
A new rail station on the Preston to Manchester line will enhance the site;at
Buckshaw Village. The reinstatement of the Poulton-le-Fylde and Fleetwood
Railway line , as part of the Fylde Coast Rapid Transit will serve the strategic
location at Fleetwood.
Taken together, these major developments will have the potential to promote
sustainable growth across different parts of the County.
Ensure Preston maintains its position as
strategic hub in and gateway to Lancashire
through promoting and encouraging the
Preston Tithebarn Regeneration Plan
See headline Target 1 (g)
Preston has the potential to create the characteristics of a city-region (good
transport links, a high performing university and the growth of creative
industries).10 Preston’s greater catchment area (characterised as central
Lancashire and beyond) shows strong travel to work patterns providing a range of
employment, commercial, retail and leisure opportunities for a wide hinterland,
reflecting its good transport links. Around 25% of the UK’s workforce is within one
hours drive of the city.
Develop programmes to foster and support Social enterprises and community businesses offer alternative models for
6 Lancashire Profile - Sector Profile: Tourism in Lancashire
7 Joint Lancashire Structure Plan
8 NWDA Regional Economic Strategy 2003
9 Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2016
10 Science and Economic Research Council
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Our Ambitions
Why?
social enterprises and community economic
development, especially in the County’s
most deprived wards.
expanding economic activity whilst securing social gains and building community
capacity in the County’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Whilst only 3.9%
are unemployed, relative dependence on lower paying employment means that
over 15% claim some form of benefits.11
Develop the role of the public sector in
Lancashire to support the County’s
economy through joint procurement and
supply chain opportunities.
The public sector in Lancashire has a substantial economic footprint; as an
employer, a purchaser of goods and services, and as a service provider. The
sector employs in excess of 150,000 people.12
Improve substantially the skills of
Lancashire's workforce by:
• investing in early years support for
children.
• increasing the attainment of school
leavers.
• transforming and supporting the learning
of young people after the age of 16.
• developing the skills of people to meet
those needed by employers.
• strengthening the development of
innovative Modern Apprenticeships.
• developing a graduate retention
programme.
• generally developing a culture of lifelong
learning among individuals and
employers.
• supporting the development of basic
skills.
Lancashire, as a whole, has above national average levels of ‘low’ and ‘very low’
adult literacy and numeracy levels.
A significant minority of Lancashire people (36%) have no formal qualifications,
around twice the national average.
The County’s workforce has a low level of ICT skills, and this has been highlighted
by business as a critical issue.
There is a shortage of highly skilled workers in the County. A significant proportion
of people qualified to NVQ level 4 and above commute to work beyond
Lancashire.13
11 State of the Northwest Economy 2004
12 Lancashire Profile
13 Lancashire Alliance for Skills and Productivity – Action Plan
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Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
1(a) Create an additional 600 Modern Apprenticeships among Lancashire’s public sector organisations by 2007 (based on
2004 levels) (Lancashire Partnership).
1(b) By 2010, the young people and adults of Lancashire will have knowledge and productive skills matching the best in the
world. (Lancashire Learning and Skills Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Partnership).
1(c) Establish a 25% increase in the rate of development of business and industrial land in priority areas by 2016, compared
with the 1991-2000 rate (Lancashire County Council, District Councils).
1(d) Increase the stock of businesses in Lancashire to 45,500 by 2007. (Lancashire Alliance for Skills and Productivity).
1(e) Press for the relocation of a substantial number of public sector activities from London and the South East of England to
Lancashire by 2010 (Lancashire Partnership).
1(f) Support delivery of the Tithebarn scheme by 2008, to act as a catalyst for a wide range of linked initiatives contributing to
the wholesale transformation of the City of Preston, and central Lancashire (Preston Strategic Partnership, Lancashire
Partnership).
Key Lancashire plans working towards achieving our
vision:
• Lancashire Alliance for Skills and Productivity Action
Plan
• Joint Lancashire Structure Plan, 2001-2016
• Learning and Skills Council Lancashire – Local
Strategic Plan
• Lancashire SRP Economic Strategy (when
developed).
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• Lancashire Learning and Skills Council
• Lancashire Alliance for Skills and Productivity
• East Lancashire Partnership
• Lancashire West Partnership
• Business Link East Lancashire
• Business Link North and Western Lancashire
• Lancashire County Council
• Lancashire District Councils
• East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
• Lancaster and District Chamber of Commerce
• Preston and Western Lancashire Chamber of
Commerce
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Lancaster
• North West Development Agency
• Lancashire Colleges
• Elevate
• All Lancashire District LSPs
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Living in Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire has range of well-designed and affordable housing options in attractive and safe settings making the
County a place of choice to live and enjoy life.
What’s so special about Lancashire in 2024?
Elevate Lifts Off: Elevate has eliminated the problem of obsolete and unpopular housing in East Lancashire. The massive
programme of housing improvements, clearance and the creation of mixed tenure communities has generated more socially
balanced communities. East Lancashire people have greater choice, quality, range and diversity of houses and the housing
market is buoyant. Allied economic growth, and diversification of the local economy, heralds an exciting future for East
Lancashire.
Flourishing communities: Affordable housing in appealing locations is plentiful, available for all those who wish to remain in
their neighbourhood. . As a result, communities have become more connected and there is a real feeling of community spirit and
a sense of pulling together, with every one taking responsibility for their neighbours’ well being. As people are able to stay in their
chosen area, shops and other services are able to remain open and start to thrive with renewed vigour as they respond to
increased consumer demand.
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Lancashire People said:
When asked about affordable housing in Lancashire
Build more low cost houses to buy
Provide more low cost houses to rent
Renovate currently existing or disused buildings
Build new homes on previously developed or derelict land
Provide somewhere safe for children to play
Design estates to encourage community spirit
Provide more parking spaces in housing estates
Fewer planning regulations for new housing
Our Ambitions
Why?
Locate most development in Lancashire in
Lancashire’s principal urban areas, main
towns and market towns. Some 75% of all
new housing, employment, retail and leisure
uses to be concentrated close to the main
centres of population and public transport.14
Development will be sited, wherever
possible, on brownfield sites. Maximum use
to be made of existing housing stock and
higher density on new housing
developments encouraged.
Green spaces need to be protected from development and preserved to be
enjoyed by everyone. A more sustainable patterns of development needs to be
achieved, and the distinct identity of Lancashire’s settlements and towns should be
protected, whilst ensuring connections (road, rail, electronic) are strengthened.
14 Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2016
6%
12%
15%
27%
28%
35%
48%
60%
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Our Ambitions
Why?
See Headline Target 2(b) below
Reduce outward migration in East
Lancashire and improve job prospects to
stimulate the housing market.
Whilst population growth in Lancashire is projected to rise by 1.1% between 2000 -
2010, there is a 5.9% projected decline in Ribble Valley.15
In 2002 only 37 per cent of new households could afford to buy a property
compared to 46 per cent in the late 1980s.16
Provide lasting solutions for communities in
East Lancashire blighted by the housing
market failure and reduce problems of
obsolete, unfit and unpopular housing,
through investment and innovation to deliver
housing market renewal and economic and
social regeneration (Elevate Pathfinder
Project).
Clear vacant dwellings in areas of low
demand.
See Headline target 2(a) below
Around one in seven private dwellings in Lancashire is classified as unfit,17 with the
worst problems in East Lancashire where there are more than 50,000 unfit
dwellings.18. In Hyndburn the rate of unfit private sector homes is 29%. In Burnley
it is 27%19. In Rossendale the percentage of unfit homes fell from 28% in 2001 to
9% in 2002.20
The Elevate East Lancashire Strategic Plan will provide a 15-year vision and
strategy and a detailed 3-year investment programme, including priorities, outputs
and identification of delivery vehicles.
Providing affordable and balanced housing
as identified by Lancashire District Councils.
The provision of affordable housing has been identified as a priority by many of the
town and district councils taking part in the Consultation. 21
In Ribble Valley, West Lancashire, Fylde, Wyre, Lancaster South Ribble and
Chorley the average income x 3.5 is less than the average house price.22 This has
clear implications for people’s ability to obtain mortgage loans.
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
2(a) To reduce the number of unfit dwellings across East Lancashire from 50,000 to 25,000 by 2016.
15 Lancashire Profile – Population Projections
16 ODPM Review of Housing Supply – Final Report 2004
17 Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2016
18 Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2016
19 HIP Returns 2002
20 HIP Returns 2002
21 Ambition Lancashire Consultation December 2003 – April 2004
22 State of Lancashire report
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2(b) 75% of new housing development to be located in the Principal Urban Areas and Main Towns, 2001- 2016 (Lancashire
County Council, Lancashire District Councils).
Key Lancashire Plans working towards achieving our
vision:
• The Lancashire Structure Plan 2001 -2016
• Elevate Pathfinder Project
• NWDA Regional Economic Strategy 2003
:
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• Elevate
• East Lancashire Partnership
• Lancashire County Council
• East Lancashire Together
• East Lancashire District Councils
• East Lancashire LSPs
• Lancashire Constabulary
• Lancashire Colleges
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Image of Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is ‘the’ place where people choose to live, work and enjoy life.
What’s so special about Lancashire’s image in 2024?
I
mage Renaissance - Lancashire has successfully breathed new life into the ‘Lancashire brand’ to create a strong and positive
image that has led to increasing levels of inward investment, tourism and civic pride. Consistently clean beaches coupled with
areas of outstanding natural beauty have helped to make Lancashire a premier visitor destination in the UK.
‘Blue Chip’ Lancashire - Lancashire’s thriving academic community and our world class digital infrastructure have paved the
way for unprecedented growth in technology and high ‘value added’ sectors. Allied growth in the service and manufacturing
sector provides Lancashire with a confident and dynamic business base.
Grin up North! – Lancashire has been voted among Britain’s best places to live - but what’s the secret? Dynamic urban areas,
relaxed market towns and dramatic rural landscapes combine to make Lancashire’s quality of life unrivalled. Our excellent, and
sometimes unconventional, creative industries have helped to support TV and movie filming in 120 separate locations in the
County during the last year as the County’s reputation as a cultural hub deepens.
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Lancashire people said:
when asked to describe Lancashire to a stranger:
Down to earth
Traditional
Lively
Forward-looking
Living in the past
Quiet
None of these
Friendly/welcoming
Litter/scruffy/run down/ deprived
Source: Life in Lancashire, 2002
Base: All respondents (1,177)
Our Ambitions
Why?
Put in place marketing programmes so that
we are perceived as modern and outward
looking, but championing our traditional
values of warmth and humour.
Research by MORI about attitudes to the Northwest amongst opinion formers and
key influencers throughout the UK, and in selected markets overseas has identified
a number of negative perceptions about Lancashire and the region.23
Develop and implement a major cultural,
sporting and leisure events strategy for
Lancashire.
Attracting regionally and nationally significant events, and enhancing our existing
events and facilities, will help to transform our image and enhance Lancashire’s
reputation.24
23 Perceptions of England's Northwest – MORI. NWDA
24 The Cultural Strategy for Lancashire 2004-2007.
3%
3%
4%
11%
11%
26%
27%
65%
67%
21
Our Ambitions
Why?
Develop and implement a co-ordinated
Lancashire marketing programme,
targeting key influencers and opinion
formers.
