Inland views are largely spoilt by legacy buildings and car parking. So the council was right to commission an independent view of how the promenade might be improved as a basis for public consultation.
I missed the meeting but here are my thoughts on the online Final Draft RPS Masterplan document:
No mention is made of St Annes' most important asset – its massive beach and horizon stretching more than 50 miles to the Welsh mountains on a good day. Its sea and sunset views are often fantastic. Consideration needs to be given to how the best advantages might be made from these for residents and visitors.
At the moment (I imagine) the best views are from the high rise flats on the inland side of the roadway. These views should also be made available to the general public – perhaps from a free open air high-level viewing point and a cafe.
RPS are right to say that the original gardens, boating lake and other features integrated and blended well with the land and seascape and should be retained.
Salters Wharf, the swimming pool, The Island and the outer car park are blots on the landscape. However, the facilities they offer are still required, and room should be made to offer them in buildings of higher quality architecture more sympathetic with the surroundings and the seafront.
The report suggests that funfair-type amusements could be provided on the outer promenade – but this would be structurally inadvisable as well as being inappropriate. These would be better accessed from the inner promenade.
Sufficient space must be found for car parking which must be made more attractive and less intrusive than at present. The miniature railway and trampoline-type amusements seem popular and should be retained and perhaps enlarged.
St Annes still needs a theatre. What better place for this than at the end of the pier? The slot machines could be moved elsewhere.
This report is a good start. Let's have some more debate - preferably with input from potential developers.
Russ Whitaker
Boston Road
St Annes

Attack was unjustified
I WRITE in response to the scandalous remarks made by your correspondent and given central prominence in your paper (Express, July 24).
I hope that you will allow me to set the record straight on a number of issues.
Firstly, Jim Hogan referred to councillors "sticking their noses into troughs".
Councillors of parishes and town councils have no income, or expense allowances; their work is purely voluntary. While some parish and town councillors are also borough councillors, the majority are not.
They submit themselves for election for the "privilege" of serving their communities. While this can be a rewarding and interesting experience, there is no doubt that one is sticking one's head above the parapet to receive the insults from the likes of Mr Hogan.
Parish and town councils give another avenue for residents to get in touch with those in a position to implement change.
They also monitor the maintenance of highways, play areas etc and are responsible for certain maintenance contracts.
They work closely with the police on issues that affect their neighbourhood and have a say in planning matters.
They cost Fylde Council very little – indeed, under the latest proposals for paying for elections it is arguable that parishes will be paying a part of the Fylde council elections as well as their own.
Particular parish projects have, in the past, been financed by a parish precept, over and above the Fylde Borough Council payment. As Lytham has not had a parish council, there have not been any precepts – and other areas feel that they have been paying for the facilities in Lytham, largely enjoyed by those residents, like Mr Hogan, who have paid no extra for them!
His comment about barring former councillors from standing for election is stupid as it prevents anyone with experience and understanding of the workings of local government from being elected; even the Conservative party could not find enough candidates for every seat available on Fylde Council in 2007. Perhaps Mr Hogan could consider taking some responsibility for helping local government to operate rather than slinging in insults from the sidelines?
His last paragraph sums up his "I'm all right Jack" attitude. If Lytham is doing fine, it is partly because of income put in by all taxpayers in Fylde.
The closure of St Annes swimming pool is due to the decision of Conservative members of Fylde Council and in no way the fault of St Annes Town Council. The cause of Fylde Council's parlous finances lies elsewhere.
Pam Winlow
Chairman
Newton with Clifton Parish Council

Views should be dismissed
I WOULD like to respond to the letter from Mr Breame of Yorkshire published online on your website.
As a regular critic of the 51 councillors who are either elected or appointed to run our borough, it's easy to see that a man who wants to turn Fairhaven Lake into a landfill site would fit in well as Fylde borough councillor number 52.
I think we should consign his rubbish to our 'recycle bin' without delay.
Jim Hogan
Painley Close
(via website)

'Interesting' suggestion
I WOULD like to thank Tobias Breame of Pately Bridge, Yorkshire, for writing what has to be the funniest letter yet printed in your Letters Page (Express, July 31).
That famous dry Yorkshire wit is alive and well.
I would imagine even our own councillors would have been amused at his suggestion of turning Fairhaven Lake into a 24-hour a day landfill site for use by "other friendly boroughs and towns" so that our beloved borough councillors can have their state-of-the-art, newly-built town hall from the revenue this would raise.
Let's face it, the hundreds of visitors to the lake during weekends and summer would surely prefer to watch tractors, rubbish trucks and diggers manoeuvring over the area than all those silly rowing and motor boats.
What progress indeed!
Mrs K Kelly
Laurel Avenue
Lytham

Rail is better in Europe
I was saddened to read that the 7:35 train from Preston to St Annes had broken down three times in a week, stranding the passengers on each occasion (Express, July 24). I am appalled that such poor service is being offered by Northern Rail.
I recently took a train trip in Switzerland that involved five separate trains in each direction. All connections were made to the minute. On the last leg the train slowed and there was an immediate announcement told us that we would be ten minutes late. The conductor came round to apologise to each passenger in person.
Our transport system in the UK is a disintegrated shambles with bus stations often at a great distance from railway stations, as in Preston.
Fylde Liberal Democrats will be discussing our National Transport Strategy on Saturday, August 30 as a precursor to a national policy motion at our conference in September. If you are interested, please contact me on (01772) 684873.
Professor Bill Winlow
Parliamentary Spokesman
Fylde Liberal Democrats