What Should Peel Look Like?

An online map for community engagement to bring focus for the future of the town and improvement of Peel has been launched by an MHK.

Kate Lord-Brennan, MHK for Glenfaba & Peel, has worked with the Future Peel Community Group.

The map allows people to highlight things they like and don’t like in the town, but also what they’d like to see in the future.

Ms Lord-Brennan said: ‘To me, widespread public engagement, which openly captures what people want, in terms of the look of the town, use of space, improvements, and amenities, even demand for the sorts of businesses and services people would like, should serve to improve the beauty, overall look and prosperity of the town, and to influence any authority, government department or even entrepreneurs or investors with a role to play in the town.

‘What is clear from speaking to people since becoming an MHK is that in the past, infrastructure, investment, or regeneration projects or even ideas from the community and business have faltered due to a lack of broad and meaningful engagement or key support.’

At the last census, the population of Peel was 5,710, making it the third largest town with the largest population growth.

The Create Communities Platform can be used for Town Centre Regeneration, Community Development and Masterplanning and Urban Design.

David Milner, Founder of Create Communities said: ‘Our mission is to create a revolution in community engagement and put more residents, more directly at the heart of stewarding and improving their town, village or neighbourhood. Our Create Communities platform makes that engagement easy and fun and we look forward to seeing the results from Peel.’

In person engagement sessions will also be arranged for those who are less comfortable with digital engagement.  Interest for this, to participate or support engagement, can be registered by contacting Ms Lord-Brennan on the usual MHK channels by email, post or phone.

• The funding for the use of the platform is funded entirely by Ms Lord-Brennan.

What Have People Said?

Well we had a quick look at some of the responses so far, which include people raising concerns about Michael Street and suggestions of how it can improve, but there are also really positive comments about sea swimming spots, the castle and the White House pub.