In preparing the funding bids we have consulted with the people who live and work in Kirkham and this is what they said is needed:
Enhancing the heritage of the town.
- Given Kirkham’s long history as a traditional market town and the centre of the rural Fylde history and heritage are seen as very important.
- Good quality restaurants & other leisure facilities, such as a community cinema to improve both daytime and nighttime economy.
Better urban design to attract more families and visitors into the town centre by creating a more appealing destination.
- Reducing the dominance of road traffic in the town centre was identified as a concern in terms of reducing attractiveness and ambience of the town centre for people to visit and dwell. A better balance between cars and humans.
- Greenery and street trees in the town centre would improve attractiveness and dwell time.
Re-use and re-purposing of empty shop units and spaces above shops with, for example:
- New housing - There has been and will be a lot more new housing in the town, 1364 new homes have been identified in Kirkham & Wesham by 2032 in the Local Plan.https://new.fylde.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/planed over the next 09/2-Fylde-Local-Plan-to-2032.pdf
- 21st century cottage industries: Flexible workspaces, creative /artisan workshops and live-work units. The decline of retail on high streets across the world, necessitates new uses to be found for empty and underused units. The trend for home and remote working means that there are opportunities for flexible and creative workspaces, hot desking places and live-work units.
- A better and more vibrant weekly market and events. The decline of the weekly Thursday market is a concern. Traders would like to be involved in other market events such as the Food Fayre and other events
- Support for a mix of residential, retail & leisure uses in and around the market square and for something to be done to develop the Eagles Court site.
