West Lancs residents have helped the Borough Council decide which projects it should fund using money raised from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in 2017/18.

CIL allows the Council to raise funds from developers who are undertaking new building projects in the Borough. The monies collected must be used to pay for a wide range of infrastructure needed to support new development across the Borough.

The Council has a list of approximately 100 infrastructure schemes that have been put forward by infrastructure providers, ward councillors, Parish Councils, residents and other stakeholders and a shortlist of the most deliverable projects from this list was publicly consulted on by the Council in October 2016. Taking into consideration the responses received from the public, the Council has chosen to fund the following three projects in 2017/18:

· £150,000 for improvements to a stretch of canal towpath between Burscough Wharf and Glovers Swing Bridge near Lathom. This project will upgrade a key section of a strategic route for cycling and walking on the pier-to-pier route between Southport and Wigan. Additional funding of £30,000 is being put into this scheme by the Canal and Rivers Trust
· £20,000 for improvements to upgrade and extend the play area at Stanley Coronation Park, Skelmersdale
· £3,000 for improvements to Mere Sands Wood Visitor Centre (Phase One) to develop public facilities and support the use of the centre for education activities, evening talks and other events. Additional funding for the project of £77,000 will be provided by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

Councillor John Hodson, Portfolio Holder for Development and Regeneration, said: “CIL money is really helping to make some exciting projects a reality, and it’s been great that people got involved and told us which projects they wanted to see delivered the most. Once complete these chosen projects will help promote physical exercise and health, improve the environment and encourage sustainable transport.”

The selected projects will now be delivered during 2017/18.

Further information on CIL can be found at www.westlancs.gov.uk/CIL.