Excellent marketing work is already undertaken in different parts of Lancashire but
this is often fragmented. A more co-ordinated approach would strengthen the
message.
Improve the image of East Lancashire and
encourage a strong and positive identity.
East Lancashire’s image has been damaged by political extremism and civil
disturbances in the recent past. High levels of unfit terraced properties have not
helped.25
Champion Lancashire’s rich community
diversity, our fine buildings and dramatic
countryside, together with our capacity for
innovation.
Lancashire has much to celebrate. A strong and positive image can be harnessed
by bringing together what is good in the County.
Develop a positive external Google Page Ranking message
and work closely with the national press
and the broadcast media to ensure
Lancashire’s strengths are championed.
Influencing the national media and editorial coverage, challenging negative
publicity, and promoting Lancashire’s assets, can influence the perception of
decision makers and people generally.
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
3(a) Life in Lancashire to be perceived as among the best in northern England by 2014, and the best by 2024.
3(b) Bring major cultural, sporting and leisure events to Lancashire over the next seven years.
3(c) Develop and implement a co-ordinated Lancashire marketing programme by 2005, targeting key influencers and opinion
formers. (Lancashire Partnership, Lancashire Cultural Partnership).
3(d) Develop a positive external Google Page Ranking message and work closely with the national press and the broadcast media to ensure
Lancashire’s strengths are championed. (Lancashire Partnership, Lancashire Cultural Partnership).
3(e) Support the implementation of the Cultural Strategy for Lancashire, 2004-2007.(Lancashire Cultural Partnership)
25 Burnley Community Strategy
22
Key Lancashire plans working towards achieving our
vision:
• Culture Matters – The Cultural Strategy for Lancashire
2004-2007.
• Lancashire Tourism Strategy (when prepared)
To achieve our vision we need to work with:
• Lancashire Cultural Partnership
• North West Development Agency
• East Lancashire Partnership
• Lancashire West Partnership
• Blackpool and Lancashire Tourism Board
• Business Link North and Western Lancashire
• Business Link East Lancashire
• Lancaster and District Chamber of Commerce
• Central Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
• East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
• Lancashire District Councils
• Lancashire District LSPs
• Elevate
23
Learning Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is a learning county where children and adults are enabled to achieve their full potential and contribute
towards the growth of Lancashire. Education and training opportunities are available to everyone to develop new
knowledge and skills.
What’s so special about learning in Lancashire in 2024?
Tomorrow’s skills – The huge take up of Lancashire’s pioneering training and Modern Apprenticeships schemes has equipped
the county with a range of 21st century skills and learning. Our young people are leading the way with high-value ICT skills and
expertise, making maximum use of Lancashire’s world-class digital infrastructure.
Aspiration, Ambition and Achievement - Lancashire has transformed into a learning county, where high aspirations, ambition
and achievement have become embedded in the County’s social fabric. Lancashire's citizens, businesses, and institutions
actively recognise the importance of learning and high quality education. The Transforming Youth Work Programme has been
implemented and children and young people are at the forefront of the learning renaissance. Children's Centres, Youth and
Community Centres and 'extended schools' provide a local focus for development. Lancashire's highly successful early years
programmes, preventative strategies and first class schools have helped to secure record high levels of achievement for school
leavers.
Everyone is taking part! – Adults from all walks of life are engaged in broadened learning opportunities as the county’s hunger
for skills and knowledge deepens. People are learning in their local village hall, in their place of worship and even at the local
pub! Access to learning in rural areas and market towns is on a par with university towns thanks to e-learning opportunities and
the roll-out of broadband across the county.
24
Lancashire people said:
11%
12%
13%
15%
15%
15%
23%
25%
25%
33%
41% More discipline in schools
More investment in schools
More leisure/art after school
Schools/parents working together
More teachers
Additional school classes
More information about classes
Reduce truancy in schools
Better teachers
When asked about education and learning services in
Lancashire
Support courses for adults
Base: Respondents who feel it’s important to improve education and learning services (245)
Longer school hours/year
Top Mentions
Source: MORI
25
Our Ambitions
Why?
Continue to open up access for all 3
and 4 year olds to high quality nursery
education.
Children's experiences in the earliest years of their life are critical to their subsequent
development. They have a significant impact on their future performance at school and
the extent to which they are able to take advantage of opportunities later in life.
Universal funding is now available in Lancashire for all 3 & 4 year olds.26
Raise attainment in the early years
work towards the early learning goals
and raise attainment in primary
education, especially in numeracy and
literacy.
The average attainment of the 5 year old Lancashire pupil on entry to primary school is a
little below the national average,27 but the County has pockets of significant underachievement,
linked to social deprivation.
Narrow the attainment gap, tackle
underachievement and raise
educational attainment for all young
people, (especially at key stages 3 and
4), including those in disadvantaged
areas and those being Looked After.
(See Headline Target 4(b) Below)
In 19 wards across the county, less than a third of school leavers achieved the
Lancashire average of 52% of achieving 5 GCSE’s at grades A* to C.28 In 3 wards in
West Lancashire (Hallsall, Birch Green and Digmoor) less than a quarter of all school
leavers achieved this level.
Promote high quality learning and
teaching and match teaching styles to
learner’s needs to help young people
reach their full potential and
encourage parents to take
responsibility and get involved in their
children’s education.
Much research supports the view that when students' learning preferences match their
instructor's teaching styles, their motivation and achievement usually improve.29
The importance of parent involvement in children's education has long been established.
Research over the last two decades has demonstrated that children whose parents are
involved are more likely to have positive educational outcomes such as improved
academic performance, better school attendance, higher aspirations, reduced dropout
rates, and increased graduation rates.
Continue to work with schools and
colleges to develop the 14-19
curriculum to ensure high quality
vocational education and to encourage
Employers in Lancashire identified that there was a 29% skills gap in personal service
occupations and an 8% in skilled trades.30
26 Lancashire County Council
27 Learning Excellence – Lancashire’s plan to promote and support school improvement
28 Source:2002 School Leavers Education and Cultural Directorate LCC
29 www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/lea/education
26
Our Ambitions
Why?
entrepreneurship.
Develop the work-related skills of the
whole community by:
• Increasing employer commitment
to and involvement in the training
of their personnel.
• Improving work preparedness of
young people and adults.
• Reducing the skills shortage by
identifying the specific areas of
deficiency and training local
people to meet the shortfall.
• Increasing the number of
employers and organisations
offering modern apprenticeships to
young people and work based
learning to adults, including basic
skills.
• 22% of companies felt that the skills levels in their organisations fell below the
required level.31
• In May 2004, there were 12,115 unemployed people in Lancashire.
• There is a 15% skills gap at the operational IT level in the Business and Financial
sectors in Lancashire.32
• There are currently almost 7000 young people on Modern Apprenticeships in
Lancashire and 16-24 year olds can choose from over 70 Modern Apprenticeships
in 19 different industry sectors.33
Increase the range of learning
opportunities in Lancashire through
developing the capacity of community,
voluntary and faith organisations to
offer informal or formal learning
opportunities.
Community and voluntary organisations are more likely to be in contact with and be
trusted by the hardest to reach client groups and can respond to change flexibly.34
Use learning opportunities to promote
health and well being within
communities.
Learning opportunities, eg the Lancashire Healthy Schools Initiative, provide an
excellent setting in which to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles.
Increase the participation of young
people and adults in education,
learning and training.
11.4% of the adult population of Lancashire is currently involved in learning, 30.6% have
been involved in learning in the last 12 months and 45% have not been involved in
learning in the last 3 years.35
30 Employer Survey amongst LiP Committed and recognised Organisations 2002 Learning and Skills Council
31 Employer Survey amongst LiP Committed and recognised Organisations 2002 Learning and Skills Council
32 LSC Lancashire – Skills Survey 2003
33 Learning and Skills Council Lancashire
34 Working Together – a Strategy for the Voluntary and Community Sector and the Learning and Skills Council
27
Our Ambitions
Why?
See Headline Target 4(d) below
Increase achievement and/or skills
levels of adults and young people.
There is often a shortage of IT skills amongst workers from all sectors and yet this skill is
rated as important by employers. The is a relationship between the higher the level of
staff the higher the average level of competence, particularly I for basic and key skills36.
In Hyndburn, 41% of adults have qualifications less than NVQ Level 2 and in Ribble
Valley it is 23%.37
Replace current stock of schools with
buildings suitable for modern life long
learning.
It is the national goal that every child should be educated in a 21st century building.
Modern IT networks will be the key part of the new school plans. Building schools for
the Future is a new model for the design, procurement and building of secondary
schools at a local level38
Support and develop community
partnerships with the County Council
as education authority.
There is a clear need for partnership working in the delivery of co-ordinated services and
to find new ways of working to raise educational achievement. It is important to focus on
links with parents and the development of learning opportunities and the pupil’s
behaviour and attendance. The intention is to establish databases, disseminate
information and good practice and to link plans and strategies.
35 LSC Lancashire Household Survey 2001
36 LSC Lancashire – Skills Survey 2003
37 LSC Household Survey 2001
38 Building Schools for the Future programme
28
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
4(a) Deliver a transformation in learning and opportunity in Lancashire through the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ initiative,
starting with £170 million investment in Burnley, Brierfield and Nelson by 2008 (Lancashire County Council, Salford Roman
Catholic Diocese).
4(b) Increase from 52% of school leavers in 2002 who achieved 5 GCSE’s at grades A* -C to 61.7% in 2006 (Lancashire County
Council).
4(c) Increase from 6 in 2003 to 100 in 2006, the number of schools receiving the Healthy schools quality mark certificate
(Lancashire County Council, PCTs).
4(d) Reduce the number of unauthorised absences in the 19 listed schools from 1.27% to 0.8% by 2006 (Lancashire County
Council).
Key Lancashire Plans working towards achieving the
vision:
• Lancashire Education Development Plan 2002 –2007
• Single Education Plan 2005-2008
• Culture Matters. The Cultural Strategy for Lancashire
2004-2007
• Every Child Matters
• (emerging) Lancashire Preventative Strategy
Main Strategies:
• NWLLP Action Plan
• LSC Strategic Plan
• LCC Adult Learning Plan
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• Lancashire District LSPs
• Lancashire PCTs
• Lancashire County Council
• Learning and Skills Council, Lancashire
• CVS, and the voluntary and community sectors in
Lancashire
29
Cultural Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is a county of culture with something for everyone. First-class arts, sports and cultural facilities celebrate
our rich and unmistakable cultural identity rooted in the diversity of our communities.
What’s so special about Lancashire’s culture in 2024?
Creative Communities – Arts, leisure, theatre and sport are at the heart of our communities. Placing culture at the heart of
community life has resulted in major economic and social spin-offs. Our local communities are lively and diverse, creating a
positive environment in which ideas can flourish. Divisions are addressed openly within communities. Cultural and creative
industries now account for 20% of Lancashire’s income per head of population.
Our National Arts Festival, internationally important wildlife areas and focus on organic and speciality food is attracting more
visitors than ever before.
30
Lancashire people said:
Base: Respondents who feel it’s important to improve opportunities for leisure activities(379)
When asked about opportunities for leisure activities in Lancashire
14%
14%
15%
20%
21%
21%
33%
36%
54% Build more leisure facilities
Create safe open places and play
areas
Lower entrance cost to facilities
More information about what’s on in
your area
More opportunities to try new activities
Better public transport to help get to
places
Someone to help us organise local
events
Longer opening hours at places
you want to go
More opportunities to learn or
improve skills
Top Mentions
Source: MORI
31
Our Ambitions
Why?
