Lancaster City Council has recently appointed specialist sport and leisure consultants PMP to look into how open space, sport and recreation facilities can be best used. The study is required by the Government, as laid out in current planning guidance. It has been funded by the council, and will investigate whether the city’s open space meets the needs of residents now and in the future, in relation to quality, quantity and accessibility.
The study will concentrate on open space that is well used and valued by local people. It will include parks, woodlands, canals and footpaths, outdoor sports facilities and pitches, children’s play areas, amenity greenspace within housing developments, allotments, civic spaces and cemeteries and churchyards. It will also consider the adequacy of indoor sports facilities to meet the needs of local residents.
PMP will be undertaking an extensive programme of research and consultation with users, providers and other key organisations over the next few months. This includes a household survey, which will be distributed to 5000 randomly selected households across the district over the next two weeks and a survey for young people which will be distributed through schools.
The following neighbourhood ‘drop in’ sessions have also been organised.
Tuesday 17th April 2007
10 – 1 – St Nicholas Arcades – Lancaster
Wednesday 18th April 2007
9.30 – 11.30 – Hornby Village Institute
Thursday 19th April
9-11am – Booths Supermarket – Carnforth
12 – 3 – Morecambe Arndale Centre.
A session on Lancaster University Campus will also be arranged.
PMP would like to hear your views on the quantity, quality and accessibility of open space within Lancaster and the surrounding area so please come along. Alternatively, if you have any comments to make regarding any types of open spaces within your area, feel free to contact the consultants directly by email, text message or freepost address via the following email address:
lancasteropenspace@pmpconsult.com
or send a text message with the letters LAN and your message to:
07920 203006
or write to the following freepost address:
Lancaster Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study
Business Reply Plus Licence Number RRHL – GSTH – XZCE
PMP Consultancy Ltd
Century House
11 St Peters Square
Manchester
M2 3DN.