Environment

Introduction

The Parish Council has been actively involved with a wide variety of project work. Our unique environment is inextricably linked to the local economy. Whilst there is much to appreciate, there is also much to preserve and it requires careful planning.

Climate Emergency

In 2021, Formby Parish Council declared a Climate Emergency following a report received from NALC (National Association of Local Councils). NALC believes that, collectively, across 10,000 local councils, we can tackle climate change locally and create more climate-friendly communities.

Specific Objectives for Formby Parish Council

  • The Formby and Little Altcar Neighbourhood Plan contains many policies relating to these issues and should be assessed against all planning applications including trees lost as a result of development being replaced 1:1.
  • Maintaining and developing links with residents with expertise in particular areas including the Formby Flood Watch Group and Plastic Free champions.
  • To promote increased biodiversity through the planting of wildflower meadow areas and more trees.
  • To achieve carbon off-setting and reduction through more tree planting
  • To support the walk to school initiative to encourage cycling and walking, to reduce car dependency.
  • To promote water-saving, local recycling and household composting.

The creation of the Platinum Jubilee Park on Lonsdale Road has contributed towards our efforts through the tree planting and re-wilding of the area and has 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.

Coastal Protection

The Parish Council participate in the National Trust Stakeholder Meetings, urging the landowners to manage their sites professionally, maintaining a balance between encouraging visitors to our unique coast and protecting its flora and fauna.

Both Formby and Little Altcar Parish Councils have been active in working with Mersey Forest and other stakeholders on the Mersey Forest Plan to ensure our valuable coastal woodland continues to be managed effectively.

Flood Plain Management

Formby is on the edge of an area, which was recovered from the flood plain and gives rise to excellent agricultural land. It is surrounded by a ring of green belt, which is passionately protected by the residents, as it is a town where people aspire to live and enjoy.

Formby Parish Council continues to be active in the management of the flood plain and was instrumental in pushing for the refurbishment of the River Alt Pumping Station. Whilst this may need to be reviewed in future, for the present, the investment by the Environment Agency has proved essential.

The Neighbourhood Plan contains a Flood Strategy design to reduce and minimise flood risk for all existing and future residents in Formby and Little Altcar.

Green Belt

We have made plain our objection to any house building on the green belt surrounding Formby and Little Altcar. With the adoption of the Neighbourhood Plan, we have implemented a settlement boundary to prevent development of unallocated green field land outside of the settlement boundary, thus protecting the Green Belt, the best most versatile agricultural land and countryside around Formby, which is in itself a fundamental part of the Neighbourhood Area’s attractive local character.

Renewable Energy

The Neighbourhood Plan supports the off-shore wind investments in renewable energy, however we strongly opposed the proposal to construct another site on the Ince Blundell/Lydiate strip. The application to develop a Fracking site by Aurora gives rise to wider concerns. There are justifiable reasons to search for renewable sources of energy but it must not be done at the expense of the ecological balance and safety of residential properties. The application for a solar farm was supported by the Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Grounds Maintenance

The Parish Council maintains the plants, shrubs, trees and lawned areas on the roundabouts at Cross Green and Duke Street, the garden at Formby Library, the Platinum Jubilee Park on Rosemary Lane as well as the planters and baskets in the Village and Redgate shopping areas. Periodically the shrubs on the grass verges around Formby, as well as the planted area at Harington Road shops and the Memorial Garden are given more intensive treatment.

Each year the Parish Council works with Sefton Council to locate places across Formby to plant new trees, replacing trees that have died or been lost in storms. If you have any suggestions for where we can plant new trees, please contact the Parish Clerk.

It takes time and commitment and we aim to keep Formby looking the best it can despite the continued cuts in services by Sefton MBC. When you drive into Formby from Southport, Liverpool or Ormskirk we want people to say “doesn’t this town look good?”

Our aim is simple – to set out plans to keep Formby at it’s best for the next 25 years, keeping its traditions and by providing the funds to do it.

Rights of Way – footpaths

Please see our Rights of Way page for the latest notices from Sefton Council.

Formby and Little Altcar are criss-crossed with public footpaths and cycle tracks and we oversee this with our consistent involvement with the Sefton Rights of Way team.

Ravenmeols Hills application

The Parish Council made an Application in August 2017 for the addition of public rights of way to be included on the Definitive Rights of Way Map:

  • St Luke’s Church Road (Bushby’s Lane to junction with Alexandra Road and Cambridge Path No. 38)
  • The short path from Beechwood Drive to St Luke’s Church Road
  • St Luke’s Church Road (Junction of Alexandra Road to Range Lane)
  • Alexandra Road (including sign posted access path to the beach)
  • Albert Road (From junction with Alexandra Road to beach)
  • Range Lane (junction with St Luke’s Church Road to Stapleton/Jubilee Road and Footpath 37 to shore)
  • St Luke’s Church Road (Range Lane to footpath from Hogg’s Hill level crossing Footpath 35 then to the beach)

The evidence supporting these ‘ways’ goes back over 70 years and Sefton Council have been asked by this application to include them on the Definitive Map. On 14 October 2019 Sefton Council were given 12 months to consider this application by a Directive from the Planning Inspectorate.

In July 2023, Sefton Council gave the following update “The Modification Orders that were made were objected to and as a result Sefton does not have the power to confirm them. We have been engaging with the main objector to attempt to find a resolution and possibly have their objection withdrawn.

To date the objection has not been withdrawn and as it raised procedural issues/objections as well as evidential objections to the Order relating to the first section of St Luke’s Church Road, we are working on making new Orders that overcome the procedural issues.

Whilst we believe the new orders will overcome the procedural issues there is still the matter of the evidential objections raised, we are still in contact with the objectors representative and working to try to overcome these before the new orders are made. If we are able to successfully do this it will help with the next stage and the required referral to the Secretary of State”.