Keeping in touch, developing the community
What are Formby's Strengths and weaknesses?
On a companion web site to this I have set out a list of strengths and weaknesses of Formby from a variety of perspectives these are now listed below. Please use the comment form to add your views:
Economy:
Strengths:
* Very attractive and significant access points to the coast - lifeboat road and National Trust property.
* An existing retail centre to the town with some high quality upper end of the market provision, including two Supermarket retailers.
* A variety of satellite shopping centres of mixed quality and provision.
* A large popular 'out of town' supermarket.
* An established, growing industrial estate on the edge of the town and a smaller business estate enclosed by local residencies.
* A range of white collar, office and financial services employers and businesses.
* A considerable horticultural enterprise on the edge of the town, a range of equine business, and animal accommodation businesses.
* A golf Resort and Spa Hotel with a golf academy.
* Several farms, one specialising in asparagus and another in Aberdeen Bull production.
* A wide range food and drink provision including restaurants, pubs various takeaways and sandwich makers.
* A noticeable level of residential care and nursing home provision.
* An evident pre-school child minding provision.
* A predominantly professionally qualified resident work force.
Weaknesses:
* A work force that whilst resident travels to work predominantly out of town.
* Local independent retail traders are struggling
* Too many charity shops some of whom offer a poor retail experience.
* Too many 'national chain' businesses in proportion to local traders essentially siphoning off locally spent monies.
* The industrial estate is untidy, with poor road surfaces, some poor buildings and units, lack of signage.
* There is no evidence of local training for jobs provision.
* Local employment is predominantly in the service sector.
* Major traffic issues in parts of the town at peak visitor times
* Fragmented and insular attitude of local traders and businesses gives rise to little cooperation.
Opportunities:
* Develop and grow local businesses - tourist/visitor oriented
* Develop a visitor centre
* Look for 'Green Business Opportunities - Recycle/swap: small holding/food production
* Seek to develop Social Enterprises - 'Care in the Home', 'Services for the home'
* Seek to establish IT based businesses and services (See Digital Formby Section)
* Participate in the Ultralocal Project to address IT access issues.
* Support/encourage Online Businesses
* Generally improve/develop the visitor experience - visitor centre/ better signage
Threats:
* Impact of Globalisation on small local businesses
* Imbalance between town centre provision and out of town retails and business provision compromises small independent traders
* Dormitory Town Syndrome - local residents work/play outside of town
* Impact of Liverpool One
* Sea level rises/coastal erosion, red squirrel decline, natural disasters eg Fire
* Unruly behaviour on beach areas and approaches
Safe, Strong Community with a Sense of Well Being:
Strengths:
* Relatively small geographical area with clearly delineated boundaries that help to establish a sense of identity and place.
* A system of internal bus routes with frequent regular services linking different parts of the town - residents are close to routes to the village and main transport links.
* Residents care about Formby and it's future.
* The recent reintroduction of the Formby Parish Council has provided a sense of accessible local government and helped to reduce the sense of remoteness associated with Sefton MBC.
* Safe and friendly environment both people and place.
* A long rich heritage of coastal residency from prehistoric period through the vikings and up to today.
* The built environment is varied in character from the village centre out to outlying district developments.
* The new swimming pool and grounds have enlivened and extended the village centre, the services available are increasingly used to the benefit of the residents.There is a strong sense of pride and ownership in the project.
* There is a very active visible Churches Together organisation in Formby giving substance to the well established long standing ecumenical charter.
* There are two very successful High schools both interact well with the community, Range HS is notable in it's focus on local business. Formby HS has a strong Arts focus. The six primary schools are equally valued in the community.
* Sports, Arts, Societies and Theatre groups are lively and attract strong local support
* The newly formed Formby Partnership is growing in size and influence, it held a successful music festival in August 2009.
* The annual Easter Walk is evidence of a continuing active church going membership in Formby.
