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Pledge of investment for town sports centre
Garstang Leisure Centre on Windsor Road
Garstang Leisure Centre is set to benefit from a cash injection, following the setting of Wyre Council’s budget for the year ahead.
The council has announced a £5m investment in sports centres in Garstang, Thornton and Poulton.
In addition, a £500,000 Shaping Your Neighbourhood initiative will benefit the Rural East, with funding for the Scorton to Garstang Millennium Path and an upgrade to the Lancaster Canal Tow Path confirmed.
In Rural West there will be investment in the Hambleton and Inskip play areas.
Mr Dave Sweetman, manager of the Windsor Road YMCA Leisure Centre, said: “I’m really pleased the council has committed this £5m investment in leisure centres.
“I look forward to the investment in Garstang in the near future. It will enable us to continue the success we’ve had in the past two years.”
Wyre’s council tax has been frozen for a third successive year, with a Band D Council tax payer paying 49p per day or £180.16p a year.
The full council tax bill for a Band D payer – comprising precepts from county and parish councils, police and combined fire authorities as well as Wyre Council – will be £1,482.86p. Council leader Coun. Peter Gibson pledged the local freeze would not mean cuts to front line services and the council would look to “invest to save” in the future.
Despite an overall reduction in Government funding of £500,000 for 2013/14, and a total of over £2.5m over the last three years, the council says it has balanced the books through “efficiency savings and prudent financial management”
Coun Gibson continued: “The theme of this budget is all to do with investing, improving services and making savings. The best example of this is our planned £5 million investment in leisure centres at Thornton, Poulton and Garstang to provide better facilities and attract more people. In turn this will generate more income and save the Council £130,000 every year.
“We have the lowest council tax on the Fylde Coast and the second lowest district council tax in Lancashire.
“Cutting services or simply providing the cheapest option available is not value for money. Wyre Council is a forward thinking council that is improving services and yet keeping council tax low.”
Overall the council says it will invest £800,000 in parks, playgrounds and open spaces. External funding of £58m will be used to replace Rossall’s seawalls.
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Weather for Garstang
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 10 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
