Award-winning social enterprise, PLACED re-opens consultation using online platform
Community forum Hoylake Vision is again inviting residents and businesses in Hoylake to have their say in helping to shape the town’s places and spaces in the future.
Working with Liverpool-based public engagement experts PLACED, the group is keen to discover more 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 in future.
Following an earlier consultation round in 2020, the forum has re-opened an online community engagement website, and is inviting the community to bring forward more ideas which will inform an update to the Hoylake Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). The website can be accessed at www.placed-engagement.org.uk/hoylake.
Visitors can share their thoughts on the ‘Ideas Wall’ and ‘Interactive Map’ as well as taking part in a survey; in this way the site grows with public feedback, questions and ideas.
The survey allows for detailed comment, while the Ideas Wall prompts visitors to post their ideas on topics such as: a balanced community; sustainable environment; buildings and heritage; connectivity and accessibility; and sustainable economy. The Interactive Map allows people to pin their ideas and interventions, things they love and their concerns and challenges.
On the basis of the 2020 consultation, the forum worked with consultants AECOM to produce a draft ‘Masterplan’ and a more detailed ‘Design Guide and Codes’ for Hoylake. Both will be are a key part of this further round of consultation.
Ideas explored in the documents include a re-imagining of the town’s Promenade to include porous surfacing, EV charging points and improved accessibility, the possibility of a Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre to the east of the Carr Lane area, and a range of options for the town centre.
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, overseen by the electoral commission and the local authority, in which 86 percent of those voting were in support.
The consultation is focused on 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 and specific plans. Once this engagement has taken place, more detailed objectives, priorities and policies will be developed later in an updated NDP.
Mark Howard, chair of the forum’s management group, said: “The last round of consultation in 2020 brought forward some great ideas. On the back of that we were able to produce a draft Masterplan and Design Guide, but the level of response to the consultation was lower than we would have liked and it is important for us to address that.
“Although we had over 200 surveys returned and more than 1,000 additional comments and interactions I know we can do better.
“For example, we met recently with residents in the Carr Lane area who said they sometimes feel cut off from decision-making processes and many people in the area were unaware of the previous consultation. So we hand delivered surveys and membership leaflets to all households and businesses there in order to ensure as many people as possible have an opportunity to be involved.
“Now the draft documents have been completed, there is something more tangible for Hoylake residents and businesses to respond to. I really hope that people will read them and respond with their thoughts. There are some really good ideas in there which, with the support of the community, could attract investment in future, creating jobs and making Hoylake an even better place to live, work and visit.
“The whole thrust of the emerging Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) is to allow residents and businesses to have much greater influence on future decisions around any change; when it happens and what it looks like, rather than simply leaving all decision making subject to ‘one size fits all’ policies of the council.
“It is important to point out that making a plan is an extremely rigorous process. Once prepared, the renewed draft NDP is subject to further review and a six-week statutory public consultation, followed by an independent examination and finally another referendum. It must also be supported by a consultation statement which records all consultation responses. People can be assured that nothing will happen that does not have clear evidence of broad community support.
“I hope everyone will take this chance to have their say because this is really important. Through the NDP we have an opportunity to ensure a vibrant, sustainable and exciting future for generations to come.”
To join the forum click here.
To take part in the consultation visit: www.placed-engagement.org.uk/hoylake
PLACED is an award-winning, Liverpool-based social enterprise that aims to bring people together to make better places. PLACED engages people in design, planning and development through community consultation, engagement and education as well as connecting communities, decision makers, schools and businesses across the North West. For more information, please contact: info@placed.org.uk
Hoylake Vision is a group of over 160 volunteer residents and businesses who want to celebrate and protect the best of Hoylake, while recognising that some change is inevitable and necessary in order to keep any town or village ‘alive’. The forum is not part of the council; however the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) forms a statutory part of the council’s ‘Local Plan’. As such it creates a legally binding framework whereby planning decisions are made based on the aspirations and needs of the local community rather than responding only to borough wide policies. The vision is “to maintain Hoylake as an environmentally attractive seaside town and socially inclusive place to live, work in and to visit. To be a healthier, well-housed community with a thriving economy which values creativity and entrepreneurialism. To support a vibrant town centre, which meets the day-to-day needs of local people and provides high quality food, drink and entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. To support the town centre and the Carr Lane Industrial Estate as the focal points for a wide range of easily accessible jobs.”
