Prescot - Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there no supermarket in the town centre and why
are there so many empty properties on Eccleston
Street?
The council only owns one retail property in
the town centre details of which are referred to below. The
remainder of the properties are owned by various individuals and
organisations, who are responsible their properties and their
respective occupation.
The decision to close the former
supermarket(s) in the town centre was made solely by the operators
themselves and is likely to have been made based upon the trading
viability. In relation to the former supermarket within the
Shopping Centre, it is understood that the lease is still held by
the former operator, who is working with the owners of the centre
to seek a new tenant for the accommodation. The council are advised
by the Shopping Centre owners that local rumours suggest that Tesco
hold the lease on the former supermarket unit. These are
completely unfounded and could in fact deter potentially interested
parties from coming forward, which is in no-one’s interest.
The council is continuing to work with
landowners, developers and other partners to find a niche within
which Prescot Town Centre can flourish. We will also seek to
further engage with existing retailers in the town centre.
The results of the consultation event on 6
October, when we asked local people what types of shops they would
like to see in the town centre, will be shared with the shopping
centre management, landlords and letting agents who attract and
secure retailers to the town centre.
What is happening with the vacant shop
at 5-7 Eccleston Street?
This property is owned by the council and we
have recently entered into a contract with a local business for
them to acquire the property and carry out the substantial
refurbishment of it prior to them occupying it.
Why has traffic been diverted away
from the Town Centre, towards the Retail Park?
Traffic has not intentionally been directed
away from the Town Centre, however it is recognised that there may
be scope to improve connectivity. In this regard, the council is
currently undertaking an accessibility study relating to Prescot
town centre, which is reviewing transport linkages and identifying
opportunities for improving accessibility into the town centre.
Why do the
museum/library have to move? Why not invest the money
being spent on the co-location in upgrading the existing
museum?
The council is seeking to protect and improve
much valued Council services in Prescot, whilst at the same time
regenerate the Town Centre. The re-location of the library, museum
and one stop shop services to a new, modern, fit for purpose
facility in a central and accessible location in the Town Centre
will secure the provision of these services into the future. The
shopping centre will also benefit from an increase of more than
70,000 visitors each year which will be a welcome boost for
existing retailers and help revitalise the shopping centre and
surrounding area.
What would happen to the Grade II
listed museum building?
Under the proposals, the museum building will
become surplus to the council’s requirements. Therefore, the most
likely outcome would be for the Council to seek a buyer for the
building. However, given the property is a Grade II listed
building, any new owner would be obliged to preserve the building
and its original character and features.
What is happening to the Registry
Office?
The Registry Office is a landmark building and
will continue to be used by the council as the head quarters for
our Registry Service. It is used to register births, deaths and
marriages, and is also a popular venue for civil ceremonies, both
indoor and outdoor in the garden gazebo.
Why is Scotchbarn Pool
closing?
Scotchbarn Pool is now around 35 years
old. The building is at the end of its economic life. The
scale of investment required to bring it up to a suitable standard
was such that this was not a viable.
To ensure best value, a strategic evaluation
of the council’s leisure service in the centre of the borough
(Prescot, Whiston, Cronton, Knowsley Village and Huyton) was
carried out. This process identified that both Scotchbarn
Pool and Huyton Leisure Centre had come to the end of their
lifespan and required replacement.
To maximise accessibility for all residents in
the centre of the borough and in order to use council resources
most efficiently and effectively, it was proposed that one new,
more centrally located leisure centre should be built.
In February 2009, Knowsley’s Cabinet agreed a
Leisure Facilities Strategy, part of which was aimed at addressing
the issue of ageing leisure facilities in the centre of the
borough.
It was agreed that a new “state of the art”
Leisure Centre would be built on Longview Drive in Huyton.
This site is between the current Huyton Leisure Centre and
Scotchbarn Pool.
Work commenced on this new Leisure Centre on
Monday, 29 March 2010. The existing Huyton Leisure Centre and
Scotchbarn Pool will not be closed until after the new Knowsley
Leisure and Culture Park is opened in autumn 2011.
