A fresh look at town
Advertiser takes pulse of residents and traders
IT’S the picturesque market town famed for its rustic charm and sweet character – but it’s increasingly being torn in different directions.
Ormskirk is flourishing with new markets, independent traders, glamorous bars and exciting eateries. Its ancient, chartered market, dating back to 1286, still thrives, while fresh developments are springing up around the town aplenty.
Yet what sets it apart from the rest of Lancashire’s beautiful market towns is that Ormskirk has another, very large, string to its bow: Edge Hill University.
Crowned Modern University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022, the prestigious establishment had some 13,540 students in 2020 and is also the only 21st century UK university to have made it into the top 50 of the world’s best universities under 50 years old, according to the Times Higher Education Young University rankings.
But some say the town’s traditional character is being worn down, while others say families can no longer afford to live there.
Martin Fautley, owner of The Bagel Deli said: “We’re established – we were in the top 50 of places to eat out at this year in Lancashire – and, we are a takeaway so we could stay open trading during the lockdowns. For a little town with only a few streets, Ormskirk’s got a lot going for it.
“Let’s get the town busy, that’s what it wants, as not only are people having a good time, they are going to Mandrakes, they are going to cocktail bars and they come in here, where everything is hand-made and artisan. There are not many empty shops in Ormskirk, and the ones that get empty soon fill up – that’s a big factor – and the students bring lots of trade and business in.”
At The Green Room, a glamorous wine bar which underwent huge expansion last summer, people are relaxing on the sun-drenched terrace outside. 20 year-old Demi Thomas, a final year law student at Edge Hill and one of the floor staff, is beaming. “It’s been fabulous ever since we reopened, as we’ve been busier than ever.
“We’re still trying to keep the two-metre rule going on, and people prefer coming in and waiting to be served, like the continental way. We change our cocktail menu for the season, and more and more people are noticing us as a cocktail venue.
“The market is wonderful; it’s got such a lot of history, and you’ve got the fair, and Coronation Park, and all that’s just wonderful. It’s such a friendly place – most of the customers say they love the students as it helps keep Ormskirk vibrant, and it brings money in.”
The town’s latter day attractions encompass stunning murals such as that of Ormskirk-born clockmaker Thomas Barry and a Harry Potter coffee shop entitled Mandrakes – A Magical Experience, which has gone from strength to strength since reopening. Lizzi Hatton, manageress, said: “It’s mega busy; we are back to back. We are a bit different – we are constantly busy, as you can see as Ormskirk is quiet but then a massive group can arrive.”
Assistant manager Sophie Cornfoot added: “We have had two weeks of families coming in and everyone is really excited. It’s been nice to see things getting back to normal and after the couple of years that we have had, I think we all need a bit of escapism!”
West Lancashire is a significant producer of field vegetables and crops under glass or plastic, according to DEFRA in 2015, with farming land allocated to fruit and vegetable production making up 94% of the Lancashire total.
At Ormskirk’s traditional, chartered market every Thursday and Saturday you can get fresh breads, homemade pies, cheese, and olives, not to mention fresh fish, meat and veg.
But not everyone is happy, as Alan Lamont, of the Happy Card Company, can testify.
“I get here at 2am and don’t leave until 6pm. I travel 50 miles for this market. All the vans come between three and four (PM, to pack up), and when you’ve got a line of vans here people park in front, and they think it’s closed.
“There’s nobody here to enforce the rules; it’s supposed to be four o’clock and we’ve got vans at 20 past three, which I don’t mind when it’s raining, but when it’s sunny it’s not good. And students don’t use the market and, sons and daughters of Ormskirk families can’t afford to rent here any more because of the rent,” he said, adding: “I’m applying to the council to give me a refund because of the vans coming on early, as I’m losing some of my trading time.”
Geoff Scott, the partner of a trader who did not wish to be named on the market, goes further. He said: “When we get here to set up, the streets are filthy of a morning and there’s broken glass; we have to drive on it. There’s a lack of interest in the market, and in the whole area; the roads have got to be the worst they have been for years and they’re spending money on murals and cycle paths. There’s no health and safety, no risk assessment. It’s an accident waiting to happen in bad weather.”
Yet Mandy Garcia, spokesperson for Ormskirk Artisan Market, is thrilled with the warm welcome received on the first Sunday of every month between March and November. Now in its third year, it supports over 50 small businesses at each market.
Vibrant and bustling, the colourful Artisan Market comes complete with neon festival bunting and features an array of friendly crafters.
Mandy told the Advertiser: “We are delighted to bring incredible variety to the high street, encourage more people to ‘shop local’ – seeing the reactions of the hundreds of shoppers that regularly shop with us makes all the planning worthwhile. We recognise that the market is growing in popularity as visitors come from further afield boosting the profile of Ormskirk.”
However, others have mixed feelings about the way things are going, as testified by reaction to an announcement by local party Our West Lancashire promising to halt all new student housing through the Local Plan. In a statement on social media, Our West Lancashire said: “Evidence shows there is more than sufficient accommodation currently in place and in the pipeline. This applies to both HMOs and the purpose-built student accommodation in the town centre.
Highlighting how OWL would work with student landlords wishing to return their properties to family homes, they said OWL would give them six months’ additional council tax relief during the conversion, adding: “A prohibition on further student housing in the next local plan scheduled to be in place in 2025 would still provide students with plenty of choice with ongoing excess supply avoiding upward pressure on student rents.”
Several residents echo their concerns, such as Liz Leadbetter, who commented: “There are no houses for families... the town seems to have lost its character, it was once a busy little town, now it only comes alive at night, no really good shops, clothes shops you have to travel further to clothe yourself and family.” Similarly,