Weaknesses:
* There is potential for intergenerational conflict, the young feel scapecoated and feared by the elderly, the older residents fear the liveliness of active groups of young people in the village or on the streets.
* There is a lack of facilties for young people and a shortage of older residents prepared to work with young people.
* The population is aging leading to increasing single occupancy of housing and a growing need for care and provision for the elderly.
* The Parish Council is dominated by a single political party as is the representation on Sefton MBC, this probably results in low expenditure and policy formed within the Party concerned with little or no public involvement. There is a lack of diversity in the Parish Councill membership, they are in the main retired.
* There is no 'performance area' or facilty of any note or size - no cinema, art gallery or civic centre.
* There appears to be a declining number of people prepared to volunteer
* Schools and there grounds are fenced in and not used or integrated into the life of the community except fot their pupils and their families.
* The library is busy but 'out on a limb' isloated from the village centre.
* The sense of community varies with 'age and stage in life'. For many Formby is a dormitory town, working residents probably share the majority of their community in the workplace. For the retired there is evidence of a reinvigorated sense of community and involvement. For many families, the high cost of housing and low work opportunities leads to 'fractured families' the high success rate in HE probably accentuates this issue in Formby.
* Local newspapers appear to be in decline, the detailed local news content has clearly diminished.
* The loss of the Formby Show is regretted by many older residents.
Opportunities:
* To seek a restoration of the Formby Show on something like it's previous scale and sugnificance.
* The town is flat, there are opportunities to increase walking and cycling and improve family fitness
* School facilties could be more widely used.
* The empty school building on the Holy Trinity site could become a civic centre and performance area.
* To use new technology, IT, social media to go Digital, to support and enhance community life locally.
Threats:
* Continuing overuse and reliance on cars is contributing to CO2 emissions and a decline in health in young and old alike.
* Peak Oil
* Climate Change
* Food security
Environment
Strengths:
* Clear geographical boundaries which delineate and define Formby as a space. These are RAF Woodvale, the A565, the River Alt and feeders, The Sea and dune system.
* More green space than buildings including domestic gardens.
* Low lying flat coastal hinterland with extensive horizons.
* Large mobile sand dune system adjusting to changes in sea levels and wind movements act as a natural flood barrier to the sea.
* Attractive coast line that is popular with local residents and visitors alike
* Red Squirrel reserve is a major attraction.
* Highly valued coastal ecology protected by sssi status
* Large woodland area
* Considerable grade A agricultural land lies within the boundaries of Formby
* Typically the rural/urban hinterland supports considerable equine, farming and horticultural enterprises.
* The recent housing estates are served by POS and in some cases 'pocket parks'.
* There are footpaths throughout the town.
Weakness:
* The River Alt and drainage ditches are a continuing potential flood threat particularly for fluvial flooding.
* Increases in rainfall will exacerbate the existing flooding problem in the road and land drainage system
* There is too little 'public green open space' according to the Sefton MBC strategy document. This document also fails to record the existence of an allotment site in the Hoggs Hill Lane within the boundary of Little Altcar Parish Council.
* The local road system is overwhelmed during peak visitor time causing traffic jams. congestion and on street parking.
* The footpath system is underutilised and undermanaged.
Opportunities:
* The existing POS could and should be enhanced seeking to increase the diversity of plant, bird and animal life. There is an opportunity to involve local residents in civic life.
* The footpath system needs mapping and evaluating there is potential for increased pedestrian use and local 'exercise routes'
* Additional spurs should be added to the 'Coastal Footpath' and the 'Cheshire Lines Long Distance Path' diverting potential visitors to the centre of the town for food and drink breaks. This would also add an additional 'focus' for potential visitors in addition to the coast and the sand dunes.
* Deansgate Lane has potential for a 'Green Gym' and wild meadow development.
* Some of the space at the swimming pool complex could be the basis of a 'green gym' and an 'edible garden' project. (Demonstration raised beds and PT mentors)
Threats:
* Climate change
* Peak Oil
* Food security
All these three longer term threats will impact of Formby and it's environment and will be discussed in a separate section.
