Morecambe Town Council to raise £1m from taxpayers in attempt to acquire Frontierland

Morecambe Town Council will raise £1m from taxpayers as part of an effort to acquire the Frontierland site hoping to safeguard it for the future.

The town council voted via a majority 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 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.

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".

Townsfolk with Band A or Band B properties will pay an increment of £1.32-£1.53 per week specifically ringfenced for a community project on Frontierland. 

The Morecambe Bay Independent group has slammed the tax rise, claiming it would lead to a 300 per cent annual increase which was "absolutely disgraceful behaviour".

"Why give Lancaster City Council £1m for something Morecambe already owns?" said an MBI spokesperson.

The actual increase in Morecambe Town Council money from Council Tax will be more than 230 per cent - with the total amount of money raised rising from £425,250 in 2022/23 to £1.432m in 2023/24.

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.

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. 

BACKGROUND

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 £3m, 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 (see photo below). They also conducted a residents' survey.

MORECAMBE TOWN COUNCIL STATEMENT

A town council spokesperson said on Friday: "At a budget meeting held on 23 February, members voted to freeze the amount of council tax levied to resource the council’s revenue budget, making way for a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ Community Action Fund to be raised to mobilise the acquisition of the former Frontierland site from Lancaster City Council.

"The decision was reached following an announcement last month that valid expressions of interest had been received by the City Council for the site to be developed for housing, despite local opposition.

"There was further public outcry when Lancaster City Council announced the closure of The Platform, and Morecambe’s Visitor Information Centre.

"Morecambe Town Council has acted quickly and gained overwhelming community support through a survey which ensured residents had the opportunity to share their views to help inform the future of the site.

"The land has been positioned as 'a blank canvas for the community to design and (quite literally) build from the ground up'.

"The council is confident that it can work with residents, and Lancaster City Council, to bring forward a project that is financially viable, with progress having already been made to secure additional grant funding.

"Over 1,500 residents responded to the council’s survey requesting that the site be developed for community use - with the largest majority of people willing to contribute £50-£100 to a fund that can bring free access to more local recreation and leisure facilities, open spaces, skill-sharing, art and culture.

"The town council has voiced its moral obligation to listen to its residents, acknowledging that it has previously been somewhat pedestrian in its outlook.

"With threats to services and local landmarks at an all time high, the town council is doing all it can to ensure Morecambe has the resources to protect the long-term future of its beloved community assets.

"Exciting times are ahead as a new Community Forum will be launched in the coming weeks, creating a task force from a cross section of Morecambe residents.

"The town council has also contracted Grimshaw Architects, the studio behind Eden Project Morecambe, to work with the town to develop a proposal 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 also drive tourism.

"The council wants to raise as much awareness as possible to promote the strength of unity within Morecambe. This fund will have a huge impact on the future landscape of the town and the council is pleased so many residents were keen to support it through an incremental precept of £1.32-£1.53 per week for the majority of homes."

The town council's December accounts show a £48,000 payment to Grimshaw Architects for their work on the plan.

The idea for the £1m Community Fund - part of the town council's budget for 2023/4 - was voted through by all councillors present at Thursday's meeting at Morecambe Town Hall, except Morecambe Bay Independents. Morecambe Town Council is made up of Liberal Democrat, Bay Independent Group, MBI, Labour and independent or unaffiliated councillors. 

Councillors voting for were: Matthews, Anderton, Whitaker, Bates, Boyd-Power, Cowley, Clift, Pattison, Clarke, J Pilling, C Pilling, Forster, Blaikie, Jackson, Dagdeviren, Hart and Stansfield.

Voting against were councillors Heath, J Ashworth, G Dennison and R Dennison. 

REACTION

Councillor Cary Matthews (pictured below), chair of the town council and a member of the Bay Independent Group, said: "The ideas we have received from residents have been inspiring and the survey has generated such a strong sense of community pride which is one of the strongest assets of our town.

"Morecambe Town Council will be working with the community in the coming months to deliver a proposal that boosts the economy, improves the environment, and most importantly delivers local facilities for local people”.

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.”

Labour town and city councillor Margaret Pattison said: "This is an exciting time for Morecambe and it is important our residents do not get left behind. We want Morecambe people to be at the heart of everything we do, and with support from the community we are certain we can deliver a project that best meets their needs.”

But the Morecambe Bay Independents (MBIs) slammed the decision to set up the fund and raise Council Tax, saying they were "totally against any rise at this difficult time for many families and residents".

"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," said an MBI spokesperson.

"Lib Dems may say the million pounds raised is for their plan to own part of the Frontierland site or for (Morecambe) Town Hall, but both of those are already owned by Lancaster and Morecambe residents, land paid for by Lancaster City Council.

"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."

A town council spokesperson said: "The part of the precept required to service the revenue budget of the council has been frozen.

"So, whilst the council's operational budget has increased, there will be considerable benefit drawn from the council’s income generating activities which are anticipated to total £150,000 in the new financial year - a saving that is being passed on directly to residents.

"The council has provided the increment for the Community Action Fund as 'real term' figures, directly aligned to the feedback from residents.

"The community survey indicated the majority of residents wanted to contribute a sum of £50-100 per annum and the council has set a reserve fund to accommodate this."

Councillor Caroline Jackson, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “In recognising that the site is pivotal in drawing visitors to experience the whole of the Morecambe front, the council acquired the former Frontierland site to lead its regeneration and contribute to Morecambe’s renewal.

“The invitation to submit expressions of interest provided a broad range of concept ideas that help inform future considerations. Whilst no decisions have been made about the future development of the site, work is ongoing to ensure that any expressions of interest take the recent Eden announcement into consideration. 

“The recent well-publicised council budget discussions highlight the shared challenges the council and residents are facing in this cost-of-living crisis. In addition to delivering regeneration benefits for Morecambe and its residents, future plans for Frontierland need to offer value for money, be high quality, community and family friendly and capable of contributing to a sustainable economy for the town.”

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.

In 2022/23, Morecambe Town Council increased its proportion of Council Tax by 49.8 per cent, raising more than £425,000 from local taxpayers.

Previously the town council's annual precept had never gone above £300,000 in the 14-year history of the council. Between 2013/2014 and 2020/2021, it had not risen above £200,000 per year.

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

Morecambe Town Council is a parish council which raises funds through Council Tax from Morecambe residents, to provide various services for the people of the town, including giving grants to organisations, putting on festivals and events, and helping with weeding and litter picking on pavements and streets.

In 2022 the town council 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.

Lancaster City Council has already voted to increase its share of Council Tax by 2.99 per cent.

Lancashire County Council has already voted to increase its share of Council Tax by 3.99 per cent, including for Adult Social Care.

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

A further rise is also expected for Lancashire fire service.

This could see a total Council Tax increase for a Band D property of at least £87.65 in 2023/4, not including the additional 231 per cent rise for Morecambe Town Council.

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

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

LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL

On Wednesday night, Lancaster city councillors voted to close Visitor Information Centres in Lancaster and Morecambe from summer 2023 to save money.

The Platform arts and concert venue, though, has been given a reprieve and will stay open until at least April 2024.

For more details see our story here: INTERVIEWS: Full breakdown of "painful" Lancaster City Council budget plans revealed - Beyond Radio