Improve investment and infrastructure
to support major cultural assets and
address gaps in provision.
Lancashire has over 100 museums and heritage sites, some housing regional and
nationally significant collections. We have award winning public art projects and 99
public libraries.39 The scope of assets needs to be extended. More people need to be
made aware of existing assets and encouraged to use them.
Support and promote creative and
cultural industries so that they can play
a leading role in the economic
development of the County and in
positioning Lancashire’s international
reputation as a tourist destination.
See Headline Target 5(c) below
Tourism accounts for 52,300 jobs (9.1% of all jobs in the County).
Creative Industries account for 4.2 % of jobs in Lancashire and is a growing sector. In
Preston alone the turnover in this sector is £173.4 million.38
Ensure partner organisations work
closely together to a shared cultural
vision.
During the Lancashire wide consultation on the Cultural Strategy several shortcomings
were identified. One of the main negative factors was a lack of a cultural
focus/centre/critical mass and, secondly, need was identified for better management
and co-ordination of cultural activities.40
Support and promote a range of leisure
and arts facilities within communities
and easily accessible to local people.
20% of people surveyed wanted better public transport to help them get to leisure
facilities.41 Age Concern has identified this as a particular concern for older people.42
Help Lancashire people and visitors to
learn more about, and make more of,
Lancashire’s rich cultural assets, our
coastline areas, areas of outstanding
natural beauty, historic buildings, rich
archaeological heritage, and splendid
museums and libraries.
Our County has plentiful cultural assets which make a vital contribution to the quality of
life here.43
Strengthen and broaden Lancashire’s
tourism product and infrastructure,
In 2000 there was £920 million of expenditure including £95 million from overseas
visitors.44
39 The Cultural Strategy for Lancashire 2003-2006
40 The Cultural Strategy for Lancashire 2003-2006 Consultation
41 Life in Lancashire 2003
42 Ambition Lancashire Consultation December 2003-April 2004
43 The Cultural Strategy for Lancashire 2003-2006 p.17
32
Our Ambitions
Why?
building on our successes, and
focussing on domestic, overseas and
business marketing.
Promote and celebrate cultural diversity
as a major strength of Lancashire’s
communities.
Guidance from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Home Office, Interfaith Network
for the United Kingdom and the Commission for Racial Equality recommends that
communities engage around festivals and community celebrations.45 Culture can play
a key role in developing community cohesion.
Broaden leisure facilities for young
people and involve them in identifying
what is needed.
32% of all people surveyed wanted more activities for young people.46
Continue to strengthen the role of
libraries in our communities, with an
increased roll-out of internet facilities.
Over 471,000 people hold library cards and in 2001/02 nearly six million visits were
recorded.
Promote the broadening role and range
of schools as community and leisure
centres.
Schools provide opportunities for young people to experience a wide range of creative
activities, both in and out of schools hours. Two key schemes will help to develop the
role of schools – Building Schools for the Future and Creative Partnerships.
44 The Cultural Strategy for Lancashire 2003-2006
45 Guidance on Community Cohesion LGA 2002
46 Life in Lancashire 2003
33
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
5(a) Support the development of the Lancashire Cultural Partnership by 2005.
5(b) Support the development of the Preston Cultural Quarter.
5(c) Support the development the Lancashire Creative Industries Partnership, with specific support for creative industries, by
2006.
Key Lancashire Plans working towards achieving our
vision:
• ‘Culture Matters’ - The Cultural Strategy for Lancashire
2004-2007
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• Lancashire County Council
• Lancashire District Councils
• Lancashire Tourism Partnership (and successors)
• East Lancashire Partnership
• Lancashire West Partnership
• Voluntary Organisations
• East Lancashire Arts Network
• Business Link
• All Lancashire District LSPs
• Elevate
• Lancashire Cultural Partnership
34
Every Child Matters in Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is a county where the contributions of children and young people are at the forefront of life in Lancashire.
They are actively involved in taking decisions that affect them, and are supported and cared for at every stage of their
growth and development.
What's so special about children and young people in Lancashire in 2024?
Young People in the Driving Seat - Lancashire's success in engaging young people as active citizens, building on the
pioneering Youth Councils started over 20 years ago, has again been recognised through the award of most 'Youth Friendly'
region in Europe.
With young people now eligible to vote at age 16, local and national election turn-outs have swelled to record levels with
Lancashire leading the way. Lancashire's young people have led the development of cohesive communities, embracing racial,
cultural and inter-generational diversity.
Every Child Matters: Every child is healthy, protected from harm and neglect, enjoying life and developing skills for adulthood.
Children and young people are making a positive contribution to their communities. Economic disadvantage is no longer a
barrier to achieving full potential in life.
35
Lancashire People said:
Base: Respondents who feel it’s important to provide activities for young people (771)
4%
7%
10%
17%
17%
30%
34%
60%
66% More youth centres
More leisure facilities
More spaces for playing games
Listen to young people
Financial help for schooling
Provide cheap public transport
More information about local jobs
Advice on sexual behaviour
Enable young people to live
independently
Top Mentions
Source: MORI
When asked about activities for Lancashire’s young people
What young people said they wanted for 202447
Cheaper and more accessible public transport.
Advice on all aspects of being a teenage mother and the challenges this presents.
More recycling initiatives and a reduction in waste.
Protecting Lancashire’s environment and outstanding countryside.
Strengthened access to higher education, including funding support.
Better access to leisure and sport activities.
Our Ambitions
Why?
Implement ‘Every Child Matters’48 and
roll out the development of Children's
Centres, the Lancashire Healthy
Schools Programme and the 'extended
schools' initiative.
See Headline Target 6 (d) and 6 (f)
Across Lancashire around 30% of children are living in poverty. In 10 wards in
Lancashire over one third of children live in households where no adult is in
employment. These wards are 4 in West Lancashire, 3 wards in Preston and 1 ward
each in Burnley, Hyndburn and Lancaster.49 5 wards in the county are in the 1% worst
in England. The highest ward is Tanhouse where 47% of children live in a household
with no adult in employment.50
Strengthen Early Years programmes,
such as Sure Start, and prepare a
'preventative' strategy to enable all
young people to reach their full
potential.
The Sure Start Sure Start initiative is recommended as a means of providing support
services to children and their families.51
Strengthen opportunities for young
people to shape their lives and futures
and promote inclusion of those with
special needs and those who are
disaffected.
See Headline Target 6(c) and 6 (d)
below
In October 2002 some 3,740 young people were unemployed across Lancashire. This
had fallen from 5,084 in October 1998. They accounted for 30% of all unemployed
people in the County.52
Improve sport, leisure, access to ICT
and culture facilities for young people
The report ‘Social Exclusion in Rural Lancashire’ identified young people still at school
or in education, who cannot drive, as a group at high risk of social exclusion.53
47 Feedback from Lancashire Youth Council Imagine Lancashire visioning event
48 DfES: Every Child Matters – Green Paper 2003 / Every Child Matters: The Next Steps 2004
49 Source: Index of Deprivation 2004 number of children living in means tested benefit reliant families
50 Source: Index of Deprivation 2004 number of children living in means tested benefit reliant families
51 DfES: Every Child Matters – Analysis of consultation responses 2004
52 Source: National On line Manpower Information System 2002
37
Our Ambitions
Why?
and increasing access and
participation through increased rural
and urban public transport.
See Headline Target 6(b) below
Strengthen opportunities for
citizenship and participation in
decision-making, then listening and
responding to comments.
There are 152,000 young people aged 10-19 years living in Lancashire today.54
Through the Youth Council, young people have the opportunity to explore issues that
really matter to them. Young people’s opinions are regularly sought by partner
organisations and then used to bring about changes that will help young people as well
as the service providers. There are 78 elected youth councillors covering the 12
boroughs of Lancashire as well as 12 members of the UK Youth Parliament.
Promote positive images of young
people and the undeniable contribution
they can make, which will start to
break down the intergenerational
barriers.
71% of people, when questioned said that groups of young people hanging around was
a problem to them.55
53 Social Exclusion in Rural Lancashire 2003
54 Census 2001
55 Wave 5 topline figures Lancashire Constabulary
38
Our Ambitions
Why?
Strengthen support for the children
and families in the County who need it
by:
• Increasing family support services
to reduce the number of children
looked after by the County
Council.
• Providing an appropriate fostering
or adoption placement for children
and young people who cannot live
in their own family but who need
care in a family setting.
• Providing high quality and
specialist residential care for
young people.
The number of Looked After children in Lancashire was 49 per 10,000 population aged
under 18. This was lower than the national average, but high when compared with
other shire counties. Lancashire also had a relatively high number of young people
looked after over 16 years old (68 per 10,000). (January 2002). Some 202 children
were placed in residential care in Lancashire in 2002. The aim is to reduce in-house
residential placements to 90 in the long term.
The educational attainment of children in care is significantly lower than the County
average.
Improve access to safe, affordable and
decent accommodation for young
people and enhance their housing
choices (such as type, size, tenure,
design).
In parts of western Lancashire average house prices are higher than average incomes
(in some cases 4 times the average annual income). Affordability is a real issue for
new entrants to the housing market. In parts of east Lancashire there are severe
market and quality difficulties.
Continue to strengthen access to
information for young people about
opportunities after school, key
services, lifestyle choices, housing and
transport.
Young people aged between 16 and 18 not in education, training or education are
much more likely than their peers to earn less in work, be in poor physical health and
have a criminal record. Non participation at this age is also a major predictor of
unemployment and teenage motherhood.56
56 Connexions Lancashire
39
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
6(b) Increase the number of children and young people, aged 0-19 years, with significant disabilities who participate on a regular
basis in community based leisure and recreational activities from 245 to 520 by 2006 (Lancashire County Council, District
Councils).
6(c) Reduce from 35.1% the rate of re-offending of young offenders aged 10-17 to 28.1% by 2006 (Lancashire County Council,
Lancashire Constabulary, Connexions).
6(d) By 2006, establish a range of integrated services for children and young people and their families.
6(e) Develop a strategic approach to improve and enhance Life Chances for Children & Young People in Lancashire’s most
disadvantaged areas by 2005 (Lancashire Partnership).
6(f) Establish a Lancashire Childrens’ Strategic Partnership by 2005
Key Lancashire plans working towards achieving our vision:
• Learning Excellence Lancashire’s plan to promote and
support school improvement
• Culture Matters. The Cultural Strategy for Lancashire 2004-
2007
• Every Child Matters
• Every Child Matters – Next Steps
• (emerging) Lancashire Preventative Strategy
• Lancashire Early Years Development and Childcare
Implementation Plan 2003-2004
• Lancashire Childrens’ Centre Plan 2004-2006
• Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Plan 2004-2006
• Lancashire Youth and Community Service Development Plan
2003-2006
• Adult and Continuing Education Service Development Plan
2003-2006
• Lancashire County Library and Information Service Position
Statement 2004
• Lancashire County Library and Information Service Business
Plan 2003-2004
• Lancashire County Library and Information Service Business
Plan 2004-2005
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• Lancashire Learning and Skills Council
• Lancashire County Council
• Lancashire Connexions Service
• East Lancashire Partnership
• Lancashire West Partnership
• Lancashire Colleges
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Lancaster
• All Lancashire District LSPs
• Business Link North and Western Lancashire
• Business Link East Lancashire
• Lancashire PCTs
• Lancashire Drug Action Team
• Lancashire District Councils
• Lancashire Constabulary
• Supporting People
• Voluntary Organisations supporting young people
• Registered Social Landlords
• Elevate
40
Older People’s Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is a county where older people are empowered to live their lives in the way they choose and where the skills
and expertise of older people are valued.
