Memorandum by Councillor Ron Shapland
MBE BSc FICFor (CT 03)
1. I am writing from the small coastal town
of Grange-over Sands which is situated on the north shore of Morecambe
Bay and south of the Lake District National Park. It has a population
of 4,000 of which 50% are retired.
2. The town has a mile long promenade, which
is linked across a railway by three bridges to the town, one of
which is closed due to neglect, as well as two parks and a disused,
open air swimming pool. We are fortunate in still retaining a
centre with over a 100 small businesses, mostly individually owned,
which provide the majority of the requirements of the residents
and visitors.
3. We have a very attractive situation,
which offers a quality of life which is considered ideal for both
residents and visitors who seek this type of environment which
has largely disappeared from many of our coastal towns.
4. In effect we still have a basis of a
sustainable community with residents providing support for one
another and local businesses. Because they value the quality of
life that is present many residents who are physically fit support
the activities of the Town and District Councils, such as helping
to maintain the gardens, clearing litter, preventing damage to
toilets by opening and closing them and running local events.
However there are limitations as to what local residents can achieve
in this way.
5. The Problems: For many years especially
since 1974 when local control moved from Grange to Kendal and
due to pressure by successive Governments on local authorities,
insufficient funds have been spent on the infrastructure to maintain
it in good condition. Much of which was put in place 70 to 150
years ago and has only survived because of the quality of the
original workmanship and materials. We have now reached a stage
where at least £2 million is needed to bring the Town features
back to an acceptable state of maintenance and for each year of
delay the costs escalate. A Heritage Lottery Fund bid is being
prepared, and even if it is successful we will still need sufficient
maintenance funds thereafter to ensure the structures do not deteriorate
again.
6. The Perception. Obviously Grange over
Sands is not seen as a deprived area and therefore Government
and Local Authorities are limiting the funds spent on maintenance
of assets. The question is; do we have to wait until, the infrastructure,
part of which form the sea defences, and which has been deteriorating
for a number of years, has run down so that we become a deprived
area? By which time major sums, far in excess of what would be
needed for maintenance will be required to repair the damage.
7. The other major issues we have are brought
about by the attractiveness of the Town to retired people and
the consequent cost of housing and the lack of higher quality
jobs in the area. The tendency has been to ignore this matter,
but it must be addressed otherwise it will continue to force the
young people, who form 10% of the population, to leave the town.
There is therefore a need to provide low cost accommodation and
create a wider range of better paid and attractive employment
for those who have obtained qualifications and training in support
of the Governments objectives in Education.
8. Needs:
(a) Initial input of capital funds to renovate
and replace deteriorating local authority assets and bring them
up to a satisfactory condition.
(b) Increase annual input of maintenance
funds to a level which sustains the assets.
(c) Provide low cost homes for young people.
(d) Develop a wider range of appropriate
employment opportunities for young people.
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