The new facilities to be constructed will
include the following:
- A 6-court sports hall
- An 8-lane 25 metre competition swimming
pool
- A 4-lane 25 metre training pool with moveable
floor
- A swimming spectator area (300
spectators)
- Poolside steam, sauna and jacuzzi
facilities
- A Fitness Suite (up to120 stations)
- 2 Dance Studios
- Health suite/beauty and treatment rooms
- A squash court
- An atrium with café
- An adult day care activity base
- Activity for Life offices
The main pool will have ramped access, making
it the most accessible pool in the borough, and the training pool
will have steps and a fully moveable floor, providing flexibility
of pool depths for all purposes/activities. The depth of this
pool can be adjusted from deck level to 2.5 metres deep and can
therefore be set at any appropriate or required level for
children’s swimming lessons or activities.
What is happening to Prescot Leisure
Centre?
Prescot Leisure Centre is a conversion of the
former BICC canteen and has been leased to Prescot Town Council
since 1995. The 1920’s canteen was converted in 1983. As such
the current leisure centre conversion is approaching 30 years old
and is housed within a 90 year old building.
A condition survey was completed last year
which concluded that the condition of the building is in a very
poor state of repair.
The building is now approximately 90 years old
and requires significant refurbishment and replacement work
including the roof, electrics and heating system. The repairs
required are far in excess of the £1.4million leisure budget and
would not improve the leisure provision in the area.
A new bespoke community facility, including a
fitness suite, multi-purpose area and changing facilities, will
replace the existing building on Warrington Road.
Public opinion, as well as the existing leisure facilities in the
area, cost and future sustainability were taken into account when
making this decision.
The football and hockey pitches, which
received an upgrade of £700,000 in 2007, will remain at the site
and will not be affected.
The council is working with Prescot Town
Council and Higherside Boxing Club to find alternative
accommodation.
Why were the results of the
consultation event ignored regarding Prescot Leisure
Centre?
The results of the consultation were not
overlooked or ignored, they were clearly a factor in reaching a
decision, however not the only factor.
The public consultation was to gauge the
public’s response to the different options presented and the
response cannot be described as the majority of the people
who live in Prescot. Of the people that did share their
preferences, 42.5% indicated a preference for a
refurbishment. Consequently 57.5% indicated that they either
preferred another option or were happy with a number of the
options. When reaching their decision, Cabinet also took into
consideration sustainability and affordability.
Why has Prescot not had the same
investment as other areas in the borough?
Prescot has benefitted from significant public
and private investment in recent years including:-
- £35 million in Knowsley Park Centre for
Learning (opened in September 2009). A further £35 million
has been invested in St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Centre for
Learning in neighbouring Whiston.
- £10 million in Knowsley Business Park (opened
in March 2006)
- £700,000 in upgrading the football / hockey
pitches on Warrington Road (throughout 2007)
- £55,000 in improving pedestrian / road safety
on Sewell Street (completed on 17 October 2010)
- £3 million invested introducing 28 Play
Pathfinder sites, 7 of which are available in the local area.
- 412 new properties built to the south of the
town.
In addition, a range of events including the
Elizabethan Fayre and Local Producers’ Market take place in the
town.
What are you doing to restore and
promote Prescot’s history?
We are particularly keen to develop the
historical nature of the town, which is a key strength. Your
views will be used as consultation evidence as part of the heritage
bid for the town centre.
We have arranged a number of ‘Heritage Walks’
around Prescot town centre, discovering the unique heritage offer
on our doorstep.
Furthermore Prescot will host a ‘Sister
Stones’ event. Key words and phrases representing local
history through the eyes of local people will be etched onto
commemorative stone monuments. These will be available in
each of the six townships across the borough.
The Arts and Heritage Service deliver and
support a number of heritage events, activities and exhibitions.
Such events include Prescot’s annual Elizabethan Fayre which takes
place at the end of May.
The service delivers a range of temporary and
permanent exhibitions at Prescot Museum and around the area which
celebrate local heritage. These exhibitions are often developed
through workshops with schools and the local community. A new
piece of public art created for the new Centre for Learning in
Prescot engaged local pupils and had a strong heritage focus. The
Arts and Heritage Service has a strong schools outreach programme
which explores local heritage.
Resource boxes are also available for loan to
schools, community groups and residential homes and focus on local
and national heritage. The Service supports regular enquiries about
local heritage from local residents and those interested in the
area.
Cars are speeding down our road can we
have road humps installed?
The council gets many requests for the
introduction of traffic calming. As we only have a limited budget
available for the introduction of these measures, the council has
to prioritise their introduction. Therefore, areas with a poor
collision history are identified as the priority. A programme
of work has been agreed over the next 3 years. The scheme
identified for the Prescot area in the 2012-2013 programme is
Scotchbarn Lane.