Borough of Fylde

This article is about the local government district. For the wider region from which it is named, see the Fylde. For other uses, see Fylde.

Borough and non-metropolitan district in England

Borough of Fylde

Borough and non-metropolitan district

Lytham St Annes beach

Shown within Lancashire and England

Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Constituent country| England
Region| North West England
Ceremonial county| Lancashire
Founded| 1 April 1974
Admin. HQ| Lytham St Annes
Government

• Type| Fylde Borough Council
• MPs:| Andrew Snowden
Area

[1]

• Total

| 64 sq mi (166 km2)
• Rank| 157th
Population

(2022)[2]

• Total

| 83,008
• Rank| 276th
• Density| 1,300/sq mi (500/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)

[3]

• Ethnic groups|

List

* 96.3% White
* 1.4% Asian
* 1.4% Mixed
* 0.5% other
* 0.4% Black

Religion (2021)

[3]

• Religion|

List

* 61.6% Christianity
* 31.2% no religion
* 5% not stated
* 0.7% Islam
* 0.4% other
* 0.4% Judaism
* 0.3% Buddhism
* 0.3% Hinduism
* 0.1% Sikhism

Time zone| UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
ONS code| 30UF (ONS)
E07000119 (GSS)

The Borough of Fylde is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. It covers part of the Fylde plain, after which it is named. The council's headquarters are in St Annes. The borough also contains the towns of Kirkham, Lytham and Wesham and surrounding villages and rural areas.

The neighbouring districts are Blackpool, Wyre, Preston, South Ribble and West Lancashire.

## History

[edit]

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of three former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[4]

* Fylde Rural District
* Kirkham Urban District
* Lytham St Annes Municipal Borough

The district was named Fylde after the coastal plan.[5] It was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[6]

The coat of arms of the borough bear the motto of the former Fylde Rural District Council, "Gaudeat Ager" from Psalm 96: 'Let the field (Fylde) be joyful' - "Let Fylde Prosper". The armorial bearings comprise a complete Achievement of Arms, that is - shield, crest and helm and mantling, supporters, badge and motto. They reflect the union of the three local authorities in the area: Lytham St Annes Borough Council, Kirkham Urban District Council and Fylde Rural District Council.[7]

## Governance

[edit]

Fylde Council

Type
Type|

Non-metropolitan district

History
Founded| 1 April 1974
Leadership

Mayor

Frank Andrews,
Conservative
since 7 May 2025[8]

Leader

Karen Buckley,
Conservative
since 20 July 2020

Chief Executive

Allan Oldfield
since January 2012[9]

Structure
Seats| 37 councillors

Political groups

Administration (21)
Conservative (21)
Other parties (16)
Labour (2)
Liberal Democrats (2)
Independent (12)
Elections

Voting system

| First past the post

Last election

| 4 May 2023

Next election

| 6 May 2027
Meeting place
Town Hall, South Promenade, Lytham St Annes, FY8 1LW
Website
new.fylde.gov.uk

Fylde Borough Council, which styles itself "Fylde Council", provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lancashire County Council. Most of the borough is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[10]

### Political control

[edit]

The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2003.

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[11][12]

Party in control | Years

|

| Conservative | 1974–1991
| No overall control | 1991–2003
| Conservative | 2003–present

### Leadership

[edit]

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Fylde. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2010 have been:

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

David Eaves[13] |  | Conservative | 2010 | Oct 2014
Sue Fazackerley[14][15] |  | Conservative | 1 Dec 2014 | Apr 2020
Karen Buckley[16] |  | Conservative | 20 Jul 2020 |

### Composition

[edit]

Following the 2023 election,[17] and subsequent changes of allegiance up to July 2025, the composition of the council was:[18]

Party  | Councillors

|

| Conservative | 21
| Labour | 2
| Liberal Democrats | 2
| Independent | 12
Total  | 37

