Preston City Council • Your city – your central area forum

Residents in the central areas of Preston are being given the chance to have their say about issues affecting them and their community at the central area forum.

The meeting will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 24 March at St Walburge’s Church Parish Centre, Weston Street, Ashton.

Issues up for discussion include construction of a multi-million pound underground tunnel to improve drainage of storm water from the Preston and Penwortham areas.

The work is being carried out by United Utilities and representatives will give a presentation about the project, which is designed to improve bathing and shellfish waters in the River Ribble estuary in line with European Union legislation. The work is scheduled to take place during the autumn.

Planning consultants representing Lancashire Constabulary will also discuss the proposed installation of a 50 metre high communications mast on the new police station on Lancaster Road North.

Other topics up for discussion include:

Neighbourhood services – neighbourhood services staff will attend to provide updates on issues such as street cleaning, refuse collection, and parks and grounds maintenance services in each area.
Community policing - police officers from Lancashire Constabulary will provide updates on local policing issues.
The role of the standards committee – representatives from the city council’s standards committee will attend to provide information on the work of the committee, the high ethical standards expected of elected representatives and how residents can make complaints.

The Central Area Forum covers issues in the St George's, University, Town Centre, Moor Park, Riversway and Tulketh wards.

Councillor Bhikhu Patel, chair of the Central Area Forum, said:

“The new storm water tunnel will bring much needed improvements to the quality of the water in the River Ribble.

“United Utilities have been invited to the meeting to enable local people to find out more about this major project and plans to keep the overall impact and disruption to the city centre to a minimum.

“In addition, people will be able to find out about plans to build a 50 metre communications mast at the new police station.

“There will also be the chance to find out how area forum funding is helping projects in your area and have your say about any other issues affecting your community at the 30-minute open forum.”