News from the borough communications team:

'We are working with Lancashire County Council on exciting plans which will make it easier to walk or cycle between Ormskirk town centre and the Edge Hill University side of town.

Our plan is to improve the footpaths and create dedicated cycle lanes along St Helens Road and Ruff Lane as well as changing the design of the traffic lights to make it easier for cyclists to cross safely from Ruff Lane to St Helens Road.

Ruff Lane would be made one way to all vehicles between Knowsley Road and St Helens Road, but would be kept two way for cyclists.

We believe doing this will encourage more people to cycle and walk between the town centre and rail station and the university campus and so reduce the number of cars travelling to the campus or trying to find parking on or near there. We are also planning further improvements for walking and cycling to link the recently completed shared use path between the rail and bus stations to this project.

Councillor David Evans, portfolio holder for Planning, said: "The scheme would really benefit cyclists and walkers and it would be part of a series of measures that we hope will encourage more residents and visitors to leave their cars at home and enjoy Ormskirk and the rest of the borough by cycling and walking, which will be good for their health and improve air quality in the town."

The plans will be considered by our Cabinet on Tuesday 8 September. If approved the works will be carried out by Lancashire County Council. The project will be funded by a combination of developer contributions related to developments at Edge Hill University and Local Transport Plan funding from Lancashire County Council.

This is the same utter wast of tax paying residents money as was the hire bikes at the railway and Bus station then removed after a year because nobody used them! Who are the only benefactors of this wast of money? The very people who already have a free bus service from town to Edge Hill. Who will fund this.....well you can bet your life it’s not Edge hill. Money allocated to this project could and should be but to much better use for the benefit of those who actually pay the money.

The town shudders with Mr. Reeves predictable bold type addressed to the towns greatest source of income. (Sarcasm.)

Originally Posted by GingerbreadMan

The town shudders with Mr. Reeves predictable bold type addressed to the towns greatest source of income. (Sarcasm.)

The walk from town to Edge Hill along Ruff Lane is already one of the most pleasant and safest in the town and where is the cycle track from and too, where is it going? We have all seen the traffic congestion around the town with that lame brained road segregation on St Helens Road. Where will the cyclist going the other way be coming from and how will they get there? What a great idea to make Ruff Lane one way. You shove that traffic along St Helens Road or Via Westhead if you need access.


WLBC was given a large chunk of money from Government to enhance the towns amenities, is this what it’s going to be spent on. They cry they have no money but can find it for Edge Hill, however! when it comes to things like providing a youth club..... no money! In the view of WLBC It would seem Edge Hills students need this facility but the kids coming out of Schools around the Town can fend for them selves, no bike lanes for them.


I wonder if this cycle way will be given a name...... Trotsky Boulevard..... Nooooo to posh! Lenin’s....way..... No that would confuse students who would think it’s something to do with the Beatles! Now Momentum Drive has certain ring too it! Slowly Slowly this Council is demolishing the very reason for the town to survive other and to serve the needs of Edge Hill.


So far they want to close the Bus Station for Student Accommodation, build student accommodation on the Old Regal site, close the indoor market for, yes you have it, more student accommodation, make a grab on A1 agricultural land to build houses an for a Liverpool over spill. Give planning permission for Student Accommodation on Church St, Aughton St, Burscough St, they have flooded the town with bars and take a ways that only stay open a year. They have wasted countless thousands on pointless town and planning consultants, public meetings that go no where, then when the public tell them what they want they take no notice as was the fiasco over the seating cover in Burscough St. You would think we are being governed by Monty Pythons Flying Circus than a so called professional organisation!

Oh Reevsy Reevsy...

First of all it was accusations that returning students would spread 'caronavirus' (whatever that is) the other week, now it's moaning about money that Edge Hill have actually given to the Council in Section 106 funding being used to promote sustainable transport. No doubt you'll be banging on about traffic and parking in a few weeks' time despite a lot of the teaching at universities being online this year, and Edge Hill still paying for the free bus for students and staff to use.

And have you actually walked along Ruff Lane during the morning rush hour? If you had, you'd see cars speeding at 40 or 50mph along what is a 20mph limit stretch, while Ormskirk School pupils (as well as yes - Edge Hill students, but also hospital staff) walk and cycle along there on their way to school. So yes, it will benefit local school kids who regularly use Ruff Lane. Go and have a look yourself between 8:20 to 9:00am if you don't believe me.

Another point on Edge Hill - it was Section 106 money from Edge Hill that was partly used to pay for the upgraded path between the rail and bus stations, benefiting all and not just students. Without that money, that path probably would never have been done.