What’s so special about older people in Lancashire in 2024?
Who Cares Wins - The red rose county contains a strong silver element as older people are active, valued and contributing
members of Lancashire’s communities. The increasing number of people aged over 65 gives Lancashire’s population an added
diversity of age and experience.
Modernised support for older people and their carers has enabled greater than ever numbers of older people to live
independently in their own homes. As a result, the number of people requiring hospital, residential and nursing care has fallen
year on year since the introduction of Lancashire’s pioneering strategy for older people in the early part of the 21st Century.
Lancashire’s focus on ‘world class’ digital infrastructure has connected communities of ‘silver surfers’ throughout the county and
beyond. The procurement of goods and services over the internet by older people has helped to support independent living.
Older people, from both urban and rural areas, can travel freely about Lancashire and beyond using an integrated and affordable
transport system.
41
Lancashire People said:
Respondants who feel it is important to improve welfare and caring services (278) SOURCE; MORI
When asked about welfare and caring services in Lancashire
6%
6%
8%
13%
21%
23%
26%
28%
31%
38%
41% Make care affordable
More contact from care services
Have good emergency services
Able to live at home
Get transport when needed
Have a warm home
Improve access to public
Improve access to leisure facilities
More contact with friends/relatives
Know what services are available
Have someone to contact for help
42
Our Ambitions
Why?
Work in partnership to tackle the health
inequalities experienced by some of
Lancashire’s older people.
Health inequalities run through life from before birth and into old age. It exists between
different social classes, different areas of the country, between men and women and
between people from different ethic back grounds…….the poorer you are the more likely
you are to be ill and to die younger. An impact can be made on the health inequalities
experienced by older people though encouraging older people to get flu vaccinations and
tackling fuel poverty.
Empower vulnerable older people and
help them live their lives in a way they
choose, with more flexible care and
support in their own homes (investment
in home care, greater use of Direct
Payments, “extracare” developments,
investment in Home Improvement
Agencies).
See Headline Target 7(b) below
In 2002/03 the rate of households receiving intensive homecare was 13.7 per 1,000
population aged 65 or over across Lancashire. The rate was highest in Hyndburn at 20 and
lowest in Fylde at 8.57
Develop collaborative arrangements for
service planning with older people,
carers and other stakeholders, based
on a model of “Partnership Boards” to
advise future commissioning of
services.
The basis for the model has already been established in services for people with learning
disabilities. The aim is to ensure better integration of services, less duplication and waste,
and services that meet the needs and expectations of older people themselves.
Strengthen the opportunities for older
people to remain active and fully
involved in work, leisure activity and
community life in Lancashire, including
setting up older persons’ forums.
See Headline Target 7(a) below
It is crucial for the mental and physical well being of older people for them to remain
engaged in the communities in which they live. The opportunity to take part in leisure or
work activities can enhance self esteem, lead to a growth in confidence and dispel feelings
of loneliness or isolation. Involvement in community activities can break down
intergenerational barrier. The Maturity Matters conference specifically asked
ambitionlancashire to incorporate strategies that seek to empower and support older
people to live their lives in the way they choose.58
Value the skills and expertise of older
people from all communities and
Older people have a great deal to offer the community in which they live. They have
experience of life and bringing up families and the world of work and can enrich the life of
57 Source: County Council
58 Maturity Matters Conference 2003
43
Our Ambitions
Why?
cultures and their contribution to local
communities.
their communities. Their skills can be harnessed as volunteers and as mentors and can
promote services within their communities.59
Continue to implement the National
Service Framework for Older People to
improve quality of life.
66% of people of aged 65 or over ,and receiving benefits, live alone. This is the same as
the national average. 16 Lancashire wards had rates in the highest 10% nationally, most of
them rural wards.60
Provide high quality pre-admission and
rehabilitation care to older people to
help them live as independently as
possible and speed up hospital
discharge through use of Home
Improvement Agency Services.
Older people have told us it is very important to them to remain in their own homes and live
as independently as they can for as long as they can. Our hospitals have also told us that
one third of acute hospital beds are occupied by people over 65 and that they too want to
support older people when they are in need and enable them to live as independently as
possible.
Use the latest technology to provide
increased support at home and work
with housing providers to promote and
provide ‘life time homes’ adaptable to
the needs of all households and age
groups.
Using the latest technology will enable older people to remain in their own homes for longer
by assisting with passive monitoring and support arrangements.
Work closely with local authorities, the
health sector, voluntary sector, and
others to further develop integrated
services in the county, including the
provision of respite care for the older
person and care of the Asian Heritage
Older person.
In 2002/03, the rate of admissions to residential or nursing care across Lancashire was
104.1 per 10,000 population aged 65 or over. It was highest in Hyndburn at 145.3 and
lowest in Wyre at 75.61
Protect the most vulnerable from
doorstep and other crime.
Often the most vulnerable and frail elderly people are targets for doorstep crime, rogue
direct selling and traders and become targets for distraction burglary and repair
malpractices. The impact of doorstep crime on the older person can be devastating and
lead to loss of confidence and self esteem and real fear of crime and feeling vulnerable
when at home. Lancashire is piloting a ‘direct intervention’ scheme with Lancashire
Constabulary to deter doorstep crime against elderly residents.
59 Maturity Matters Conference 2003
60 Source: Older people Count 2003 Help the Aged
61 Source County Council
44
Our Ambitions
Why?
Tackle the problem of utilising public
transport for the older person and
making it affordable and convenient,
thus making it easy to access services
and leisure facilities.
This has been identified as one of the top priorities from the ‘Maturity Matters’
conferences62 There is poor public transport provision in much of rural Lancashire and the
elderly without access to public transport can find themselves dependant on declining and
expensive village based services.63
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
7(a) Develop a Lancashire Older People’s Strategy that sets out a comprehensive framework for the next 10 years to address the
implications of an Ageing Society by 2006 (Lancashire Partnership).
7(b) To increase from 13.8 % in 2002/3 to 16% by 2005/6 the number of households receiving intensive homecare. (Lancashire
County Council).
7(c) To decrease the number of supported admissions of older people to permanent residential and nursing care per from 118.9
people per 10,000 population aged 65.
Key Lancashire Plans working towards achieving our
vision:
• National Framework for Older People
Main Strategies
• District Commissioning Strategies
• Fair access to care
• Improving older people’s services
• Better care, Higher Standards
• Single assessment Process
• Service Integration
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• Lancashire County Council
• Lancashire District Councils
• Lancashire PCTs.
• Lancashire Acute Hospital Trusts.
• Voluntary Sector organisations
• Registered Social Landlords
• Elevate
• Cumbria and Lancashire Health Authority.
• Lancashire Care NHS Trust
• Lancashire Constabulary
• Supporting People Partnership
• Age Concern
• All Lancashire District LSPs
62 Maturity Matters – Lancashire’s Champion for the Older Person
63 Social Exclusion in Rural Lancashire May 2003
45
Caring and Healthy Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is a county where people are enabled to make good choices about their lifestyle, and where income and
social class are no longer major factors in life expectancy.
What's so special about Lancashire’s social care and public health in 2024?
Vanishing Health Gap – Health inequalities between Lancashire’s communities have been eradicated thanks to pioneering
programmes to tackle deprivation and the health problems associated with poverty. Partnership initiatives are guiding people to
make healthy choices about their lifestyle. The effects of food, exercise, alcohol, smoking and drugs on health are well
understood. Road casualties have fallen as ever more people travel by public transport, walk or cycle to work.
Lancashire’s once high levels of child poverty and teenage pregnancy are a distant memory following the successful intervention
programmes of the last decade.
First Class Services - Health care is provided in modern premises following the roll out of Lancashire’s pioneering LIFT initiative.
New combined health and community centres provide local ‘one stop shops’ for diagnostic and other primary care services using
the latest technology.
Waiting times are at an all time low thanks to the record numbers of local doctors and health professionals trained in Lancashire’s
teaching hospitals and the award winning Lancashire Medical School.
46
Lancashire People said:
When asked about living healthier lives
Base: Respondents who feel it’s important to help people live healthier lives (229)
19%
26%
27%
27%
27%
32%
35%
38% Responsibility for own health
Improve access to health services
Cut down on traffic congestion
Better access to local doctors
Cheaper alternative medicine or
therapies
Information about community health
services
National healthy living campaigns
Reduce industrial air pollution
Top Mentions
Source: MORI
47
Our Ambitions
Why?
Tackle the underlying causes of ill health in
the county by addressing issues of poverty,
and inadequate housing, employment and
education.
Over 15% of Lancashire’s areas are ranked in the poorest 10% in England using
the health indicators from the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004. 13 areas are
ranked in the poorest 2%.64
Reduce the gap in life expectancy between
Lancashire’s most deprived wards and
England’s population as a whole.
Statistics show that the spatial pattern of mortality in Lancashire has remained
relatively unaltered over the last few decades. People living in the County’s most
deprived wards are, on average, typically 1.5 times more likely to die
prematurely than would be expected.65
Reduce conception rates of those under 18
years old in Lancashire.
In 2002 Lancashire had a teenage conception rate of 42.5 per 1,000 15-17 year
olds, compared with the national average of 43.8. Rates in deprived areas,
especially in parts of north and east Lancashire, are 20% above the national
average. Moreover, the risk of becoming a teenage mother is almost ten times
higher for a girl whose family is in social class 5 than social class 1.66
Roll-out programmes to help people make
good lifestyle choices about diet, exercise,
smoking, alcohol and drugs.
Many of the benefits of engaging people in living healthier lives occur in the long
term. But there are also short-term benefits when demand for health services
can be reduced. Health and life expectancy are linked to social circumstances
and childhood poverty, with people in disadvantaged communities at greater risk
of poor health. Poor lifestyle choices, particularly in Lancashire’s disadvantaged
communities, exacerbate poor health, and these can be passed on from
generation to generation.67
Continue to raise fire safety awareness,
especially among Lancashire’s vulnerable
and deprived communities.
Lancashire’s most deprived wards are at greater risk of experiencing fires
compared to affluent communities. Analysis from the index of deprivation (2000)
shows the County’s communities in the most deprived 10% nationally are 4-5
times at greater risk of experiencing fire related incidents than the County’s most
affluent communities.68
Continue to reduce the number of deaths
and accidents on Lancashire’s roads.
Lancashire has the largest locally based safety project of its kind in the UK.
Between 1994 and 1998 an average of 1,214 were killed or seriously injured.
By 2002 this rate had fallen to 868, with a target rate of 729 by 2005.69
64 Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004
65 State of Lancashire Report 2003
66 Lancashire LPSA
67 Choosing Heath (Wanless Report)
68 MADE Database and IMD 2000
69 Lancashire LPSA
48
Our Ambitions
Why?
