Council presses on with pagoda plans
WEST Lancashire Borough Council is continuing with plans to remove the pagoda in Ormskirk’s Wheatsheaf Walk after a narrow vote in favour.
The council’s executive overview and scrutiny committee voted six to five in favour of plans to spend thousands of pounds removing the structure.
Council chiefs have brought the plans forward separate from larger plans for the area, and say it will enable better social distancing and help businesses during the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The plans have come under criticism from rival councillors who say more public consultation should have been carried out ahead of such a prominent change.
Cllr Adrian Owens, leader of the Our West Lancashire group, said: “I voted against the removal of the pagoda. There are arguments both ways, but our argument is that given the public outcry about the decision to remove the pagoda in isolation and not as part of a comprehensive improvement scheme, it was right to halt and carry out another consultation that engaged local residents.
“The council consultation last summer clearly failed to get a representative view.
“It received only 28 responses, yet over 1,000 expressed an opinion in a poll just two weeks ago with over 90% opposed to the removal of the pagoda at this time. Labour chose to ignore those views.”
The council argues that removing the pagoda “will increase the visibility of businesses and make the area more open to help keep everyone safe” and says it plans further investment in the area.
This includes providing Wheatsheaf Walk with new paving, lighting and seating, as well as “enhancing the existing wheatsheaf stone motif ” as important recognition of history.
A report for the overview and scrutiny committee argued in favour of the removal, stating: “Firstly, and most centrally to the proposals, is the prospect of using part of the space that would be created to enable The Barnyard and Wetherspoons to have outdoor seating and tables to compensate for the fact they will not be able to accommodate as many customers inside their premises its due to social distancing. This would have the effect of creating a small and pleasant pavement café-style environment within the square, just off the main shopping frontage, without creating any impediment to movement on the main thoroughfare of Burscough Street or within Wheatsheaf Walk to the Wheatsheaf car park.
“It will also improve the visibility of the other businesses on Wheatsheaf Walk from
Burscough Street, businesses (such as Pandora’s Box and Andrew Collinge hairdressers) which are largely blocked from view from Burscough Street currently because of the pagoda.”
Addressing potential opposition, the report observed that many who were against the original consultation felt differently after seeing the wider plans, while many complaints on social media related to the use of funds which are already ring-fenced for the project.
Council leader Cllr Ian Moran said: “Our public space plans are to enhance West Lancashire for everyone to use and enjoy. The removal of the pagoda will make the businesses within Wheatsheaf Walk more visible from Burscough Street and assist their trade at a difficult time.
“The whole scheme will make Wheatsheaf Walk a really attractive space for people to visiting the town centre.”