A Letter from the Chairman of Lytham Town Trust

In The Beginning

It’s hard to believe that thirty-five years have passed since Alan Ashton entertained me to lunch at an event at Lytham Hall, then owned by Guardian, which led to an invitation to become a founding member of Lytham Town Trust. Those who say there is no such thing as a free lunch are right. I’ve been paying for it ever since.

Our initial project was to take on the management of the Assembly Rooms under a 125 year lease. In retrospect, it must have seemed a daunting task. We had no money but were taking on the all the management and repair obligations the lease required. The task was made significantly easier by the generosity of Guardian which, under the stewardship of Barry Fothergill, took a twelve-year underlease of the offices on the first floor thereby underpinning our finances in those embryonic years.

As we mark this thirty-fifth anniversary it is remarkable to look back at everything that we have achieved. And I say “we” deliberately as it has been a team effort by our hardworking board members, both past and present.

Our constitution, ably drafted by David Coupe, set out the objects of Lytham Town Trust and we have been guided by these ever since. The board constitution included members nominated by other community organisations in Lytham ensuring their views were always represented in the decisions we have taken. Although those organisations have been updated as the years have passed to keep them relevant, the principle of community engagement remains a key part of Lytham Town Trust’s ethos.

Lytham Hall

David Coupe tells the story elsewhere of the acquisition of Lytham Hall and how it was saved by the community thanks to the generosity of BAE Systems. The fact that the Hall is now an award-winning historic house is due in no small measure to the energy, enthusiasm and commitment of Peter Anthony and Paul Lomax who lead the management team on behalf of our tenant, Heritage Trust for the North West. We have given our financial support to the Hall by placing the proceeds of a property sale into an Endowment Fund which is now worth over £850,000, the income from which supports the development of Lytham Hall as a leading visitor attraction in Lancashire. Since we acquired the Hall in 1996, Lytham Town Trust has paid and committed over £1.5m towards to Hall which has helped to ensure that it has a viable future as a community asset.

Recent Achievements

Our work is not only about conservation. It is also about ensuring our spaces are relevant, accessible, and sustainable. In recent years, we have expanded partnerships with local businesses and community groups, creating a stronger sense of shared ownership.

The Assembly Rooms, with its mix of community facilities and commercial offices, are a perfect example of how heritage and modern use can co-exist. The income generated by tenants allows us to invest back into the community facilities, keeping them affordable and available.

We have worked with the other local community groups in helping to ensure that the Lytham Institute, gifted to the predecessor of Fylde Council by the Clifton family, was recognised as being subject to a charitable trust and is consequently, an asset the use of which was always intended to benefit the community. Although a board of trustees has now been appointed to manage the Institute, significant challenges remain. The building requires a significant amount of expenditure on restoration and to make it suitable for mixed community and commercial use which will ensure that it too has a viable future as a community asset. Lytham Town Trust look forward to supporting the trustees in this endeavour.

Looking Ahead

We will continue to invest in our properties, to ensure that they are well maintained, and to set aside funds for the long-term maintenance of the Assembly Rooms. There are other historic buildings, constructional assets and community facilities locally not within our direct ownership and we will continue to use the resources we have available, both financial and expertise, to ensure that these continue to be available to benefit the people of Lytham.

David Gill, Chairman, Lytham Town Trust