Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to take steps to help support community groups to (a) maintain and (b) promote local (i) green and (ii) blue spaces in Fylde.

The government is committed to improving access to parks and green spaces for all, recognising their role in fostering stronger communities. Community groups are a key component in helping people to connect with their local parks through community engagement and volunteering.

The government’s Green Flag Awards scheme sets quality standards for green spaces, focusing on community engagement, increased access, and addressing health and environmental priorities. There is a Green Flag award specifically for community groups that aims to celebrate groups that appropriately manage and meet the needs of the communities that they serve. Impressively, Fylde borough received a green flag award for six parks last year including Lytham War memorial park and the Promenade Gardens.

Furthermore, the government’s Parks Working Group collaborates with key stakeholders to enhance park quality and sustainability, including representatives of the UK’s 6,000-plus friends groups.

The government is working to improve access to blue spaces, including through the King Charles III England Coast Path, which will significantly enhance coastal access in Fylde. Proposals for the Cleveleys to Pier Head stretch — which includes a section passing through Fylde — have been approved, and work to establish the route is currently underway.