Put in place robust support networks for
vulnerable people and carers and continue
to roll out the National Service Frameworks
in Lancashire (NFSs).
National Service Frameworks provide a systematic approach on which to tackle
the agenda of improving standards and quality across health care sectors. NSFs
are implemented in partnership with the health sector, social services and other
organisations. NSFs exist for coronary heart disease, mental health, older
people, renal health, diabetes, children, young people and maternity services.
Continue to invest in high quality health
infrastructure and services across
Lancashire, and strengthen access to health
services.
The health sector in Lancashire has the opportunity to build on the detailed work
of the Local Modernisation Review process. The SHA has indicated that the
requirement to deliver significant productivity improvements and the willingness
by collective health economies to redesign the services around the patient, not
just investing in traditional models of care, presents both challenges but more
importantly real opportunities.
The East Lancashire LIFT project, a groundbreaking public private partnership
scheme designed to build and refurbish primary care premises that are no
longer fit for purpose, is now developing.
Develop a Medical School in Lancashire to
attract, develop and retain medical and other
health service staff in the County.
The historical inability to recruit in several medical speciality professions in
Lancashire (eg, Oncology, Radiology, Pathology, Psychiatry and Cardiology)
creates risk to delivery of key targets in a number of health economies.
The lack of a dedicated Medical School for Lancashire exacerbates medical
recruitment problems and the feasibility of developing such a resource in
Cumbria and Lancashire is currently being explored. The SHA will seek to
ensure that there are appropriate junior doctor training schemes with an
emphasis on producing Consultants who want to work across the patch.70
Strengthen support for the children and
families in the County who need it by:
• Increasingly family support services to
reduce the number of children looked
after by the County Council.
• Providing an appropriate fostering or
adoption placement for children and
young people who cannot live in their
own family but who need care in a family
setting.
• Providing high quality and specialist
The number of Looked After children in Lancashire was 49 per 10,000
population aged under 18. This was lower than the national average, but high
when compared with other shire counties. Lancashire also had a relatively high
number of young people looked after over 16 years old (68 per 10,000).
(January 2002). Some 202 children were placed in residential care in
Lancashire in 2002. The aim is to reduce in-house residential placements to 90
in the long term.
The educational attainment of children in care is significantly lower than the
County average.
70 Cumbria and Lancashire Health Authority Corporate Plan
49
Our Ambitions
Why?
residential care for young people.
• Giving people the opportunity to have
more flexible, individually-tailored care
and support, by promoting Direct
Payments as an alternative to care
arranged for them.
Direct Payments give people who need care at home the facility to fund their
own arrangements. These can be built around their own situation and needs. It
is a government priority to increase the number of people making use of this.
Strengthen support for adults in the County
who need it by:
• Supporting the majority of people with a
learning disability to live independently
in their own home, have a paid job and
an active social life.
• Supporting people who have
experienced mental health problems to
secure meaningful paid employment and
to live independently in the community
through a range of support services that
can be increased quickly if the need
arises.
• Supporting People with a physical
disability or sensory impairment to be
able to secure meaningful paid
employment, to live in supported
housing rather than institutional care
and be able to use leisure facilities.
People with learning disabilities are living longer and increasingly outliving their
parents. Many service users want to live independently. Carers say they want
more respite care.
People with mental health problems have a very low rate of employment. Only
24% of adults with long-term mental health problems are in work. With the right
support many more would be able and would like to work. Unemployment is
associated with worsening mental health.71
Residential care can perpetuate dependency. Costs of residential
accommodation vary. The Government has set national targets for reducing
suicide rates. The majority of people in residential accommodation have severe
and enduring mental health problems; by far the greatest number have been
diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia.72
Disabled people are seven times more likely to be out of paid work than other
people. Day centres are under used, those who do attend are mostly over 55.
Services to physically disabled people are “fragmented” due to responsibilities
being divided between the health sector, district councils and the County
Council. People with a disability frequently find themselves socially excluded.
Develop collaborative arrangements for
service planning with disabled people,
carers and other stakeholders, based on a
model of “Partnership Boards” to advise
future commissioning of services.
The basis for the model has already been established in services for people with
learning disabilities. The aim is to ensure better integration of services, less
duplication and waste, and services that meet the needs and expectations of
people who use services.
71 ODPM: Mental Health and Social Exclusion 2004
72 LCC: Commissioning Strategy for Adult Services
50
Our Ambitions
Why?
Develop arrangements for closer service
integration in services for people with mental
health problems.
Services for this group are already delivered by multi-disciplinary teams under
single management. There is further scope to integrate service planning and
delivery with health agencies, to get best benefit from total of resources and
create flexible, responsive services for users.
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
8(a) Reduce the under 18 conception rate from 46.2 to 35.5 per 1,000 15-17 year olds (23%) by 2004/2006.
8(b) Deliver a 1% reduction per year in the proportion of women continuing to smoke throughout pregnancy, focussing
especially on smokers from disadvantaged groups as a contribution to the national target to reduce by at least 10% the
gap in mortality between ‘routine and manual’ at least 10% and the population as a whole by 2010, starting with children
under one.
8(c) By 2010 reduce inequalities in health outcomes by 10% as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy at birth.
8(d) Reduce substantially the mortality rates from the major killer diseases by 2010: from heart disease by at least 40% in
people under 75; from cancer by at least20% in people under 75.
8(e) Contribute to the national reduction in death rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) of at least 25% in people under 75
by 2005 compared to 1995-97, targeting the 20% of areas with the highest rates of CHD.
8(f) Contribute to the national reduction in cancer death rates of at least 12% in people under 75 by 2005 compared to 1995-
1997, targeting the 20% of areas with the highest rates of cancer.
51
Key Lancashire plans working towards
achieving our vision:
• SHA Plan
• Commissioning Strategy for Adults
• Commissioning Strategy for Services to
Children and Families
• Supporting People
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• Lancashire Supporting People Partnership
• Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority
• Lancashire Primary Care Trusts
• Lancashire County Council
• Voluntary Sector Organisations
• Age Concern
• Patient Forums
• Lancashire District Councils
• Lancashire Road Safety Partnerships
• Lancashire Teenage Pregnancy Board
• Lancashire Care NHS Trust
• Lancashire Acute Hospital Trusts
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Lancaster
• Elevate
• All Lancashire District LSPs
• Lancashire District Councils
• Lancashire Constabulary
52
Welcoming and Harmonious Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is welcoming, ambitious and harmonious. Diversity is celebrated. Tolerance and pride is embedded in a
modern multi-cultural Lancashire.
What’s so special about Lancashire’s communities in 2024?
Confident and outward looking – Lancashire has worked hard over the last two decades to promote harmonious community
relations. A great deal has been achieved since the disturbances in east Lancashire over 20 years ago. Modern mixed and
welcoming communities have flourished from the seeds of the ‘Elevate’ initiative began two decades ago. The issues of ‘parallel
lives’ and ‘polarised communities’, a feature of some communities in the early part of the century, are now just features of the
history curriculum in Lancashire’s schools.
Vibrant voluntary, faith and community sector – The rollout of formal agreements between the public sector and the voluntary
sector, together with additional support for voluntary and community groups means the sector now generates a significant
amount of Lancashire’s Gross Value Added. Successful partnerships between the sector and local agencies have cultivated a
range of social enterprises. In turn, these have boosted local procurement, local jobs and local environmental improvements.
Everyone can join in: Lancashire has dismantled the barriers that prevented everyone from participating in community life.
People are empowered to reach their aspirations and take more responsibility for their personal and community development.
53
Lancashire people said::
15%
10%
5%
13%
11%
45%
People get on well together
Q When asked if their local area is a place where people from different
backgrounds get on well together
Base: All respondents (2,447)
Strongly agree
Tend to agree
Tend to
disagree
Strongly
disagree
Don’t know
All same
background
Source: MORI
54
Our Ambitions
Why?
Work in partnership with a range of
agencies, especially East Lancashire
Together and with partners in other
parts of Lancashire to support
innovative approaches to achieving
community cohesion.
The challenge to achieve community cohesion in parts of east Lancashire remains high
on the agenda following the disturbances of 2001. But issues of community cohesion
are not restricted to race issues, or to the east of the County. Other parts of
Lancashire experience tensions, and even fracture, because of issues of age, religion,
deprivation or seasonal working.
Out of 250 wards in Lancashire, 81 were in the 25% most deprived nationally and 33
were in the 25% most affluent.73
Of the 591 racial violence crimes across Lancashire 401 (67%) occurred in Burnley,
Preston, Pendle and Hyndburn. Of the 286 racial damage crimes 224 (78%) occurred
in these 4 districts.74
Strengthen programmes to raise
awareness and encourage integration
between different communities,
including issues of race, gender,
sexuality, disability, age and faith.
Some parts of Lancashire suffer from a pronounced lack of interaction between
different communities and their members. There is sometimes a widespread fear of
differences, and a lack of appreciation of the positives in other people’s cultures.
Celebrate diversity and promote
cultural and faith awareness through
the media using positive images.
See Headline Target 9(a) below
A better understanding of the diversity of our different cultures and faiths, together with
more understanding of what we share, raised through a higher profile, will help to
strengthen community cohesion in the County. National guidance on community
cohesion suggests this is a key way of beginning to address tensions between different
communities.
Endorse and support community
events, cultural festivals and sporting
events to integrate communities and
to raise awareness and understanding
of cultural and faith differences.
Guidance from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Home Office, Interfaith Network
for the United Kingdom and the Commission for Racial Equality recommends that
communities engage around festivals and community celebrations to promote
understanding and, ultimately, cohesion. Lancashire communities include people with
roots in Bangladesh, India, Ireland, Pakistan, Poland, Ukraine and many other
73 Source:Index of Deprivation 2000 DETR
74 MADE Project/Lancashire Constabulary
75 Guidance on Community Cohesion LGA 2002
55
Our Ambitions
Why?
countries.75
Strengthen support for the voluntary
and community sector from public
agencies and valuing and encouraging
their work in order to make crosscultural
contacts.
The voluntary and community sectors bring experience and expertise to initiatives and
help to create meaningful community engagement.76
Roll out a working agreement or
‘compact’ between the voluntary
sector and public agencies.
See Headline Target 9(b) below.
In the development and delivery of public policy and services local government and the
voluntary sector have distinct but complementary roles. Working in partnership is vital
to achieving common and aims and objectives and the importance is acknowledged by
both parties of promoting equality of opportunity for all and recognising the needs of a
diverse population. Many of the district LSPs and local authorities in Lancashire are
committed to carrying out a ‘compact’.
Work with public sector agencies in
Lancashire to strengthen the planning
and delivery of equality issues.
The public sector agencies in Lancashire have a statutory duty to promote equality
issues. Whilst much activity exists, it can sometimes appear fragmented to
communities and individuals. By better harmonising our activities, the public sector
agencies of the county can provide a more effective service.
Introduce new mechanisms to
strengthen local democracy and to
allow people to have a greater say in
local decision making.
In a strong society the public are actively involved in decision making, and have
confidence that they are shaping policies to improve the communities in which they
live.
The turnout in the last General Election was below 60%. The turnout for local elections
can be as low as 15% in the most disadvantaged areas of the county. New
mechanisms are needed in some parts of Lancashire to strengthen community
engagement in local democracy.
