On Tuesday the 7th July, Steve and Dianne took part in a Services and Community Walk round with our partners at Ribble Valley Council and other organisations use a place based tool to assess to structure the conversation about the physical and social aspects of a locality to identify issues for improvement.
Overall, the feel of the session was generally positive. People clearly like living in the area, and there were a lot of positive examples shared of how the area has a sense of community. One aspect that permeated conversation was how much residents value the green spaces nearby, there was a strong sense that having easy access to nature is a real benefit for mental health and general wellbeing.
That said, a few practical issues came up too. The roads and footpaths were flagged as needing repair, which is something people felt affects how easy it is to get around. On safety, most people said they feel fine walking around during the day, but the mood shifted a bit when the conversation turned to evenings.
“It doesn't feel quite as safe once it gets dark.”
Access to health services was another talking point. While there is access, most services are based in the town centre rather than locally. Problems were shared around people struggling to park near the health centre and having to travel in to the town centre, rather than having a GP practice in the Henthorn area itself. Getting to the nearest hospital in Blackburn for emergency treatment was also raise as it isn't straightforward as the transport links could be better.
Clitheroe hospital was discussed as part of the walk round, which received praise about the range of services on offer
“It’s on our doorstep and you don’t need to travel to Blackburn and Burnley for something simple.”
Having services located closer to the area was one element that was raised as being in need of improvement.
Next steps: We're planning to support the council with similar walkrounds in Slaidburn and Longridge, continuing to bring that health and social care lens to future sessions.