Morecambe councillor calls for U-turn on controversial 'Frontierland tax'

There have been calls for a U-turn on a controversial bid to raise £1million from local taxpayers to safeguard the future of the Frontierland site.

County Councillor Charlie Edwards has slammed Morecambe Town Council for charging the town's people for a 'Community Action Fund' and has set up a petition calling for the decision to be reversed.

The new fund has led to a 231 per cent rise in the town council's share of Council Tax - by far the biggest rise in its 14-year history. The previous highest increase was 49.8 per cent last year.

Morecambe Town Council set up the community fund with the aim of eventually acquiring the Frontierland site from owners Lancaster City Council.

A town council spokesperson said that most of the people who replied to a residents survey said they were willing to contribute £50-£100 to a fund that will "bring free access to more local recreation and leisure facilities, open spaces, skill-sharing, art and culture" at the former Wild West theme park, which has been derelict since closing in 2000.

But County Councillor Edwards, a Conservative who represents Morecambe South on Lancashire County Council, wants the decision to charge taxpayers for the £1m fund - which he has called 'the Frontierland tax' - to be overturned.

He has set up an online petition calling for a new meeting to be held so residents can have their say on the decision, which was made as part of the town council's budget for 2023/4.

Morecambe Town Council has said that under the law they "would not be permitted to revisit the decision at this stage".

As a result of the decision, Morecambe townsfolk will pay a Council Tax increment "specifically ringfenced for a community project on Frontierland" in 2023/4.

The town council has said that "as the majority of homes in Morecambe fall within Band A and Band B, most homes would contribute an incremental precept of £1.32 per week for a Band A property and £1.55 per week for a Band B property in 2023-2024".

This works out as an extra £68.43 for a Band A property and £79.67 for a Band B for the year. Band C will increase by £90.90 and Band D by £102.14, for the year.

This will be chargeable in addition to Morecambe Town Council's regular council tax precept which has been frozen for 2023/24, and last year was £29.55 for Band A, £34.41 for Band B, £39.26 for Band C and £44.11 for Band D.

Council Tax payers in Morecambe also pay towards services from Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Adult Social Care, Lancashire Police and Lancashire Fire Authority - and all these proportions of Council Tax are set to rise in 2023/24 too.

The town council's percentage increase is by far the highest as by comparison, Lancaster City Council has raised its precept by 2.99% and Lancashire County Council by an overall 3.99%.

Morecambe Town Council said, though, that their share will equate to just six per cent of a total Council Tax bill.

The vast majority of Morecambe residents' Council Tax goes to Lancashire County Council, which looks after local roads, schools and adult social care, among other services.

The upshot is that the town's people can expect a huge increase to their Council Tax bills when they arrive, expected to be later this month.

A spokesperson for Morecambe Town Council said the town's taxpayers can expect bills for £1543.59 (Band A), £1797.01 (Band B), £2050.44 (Band C) and £2303.86 (Band D).

CHARLIE EDWARDS' PETITION

County Councillor Edwards said: "The town council has no statutory services they have to deliver, and this funding is apparently to 'acquire Frontierland' but if the City Council who own it (sell) it to someone else, then what happens to the extra cash?

"I am asking people to share and sign the petition: Morecambe residents want you to change your mind.

"Give people the full facts, don’t make the decision in private, advertise the meeting and let residents attend and speak out."

The petition at the Change.org website calls for Councillor Cary Matthews, chairman of Morecambe Town Council, to convene an extraordinary meeting to discuss the budget proposals again.

The petition also says there was "insufficient information published" before the decision was made at last Thursday's budget meeting, for the public to participate and lobby their councillors. 

A total of 54 people have signed the petition at time of writing.

The decision to hold a budget meeting on February 23 was made by town councillors at their previous meeting in January.

MORECAMBE TOWN COUNCIL STATEMENT

A town council spokesperson said: "Morecambe Town Council is deeply committed to ongoing engagement with residents regarding the future of the Frontierland site, and the views of local people are at the heart of the new Community Action Fund.

"At its meeting last week, it was clarified that the council was not voting to open its cheque book to Lancaster City Council for a sum of £1m. Rather, members voted in favour of creating a reserve that could be used to mobilise the community to attract further funding.

"This capital will ensure the council is in the best position possible to put forward a feasible and meaningful bid to develop a sustainable community project on the site that will play a substantial role within Morecambe as it evolves over time, empowering residents to participate in community activities, whilst providing attractions that will drive tourism.

"Whilst Lancaster City Council has not yet announced what the next stage of the process will be, there is usually only a relatively small window of opportunity in which interested parties may respond to a call for bids. The town council is afforded only one chance each year to set its budget and has made every effort to ensure it has an adequate reserve to realise the ambitions of the community. 

"The council is encouraged by the positive comments expressed by residents since the Community Action Fund was announced, and if anybody would still like to put forward their ideas for Frontierland they can complete a survey here. We are keen to work closely with the City Council regarding any future project, and we are looking forward to the first Community Forum this month where a cross section of residents will help steer the voice of Morecambe forward. 

