Hoylake residents and businesses still have until 23 October 2020 to have your say in helping to shape the town’s places and spaces in the future.
Hoylake High Street
Using an easily accessible new digital community engagement platform, local social enterprise PLACED wants to hear ideas for the emerging vision for the Hoylake Neighbourhood Development Plan (NPD).
Working with local group Hoylake Vision, PLACED want to discover opinions and thoughts on how the town’s key public assets should feel and function, the types of activities, services and spaces on offer and how they should adapt from this year and beyond.
Jo Harrop, PLACED director, said: “This project in Hoylake is not only exciting but extremely timely and we are passionate about ensuring everyone in the town who wants to can have their say.
“We hope this helps to develop a positive, open discussion which can help to influence the future of Hoylake and we really look forward to the conversation.”
Jo Harrop, PLACED director
The current NDP which was produced and is managed by Hoylake Vision came into force as a statutory part of the council’s Local Plan in December 2016 following a public referendum which garnered 86 per cent support.
The consultation is focused around the principles of what kinds of development people would like to see; where it could be and what it could feel like, rather than detailed plans.
Once this early engagement has taken place, more detailed objectives, priorities and policies will be developed.
Feedback will inform the NDP by helping to determine the following:
- Town Centre: Whether the idea of a Town Square, within the town centre, is shared by the community and, if so, how it could function and what it could look like.
- The promenade and beach: Considering the changing landscape of the beach, to imagine the future function of the promenade and beach in terms of activities and its connectivity to the local high street.
- Carr Lane: How the Carr Lane industrial and residential areas could be enhanced through activities, better connectivity and community-led development.
The future of Hoylake project provides a digital platform for the ideas of the community to be heard and can be found at www.placed-engagement.org.uk/hoylake
It enables the community to discuss their built environment, in the new Covid-19 restricted world and is intended to be a live platform which grows with feedback, questions and ideas, while people are less likely to be out and about.
Visitors can share their thoughts on the ‘Ideas Wall’ and ‘Interactive Map’ and take a survey – and as the conversation evolves, be a part of Zoom workshops and events.
Mark Howard, chair of the volunteer group, Hoylake Vision said: “Despite Covid-19, there’s a buzz in Hoylake at the moment. After years of economic decline, there’s a real sense of movement in the right direction, with some fantastic new businesses setting up.”
“There’s also the Beacon cinema and arts centre project under development now in the old Town Hall, which will have a profound and positive long-term impact.
“This consultation is a great opportunity for the wider community to be involved in shaping how future development can continue to meet the needs of those who live and work here, as well as those who visit Hoylake, in a balanced and sustainable way.
“Our wonderful town has so much more potential yet to be realised; creating job opportunities, increasing footfall and helping businesses to thrive.”
For people who do not have internet access or who would prefer paper surveys, they will be delivered through peoples’ letterboxes in the coming weeks.
To find and more and get involved visit: https://www.placed-engagement.org.uk/hoylake