76 Guidance on Community Cohesion LGA 2002
56
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
9(a) Produce, by the end of 2005, a leaflet on the backgrounds and cultural diversity of all our Lancashire Citizens (Lancashire
Partnership).
9(b) Carry out a mapping exercise of all the volunteer bureaus in Lancashire and make recommendations to the Lancashire
Partnership by 2005 (Lancashire Partnership).
9(c) Carry out a mapping exercise and make recommendations on credit unions to the Lancashire Partnership by 2006
(Lancashire Partnership).
9(d) To increase from 245 in 2002/3 to 520 in 2006 the number of under 19 year olds who undergo personal and social
development which results in an accredited outcome77 (Lancashire County Council, Learning and Skills Council).
9(e) Identification of the causes and development of the strategies dealing with intolerance, ASB, racial harassment, violence and
hate crime in East Lancashire (Elevate, east Lancashire together Lancashire County Council).
Key Lancashire Plans working towards achieving our
vision:
• Elevate East Lancashire - Housing Market Renewal
• East Lancashire together
• Compact on relations between Lancashire County Council
and the Voluntary, community and faith sectors in
Lancashire
• Lancashire LSP Community Strategies
• District and County Cultural Strategies
• Parish and Village Plans
• CDRP Community Safety Strategies
• Race Equality Schemes
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• East Lancashire Together
• Lancashire district LSPs
• Lancashire Colleges
• Lancashire BME PACT
• Preston and Western Lancashire REC
• Lancashire Community Networks
• Parish and Town Councils
• Elevate East Lancashire
• Lancashire County Council
• Lancashire CVSs
• Voluntary sector organisations in Lancashire
• Lancashire Forum of Faiths.
• Lancashire Constabulary
• Lancashire District Councils
• Community Futures
77 Such as Duke of Edinburgh, Challenge Certificates, NVQ Awards, Youth Achievement Awards
57
Safer Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is a safe place to grow, live and work. There is a strong sense of community responsibility and involvement
in community life.
What’s so special about community safety in Lancashire in 2024?
Engaged Communities - A significant shift towards community focussed programmes by the police service and fire service in
the early part of the 21st Century has resulted in a sense of ‘ownership’ and responsibility for safety issues among Lancashire’s
communities.
Greater community engagement by all Lancashire’s public sector agencies has helped to generate higher levels of confidence
and safety than ever before.
Prevention & Intervention - An innovative partnership approach aimed at preventing ‘at risk’ young children drifting into crime
has created a positive sense of well-being among Lancashire’s communities. Rates of youth offending, and crime statistics
generally, are at an all time low. Levels of substance misuse, anti-social behaviour, and deliberate fires have declined steeply
over the last ten years.
58
Lancashire people said:
A comment received by e-mail: ‘ Imagine the pleasure of living in a county with extremely low crime rates. Imagine the money
and energy that could be diverted into health, housing, education, the environment’
Priority - Crime and Disorder
11%
12%
13%
18%
21%
28%
35%
42%
71% Visible police presence
More things for youngsters to do
Tackle the drugs problem
Closed circuit TV
Give courts more choice
Recruit neighbourhood wardens
More community involvement
Improve lighting in streets/car parks
Speed restrictions & traffic calming
When asked about crime and disorder in Lancashire
Top Mentions
Base: Respondents who feel it’s important to reduce crime and disorder (985) Source: MORI
59
Our Ambitions
Why?
Further reduce crime levels and fear of
crime, focussing on current problem
areas.
This has been identified by all the 12 district LSPs and the community at large as one
of their highest priorities. In the 12 months to the end of March 2003 all robbery fell
by more than 14%, personal robbery went down 17% with nearly 250 offences. The
number of street threats was also reduced by more than 23%, making Lancashire a
safer place to live78 The rate of all crime for Lancashire was 22.6 per 1,000 population
compared to 27.9 nationally and 29.1 in the North West.
Continue to strengthen the community
programmes of the police service and
the fire and rescue service.
In Lancashire 13% of people wanted more community involvement in tackling
community safety issues and 18% of people wanted us to recruit more neighbourhood
wardens.79
Prevent offending by children and
young people, possibly focussing on
early years interventions.
See Headline Target 10(a) below
Early intervention with young people who are at risk of offending can prevent potential
anti social behaviour or crime and lead to improving the chances of young people to
achieving jobs and having better health and ultimately resulting in safer communities
for everyone. Lancashire Constabulary have introduced an innovative Youth Referral
Scheme which, following a pilot project, aims to make appropriate intervention (letter
to parents, contacting the school etc) when young people are found behaving in an
anti social manner.
Address the problems of drugs misuse
and drug related crime, through, for
instance, increased supported housing
for people recovering from substance
misuse and increased support for
rehabilitation schemes.
A disproportionate level of drug abuse and dependency in a neighbourhood, because
of how it links to crime, is recognised as a threat to community strength stability and
prosperity. In the vast majority of wards (160 out of 258) the rate of drug related crime
was minimal (1.3 per 1,000 population or below). 5 wards across the county had
high rates of drug related crime, 3 in Lancaster (Bulk, Duke’s, Poulton), 1 in Preston
(Town centre) and Burnley (Daneshouse with Stoneyholme).80
Design out crime using new planning
and urban design principles and
embrace the standards of good
neighbourhood management, including
alleygating schemes.
The principle behind encouraging the building industry to adopt crime prevention
measures to assist in reducing the opportunity for crime and the fear of crime is to
create a safer and more secure environment. For instance, residents who live on
‘Secured by Design’ estates are half as likely to be burgled, two and half times less
likely to suffer vehicle crime and suffer 25% less criminal damage.81 In 2002/03 the
78 Lancashire Constabulary Annual report 2002-2003
79 Life in Lancashire 2003
80 Drug misuse Database Locality reports – Drug mis-use Research Unit
81 Huddersfield University
60
Our Ambitions
Why?
See Headline Target 10(c) below
rate of domestic burglary in Lancashire was 15 per 1,000 households. This compares
to a rate of 20 per 1,000 across England & Wales.82
Improve public reassurance by reducing
incidents of anti-social behaviour.
The rate of juvenile nuisance was 30 incidents per 1,000 population in Lancashire but
in 27 wards the rate was between 53.9 and 111 per 1,000 population (Lancaster
District (6), Wyre, Burnley and Hyndburn (5 each), west Lancashire and Fylde (2
each) and Preston and Ribble Valley (1 each).83
Reduce the number and prevalence of
incidents of domestic violence.
Domestic violence is currently one of the priority areas for many district community
safety partnerships. It is, statistically, one of the most prevalent crimes in society,
permeating all cultural and socio economic groups. There is a high cost to public
services in terms of the police and health services, and also to employers. Suffering
domestic violence has a high negative impact on quality of life.
Reduce the risk of casualties, injury and
damage on Lancashire’s roads.
See Headline Target 10(b) below
Between April 2001 and March 2002 954 people across the county were killed or
seriously injured. 4 wards across the county had 3.8 and 8.2 people per 1,000
population killed or seriously injured and these were all rural and semi rural wards84.
Nationally, the figure was, in 2002, 3431 people were killed in road accidents and
35,976 were seriously injured.85
Promote safer communities by deterring
rogue trading practices and unsafe
products , seeking to ensure elderly and
vulnerable are protected against rogue
direct selling practices, including repair
malpractices, distraction burglary etc.
and pilot direct intervention in 'doorstep
rogue traders' .
Data awaited
Act to deter the availability and sale of
alcohol, fireworks etc to children,
promote greater awareness in young
people of their danger and nuisance
Data awaited
82 MADE project/Lancashire Constabulary
83 MADE project/Lancashire Constabulary
84 MADE project/LCC Highways Dept/Lancashire Constabulary
85 Department of Transport
61
Our Ambitions
Why?
arsing from the activities.
Act to identify and remove unsafe goods
from sale in Lancashire.
Data awaited
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
10(a) To reduce the rate of youths that re-offend from 35.1% in 2002/3 to 28.1% in 2006. (Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire
County Council).
10(b) To reduce the number of young people killed or seriously injured on the roads to 905 by 2006(Lancashire Constabulary,
Lancashire County Council).
10(c) To save a minimum of 40 lives on the roads, to have 580 fewer people seriously injured and to 760 fewer people slightly
injured on the roads by 2005 (Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire County Council)
10(d) Develop strategic partnership working to support local plans and activities aimed at addressing domestic violence by 2005
10(e) Achieve a 45% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 2016 compared to 2001
levels (Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety).
Main Strategies
All District Community Safety Strategies
To achieve this vision we will need to work with:
• Lancashire Connexions
• Lancashire Constabulary
• Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service
• Lancashire Youth Offending Team
• Lancashire Drug Action Team
• Lancashire Community Safety Partnerships
• Lancashire County Council
• The Primary Care Trusts
• Lancashire District Councils
• Lancashire Police Authority
• Lancashire Fire & Rescue Authority
• Lancashire LSPs
• Elevate
• All Lancashire District LSPs
• Supporting People
• The voluntary sector
62
Greener Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is a county where the dramatic beauty of our landscape and wildlife is cherished, and our urban areas
contain fine buildings and inviting open spaces. Lancashire plays its part in addressing global environment issues.
What’s so special about Lancashire’s environment in 2024?
Global to local - Lancashire’s internationally important wildlife habitats attract eco-tourists from around the globe. Our species
recovery programmes are heralded across Europe. In parallel, Lancashire’s efforts to play its part in climate change programmes
are recognised through a United Nations Environment Programme award as one of only a handful of municipalities in the world
that is carbon neutral.
The right business environment - Lancashire’s pioneering work to promote renewable energy schemes in the late 20th and
early 21st Century has paved the way for a strong environment technology sector. Now comprising more than 20,000 jobs and
generating 10% of Lancashire’s GVA, the sector, centred around a number of environment technology ‘villages’, specialises in
energy efficiency, power generation from renewables, waste recovery and recycling and pollution abatement technologies.
63
Lancashire People said:
Base: Respondents who feel it’s important to protect the environment (397)
When asked about protecting the environment
16%
19%
19%
22%
23%
23%
30%
34%
46% Enforce dog fouling penalties
Clean streets more regularly
More waste recycling sites
Information on local environment
Reduce industrial pollution
Reduce number of car journeys
Advice on conserving energy
Plant more trees
Skips placed in neighbourhoods
Top Mentions
Source: MORI
64
Our Ambitions
Why?
Promote energy efficiency in the
domestic and business sector,
especially amongst the most intensive
users.
The level of energy consumption and the choice of energy source can have significant
impacts on the environment. The environmental impact of electricity generation is
largely dependent on the choice of fuels used in generation. There has been a 10%
increase in average electricity consumption per household since 1991.86 Coal fired
stations are associated with CO2 emissions and the trans-boundary deposition of acid
rain.
Reduce the risk of Lancashire people
experiencing ‘fuel poverty’.
Some 81 wards in Lancashire are in the most deprived nationally and 33 are in the least
25% deprived.87
Some 22 Lancashire wards were in the 10% most deprived nationally for elderly income
deprivation. In each of these wards over 60% of people over 65 were income
deprived.88 Concerns about the ability to pay for fuel, particularly among elderly people
on low incomes, can exacerbate health problems during the winter months.
Encourage the development and
deployment of renewable energy
technology.
