Introduction
Lancashire is the fourth largest shire county in England with a population of 1,134,974 (2001 Census) and an area of 3,070sqkm. Located in the North West of England, the county has 12 districts which cover both urban and rural terrains. These districts are; Lancaster, Wyre and Fylde (in North Lancashire), Ribble Valley, Pendle, Burnley, Hyndburn and Rossendale (in East Lancashire), and Preston, South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire (in South Lancashire).
Districts in North Lancashire
Lancaster lies in the north of the county and has a population of 136,700 (2004 ONS). It is a historic city with a castle, cathedral and fine examples of Georgian architecture. It has strong educational and economic links with the Central Lancashire City Region. Lancaster University at Bailrigg is a Centre of Excellence for research into the development of Information and Communication Technology. The city of Lancaster together with the seaside towns of Morecambe and Heysham are the three main urban areas forming a single conurbation. Beyond this, there is a large hinterland of rural areas and villages served by the market town of Carnforth.
Wyre and Fylde Boroughs, together with the Unitary Authority of Blackpool, make up the Fylde peninsula. Wyre Borough lies in the north west of Lancashire, covering 283sqkm with a population of 109,300. Its three largest communities are Fleetwood, Thornton Cleveleys and Poulton-le-Fylde, all part of the Fylde Coast conurbation. The rest of Wyre is predominately rural and extends into the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Lytham St Annes in Fylde Borough, Blackpool, Thornton Cleveleys and Fleetwood form the Fylde Coast conurbation, which is predominately based on the tourist industry. Fylde Borough has a population of 75,800. The inland area remains largely rural, centred around the market town of Kirkham.
Districts in East Lancashire
Ribble Valley is the largest district in Lancashire covering over 584sqkm. It has the smallest population, a dispersed community of around 56,600. The district contrasts with others as its attractive rural areas account for the majority of its area.
Pendle is the most easterly district in Lancashire with its main centres in Nelson, Colne and Barnoldswick. Pendle has diverse multicultural communities in a population of 89,300. The district of Pendle has contrasting areas of affluence interspersed with areas of substantial deprivation.
Similarly, Burnley, Rossendale and Hyndburn have diverse multicultural communities as well as areas with deprivation problems. Burnley is home to a population of 88,100. Rossendale, characterised by its upland moorland, wooded lower valleys and urbanised valley floor, accounts for 66,900 people, whilst Hyndburn has 81,600 residents. The more urban areas of Pendle, Burnley, Rossendale and Hyndburn are all in need of regeneration.
Districts in South Lancashire
Preston was granted city status in 2002, making it England's newest city, and is Lancashire's administrative centre. Preston has a total population of 131,000 covering an area of 142sqkm thus making the population density 923 people per square kilometre compared to 467 for Lancashire as a whole. Preston has a strategic location at the very heart of Lancashire's business and transport networks.
Chorley is a medium-sized market town south of Preston. In 1991 the population of the borough was 97,000 but has grown to 103,000. Chorley has a higher than average level of car ownership and car travel is the dominant mode. 35% of journeys to work are made to destinations within the borough, so there is great potential to transfer them to more sustainable modes. Chorley has a rural and urban mix with a number of sizeable satellite communities as well as rural villages.
South Ribble too lies at the centre of Lancashire with a population of 105,000. The population density is 934 people per sqkm which is high when compared to the average for Lancashire of 467. The borough has excellent communications by road (M6, M61 and M65) and therefore is a good business location. Leyland is the shopping and administrative centre with a number of business parks surrounding it, consequently unemployment levels are kept consistently low.
West Lancashire has strong links with both Central Lancashire and Liverpool City Regions. With a population of 109,200 spread over an area of 347sqkm, it has a low population density of 315 people per sqkm. West Lancashire retains a strong rural character but also has three main urban settlements. Ormskirk, Skelmersdale and Burscough form a triangle of functional links. Ormskirk is the traditional administrative centre, Skelmersdale is a new town which suffers from pockets of deprivation and Burscough has an industrial estate which provides employment for the surrounding areas. However,there are areas where car ownership is low and where there is a greater need for reliable and affordable public transport.