Following the endorsement of the Newton-le-Willows Plan for Neighbourhoods Engagement Strategy (PDF, 155 KB) in March 2025, a six week consultation was undertaken between Monday 7 April and Sunday 18 May 2025. The consultation invited contributions from residents, businesses, visitors, and stakeholders to inform the development of the Newton-le-Willows Regeneration Plan Vision Document (PDF, 29 MB). Its purpose was to identify priority areas for investment and to ensure that the projects proposed within the 4-Year Investment Plan are underpinned by evidence of need and supported by the local community.
The consultation period included:
Two pop-up events at well-established locations:
Saturday 12th April, 10.00am - 4.00pm, The Pop-up Market
Sunday 4th May, 12.00pm - 5.00pm, High Street Markets
Six drop-in events:
Wednesday 23rd April, 4.00pm - 7.00pm, St Peter's Church
Thursday 1st May, 11.00am - 2.00pm, Newton Community Centre
Tuesday 6th May, 2.00pm - 5.00pm, Newton-le-Willows Library
Friday 9th May, 5.00pm - 8.00pm, Newton-le-Willows Sports Club
Thursday 15th May, 6.30pm - 9.00pm, Newton-le-Willows Sea Cadets
Friday 16th May, 12.00pm - 1.20pm, Woods Court Sheltered Housing
Two school workshops:
Tuesday 29th April, 9.45am - 3.00pm, Wargrave House School
Wednesday 7th May, 9.10am - 3.10pm, Hope Academy
An online platform:
A dedicated online engagement platform to provide information on Newton-le-Willows Plan for Neighbourhoods and collate comments from the community via:
A survey
Comments collection
Mapping tool
Engagement promotion:
Promotion and reach were wide and involved various methods including flyers which were hand-delivered to businesses and organisations across Newton-le-Willows; a press release; social media; an 'education' video (as seen below) detailing engagement opportunities; self-led engagement boards which held information on the scheme; direct email correspondence; posters across Newton-le-Willows; and digital flyers distributed to local schools.
Education Video - providing detail regarding the programme and engagement opportunities
8000 flyers - hand delivered to businesses and organisations across Newton-le-Willows
30 posters - displayed at high footfall locations
47,073 social media views/ impressions - calculated through PLACED and Council social media
Self-led engagement boards - displayed at various locations including Newton Community Centre, Crownway Community Centre, Newton-le-Willows Health and Fitness Centre, Newton Community Hospital, Newton-le-Willows Library, Cross Lane Church, Tesco Superstore, and Heald Farm Court
133 Letters and 200 postcards - distributed to hard-to-reach groups
Public Consultation Findings
With strong support from the Neighbourhood Board, the Council, local councillors, and representatives from local businesses and community and faith organisations, the consultation reached 60,000 people (this includes website views, promotional materials distributed, and social media impressions), with 682 respondents providing their views through online engagement, pop-up events, drop-ins, school workshops, self-led engagement, email correspondence, and additional Council-led engagement.
A prioritisation exercise as part of public consultation saw the investment themes ranked as below:
Regeneration, High Streets and Heritage (20% of the vote)
