In summer 2020 Garstang Town Council set up a Market Town Working Group to look at re-opening the High Street and supporting businesses and to consider the long term future of the town and its surrounding villages. This led to the establishment of the Greater Garstang Partnership Board (the Board).

 

The purpose of the Board is to drive the development of a Regeneration and Investment Framework for the town and its surrounding area.  The specialist work started in June and is being carried out by experienced consultants IBI, paid for by Wyre Council from their Town Centre Strategy Fund.

 

As a starting point the Board has identified the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and these may give rise to potential projects for inclusion in the Regeneration and Investment Framework. Other projects will be identified through consultation with individuals, community groups and businesses.

 

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to identify what this area needs to thrive in the future. The Regeneration and Investment Framework will cover a 15-year period and will contain short, medium and long term projects.

 

No one knows what funding streams may become available in the next months and years but the key to success in securing funding is having clearly identified and evidenced projects ready on the shelf to take advantage of whatever funding streams come along. What we do know is that there are, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a range of government funding opportunities relating to both recovery from the pandemic and its “Levelling Up” agenda.

 

The first round of public consultation on the future vision for Garstang took place at the end of August and closes on 5 September. Wyre Council is kindly hosting a digital version of the ideas on their website and the Board is using Wyre’s consultation portal to gather feedback from local people. Email greatergarstang@gmail.com to get involved.

 

Jan Finch

Chair, Greater Garstang Partnership Board