Economy:
Strengths:
* Very attractive and significant access points to the coast - lifeboat road and National Trust property.
* An existing retail centre to the town with some high quality upper end of the market provision, including two Supermarket retailers.
* A variety of satellite shopping centres of mixed quality and provision.
* A large popular 'out of town' supermarket.
* An established, growing industrial estate on the edge of the town and a smaller business estate enclosed by local residencies.
* A range of white collar, office and financial services employers and businesses.
* A considerable horticultural enterprise on the edge of the town, a range of equine business, and animal accommodation businesses.
* A golf Resort and Spa Hotel with a golf academy.
* Several farms, one specialising in asparagus and another in Aberdeen Bull production.
* A wide range food and drink provision including restaurants, pubs various takeaways and sandwich makers.
* A noticeable level of residential care and nursing home provision.
* An evident pre-school child minding provision.
* A predominantly professionally qualified resident work force.
Weaknesses:
* A work force that whilst resident travels to work predominantly out of town.
* Local independent retail traders are struggling
* Too many charity shops some of whom offer a poor retail experience.
* Too many 'national chain' businesses in proportion to local traders essentially siphoning off locally spent monies.
* The industrial estate is untidy, with poor road surfaces, some poor buildings and units, lack of signage.
* There is no evidence of local training for jobs provision.
* Local employment is predominantly in the service sector.
* Major traffic issues in parts of the town at peak visitor times
* Fragmented and insular attitude of local traders and businesses gives rise to little cooperation.
Opportunities:
* Develop and grow local businesses - tourist/visitor oriented
* Develop a visitor centre
* Look for 'Green Business Opportunities - Recycle/swap: small holding/food production
* Seek to develop Social Enterprises - 'Care in the Home', 'Services for the home'
* Seek to establish IT based businesses and services (See Digital Formby Section)
* Participate in the Ultralocal Project to address IT access issues.
* Support/encourage Online Businesses
* Generally improve/develop the visitor experience - visitor centre/ better signage
Threats:
* Impact of Globalisation on small local businesses
* Imbalance between town centre provision and out of town retails and business provision compromises small independent traders
* Dormitory Town Syndrome - local residents work/play outside of town
* Impact of Liverpool One
* Sea level rises/coastal erosion, red squirrel decline, natural disasters eg Fire
* Unruly behaviour on beach areas and approaches
Safe, Strong Community with a Sense of Well Being:
Strengths:
* Relatively small geographical area with clearly delineated boundaries that help to establish a sense of identity and place.
* A system of internal bus routes with frequent regular services linking different parts of the town - residents are close to routes to the village and main transport links.
* Residents care about Formby and it's future.
* The recent reintroduction of the Formby Parish Council has provided a sense of accessible local government and helped to reduce the sense of remoteness associated with Sefton MBC.
* Safe and friendly environment both people and place.
* A long rich heritage of coastal residency from prehistoric period through the vikings and up to today.
* The built environment is varied in character from the village centre out to outlying district developments.
* The new swimming pool and grounds have enlivened and extended the village centre, the services available are increasingly used to the benefit of the residents.There is a strong sense of pride and ownership in the project.
* There is a very active visible Churches Together organisation in Formby giving substance to the well established long standing ecumenical charter.
* There are two very successful High schools both interact well with the community, Range HS is notable in it's focus on local business. Formby HS has a strong Arts focus. The six primary schools are equally valued in the community.
* Sports, Arts, Societies and Theatre groups are lively and attract strong local support
* The newly formed Formby Partnership is growing in size and influence, it held a successful music festival in August 2009.
* The annual Easter Walk is evidence of a continuing active church going membership in Formby.
Weaknesses:
* There is potential for intergenerational conflict, the young feel scapecoated and feared by the elderly, the older residents fear the liveliness of active groups of young people in the village or on the streets.