Energy produced from renewable sources will play an important part in reducing carbon
dioxide emissions, the main cause of climate change.89 Lancashire’s potential for the
deployment of renewable technology is considerable, and the UK’s second wind farm to
be developed is located in Burnley.
Reduce the vulnerability of the county
to the dangers and damage caused by
unmanaged floods.
Over the last few years there has been increasing concern over flooding and
development in flood risk areas. This has been due to a series of serious flood events
nationally and the threat of global climate change.
In response to the serious flood events of recent years, the Environment Agency has
produced flood plain maps that show indicative flood plain limits. In the case of rivers
they show the approximate extent of floods with a 1% annual probability of occurrence (1
in 100 year flood). For coastal flooding they show the 0.5% annual probability (1 in 200
year flood). The maps show areas that could be affected by such flood events,
overtopping or breaching of flood defences. However, it is important to note that they are
indicative only and do not take local factors into account, such as the presence or quality
of existing flood defences. It is also important to note that the maps take no account of
86 State of Lancashire Report 2003
87 State of Lancashire Report 2003
88 State of Lancashire Report 2003
89 The Energy White Paper ‘Our Energy Future – creating a low carbon economy’
65
Our Ambitions
Why?
possible increased flood risk due to climate change.
The proportion of urban growth 1991-2000 that coincides with the indicative flood plains
has been measured. Most districts show a low percentage of development. Only the
coastal districts of Blackpool, Fylde, Lancaster, West Lancashire and Wyre show higher
percentages. A large proportion of the sites identified are small scale or only partly within
the indicative floodplains).90
Promote development of low carbon
fuels in the transport sector.
Around 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted in Lancashire in 2000. Transport
contributed 29% towards this total.91
Ensure the secure, affordable and safe
supply of water for domestic and
recreational uses, conserving
resources where possible.
Lancashire’s drinking water meets current UK standards. But problems of lead in
drinking water, taken up from domestic lead pipes, means that many of Lancashire’s
water supply zones will struggle to meet tough EU and WHO standards in the future,
when the standard is tightened by 80%.
Ensure that emissions to air, land and
water are within acceptable limits,
especially from transport and industry.
See Headline Target 11(a) below
In 2002, road transport accounted for over half of the total nitrogen dioxide emissions in
the UK.92
Overall, transport accounts for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in Lancashire.93
Promote the development of
environment industries and the
environmental economy.
There are considerable strengths and opportunities to build on in Lancashire. These
include:
• Lancashire is a leading area nationally in the field of waste and recycling.
• Lancashire has led the way internationally in the field of land reclamation.
• The County’s potential for harnessing renewable energy resources and the
development of renewable technologies is among the best in the UK.
• Waste management through recycling has the potential to create 5 times more jobs
than waste management using landfill practices.
Promote the development of
environmentally sensitive agricultural
practices.
Agriculture has the potential to damage the environment through slurry spreading, nitrate
and pesticide applications and land management practices that are not sympathetic to
wildlife. Environmentally sensitive agricultural practices will maintain and enhance the
90 Joint Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2016
91 State of Lancashire Report 2003
92 State of Lancashire Report 2003
93 Lancashire Environment 2002
66
Our Ambitions
Why?
conservation, landscape and historical value of the key environmental features of
Lancashire, and could improve public access to these areas.94 Lancashire has seen
significant growth in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in recent years.
Encourage and promote sustainable
land management to encompass both
farming and local food production.
Agriculture in Lancashire is dominated by livestock and dairy production. Horticulture is
also significant, particularly in West Lancashire. Arable production is comparatively low.
Farms are smaller than the national and regional average, except for holdings with
sheep. There are quite large numbers of small food businesses. Lancashire therefore
has good prospects for promoting joint working for towards more sustainable farming
practices.95 Moreover, Lancashire has seen significant growth in the Countryside
Stewardship Scheme in recent years.
Increase the provision of local goods
and services including those that are
produced in an ethical manner.
Local procurement can reduce travel and support local employment, preventing finance
‘leaking’ out of Lancashire. Goods and services produced in an ethical manner provide
a fair price for the skill, effort and goods produced.96
Reduce the total amount of household
and commercial waste and increase
substantially the levels of waste reuse,
recovery and recycling. Create and
develop an infrastructure that supports
the waste hierarchy.
See Headline Target 11(b) & 11(c)
below
The EU Landfill Directive requires Member States to divert 65% of biodegradable
municipal waste from landfill by 2020. The forecast recycling performance for 2003/4 is
26.5% rising to 33.5% by 2004/5 and 40% by 2005/6.
Provide a clean environment that
addresses fly tipping, litter and graffiti.
Litter and fly tipping have a poor visual impact on urban quality, and typically attract
vermin. Two of the ten hotspots for fly tipping in the North West are situated in
Preston.97
34% of Lancashire’s residents wanted streets to be cleaned more regularly.98
Take measures to conserve and
enhance our species, habitats and
Lancashire has some nationally and internationally important species and habitats.
Examples include limestone pavements in the north of the County or remnant peat bogs
94 Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs
95 Working Together For Profit 2002
96 Traidcraft website
97 Environment Agency (Details)
98 Life in Lancashire 2003
67
Our Ambitions
Why?
landscapes.
See Headline Target 11(d) below
in the south. Rare species like the hen harrier, bittern, and red squirrel are found in
Lancashire. Over 1,000 Biological Heritage Sites exist in Lancashire, and these are
perhaps the most vulnerable of the hierarchy of protected sites.99
Bring into use brownfield sites and
contaminated land. Reduce the levels
and amounts of land contamination
and landscape blight.
Recycling land through reuse and reclamation will put less pressure on the need to
develop Greenfield sites. It will also encourage urban regeneration. Between 1998 and
2001 the amount of derelict land in the County has increased from 647 to 947ha.100
Protect and enhance conservation
areas, including the coast of
Lancashire, and sites of archaeological
importance.
Lancashire contains two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), and other
dramatic landscapes on the coast and in the uplands. Much of Lancashire’s
undeveloped coast has considerable nature conservation value and is important in terms
of its landscape quality and character.101
Ensure everyone has access to green
open spaces in their local area, and
pursue the development of new
country and regional parks.
Access to quality greenspace in urban and rural areas is important for the human spirit
and for wildlife conservation. By 2002, there were 558 Countryside Stewardship
Schemes in place in Lancashire. These schemes seek to manage land for the benefit of
wildlife, landscape and public access.102
Protect and celebrate our rich
architectural and built heritage whilst
embracing the best urban design
principles.
See Headline Target 11(e) below
There has been an increase in the number of sites and buildings of historic interest in
Lancashire since 1991, however there is a need to develop further qualitative indicators
to measure the condition of these assets. The richness of Lancashire’s architectural
heritage plays an influential part in our sense of national and regional identity.103
99 State of Lancashire Report 2003
100 State of Lancashire Report 2003
101 Joint Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2016
102 State of Lancashire Report 2003
103 State of Lancashire Report 2003
68
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
11(a) Annual average air quality measurements for nitrogen dioxide and particulates in centres of principal urban areas to be at
least 10% better than national objectives by 2016 (Lancashire County Council, District Councils, Environment Agency).
11(b) Provide facilities to enable 40% of all municipal solid waste collected in Lancashire to be recycled or composted by 2005
and 56% by 2015. (Lancashire County Council).
11(c) Reduce landfilling of municipal solid waste (MSW) collected in Lancashire to 20% of total MSW collected in 2000 by 2010.
(Lancashire County Council).
11(d) Increase/protect selected key environmental features by: increasing the area of native woodland by 15% by 2016; and no
net loss of hedgerows through development 2001-2016. (Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Rural Partnership).
11(e) No net loss of heritage assets, networks or settings, 2001-2016. (Lancashire County Council, District Councils).
11(f) Explore the potential for the deployment of renewable energy technologies in Lancashire, and examine how to achieve
stretching targets across Lancashire by 2010 (Lancashire Partnership).
11(g) Conduct research into the contribution made by environment related industries to Lancashire’s economy by 2006
(Lancashire Partnership).
11(h) 70% of new dwellings in Lancashire to be on brownfield land 2001-2016. (Lancashire County Council)
Key Lancashire Plans working towards achieving tour
vision:
• Joint Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2016
• Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plan
• Lancashire Rural Recovery Action Plan
• Local Transport Plan for Lancashire 2001/2-2005/6
Main Strategies:
• A Greener Strategy for a Greener Future – Municipal
Waste Management Strategy for Lancashire 2001-2020
• A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire
• Indicative Forestry Strategy for Lancashire
• Lancashire Environment Strategy
• United Utilities Improvement Strategy 2000-2005
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• Lancashire Environment Partnership
• Environment Agency
• Lancashire County Council
• English Nature
• All Lancashire District LSPs
• Countryside Agency
• English Heritage
• Lancashire Groundwork Trusts
• Lancashire District Councils
• Elevate
• Lancashire Wildlife Trust
• Other Unitary Authorities
69
Accessible Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024.
Lancashire’s first class travel infrastructure means that travel is safe, clean and accessible. Our modern
communications system minimises the need to travel.
What’s so special about Lancashire’s travel and communications in 2024?
Transport Balance – Lancashire’s modern road, rail, cycling and walking network has improved access in and around the
county. Infrastructure improvements have reduced delays, helped to support the county’s sustained economic growth, and made
journeys safe, reliable and enjoyable.
The Hot Ticket - Through ticketing for bus, rail and park and ride mean that Lancashire's high quality Total Transport Network
has encouraged even greater numbers of people to travel by public transport. State of the art technology and real time
information, assisted by the roll out of broadband, have helped to connect Lancashire to Yorkshire and the Manchester and
Liverpool conurbations through high quality bus and rail services.
Lancashire has a leading reputation in Europe for its travel and communications solutions.
Broadband enabled - Lancashire’s world class digital infrastructure is in place. The whole county is broadband enabled and
greater numbers of people and organisations are opting to work locally or from home. The effects are clear: A substantial
reduction in traffic congestion with the jams of the early 21st Century a distant memory. Local ‘networking’ centres reduce the
need to travel to centralised offices.
70
Lancashire people said:
When asked about local transport issues
Base: All respondents (2,447)
Improve existing roads, street
lighting and bridges
Improve public transport
Reduce delays to traffic
Improve pedestrian facilities
Improve road safety
Provide safe routes to schools
Improve bus/rail facilities
facilities
Provide more information on bus/
train services
Build new roads
Top Mentions
Source: MORI
12%
13%
13%
21%
23%
23%
25%
31%
33%
37%
Improve cycling
71
Our Ambitions
Why?
Plan jobs, homes, shops and leisure
facilities close together in Lancashire’s
urban areas when developing land use
plans.
This reflects the need to reduce use of the car and strengthen access to services for
those without a car. In 2001 some 70% of Lancashire people commuted to work by
car, compared to 54% in 1991. 53% of primary school children travelled to school by
car in 2002.104
Roll-out a programme of route-by-route
improvements to support a Quality Bus
network in Lancashire.
Significant patronage increases (almost 20%) have been achieved where new Quality
Bus schemes have been introduced.105
Invest in state of the art technology to
deliver clear and accurate transport
information. Roll out deployment plans
for Intelligent Transport Systems for
the county’s principal urban areas.
Providing real time information on traffic and public transport will allow drivers and
passengers to make their journeys more efficiently and will help to ease congestion.
