Designed by Communications Unit, Corporate and Commercial Services, Falkirk Council Grangemouth Local Community Plan Grangemouth Local Community Plan
Contents
1. Foreword 1
2. Background 1
3. Local Community Planning 2
4. Grangemouth Local Community Plan
Action 1 Improving the Local Economy and Tourism 2
Action 2 Lifelong Learning and Opportunity 3
Action 3 Creating a Sustainable Environment and Improving Transport 4
Action 4 Regenerating Grangemouth 5
Action 5 Enabling Our Citizens to Live Safely 6
Action 6 Improving Health and Wellbeing 7
Action 7 Young People in Grangemouth 8
5. Monitoring and Evaluation 9 1. Foreword industry, affordable housing, leisure, tourism and heritage, and that individuals live healthily Community Planning is now a legal in a safe, thriving, friendly community requirement because of the Local Government supported in ways that allow them to reach in Scotland Act 2003. This places responsibility their full potential.” on the key public sector agencies in Falkirk to develop and implement the community planning process . Community Planning is about everyone - communities , the Council and its partners - working together to make 2. Background their area a better place to live and improve local services. Grangemouth is the second largest population settlement in the Falkirk area, with over Since 2005 community groups and individuals 17,000 residents, after Falkirk town itself. It is have been meeting to discuss what they situated between Stirling and Edinburgh, would like to see addressed in their area. bound by the river Forth to the north and the Meanwhile officers from a range of services M9 to the south. As well as having defined and agencies were examining their priorities physical boundaries, the community has a and programmes for Grangemouth. strong sense of self, with its own unique history, traditions and identity. A series of joint meetings meant a coming together of the local views and the sharing of Grangemouth has been one of the most information and knowledge, resulting in important sea ports in Scottish history and common ground in a whole range of areas. retains that status today, handling a wide range of imports and exports. The port has These were then considered on a theme by good rail and road connections and, as a theme basis and action agreed on how to result, warehousing and transportation are address the priorities. The actions are around : important employers in the area. In addition, Improving the local economy Grangemouth is home to most of Scotland ’s petrol, chemical and plastic industries and Enhancing life-long learning accommodates several life science companies. Creating a sustainable local environment Although there has been a significant decline and improving transport in the number of people employed in this Regenerating Grangemouth sector since its peak in the 1970 ’s, the sector still remains significant, both in local terms - Enabling our people to live safely employing over 2,100 individuals - as well as nationally - contributing over £1 billion Improving health & well-being annually to the Scottish economy . Youth Despite this, these industries present a Local people and officers have the following number of challenges, both in terms of vision for Grangemouth: environmental impact and the restrictions imposed on the developments arising from “That Grangemouth returns to being a the HSE consultation zones . flourishing town with a diverse mix of
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3. Local Community Planning Community engagement, and We are all customers of the public sector, Public sector reform whether borrowing a book from the local library, going to visit a GP or reporting a crime to the police. In the past, the service providers In Grangemouth, young people are so e.g. the Council, police, health service, etc important to local community planning that acted mainly on their own when planning and we have identified a separate action around delivering services for the public. this theme. The community planning process involves bringing these agencies together to plan for Falkirk as a whole (the Strategic Community Plan) and for each local area within Falkirk. By working together in partnership, services can be provided more effectively. 4. Grangemouth Local Community Plan The Strategic Community Plan sets out a vision The following seven actions are a result of the for the area that had been developed and combined meetings between local people, agreed by a number of partners, including groups and staff working in the area. Falkirk Council, Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley and Forth Valley Health Board along with the community and voluntary sectors. The Action 1 Strategic Community Planning Partnership Improving the Local Economy and Tourism identifies five inter- related themes which are: So many things can help the economy of Improving the performance of the local Grangemouth. The two main factors are economy and tourism. increasing sustainable growth and opportunity and improving how Grangemouth is marketed, Enhancing lifelong learning and opportunity especially to recognise the potential of Improving our neighbourhoods tourism, culture and leisure. The main partners involved in progressing this action are Falkirk Enabling our citizens to live safely Council , Forth Valley College, Jobcentre Plus , Improving health and wellbeing Careers Scotland, Paragon and Link Housing Associations. In Grangemouth we want Growth and The Strategic Community plan also has five Opportunity , so we will: cross-cutting themes, which overarch all the activities of the Community planning Increase the number of people in partnership. These are: employment through Community regeneration Ensuring people receive relevant career guidance and support to achieve Sustainable development qualifications Equal opportunities and equity of access Modern Apprentice, Skillseekers and