As for your rant on the Council 'flooding' the town with bars and takeaways, who exactly do you think would take on those empty units in the town centre? Do you think Harrods are planning an Ormskirk store? And what exactly do you expect the Planning Committee to do? If there is no planning justification to refuse permission for a bar or takeaway (e.g. failing to comply with policies in the Local Plan) and the Committee refuse anyway, the applicant would appeal and permission would be given. And guess what - it would be taxpayers like you and me who would pick up the legal bill of the applicant if they appealed successfully.

Is there not even a teensy weensy part of you that would acknowledge the money that Edge Hill brings to the town? In a few weeks' time, you'll see students buying groceries in Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl etc, stationary and books in WHSmith, The Works, and Waterstones, buying toiletries in Boots and Bodycare, and getting their hair cut in local barbers and hairdressers. And yes, also supporting local jobs and businesses in pubs, bars and restaurants too. Many businesses in the town will be right on the edge at the moment, and the business from students could be the difference between them carrying on or shutting down.

See the bigger picture!

The one way stretch would be 100 yards max on the short stretch of road outside the childrens nursery. Took some pics there this afternoon and the folk I spoke to were all in favour.

Originally Posted by rogerblaxall

The one way stretch would be 100 yards max on the short stretch of road outside the childrens nursery. Took some pics there this afternoon and the folk I spoke to were all in favour.

Which way will it be one way ?

As for your rant on the Council 'flooding' the town with bars and takeaways, who exactly do you think would take on those empty units in the town centre? Do you think Harrods are planning an Ormskirk store? And what exactly do you expect the Planning Committee to do? If there is no planning justification to refuse permission for a bar or takeaway (e.g. failing to comply with policies in the Local Plan) and the Committee refusee anyway, the applicant would appeal and permission would be given. And guess what - it would be taxpayers like you and me who would pick up the legal bill of the applicant if they appealed successfully.






No! Shopping habits have changed and will not change back... people shop on line, town centre shops other than a hand full of specialist shops can not compete so things have to change! Convert the defunct shops into decent living accommodation for first time buyers and young families.


There authorities have found ways to control planning consent for licensed premises.


On line tuition means it can be done from anywhere so less requirements for permanent student accommodation.


The money given by Edge Hill pails into insignificance to the damage and cost to the local community in term of the housing stock available for young residents. They have always pushed problems back to the local residents with student issues with the usual “once off the campus it’s nothing to do with us”.


In the interest of health promotion I have absolutely no issue with walking, it’s a ten min walk from the bus station to the university so absolutely no need for a cycle track or a free bus if it comes to that and shanks pony is carbon free. How did your experiment of hire bikes go at the Rail station, Bus station and Edge Hill go? they did not get used at all and removed after a short period.


Again money can always be found to fund Edge Hills requirements. This money would better serve the community by converting the defunct Hospital admin building on Wigan Road to a youth support club than spending on a cycle track to no where that nobody needs or will use.


The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.





How much did it cost us tax payers for all the town planning consultants WLBC employed and what did they achieve? A Town plan that’s was completely at odds with residents.




Yes, I and many others do see the bigger picture and it’s not a good one for the residents of Ormskirk.

I most humbly apologise! Corona not Carona ...... sarcasm is best left to those who are actually funny!

Originally Posted by rogerblaxall

The one way stretch would be 100 yards max on the short stretch of road outside the childrens nursery. Took some pics there this afternoon and the folk I spoke to were all in favour.

100 yards one way! .... how would that work? And how would that contribute to a cycle track.

What ways exactly have the authorities found to 'control planning consent' for licensed premises? Are you suggesting the Planning Committee (and planning officers) have not followed the policies in the Local Plan in the decisions they've made? Feel free to provide some examples... I'm all ears.

"Money can always be found to fund Edge Hill's requirements..." Hmm, what money is that exactly Reevsy? You couldn't possibly be referring to the Section 106 funds paid to West Lancs Council by Edge Hill could you? To enlighten you on this my friend, where planning applications have the potential to have an adverse impact, the Council have the powers to demand payment (Section 106 funding) to offset those impacts. Hence as Edge Hill has expanded, the Council has received Section 106 funding from the university to offset the impact of more students travelling to the campus. One of the ways they've used that money was to improve the path between the rail and bus stations, making it safer and easier for pedestrians, cyclists, or those who are disabled to get between the two and encourage greater use of public transport by Edge Hill students. The Council are now using more of those funds to improve cycling provision, which as I said has the added benefit for school children and staff at Ormskirk hospital too. What's your problem?

Or would you prefer that none those things weren't done and every student drove to the university instead? And before you say 'They do anyway!', you obviously haven't been to Ormskirk station and seen all the students getting off trains each morning from the Liverpool and Preston lines on their way to the university.

So let me spell this out simply for you:

1. Edge Hill pays money to Council to improve transport facilities
2. Council uses said money to improve transport facilities.

