Projects
Formby Parish Council have funded many projects over the years. Here are some of the work that we have done in the past and project that we are continuing to work on.
Platinum Jubilee Park
The Parish Council have created a new park for Formby residents located on Lonsdale Road. This land was previously held by Children’s Services comprising the former school playing field to the former Holy Trinity Primary School. The land was designated as a residential housing allocation site on Sefton Council’s Local Plan Policies Map for Formby – adopted April 2017 and was not open for public use.
The Parish Council negotiated a 99 year lease agreement and developed this to promote health and wellbeing by providing a public open green space for community enjoyment to be known as the Platinum Jubilee Park.
The Parish Council have followed Sefton Council and other local councils and declared a Climate Emergency. The tree planting and re-wilding of this area will contribute towards the improved biodiversity and carbon off-setting and at the same time, responding to the global problem of a decline in pollinators by introducing a better habitat for insects such as bees and butterflies.
A survey was conducted asking residents in surrounding roads what they wanted. The responses included mown pathways with benches, more trees and shrubs, wildflower meadow areas, not children’s play equipment.
Previous resident surveys conducted during the preparation of the Formby and Little Altcar Neighbourhood Plan, led to the objectives of providing more public open space, improving and enhancing existing open space, and to create a network of green spaces and corridors that sustains local wildlife and a sense of rural living throughout the town. This project is viewed as working towards those objectives. The Neighbourhood Plan identifies the need to maximise opportunities to use green infrastructure such as tree planting, buffer strips and wildlife areas to help manage climate change effects on surface and ground water and to mitigate the effect of habitat change.
The Formby Little Theatre is adjacent to this land and in support of the arts an area for summer outdoor performances, has been included.
The park has been funded by the Parish Council in conjunction with the Harington Ward Cllrs.
Footpath lighting and CCTV
Formby Parish Council have put significant investment in CCTV coverage for the Village centre, Phillips Lane and at Duke Street Park.
The Parish Council has also increased the amount of lighting along the footpaths of Duke Street Park. Other lighting projects include the footpath between Phillips Lane and Walker Close and footpath between Buckfast Drive and Altcar Road. Both projects were match funded with money from Sefton’s Ward budget.
War Memorial and Memorial Gardens
We have carried out repairs to the War Memorial including the re-lettering of all the fallen and a new base plinth. Improvements to the Memorial Garden itself have been undertaken including new planting, renewing of the lawn area, garden lighting, new benches and installation of a flagpole. The Parish Council also worked closely with the Roll of Honour Committee and subsequently took on responsibility for the Roll of Honour Memorial situated in the grounds of Formby Pool.
Winter Tree lights
In September 2021, we asked IllumiDex UK Ltd to install winter lights in 6 of the trees in the village. Then in February 2023, we asked them to install a further 9 sets of winter lights in the trees along Chapel Lane, Three Tuns Lane and Halsall Lane creating a lovely bright walk throughout the village centre.
Street Furniture
We have installed new street furniture, bollards, pedestrian barriers, planters and bike racks have also been introduced. New notice/community boards have been installed at key points in the Village.
Formby Library Gardens
The Library garden was a jointly funded project with the Parish Council and Sefton Libraries. This has greatly enhanced the Library environment and offering for outside storytelling, bee keeping seminars, community gardening and school workshops to name a few activities. The Parish Council continues to support the Library garden undertaking the garden maintenance.
Smithy Green Play Park
Following the closure for unsafe equipment in 2017, Smithy Green Play Park has been given a new lease of life reopening in 2019 following a successful joint project with Sefton Council. In addition to providing funding for the main project, Formby Parish Council has provided a large slide after receiving requests for something for older children to enjoy.
Roundabouts and Roads
A project was commissioned to reduce the size of the roundabout on Chapel Lane due to the number of accidents involving heavy goods vehicles damaging both the roundabout and the surrounding pedestrian railings. Further measures were introduced to include signage and a kerb build out at Sumner Road car park to direct the large vehicles. This continues to be monitored.
Formby Parish Council have funded upgrades to the zebra crossings on Church Road next to the junction with School Lane and further north near the junction with Cable Street. These two points were prioritised as they are on prominent walking routes to local schools and are close to sheltered living for older residents. The new halo lights are designed to significantly increase visibility of the crossing to other road users.
Grounds Maintenance
The Parish Council has for several years undertaken the maintenance of the roundabouts in Formby, including both the planted and lawned areas. This is in addition to the undertaking of general landscaping, tree replacements and major tree pruning of the old village trees. For more information on environment work, see the Work We Do – Environment page.
Community Fund
Through the Community Fund, the Council have supported Formby Community Football Club for their Covid volunteering projects, Formby Food Pantry, Formby Rotary Club for donations to help restore the Santa Wagon, police bike marking schemes, traffic control schemes, homewatch and smart water initiatives, in addition to supporting faith groups, sport, art and youth activities plus the installation of Christmas Lights.
To see if your organisation is eligible for community funding, please see our dedicated Community Fund page with further details on how to apply.