* There is a lack of facilties for young people and a shortage of older residents prepared to work with young people.
* The population is aging leading to increasing single occupancy of housing and a growing need for care and provision for the elderly.
* The Parish Council is dominated by a single political party as is the representation on Sefton MBC, this probably results in low expenditure and policy formed within the Party concerned with little or no public involvement. There is a lack of diversity in the Parish Councill membership, they are in the main retired.
* There is no 'performance area' or facilty of any note or size - no cinema, art gallery or civic centre.
* There appears to be a declining number of people prepared to volunteer
* Schools and there grounds are fenced in and not used or integrated into the life of the community except fot their pupils and their families.
* The library is busy but 'out on a limb' isloated from the village centre.
* The sense of community varies with 'age and stage in life'. For many Formby is a dormitory town, working residents probably share the majority of their community in the workplace. For the retired there is evidence of a reinvigorated sense of community and involvement. For many families, the high cost of housing and low work opportunities leads to 'fractured families' the high success rate in HE probably accentuates this issue in Formby.
* Local newspapers appear to be in decline, the detailed local news content has clearly diminished.
* The loss of the Formby Show is regretted by many older residents.
Opportunities:
* To seek a restoration of the Formby Show on something like it's previous scale and sugnificance.
* The town is flat, there are opportunities to increase walking and cycling and improve family fitness
* School facilties could be more widely used.
* The empty school building on the Holy Trinity site could become a civic centre and performance area.
* To use new technology, IT, social media to go Digital, to support and enhance community life locally.
Threats:
* Continuing overuse and reliance on cars is contributing to CO2 emissions and a decline in health in young and old alike.
* Peak Oil
* Climate Change
* Food security
Environment
Strengths:
* Clear geographical boundaries which delineate and define Formby as a space. These are RAF Woodvale, the A565, the River Alt and feeders, The Sea and dune system.
* More green space than buildings including domestic gardens.
* Low lying flat coastal hinterland with extensive horizons.
* Large mobile sand dune system adjusting to changes in sea levels and wind movements act as a natural flood barrier to the sea.
* Attractive coast line that is popular with local residents and visitors alike
* Red Squirrel reserve is a major attraction.
* Highly valued coastal ecology protected by sssi status
* Large woodland area
* Considerable grade A agricultural land lies within the boundaries of Formby
* Typically the rural/urban hinterland supports considerable equine, farming and horticultural enterprises.
* The recent housing estates are served by POS and in some cases 'pocket parks'.
* There are footpaths throughout the town.
Weakness:
* The River Alt and drainage ditches are a continuing potential flood threat particularly for fluvial flooding.
* Increases in rainfall will exacerbate the existing flooding problem in the road and land drainage system
* There is too little 'public green open space' according to the Sefton MBC strategy document. This document also fails to record the existence of an allotment site in the Hoggs Hill Lane within the boundary of Little Altcar Parish Council.
* The local road system is overwhelmed during peak visitor time causing traffic jams. congestion and on street parking.
* The footpath system is underutilised and undermanaged.
Opportunities:
* The existing POS could and should be enhanced seeking to increase the diversity of plant, bird and animal life. There is an opportunity to involve local residents in civic life.
* The footpath system needs mapping and evaluating there is potential for increased pedestrian use and local 'exercise routes'
* Additional spurs should be added to the 'Coastal Footpath' and the 'Cheshire Lines Long Distance Path' diverting potential visitors to the centre of the town for food and drink breaks. This would also add an additional 'focus' for potential visitors in addition to the coast and the sand dunes.
* Deansgate Lane has potential for a 'Green Gym' and wild meadow development.
* Some of the space at the swimming pool complex could be the basis of a 'green gym' and an 'edible garden' project. (Demonstration raised beds and PT mentors)
Threats:
* Climate change
* Peak Oil
* Food security
All these three longer term threats will impact of Formby and it's environment and will be discussed in a separate section.
© 2010 Created by Sean Brady
