Lancashire County Council cabinet members officially backed a new countywide plan on 20 May 2026, aimed at encouraging local residents to feel a greater sense of pride in their communities.
The initiative, which the council describes as a cost-neutral project, focuses on community involvement and making visible improvements to local shared spaces. Key plans include launching the Pride of Lancashire Awards, starting a countywide clean-up campaign, and working more closely with the police to address anti-social behaviour. The council also intends to support libraries and museums to serve as community hubs and will engage with local schools and the Lancashire Youth Council to involve younger residents.
The project is being led by Councillor Ella Worthington, who represents Skelmersdale West and was appointed as the Cabinet Member for Civic Pride in April 2026. This newly created role is the first of its kind at County Hall. Councillor Worthington stated that the plan is built on listening to residents, working together, and making small changes, noting that when people feel proud of where they live, they feel more connected to their community.
To help guide the work, the council will introduce a Lancashire Civic Pride Charter, which invites local partners to commit to shared principles regarding community wellbeing and responsibility. Progress on these efforts will be tracked through a new Community Insight Hub, with the council promising to share regular updates with the public.
However, the new approach has not been without criticism. The leader of the opposition, Azhar Ali, has described the creation of the Cabinet Member for Civic Pride as a tokenistic gesture. He argued that the funding and focus would be better directed toward essential services, such as road repairs, weeding, and maintenance of drainage gullies.
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