Borough plans big celebration for the Queen
PLANS for celebrations and activities to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee have been outlined for West Lancashire.
The borough council has a budget of £15,000 for activities with another £3,000 set aside for any unexpected needs.
Plans include a family festival at Ormskirk’s Coronation Park, outdoor dining and a big cinema screen at Beacon Country Park in Up Holland, the lighting of a beacon, the naming of a new play area at Tawd Valley Park in Skelmersdale and tree planting across the borough to mark the jubilee in June.
West Lancashire councillors have been told that some other organisations in the borough are keen to support activities. Ideas include holding a tea dance and performances from local dance schools.
Plans should also be considered in case of wet weather, councillors are also being advised.
A report to councillors for the latest cabinet meeting states: “At Coronation Park, a family festival is proposed on Thursday, June 2, from noon to 4pm. It will be an afternoon of live music and fun for all the family. There will be a plethora of community displays with art competitions involving local schools and youth groups.
“Outdoor dining is suggested at Beacon Country Park also on June 2, from 7pm to 10pm. This will be a relaxing evening of dining and live music with a big screen showing highlights of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. It will include a beacon lighting ceremony at 9pm.
“In addition, memorial trees will be planted in different communities around the borough, with commemorative plaques. And new play facilities at Tawd Valley Park will be named in the Queen’s honour.”
The cabinet report states around £7,000 has been suggested to be spent on the family festival at Coronation Park. From that, around £4,000 would be spent on entertainment and displays, while £3,000 is earmarked for food and services.
Elsewhere, around £1,600 would be spent on live music and a cinema screen at Beacon Country Park, and another £2,000 on food and services there.
In other expenses, new trees would cost just over £1,300. Publicity and promotional activities linked to all the activities would cost an estimated £2,800. A sum of just under £3,000 is suggested for a contingency fund, according to the cabinet report.
Overall, council expenditure of £18,000 is earmarked for the activities and income is estimated at just under £3,000 coming from food, stalls and traders, the report adds.