Residents in Fishwick and St Matthews are being asked for their views on a ground breaking plan.
AdvertisementThe Friends of Fishwick and St Matthews have prepared a neighbourhood plan for the area which could unlock £1 million of funding.
Covering planning, community improvements and much more the proposal covers the next 10 years.
John Rochford, chairman of the friends group, said: “We have collected the views of hundreds of people who live and work in Fishwick and St. Matthews and produced a plan that reflects their feelings about the place they live.
“The neighbourhood plan will protect existing green space and encourage its improvement; it also lists community facilities and recommends their retention and development. We have a policy that prevents too many local shops being lost to other uses.
“We hope to encourage more employment in the area, especially small to medium sized local enterprises. The whole plan is designed to allow development that will improve the appearance of our community and lift the quality of life, while protecting what local people value already.”
Since 2012, when it received £20,000 to develop the plan, the Friends group have been working to get views from local residents on what can be done for their area.
Local councillor Martyn Rawlinson has been working with the group to put the plan together.
He said: “The draft neighbourhood plan is a significant milestone for the Friends of Fishwick and St. Matthews. When they were formed in 2011, they wanted to play a strategic role in East Preston’s development as well as organising community projects.
“The plan is the culmination of dozens of meetings and thousands of hours of work by the group and their partners. I’m confident that the Friends of Fishwick and St. Matthews will get this plan adopted for the area and begin to create their vision for the future.”
Since being formed the Friends group has restored the Ribbleton Park Community Garden and worked with the council on improvements at Fishwick nature reserve.
The full plan can be found on the Friends website.
Comments can be submitted via the website.
Have you read the plan? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Image credit to Tony Worrall