West Lancashire

CITIZEN'S CONCERNS

Environment
Education and Learning
Children, Young People and Families

CITIZEN’S ASPIRATIONS

To have a community that cares for the elderly
To see investment in local facilities
To keep the local environment clean and tidy

Environment

West Lancashire contains the Ribble Estuary, one of the most important sites for birdlife in Europe. This leads to the district having a large amount of green belt land.
Despite this large amount of green belt land, at 8.5 tonnes, West Lancashire has the third highest CO2 emissions per person in Lancashire, above the national average of 7.6.
3 out 4 people in West Lancashire travel to work by car, significantly above the national rate of 62.6% and indicating the district’s rural nature is having an adverse effect on its CO2 emissions.
However, at 47.7%, West Lancashire has one of the highest rates in the county for the amount of household waste sent for recycling.

Education and Learning

25% of residents in West Lancashire are qualified to NVQ Level 4+, below the national average of 27.2%.
Furthermore, only 6% of the district’s workforce are employed in ‘Skilled Trades’ (Agriculture, Construction, Electrical etc…)
At 63.1%, the amount of young people achieving 5 or more GCSEs at grade A*-C is above regional and national averages. However in some Wards such as Skelmersdale and Moorside these rates drop markedly and are considerably worse than the regional and national averages.
Only 18% of residents of West Lancashire are happy with the amount of museums and galleries in the district, the lowest percentage in Lancashire and around half of the national average.

Children, Young People & Families

Whilst youth unemployment is below regional and national averages in West Lancashire, there are noticeably high levels in certain Wards such as Skelmersdale and Digmoor.
These wards also suffer from high levels of school absence and severe educational underachievement, particularly GCSE attainment.
West Lancashire as a district has the 6th highest rate of housing repossession orders in the whole of England.
Consequently, West Lancashire has the 4th highest rate of homeless households in Lancashire.

Arts, Culture & Heritage

Only 1.85% of West Lancashire’s population are employed in the creative sector, below the national average of 2.75%.

Equality

1 in 5 residents over the age of 60 live below the poverty line in West Lancashire.

Healthy Living

Only 16% of residents in West Lancashire are estimated to smoke, the 2nd lowest rate in Lancashire.

Housing and Homelessness

In the past year, house prices in West Lancashire rose by 15.6% - the largest growth in Lancashire and one of the largest nationally.

Local Economy, including Social Enterprises

1 in 4 businesses in West Lancashire is four years old or younger.

Safety

17% of people in West Lancashire think the area has a problem with anti-social behaviour.

Social Isolation

Only 27.5% of residents of West Lancashire think elderly people get the help they need to stay in their homes, the lowest percentage in Lancashire.

Strong Communities

2 out of every 3 people in West Lancashire feel they belong in their local neighbourhood.

Work

7.2% of people in West Lancashire are unemployed. This is markedly below the England average of 7.8%.

Skelmersdale Action for Youth

The group is made up of young people aged 12-25 who campaign to improve the life of other young people in the area. They collect the views of members of the community and support them through a number of services and activities, giving young people opportunities that would not otherwise have been possible.

Thank you

Thanks to Lancashire's Councils for Voluntary Services and Lancashire County Council for their support.

In association with