Town Team Achievements
Town Team has had a number of successes regarding making improvements to Scunthorpe and the surrounding area. The Lincolnshire Lakes - a large development of waterside homes intended to transform the image of Scunthorpe - originated from work done by the first incarnation of Town Team in the mid-noughties. Scunthorpe Renaissance Town Team has been monitoring the progress of this major project to ensure that it is built to a high standard to the benefit of the town. Also, Town Team was instrumental in the instigation of "The Pods" leisure facility in Central Park.
More recently, as a result of our "Have Your Say Day" in June 2014 where we consulted with the public about what they (we) wanted in the Town Centre, we were able to demonstrate to the council that there was a genuine need for better public convenience facilities in the Town Centre, particularly at the Eastern end of the High Street (library end). We had pushed for this for a while but with evidence to back up our wishes the council relented and converted the old Brian Wright's shop into a public convenience. Not the most glamorous of causes but an important one!
We hosted another "Have Your Say Day" in April 2015 in association with Cafe INDIEpendent. This was specifically with regard to the derelict "Majestic Cinema" site on Oswald Road/Mary Street. This site had been derelict for seven years which Town Team felt was unacceptable to the people of Scunthorpe - it was an eyesore that dragged down the Town Centre and was likely to put off potential investors in the town. We collected 697 signatures to support our view, as well as lots of creative ideas about how the site could be put to use and we were able to present our petition to the council and demand that they use their power to require the owner of the site to do something. The result is that the site is now being developed into some smart-looking flats, a definite improvement.
Town Team recently placed a "Peace Pole" in Central Park. The Peace Pole Project is a worldwide project, started in Japan in 1955 to inspire people to work towards a more peaceful world. The Scunthorpe Peace Pole is a six-sided cedar pole with the message "May Peace Prevail On Earth" inscribed in multiple languages down the sides. It is one of approximately 200,000 Peace Poles in 180 countries worldwide and Town Team thinks it is a nice addition to the park. We would like to thank the people of Scunthorpe and mostly the local trade unions for funding of this project.
Town Team takes a keen interest in the development of the Lincolnshire Lakes project. We have given input into a number of other planned projects as well, always trying to push for what we think is in the best interests of the town. We take a keen interest in Scunthorpe Town Centre and pushed, along with others, for free parking, which the council subsequently introduced. We think this is of benefit to businesses in the town centre and keeps money in the local economy.
The Team supported the Friends of Scunthorpe Fields and Open Spaces group (FOSFOS) in their campaign to prevent the council removing public access to an area of Central Park. We are currently assisting the Friends of Queensway Family Field community group in their ongoing campaign to save an area of valuable green space in their neighbourhood.
Other projects and issues we have been involved with include: Neighbourhood planning possibilities, the issue of empty shops, transport connectivity in the town, improvement of the town centre including the development of the "Top End" of the High Street and side streets.
We are a small but industrious group and are always looking for new members with energy and ideas. If you feel you have something to offer please come to a meeting or get in touch via contact page