2 Workforce Plus schemes Learning Community, Kersiebank Community Increasing support to young people in Project, Grangemouth Quality Action Group and out of school and Grangemouth Adult Learning Forum . Encouraging companies and contractors In Grangemouth we want to improve to use local labour/staff by promoting opportunities for lifelong learning , so we will the local workforce Provide early years intervention and parenting support , by Create more business incubator units by Developing programmes to prepare Developing 3 new flexible office buildings young people and their families for in Wholeflats transitions in nurseries and schools Considering redevelopment opportunities Supporting early reading skills in at South Bridge Street Grangemouth Library Stimulate diversification away from the petro-chemical industry , by continuing to Provide more effective support to Attract inward investment such as the vulnerable individuals, families and children, £32m Whyte and Mackay development by Invest in the infra-structure, and progress Targeting “at risk “ groups opportunities for the £22M regeneration Providing confidence building , personal of Town Centre area development and communication programmes Have a better housing mix by Sustaining & supporting ‘Mellow Falkirk Council, Paragon and Link Housing Parenting ’ Associations continuing to develop Improving levels of literacy and numeracy appropriate housing across the community
Market Grangemouth more effectively by Ensure the new Grangemouth High School is promoting the positive aspects such as a springboard for real integrated learning, location and transport links by Developing opportunities for community consultation and involvement in Action 2 initiatives Lifelong Learning and Opportunity Falkirk has a Community Learning & Extend opportunities for vocational , life Development Strategy in place to consider the skills and core skills training by key aims of this theme. These have been Increasing the range of provision and identified as Engagement, Lifelong Learning learning locations across Grangemouth and Cultural Diversity. The main partners involved in this action are Falkirk Council, Identifying and reducing barriers to Forth Valley College , Grangemouth Integrated participation
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Increase opportunities for community-based Action 3 adult learning and community capacity Creating a Sustainable Environment and building , by Improving Transport Continuing to develop a range of projects Promoting sustainable development is central and activities with groups such as to the success of Grangemouth. The Kersiebank Community Project, the ‘Sustainable Falkirk Strategy” aims to improve Quality Action Group and Grangemouth the local environment and quality of life at the Adult Learning Forum same time as contributing to national/global targets on sustainable development . The Local Use more effectively the skills of retired Transport Strategy sets out to provide a people, volunteers and community groups, transport network which allows people a by reasonable choice of travel options as well as promoting walking, cycling, motorcycling and Investigating inter-generational projects public transport with some car restraint. The with interested individuals and groups Community Litter Plan sets out the Council ’s Investigating the potential for retired aims and objectives, what is currently being people to work in schools around local done and what people can do themselves . The history and heritage main agencies involved in addressing this action are Falkirk Council, Scottish Increase opportunities for access to cultural Environmental Protection Agency, Friends of activities, by the Earth, Grangemouth Community Health Reviewing the use of Grangemouth Town Group and the private sector . Hall In Grangemouth we want to create a Continuing to support cultural activity in sustainable local environment and improve a range of community venues transport so we will: Increasing the participation of young Assess the impact of industry on people ’s people in cultural activities health and well-being , by Raise the educational attainment of and Conducting assessments through the engage young people, by Community Health Group Promoting the free library service to Liaising with the Scottish Environmental housebound Protection Agency, Friends of the Earth and the private sector Providing library support to schools Establishing Grangemouth as an Air Providing digital learning opportunities at Quality Management Area Kersiebank Community Project
Encourage communication and accountability of industry to the local population by Establishing meetings between Liaison Group and local industry
