Lancashire's 'forgotten town' working hard to turn things round

It doesn't have a railway station, and its swimming pool, named after the founding father of the NHS, is 45 years old. A recent report identified a series of pockets of poverty within its population.

But signs of a real renaissance are finally emerging in the "forgotten town" of Skelmersdale in West Lancashire. And a successful bid for £17m of government Levelling Up cash could deliver a turnaround in its fortunes.

Set off the M58, new homes are springing up, and a new retail centre under construction since January is beginning to take shape. The first of the brand new stores, Lidl, opened its doors last week, while a B&M Bargains store and a third retailer are due to open nearby.

A new high street and children’s play area are also emerging, and there are plans to revamp the second floor of the town’s Concourse Shopping centre with a new leisure complex in the pipeline and proposals for new leisure hubs to replace the swimming baths in Skelmersdale and Ormskirk are also being considered.

With a relatively young population, it is hoped a new dawn is emerging in Skelmersdale. With this in mind, Lancs Live went back there to talk to people and find out what they think of the changing face of the place once dubbed ‘the forgotten town.’

Alison Reece, 57, says the new supermarket is lovely – but points out that Skelmersdale is lacking a train station, a night time economy, shops and facilities and a much needed carers’ centre. She told Lancs Live: “I went in Lidl - it’s lovely, the staff are lovely, the place is bright and airy but at the end of the day, they’ve given us two cheaper end shops.

“It’s beautiful inside, it’s more upmarket than Aldi, and they will give Asda a run for their money and I will certainly use it