– its ups and downs
Tracey Hillon’s comments included: “Changed the whole nature of our town. First time buyers forced to buy elsewhere... I’m fully in favour of anything that gives us a bit of old Ormskirk back.”
Yet local landlord Jamie Thompson, 53, of Burscough, who has had a property on Thompson Avenue for 11 years, points to the benefits to the local economy from the university: “Please remember there is a massive contingent of medical students at Edge Hill, and Ormskirk should be proud of what it is achieving; the vast majority of students in Ormskirk are professionals in the making. We should be counting ourselves lucky that the town is vibrant and forward looking... we are lucky to have Edge Hill and its students.”
He added: “Here in Ormskirk, it has never really been an industrial town, but has grown exponentially over the last 20 years that the university has expanded. There can be no mistake in that it is the area’s biggest single employer; the local supermarkets, bars, restaurants, taxis and petrol stations are all supported by its staff and students. I dread to think what would happen to Ormskirk in the event that the University shrinks back.”
Local historian Dot BroadyHawkes agrees. “The university is well and truly part of the town’s history and very much the hub of the universe for a vast majority of the townspeople either through work or study, and that isn’t embraced enough. Working in the town in the 1970s was very much about the trade students brought into the town but most were day attendance, and when it was a teacher training college many local people were given an opportunity to receive a high standard of courses not offered locally: those same students became local teachers and residents and now are a part of the success that made Edge Hill a university.”
Meanwhile, Ormskirk is seeing a wave of exciting new developments: a huge, upcoming revamp of the bus station, plans to repair the historic Derby Street Bridge and a new luxurious aparthotel and restaurant at the former Ormskirk Magistrates Court building.
Changes are also afoot with plans approved with conditions at sites around the town such as a mixed-use development encompassing 50 student flats and two smaller shop units at the former Iceland site on Aughton Street, and up to 31 residential flats at what was the Hunter & Sons warehouse on Moorgate and Bridge Street.
After a hard day’s graft on the shop floor, Kelly Cawley, manager of The Works, praises the ‘personal service’ of the Ormskirk traders and the loveliness of the artisan market, but says Ormskirk’s day-to-day success hinges on the weather. She added: “It’s busy – our footfall has increased this year and people are spending more.
“Ormskirk is a bit hit and miss but it’s a bit different for everybody; the market on Thursdays is dependent on the weather; we can be quiet all morning and around school time, at around two or three, it will get busier. You just can’t tell.
“The artisan market is lovely and if the weather’s good that’s brilliant because you have all the families; you get a lot of people from places like Maghull and Bolton, and they stop off here, go to the market then go to Southport. The shops around here have good service – you don’t get personal service elsewhere.”
Back at The Green Room, serving up cocktails, coffees and wine with a beaming, megawatt smile, law student Demi has not a bad word to say about the place. “Ormskirk is a beautiful town – I’m a student and I’m from Shrewsbury; it’s lovely. Ormskirk has certainly made me think again about where I’m going.”
University town, historic market town, agricultural area and nightlife hotspot: Ormskirk has found itself, like a street performer thrust into the spotlight at a country fair or show, juggling all of its identities at once. Which one eventually prevails remains to be seen.
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “We recognise the value of the paving and stone setts to the conservation area covering Ormskirk town centre, and will carry out an inspection this week to identify the need for any repairs in the area where the market takes place.”
Edge Hill University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Steve Igoe, said: “As a university with a strong community ethos, we will always do our best to support the town and help it grow and prosper. Edge Hill University is the largest employer in West Lancashire and our students contributed £67.5million to the local economy in 2018.
“This is projected to rise to £78.8 million by 2030/31.
“Our students and staff socialise in the area and enjoy supporting its many local businesses. Our own Small and Medium Enterprise Productivity and Innovation Centre also works closely with the Lancashire Economic Partnership to help businesses in Ormskirk and beyond to scale-up, improve their competitiveness, and adopt new technologies.
“While the university does not provide any student accommodation in Ormskirk town centre, we do have our own accommodation on campus, and we always seek to house students on campus wherever possible.”
A West Lancashire Borough Council spokesman said: “The new artworks have been solely funded by the ‘Welcome Back Fund’. This is a government initiative to help high streets recover from the pandemic, entirely separate from the budgets of Lancashire County Council, which is responsible for maintaining the paved and cobbled areas. We do of course contact the authority with any issues raised about the paving.
“Market Traders are aware that vehicles should not be brought onto the market site before 4pm. We encourage traders to speak to us about any concerns they have. The safety of our traders and customers is our priority – we have comprehensive risk assessments in place and will work to find solutions to any issues. We are sorry to hear there was broken glass found on the market site, but this can occur with the busy night-time economy of Ormskirk Town Centre.
“Any incidences such as this should be reported to us, we will take care of the issue as a matter of urgency. We are working with the County Council on the Ormskirk Eastern Gateway project. The scheme includes works on the paved area on Moor Street between the Queen’s Head and the St Helens Road Junction.
“All planning applications are determined based on local, regional, and planning policies. If anyone would like to know more about our current applications their status can be viewed at www.westlancs.gov. uk/planning.”