Of the independent councillors, nine sit together as a group, and the other three are not aligned to any group.[19] The next election is due in 2027.[18]

### Elections

[edit]

See also: Fylde Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 37 councillors, representing 17 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[20]

### Premises

[edit]

The council is based at Lytham St Annes Town Hall on South Promenade in St Annes. The building was originally a hotel called Southdown Hydro, but was bought in 1925 to serve as a town hall following the merger of the districts of St Annes and Lytham in 1922 to become Lytham St Annes.[21]

Some council departments, including the planning department and an office of the Registrar, were previously located at the former Fylde Rural District Council offices on Derby Road in Wesham,[22] but in 2007 the council vacated this office. It was then used by the NHS North Lancashire Primary Care Trust until around 2013. The building has since been demolished and replaced by a new housing development.[23]

## Settlements

[edit]

Kirkham

Lytham

St Annes-on-the-Sea

Wesham

Ansdell

Clifton

Elswick

Fairhaven

Freckleton

Great Plumpton

Greenhalgh

Hall
Cross

Little Plumpton

Little Singleton

Moss Side

Newton-with-Scales

Roseacre

Salwick

Singleton

Staining

Thistleton

Treales

Warton

Weeton

Westby

Wharles

Wrea
Green

Blackpool Airport

class=notpageimage|

Towns and villages in the Borough of Fylde (inset: in Lancashire)

### Civil parishes

[edit]

Parishes in Fylde Borough

There are 15 civil parishes in Fylde. The parish councils of Kirkham, Medlar-with-Wesham and St Annes-on-the-Sea have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council".[24]

1. Bryning-with-Warton
2. Elswick
3. Freckleton
4. Greenhalgh-with-Thistleton
5. Kirkham
6. Little Eccleston-with-Larbreck
7. Medlar-with-Wesham
8. Newton-with-Clifton
9. Ribby-with-Wrea
10. St Annes-on-the-Sea
11. Singleton
12. Staining
13. Treales, Roseacre and Wharles
14. Weeton-with-Preese
15. Westby-with-Plumptons

Lytham is unparished.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
2. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
3. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Fylde Local Authority (E07000119)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
4. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 22 August 2022
5. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 22 August 2022
6. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
7. ^ "Fylde Borough Council Armorial Bearings". Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
8. ^ "Council minutes, 7 May 2025". Fylde Council. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
9. ^ "Chief Executive". Fylde Council. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
10. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
11. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Fylde" in search box to see specific results.)
12. ^ "Fylde". BBC News Online. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
13. ^ "Fylde Council leader David Eaves steps down". BBC News. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
14. ^ "Council minutes, 1 December 2014". Fylde Council. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
15. ^ Durkin, Tony (30 April 2020). "Fylde Council leader steps down after six years". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
16. ^ "Council minutes, 20 July 2020". Fylde Council. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
17. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
18. ^ a b "Fylde". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
19. ^ "Councillors". Fylde Council. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
20. ^ "The Fylde (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2022/664, retrieved 10 October 2023
21. ^ "New Town Hall: Lytham St. Annes Municipal Scheme". Lancashire Daily Post. Preston. 19 May 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
22. ^ "No. 45573". The London Gazette. 14 January 1972. p. 583.
23. ^ Planning Committee Report, 13 November 2013, Application 13/0449
24. ^ "Town and parish information". Fylde Council. Retrieved 10 October 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Geography of the Borough of Fylde

Towns|

* Kirkham
* Lytham St Annes
* Wesham

Villages|

* Clifton
* Corner Row
* Elswick
* Esprick
* Freckleton
* Great Plumpton
* Greenhalgh
* Hall Cross
* Higher Ballam
* Little Plumpton
* Lower Ballam
* Moss Side
* Newton-with-Scales
* Peel
* Roseacre
* Salwick
* Singleton
* Staining
* Thistleton
* Treales
* Warton
* Weeton
* Westby
* Wharles
* Wrea Green