"The council would remind everyone to be wary of misinformation regarding the Community Action Fund and concerns have been raised about the validity of the recent petition which calls for the budget to be reconsidered. The laws applicable to local councils require a budget to be set by the end of February and the council would not be permitted to revisit the decision at this stage. If anybody would like to share their views with the council, we would encourage them to contact us directly."

PUBLIC REACTION

The plans for a £1m Community Action Fund for Frontierland have divided opinion on the Beyond Radio Facebook page.

Jamie Day said: "Great now bring back the fun to our town! Needs to fit many things for many people! The consultation at the hall was really inspirational how do we get in touch with the council to be a part of this? There will always be mixed views on councils, but the town council seem to be doing a lot recently so get a thumbs up from me."

Darren Hunt said: "Didn't we already pay £3.1m for it through the City Council? Paying another £1m seems ridiculous..."

Mark Swindlehurst said: "Lancaster City Council own it already. That's us! Why buy something we as a community already own? What happens if they get the money to buy it somehow by squeezing money from Morecambe residents? Is more money needed to develop it. This is nonsense from a tinpot committee."

Brian Sheldon said: "What planet is our town council on? Have they no grip on the current financial situation tax payers already face? Raising £1m for land we've already paid for, a new low."

Lee Williams said: "Looks like the only way local people will have any chance of having any say on what happens there. Good on the town for giving Lancaster a run for their money. Why would anyone not want this for our town?"

BACKGROUND

Morecambe Town Council voted via a majority at a meeting on Thursday night to set up a "once in a lifetime" £1million Community Action Fund after more than 1,500 residents said the derelict former Frontierland theme park should be developed for community use.

Morecambe town councillors believe the fund will give them a seat at the table for talks with owners Lancaster City Council on the future of the site and prevent it from falling into the hands of housing developers.

Beyond Radio understands that Lancaster City Council has received several expressions of interest from different parties on how to develop the site - including for a hotel, and for housing.

But a senior city councillor has told us that housing is not the preferred option.

No decisions on the site's future have yet been made.

We also understand that the £1m will remain with the town council for community use, even if they are unable to acquire the Frontierland site. 

The Frontierland site on Marine Road West in Morecambe has been disused since the Wild West-themed fairground closed in 2000.

The eyesore land was previously owned by Morrison's, and there were two failed attempts to develop it for retail parks over the past 23 years.

In 2021, Lancaster City Council bought the land for £3.1m, wanting to secure its future for local people.

Last September they asked for 'expressions of interest' from developers and organisations who might want to regenerate the site.

Proposals wanted for future of Frontierland site in Morecambe - Beyond Radio

The city council is set to renew this request for people to come forward with ideas, before making a final decision on how the land should be used.

In the meantime, Morecambe Town Council has held several meetings about their own ideas for the Frontierland site over the past few months.

Most of the talks have been held privately, due to the possible disclosure of 'exempt' information.

On February 6, the town council held a public consultation event at the town hall, to find out residents' views on how the land should be used. They also conducted a residents' survey.

Councillor Bill Jackson, a Liberal Democrat town councillor, said: "The people of Morecambe have really embraced the engagement exercises and Morecambe Town Council is doing everything it can to protect and enhance this parcel of land. We all want the town to prosper, and we want to ensure people have the power to influence the future of the town positively.”

But the Morecambe Bay Independents, who voted against the town council budget including the Community Fund idea, said: "All essential services are provided by the county or city councils, this increase in money is only required to pay for the political whims of certain councillors.

"This is double taxation. Why give Lancaster city £1m for something Morecambe already owns?

"Absolutely disgraceful behaviour and completely out of touch with reality as there is no gain, only pain to Morecambe residents."

You can find more on the background to this story here. 

COUNCIL TAX

Council Tax in Morecambe is divided between the town council, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster City Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, Adult and Social Care, and Lancashire Fire Authority.

Here is an example of a Morecambe Council Tax bill for 2022/23.

In 2023/4, Lancaster City Council will increase its share of Council Tax by 2.99 per cent (an average rise of £7.23 a year, or 14p a week, for a Band D property).

Lancashire County Council will increase its share of Council Tax by 3.99 per cent, including for Adult Social Care - an extra £60 on a Band D property.

An annual increase of 6.34 per cent, meaning £15 extra for a Band D property, has been approved by the police.

Lancashire Combined Fire Authority has increased its precept by 6.47 per cent.

Morecambe Town Council will collect £431,853.66 from its precept in 2023/24, plus the additional £1m.

In 2022/23 they collected a total of £425,250.

Luke Trevaskis, proper officer for Morecambe Town Council, said in April 2022 that the 49.8 per cent rise in 2022/23 was to "improve service delivery for the residents of Morecambe".

In recent times the town council has organised a hugely successful Queen's Jubilee street party on Morecambe Promenade and the visit of the acclaimed Mars artwork to the Winter Gardens, among other events, and brought in a team of 'town rangers' to weed Morecambe streets and pavements, and pick up litter.

Prior to 2022/23, the town council's annual precept had never gone above £300,000 in the history of the council. Between 2013/2014 and 2020/2021, it had not risen above £200,000 per year.

There are 17,475 dwellings in Morecambe, of which 14,341 are chargeable for Council Tax after taking account of exemptions.

In Morecambe, the vast majority of properties fall into categories Band A, Band B and Band C.