4 Address environmental issues, fly tipping, Action 4 dog fouling etc. by Regenerating Grangemouth Establishing a programme of mapping A comprehensive regeneration strategy has exercises throughout Grangemouth been established through Falkirk Community Continue promotion campaigns , raise Planning Partnership, which considers the awareness and deter bad practice housing priority areas and takes into account other key elements such as Town Centre Increase partnership working with the Regeneration and the Housing Strategy. In Community Litter Officer and Community addition, the Scottish Index of Multiple Wardens, etc Deprivation identifies significant aspects of deprivation as unemployment, poor health, Develop initiatives addressing sustainability and a high incidence of lone parents. The by Grangemouth priority for regeneration is Developing the activity of the based around Bowhouse Road, Craigleith Community Environmental Action Group Road, Kingseat Avenue in the south and west and Torwood Avenue, Glenbervie Road and Ensuring tenants are aware of their Strowan Road in the East and North. The main responsibilities to maintain grounds agencies involved in progressing this action are Falkirk Council , Paragon and Link Housing Associations and local community groups. Address public transport issues and develop an integrated network by We want to regenerate Grangemouth, so we will : Developing Grangemouth as a ‘Sustainable Travel Town ’ Address the housing mix and promote Improving the availability of travel opportunities to get on the property ladder, information by introducing short by messaging service numbers Demolishing Craigleith Road flats to make Seeking funding for bus shelters and way for new social housing infra-structure upgrades Demolishing seven blocks of flats and Assessing the feasibility of linking lock-ups in Wood Street/Chisholm Place Grangemouth cycle paths to Airth and and replace with 34 homes for rent and Falkirk 34 units for low-cost shared ownership Supporting the re-opening of the homes passenger rail link to Grangemouth Increase the % of residents viewing their Enhance the Docklands by community as a more attractive place , by Continuing to develop warehousing Improving the privacy of ground floor services flats in Torwood Avenue area Seeking alternative sources of funding Compiling a pack to support young (e.g. Helix Project) tenants
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Enhancing the environment in Kersiebank Tackling anti-social behaviour and Kingseat Avenue Priority Areas Strengthening community safety Creating ‘Shelter Belt ’ and amenity partnerships planting around Bowhouse Primary School and Grangemouth High School The main partners involved in addressing this In partnership with residents, issuing action are Forth Valley Health Board, window boxes in parts of Torwood Grangemouth Community Health Group, Avenue, Glenside Court, Cultenhove Falkirk Council, Central Scotland Police, Central Crescent, Croftside Crescent and Scotland Fire and Rescue Services and Kersiebank Avenue Grangemouth Community Safety Group. The area is also one of 6 areas across the Council Creating 15 more car parking spaces near which is supported by community wardens. Bowhouse Primary School In addition, Child Protection is a major responsibility of any community and the Build Grangemouth as a strong , safe people of Grangemouth will have access to community , by appropriate support and training provided by qualified staff. Supporting voluntary groups to attract funding and build capacity The Community Safety Strategy will be Increasing the number of activists gaining implemented in Grangemouth by taking qualifications forward the following priorities. Recruiting volunteers to support We want Grangemouth citizens to live safely , individual and group literacy and so we will: numeracy programmes Increase the number of activities for young Promoting walking & cycling to school people , by Improving maintenance of roads e.g. Mapping activity and supporting the Bowhouse Road development of new initiatives Establishing local community forums/focus groups/ Tenant & Resident Promote more positive understanding of Groups community safety , by Supporting a programme of educational Action 5 activities conducted by agencies in a Enabling Our Citizens to Live Safely variety of settings The Falkirk Community Safety Strategy has Promote tenant and resident participation five key objectives of : in problem solving initiatives , by Reducing crime and the fear of crime Responding to problems through a Grangemouth Problem Solving Improving personal safety Partnership e.g.- fire safety in common Creating safer communities closes
6 Address the problems arising from alcohol In Grangemouth we want to improve our and drugs misuse across the population, by health and wellbeing , so we will: Establishing a series of partnership Promote mental health and wellbeing of the initiatives through Grangemouth community , by Community Health Group, Grangemouth Family Substance Abuse Group and others Achieving Health Promoting Status for all Grangemouth Schools Sustaining ‘Health Drop -in ’ in Improve community safety in all areas of Grangemouth High School and expand to Grangemouth , by include primary schools Improving CCTV and lighting in the town Developing exercise schemes in schools centre and Charlotte Dundas Centre Supporting improvement in school meals Issuing information on fire safety to flats Rolling out of ‘Mental Health First Aid ’ with shared closes. training Improving the safety of play areas by Delivering a ‘Health Issues in the conducting mapping exercises and Community ’ course for local adults making improvements where possible
