Poor access has left the Orchard Court estate in Blackpool Village isolated and neglected, with a serious illegal dumping issue which sees the roadside and the banks of the adjacent River Bride heavily littered on a regular basis.

Increasing pedestrian traffic through the estate by creating a new access point at the northern part of Orchard Court onto the N20 footpath may improve the situation. More pedestrian traffic may help reduce the isolated nature of the estate and reduce illegal dumping.

Access at this point previously featured in the planning application for Phase 2 of the Orchard Court Development but did not materialise. (See Planning Ref: 0428210 Site Layout Plan Drawing Ref: 515.2PL.02 Rev A) Access from this area onto the Blackpool Bypass is also shown

in Diagram 2.2 taken from the 1996 Llewellan Davies Blackpool local plan.

Also referenced in this 1996 report is the ‘Blackpool Valley Walk’ which would have run along Great William O’Brien Street, through Orchard Court (then known as the Wherland Lane Site) and through the area now known as the Blackpool Retail Amenity Park (previously known as The Polefield). See fig 4.4.2

Opening up this access would increase connection between Blackpool Village and the Blackpool Retail Park/Shopping centre. It would also provide more direct access for the residents of

Orchard Court (and those living nearby) to the shopping centre and vice versa.

A ‘desire path’ currently exists at this location which shows that there is a desire for an access point at this location.

The small green space located at the Northern end of Orchard Court, is well used but neglected. It would be good to see more made of this valuable space.