Skelmersdale's £20m Digmoor Regeneration Approved Amid 'Quango' Concerns
West Lancashire councillors have given their backing to a new £20 million regeneration programme for the Digmoor neighbourhood in Skelmersdale. The substantial government funding, known as Pride In Place cash, will be phased over a ten-year period and aims to transform the area through various community-focused improvements.
Community at the Heart of Decision-Making
While councillors have generally welcomed the government investment, they have strongly emphasised that residents, including young people, must be at the centre of the new board that will oversee the scheme. The programme's objectives include enhancing people's health, skills, and job prospects, improving streets, playgrounds, and social amenities, and promoting better household energy use throughout Digmoor.
Labour Councillor Melissa Parlour, who serves as Skelmersdale councillor and lead member for economic regeneration and green growth, presented recommendations to establish the Pride in Place scheme. She stated, "We are seeking approval from councillors for details including the governance structure, accountability and establishing a board. This is the first step which will allow officers to start taking action for residents in Digmoor, who will be at the heart of decision-making."
Concerns About Board Structure and Implementation
However, not all councillors are entirely comfortable with the proposed arrangement. OWL Councillor Neil Furey, also representing Skelmersdale, expressed reservations about the delivery mechanism. He commented, "I think all of us welcomed this programme when it was announced by the government. What we did not have was an understanding of how it will be delivered. I do think it will be a bit of a quango. There are going to be councillors and our MP involved. I do think we will be setting-up a bit of an administrative function."
Councillor Furey also highlighted potential challenges, noting, "I can also see some possible issues with people in Digmoor arguing about what is going where. We are only getting £2million per year. But the funding is welcome and I look forward to seeing notes from the board."
Call for Community Champions and Business Involvement
The success of the regeneration programme depends heavily on local participation. Community champions and businesses from Digmoor are being sought to join the new board, which will have the crucial responsibility of deciding how the £20 million funding is allocated and spent. Government rules dictate that only a limited number of councillors will sit on this board, with Labour MP Ashley Dalton also expected to be involved.
Labour Councillor Gareth Dowling, the council's deputy leader, expressed confidence in community engagement, saying, "If Digmoor residents were asked if councillors or residents should make the decisions, I think we know what they will say." Meanwhile, Labour's Mark Anderson, another leading councillor with finance responsibilities, welcomed the inclusion of young people, stating, "I'm delighted this new board will include young people. So often we are making decisions about things down the line but young people don't get a say. But this Digmoor board should include young people."
Initial Funding and Next Steps
The government has already released an initial £150,000 to West Lancashire Council to kickstart the regeneration efforts. This early funding will support the establishment of the governance structure and begin the process of engaging with Digmoor residents. The detailed discussions about government requirements and the initial steps for recruiting board members took place during West Lancashire Council's latest full meeting, where the broader framework for the Pride In Place scheme was thoroughly examined.
As the programme moves forward, the focus will remain on ensuring that the voices of Digmoor residents guide every decision, balancing the substantial investment with genuine community leadership to avoid the bureaucratic pitfalls that concerned some councillors.