Got that? So nothing to worry your little council tax-paying head about.

And as for vacant town centre shops being converted to accommodation for first-time buyers, I'm sure developers could do that if they wanted, provided they kept the ground floor as a retail unit (i.e. in the same way the post office was redeveloped with accommodation over the bar). If the market was crying out for it, then it would happen, but developers will always be led by demand and the demand in the town centre for multiple-occupancy living or flats close together is for students. Do you really think a family would be keen to live over a bar in the town centre???

Once again you refuse to accept that Edge Hill has ANY benefits for the town. How about the Park Run every Saturday morning that regularly attracts 300 people to run round the campus? The on-site theatre and cinema, that puts on shows and films throughout the year that are open to all and not just students? The gym and sport facilities that are again used by the local community, local sports teams and a local athletics club? The library, that again is open to be used by the community?Not to mention the hundreds of jobs it has provided to local people, and a higher education facility right on our doorstep for local kids or mature students to access for degrees and vocational courses without having to trek into Liverpool or Manchester.

And that's before the benefits I've highlighted for local businesses and the jobs that the student market is helping to keep in place.

Tiresome...

As far as facilities provided for the local community by Edge Hill.... there are far less now than when it was a teachers training collage with far less impact on the local community.


As far as improving transport. It was Labours proposal to pull the bus station down for student accommodation with a few inadequate parking bays for the odd bus and yet again So roundly rejected by the residents.

Bikes from the railway station/bus station say 25 people would use them instead of the bus.. At 4 buses an hour that’s 100 bikes required one way each hour then there is the return trip same amount? So the route would be Rail/Bus Station along with all the other foot traffic, Then via St Helens Rd (and we all saw the problems this caused) into Ruff Lane to the Edge Hill and back. Who is going to provide all these bikes and if they had to be rented then students would use the FREE bus service. Are you being serious! Do you really think this will happen.


It’s you that produced the Town Plan that planners are working to it’s for you to find the answers that the people who put you into office require and if these people say we have enough licensed premises its then find a way a way forward, after all at election you tell us you have the ability to run a council.


Why do you need to keep one floor for retail that nobody wants for retail. How is your adventure in to capitalism doing in Burscough St with the shops now owned by WLBC. I seem to remember that any profit made by the Council could be but back into the Council funds so how much profit have they made and how was it used......


Tiresome..... as was the case when Police was called on resident asking question the Labour Council didn’t like or wanted to answer so. don’t tell me about Tiresome....

Oh dear... do I really need to spell this out for you?

If residential units in the town centre are converted to residential accommodation, under Policy IF1 of the West Lancs Local Plan developers are obliged to maintain a pedestrian-level shop front with windows and display. That's why the old post office and other sites in the town centre where accommodation has gone in have a shop / bar / restaurant on the ground floor. So it's not my 'adventure in capitalism' as you describe it, rather a planning policy in the Local Plan which tries to maintain the town centre as viable retail location by allowing accommodation above the ground floor, which helps support the retail / other use on the ground floor. Take it up with the Council if you don't like it.

With licensed premises, the Local Plan also identifies the IF1 town centre area as suitable not just for shopping but also nightclubs / drinking establishments, as well as student accommodation. The Planning Committee and planning officers can't just ignore that and do what you want them to do, otherwise applicants wanting to put in those developments would appeal if they were refused permission and be granted that permission on appeal. Do you want your Council Tax used to pay the legal fees of people applying to put a bar or student accommodation in the town centre who are unjustly refused planning permission?

And tell me - back in the good old days of the teacher training college, what facilities were provided that aren't now? Were there world-class sport facilities and a gym / pool that were open to residents to use? Was there a theatre attracting nationally-known comedians, music arts and other performers? Did Edge Hill College lay on a free bus for students and staff to use to reduce numbers of people driving to the site? And did the college pay to upgrade pathways around transport facilities?

And what are you wittering on about with hiring bikes? People have their own bikes! The problem, as I've already highlighted, are what are genuinely unsafe conditions along Ruff Lane, with cars parked either side and a lot of motorists speeding and going over the 20mph limit. Try riding along there one morning and see how you get on. Whether people cycle from the bus station or from further afield is irrelevant - it's all about trying to make it safer for cyclists and encourage them to get to the campus by bike rather than drive.

Anything else you'd like to be enlightened on?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53947488

Originally Posted by reevsy

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53947488

Thanks for passing that on - excellent to see Universities UK and the government having full confidence in the Covid-19 measures put in place in universities.

Should help to stop any 'Caronavirus out brake' as you've described it anyway - I actually think you'd benefit from an English course at Edge Hill to improve your spelling and grammar.

Ever considered enrolling?