Promote community respect and Address poverty and barriers to health by communications across the generations , by Encouraging outreach clinics by CAB and Conducting ‘Green Mapping ’ exercises by provide awareness raising on money youth and older people . advice Promote Credit Union Activity
Action 6 Promote increased participation in physical Improving Health and Wellbeing activity, sports and health lifestyles, by The Falkirk Community Health Partnership is Sustaining and further developing the an important cornerstone of Community ‘Active Forth ’ and ‘Step Forth ’ initiatives Planning. Whilst it remains very important to Sustaining and promoting ‘Spring Forward ensure individuals have access to appropriate to Health ’ week services, but a greater emphasis is now being placed on preventing individuals from Sustaining the ‘Circuit ’ initiative with experiencing poor health. The main partners in young people addressing this action are Falkirk Council, Supporting the ‘Big Fit Walk ’ Forth Valley Health Board, Grangemouth Promoting twilight football leagues Community Health Partnership, Grangemouth Integrated Learning Community, Citizens Promote healthy eating and improvement Advice, Grangemouth Substance Abuse in diet , by Support Group, Link Living, Connect Services and Falkirk Football Club Continuing to programme activity such as ‘Hungry for Success ’ school initiatives
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Develop a community engagement strategy , positive home, nursery, school and work by prospects Developing Grangemouth Locality Health To further develop and support Promotion Group into the Community communities and services to provide a safe Health group with greater community secure environment for all participation To maximise leisure and informal learning opportunities for young people Support young people and families affected by substance misuse of others by Supporting existing frameworks and For young people in Grangemouth we want to organisations such as Grangemouth Improve health and wellbeing by Family Substance Abuse Support group, Link Living, Connect services Raising awareness of and initiating projects in sexual health, mental health and substance/alcohol misuse Action 7 Developing more inclusive leisure by Young People in Grangemouth increasing opportunities to participate in (from 11 – 25 years ) sporting and fitness activities The involvement of young people in the Providing family planning and process of preparing this plan has been vital contraception advice and it is important to include a section Promoting the ‘Big Fit Walk ’ specifically to highlight their concerns and aspirations . Improve community safety, by It is clear from the young people who have providing practical support to young been consulted to date, that they want to see people who are in danger of entering the an improvement in access to a range of criminal justice system services and activities. These include sports, Developing activities to divert young leisure, discos, and general youth provision. people from anti- social behaviour Other areas of concern include community safety and access to employment and training. Improve housing , by The main partners in addressing this action are Falkirk Council, Grangemouth Community Further developing accommodation and Health Group, Connect Services, and support services for young people and Grangemouth Integrated Learning Community. those with additional support needs Engaging with young people to develop Some key strategic aims that are of relevance suitable accommodation to young people include: To reduce health inequalities and promote Promote lifelong learning by well-being Raising the attainment and achievement To maximise the life opportunities for of young people children and young people to ensure Supporting programmes to ensure that
8 young people make successful transitions 5. Monitoring and Evaluation into adulthood The Grangemouth Local Community Plan is a result of local people and the community Promote active citizenship , by planning partners working together. Developing a Youth Strategy Therefore, the monitoring and evaluation of Seeking funds to support activity the plan will involve both officers and the community. Grangemouth Community Reference Group and Grangemouth Community Council have shown a willingness to take on this role and see the benefits in continuing the joint working arrangements.
It is also recognised that the local elected members will play a central role in assessing progress made. The plan will reflect the aims of the Falkirk Strategic Community Plan but will measure the impact at a local level. This should inform decisions on future actions, but also result in highlighting the growth in confidence, skills and capacity of individuals, organisations and the wider community. Agencies and services have monitoring arrangements in place and so simple reporting mechanisms will be adopted in order to monitor the plan on a quarterly basis. A full review of the plan would take place after 18 months of it being established.
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