Improve cross-boundary links with our
neighbours.
Lancashire contains important national and trans-European transport links that would
benefit significantly from improved journey time, reliability and safety. These include:
M6 Warrington to Scottish Borders; M65/A56/M66; A570 (Southport to M58).106
Pursue major improvements to the
strategic highway network in
Lancashire.
Substantial economic, environmental and safety improvements will be delivered by
making the following major road improvements over the life of Ambition Lancashire:
Heysham M6 Link; A570 Ormskirk Bypass, A56 Villages Bypass; A59 Penwortham
Bypass; Fylde Coast Easterly Bypass; Broughton Bypass; Heyhouses/M55 Link.107
Press for the development of light rapid
transport systems in East Lancashire
and on the Fylde Coast.
Rapid Transit involves a comprehensive approach to public transport provision in a
particular area. This can include the use of trams, trains or high quality guided buses.
Light Rapid Transport schemes have the potential to facilitate regeneration and
improve image in addition to reducing congestion and pollution.
Press for improved rail services,
especially to the West Coast Main
Line.
North-South rail movements to London and the south-east and through to Europe are
constrained because of capacity and quality constraints. Effective and competitive
links are vital if Lancashire is not to be regarded as peripheral.
Locally, improvements to the rail stations at Burnley, Burscough Bridge, Chorley,
Church & Oswaldtwistle, Kirkham & Wesham, and Parbold will enhance services.108
104 Lancashire Local Transport Plan annual Progress Report 2003
105 Lancashire Local Transport Plan annual Progress Report 2003
106 Lancashire Local Transport Plan annual Progress Report 2003
107 Joint Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2016.
108 Lancashire Local Transport Plan annual Progress Report 2003
72
Our Ambitions
Why?
Press for improvements to give good
road and motorway links to
Lancashire’s ports.
Reliable and efficient links to the County’s ports are critical ingredients for
Lancashire’s improved economic performance. The roads linking the ports of
Heysham and Fleetwood with the region are operating close to capacity with journey
times becoming increasingly unreliable. Congestion is also having a significant
impact on the communities through which these routes pass.
Develop and promote a ‘world class’
digital infrastructure in Lancashire.
Lancashire’s broadband infrastructure is incomplete, particularly for more rural and
remote areas. Moreover, the take up of provision in well served urban areas is low,
and ICT usage in business is modest. E-commerce opportunities need to be grasped
and extended to strengthen Lancashire’s economic performance.
Develop a network of quieter and safer
rural roads in the County.
The provision of a network of quiet lanes and greenways will result in a wider choice
of options for people to travel safely in rural areas. Pilot schemes in Chipping,
Slaidburn and Downham will allow their effectiveness to be assessed.109
Maintain Lancashire’s transport
infrastructure to a high standard to
facilitate access to jobs, services and
leisure activities.
The Highway network is the highest capital asset of the County and is used for access
to all services provided in Lancashire. The maintenance of this asset, within the
resources available, and in partnership with the District Councils and Lancashire
Highways Partnership, to improve the street scene by considering all options for
service delivery, to achieve the most efficient, effective and economic outcomes is
,therefore, paramount to fulfil our statutory duty and to ensure the safety of the
travelling public.
Promote Lancashire’s role in a West-
East Eurocorridor extending from
Northern and Southern Ireland across
the Irish Sea to the Transpennine
Corridor of Northern England and
thence via the Humber ports and North
Sea to the Netherlands, North
Germany, Poland and beyond.
Increased trade with Ireland, the Netherlands, North Germany, Poland and beyond
will strengthen Lancashire’s economic performance. The North European Trade
Action project seeks to develop and promote a West-East Eurocorridor extending
from Northern and Southern Ireland across the Irish Sea to the Transpennine Corridor
of Northern England and thence via the Humber ports and North Sea to the
Netherlands, North Germany, Poland and beyond. Lancashire’s ports at Heysham
and Fleetwood have a significant role to play in Irish trade, complemented by road
and rail network links that could provide a viable alternative to the M62 corridor.
Provide a well maintained cycle and
footpath network and promote their use
throughout Lancashire.
Nearly three quarters of all journeys made are local trips under 5 miles - Even 60% of
car trips are under 5 miles. Half of all journeys are less than two miles, but most trips
between 1 and 2 miles are still done by car.110 Cycling and walking offer alternatives
to making these journeys by car. A shift towards these modes can cut congestion,
109 Lancashire Local Transport Plan annual Progress Report 2003
110 A bulletin of public transport statistics: Great Britain: 2003 edition
73
Our Ambitions
Why?
pollution and improve public health. However, some previously undeveloped
pedestrian and cycle routes are perceived as uninviting and do not offer an integrated
network. The development and promotion of new schemes will encourage a shift
towards these modes, ensuring that these meet disability standards where
appropriate.
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
12(a) Increase passenger journeys made on all buses in Lancashire by 20% by 2016 compared with 2001 levels.
(Lancashire County Council, Bus Operators)
12(b) Reduce traffic flows to and from the centres of Lancashire’s principal urban areas and main towns by 5% by 2016
compared with the 2001 levels.
12(c) Rail Patronage from stations in Lancashire to increase by 75% by 2016, compared to 2001 levels.
12(d) Construct twelve park and ride schemes in Lancashire between by 2016.
12(e) Achieve a 45% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 2016 compared to
2001 levels (Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety).
12(f) Ensure 90% of new development is within 400 metres of an existing or proposed bus stop or 800 metres of an
existing or proposed railway station by 2016 (Lancashire County Council, District Councils).
Key Lancashire plans working towards achieving our vision:
• Lancashire Local Transport Plan
• Joint Lancashire Structure Plan
• Lancashire Local Development Frameworks
74
Dynamic Rural Lancashire
Our Vision for 2024
Lancashire is a county with a dynamic rural economy that is financially, socially and environmentally sustainable.
What’s so special about Lancashire’s rural communities in 2024?
Rural Regeneration - Lancashire’s rural economy faces a positive future as rural businesses and farmers experience economic,
social and environmental growth. The challenges of the early 21st Century have been addressed through closer partnership
working, and successful implementation of the rural recovery action plans in the last decade.
Economic diversification in both rural and urban Lancashire has brought levels of rural employment in manufacturing in line with
county levels. Participation levels in further and higher education among 17 year olds in rural Lancashire have increased
substantially as part of Lancashire’s drive to become a ‘learning county’.
75
Q1 Thinking about the area where you live, how satisfied or
dissatisfied are you with it as a p lace to live?
30%
45%
11%
8%
6%
30%
45%
13%
8%
3%
47%
43%
6%
4%
1%
Very satis fied
Fairly satis fied
Neither
Fairly dissatis fied
Very dissatis fied
Urban
Market Town
Rural
76
Our Ambitions
Why?
Encourage economic activity that will increase the range and
quality of employment opportunities in rural Lancashire.
Rural Employment has fallen by 44% between 1997 and 2001
There is low business formation rates but when they are formed
their survival rates are higher than the average County Survival
rate.111
Facilitate access to training that directly meets business
development needs and that will equip individuals to access local
employment opportunities.
See Headline Target 13(b) below
38.1% (0r 43 out of 113) of Lancashire’s rural wards are in the
lowest half of a ranking of 17 year olds participating in Further
Education.112
Sustain the environmental integrity of our rural inheritance.
See Headline Target 13(a) below
Large areas of the county have special statutory protection or
designation. 4.6% of the total land area is woodland compared
to 8% average in the UK.
Attract and capture a larger share of the recreation and tourism
market for rural Lancashire
Leighton Moss Nature Reserve and Beacon Fell are amongst
the top visitor attractions in the county113. Rural, environmental
and agro-tourism have the potential to make a significant
contribution to Lancashire’s rural diversification.
Maximise the take up of financial and delivery support available
for the diversification of the farming industry in order to enhance
competiveness and capability
Agriculture provides paid employment for about 7,000 people or
2.1% of the total workforce, but the numbers of agricultural VAT
registered businesses have been falling since 1980.114
Maximise the added value to primary products and the financial
returns to local producers.
See Headline Target 13(c) below
There has been a decline in the confidence in the farming sector
due to prevailing low average returns and wage levels, the
perceived instability of the industry, length of hours worked and
the isolation and fragmentation of the industry. In 2001 there
was a fall of 61% in 12 months in Cereal crops and 22% fall in
Beef/Sheep (Hill).115
Enhance the capacity of rural communities to engage in the
social and economic regeneration process.
There could be serious environmental consequences if the
agricultural decline continues, from the loss of visual amenity
111 Annual Business Enquiry 2001
112 Study and Survey of Rural Lancashire 1999
113 Lancashire Rural Partnership Action Plan
114 Lancashire Rural Partnership Action Plan
115 NFU Farming Fact Sheet
77
Our Ambitions
Why?
such as woodlands to the decline of wildlife habitat through lack
of management. New ways of working and generating income
are needed and the Bowland Initiative has demonstrated the
practical integration of environmental and economic actions.116
Improve access to rural transport services and continuously work
towards increasing the amount of public transport available.
There are 47% of parishes without a bus service 7 days a week
compared to 75% of parishes in the UK.117 59% of respondents
stated that lack of public transport was a barrier to obtaining
training.118
Improve the number of community services and facilities
available with reference to the relevant parish plan.
In Lancashire some 29% of parishes are without a permanent
shop of any kind compared to 42% in the UK.119
Address the problems of crime and the fear of crime and anti
social behaviour (including litter) in our parishes and market
towns.
Rural Crime rose in the mid 90’s at a greater rate than the
national trend, but then fell again. Fear of crime, however,
persists.120
Work in partnership with all the parish and town councils in
Lancashire recognising that there is mutual advantage that will
enable delivery of both Ambition Lancashire and the parish plans.
During the consultation of Ambition Lancashire many parishes
indicated they wanted to work with the Lancashire Partnership
and that they would play a key role in delivering the Vision.121
Lancashire’s Headline Targets:
13(a) To develop a Lancashire Woodlands Programme by 2007 (Lancashire Rural Partnership).
13(b) To form a Rural Skills Development Hub by 2007 (Lancashire Rural Partnership).
13(c) To co-ordinate and promote a County-Wide farmers markets programme by 2007(Lancashire Rural Partnership).
Key Lancashire Plans working towards achieving our
vision:
• Lancashire Rural Partnership Recovery Plan
To achieve our vision we will need to work with:
• Lancashire Rural Partnership
• East Lancashire Partnership
116 Lancashire Rural Partnership Recovery ActionPlan
117 Rural Services Survey – Rural Development Commission
118 Study and Survey of Rural Lancashire 1999
119 Rural Services Survey Rural Development Commission
120 Home Office 2001
121 Ambition Lancashire Consultation 2004
78
Main Strategies
• Lancashire Rural Partnership Action Plans
• Lancashire West Partnership
• Lancashire Learning and Skills Council
• Business Link East Lancashire
• Business Link North and Western Lancashire
• North West Development Agency
• Community Futures
• Supporting People
• Home Improvements Agencies
• Lancashire Tourism Partnership (and successors)
• National Farmers’ Union
• Lancashire Association of Parish and Town Councils
• Lancashire Parish and Town Councils
• Lancashire County Council
• Lancashire District Councils
• Elevate
• East Lancashire District LSPs
• Local Faith Groups
• Countryside Agency