Parishes|

* Bryning-with-Warton
* Elswick
* Freckleton
* Greenhalgh-with-Thistleton
* Kirkham
* Little Eccleston-with-Larbreck
* Medlar-with-Wesham
* Newton-with-Clifton
* Ribby-with-Wrea
* St Annes-on-the-Sea
* Singleton
* Staining
* Treales, Roseacre and Wharles
* Weeton-with-Preese
* Westby-with-Plumptons

Topography|

* The Fylde
* Ribble Estuary
* Rivers: Hillylaid Pool, Main Dyke

* v
* t
* e

Buildings and structures in the Borough of Fylde

Grade I|

* Lytham Hall

Grade II*|

| Places of worship|

* Lytham: St Cuthbert
* St John
* Kirkham: St Michael

|

Grade II|

* Burlingtons Bar
* By the Way
* Ivy House
* Lifeboat Memorial, Lytham
* Lifeboat Monument, St Annes
* Lytham Windmill
* Malt Kiln Farmhouse
* Railway Hotel, Kirkham
* St Annes-on-the-Sea Carnegie Library
* St Anne's Pier

Places of worship|

* Kirkham: St John the Evangelist
* St Annes-on-the-Sea: St Anne
* St Thomas
* Singleton: St Anne
* Weeton: St Michael
* Wesham: Christ Church
* Wrea Green: St Nicholas

Unlisted|

* Cartford Bridge
* The Cartford Inn
* The Eagle at Weeton
* HM Prison Kirkham
* Lytham Hospital
* Lytham St Annes Town Hall
* Shard Bridge
* Springfields
* Warton Aerodrome
* Weeton Barracks

Places of worship|

* Clifton (Lund): St John the Evangelist

Demolished|

* Lytham Priory
* Lytham Pier

Listed in|

* Bryning-with-Warton
* Elswick
* Freckleton
* Greenhalgh-with-Thistleton
* Kirkham
* Little Eccleston-with-Larbreck
* Lytham
* Medlar-with-Wesham
* Newton-with-Clifton
* Ribby-with-Wrea
* St Annes
* Singleton
* Staining
* Treales, Roseacre and Wharles
* Weeton-with-Preese
* Westby-with-Plumptons

* v
* t
* e

Culture and infrastructure of the Borough of Fylde

Transport|

* Blackpool branch lines
* Blackpool Airport
* Freckleton air disaster
* Lytham rail crash
* Lytham St Annes Corporation Tramways
* Preston & Wyre Railway
* Public transport in the Fylde
* Singleton Bank rail crash

Railway stations|

* Ansdell and Fairhaven
* Kirkham and Wesham
* Lytham
* Moss Side
* St Annes-on-the-Sea
* Salwick
* Squires Gate

Disused stations|

* Gillett's Crossing Halt
* Lytham (Station Road)
* Singleton
* Wrea Green

Education|

* AKS Lytham
* Blackpool and The Fylde College
* Carr Hill High School
* King Edward VII and Queen Mary School
* Kirkham Grammar School
* Lowther College
* Lytham St Annes High School
* St Annes College Grammar School
* St Bede's Catholic High School

Sport|

* AFC Fylde
* BAE Warton Rugby
* Church Road Ground
* Fylde RFC
* Lytham St Annes Hockey Club
* Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
* 1961 Ryder Cup
* 1977 Ryder Cup
* Lytham Trophy
* Woodlands Memorial Ground

Arts|

* Lytham Academy of Theatre Arts

Politics|

* Council elections
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011

* Constituencies: Fylde
* Fylde South

* v
* t
* e

Districts of North West England

Cheshire|

* Cheshire East
* Cheshire West and Chester
* Halton
* Warrington

Cumbria|

* Cumberland
* Westmorland and Furness

Greater Manchester|

* Bolton
* Bury
* Manchester
* Oldham
* Rochdale
* Salford
* Stockport
* Tameside
* Trafford
* Wigan

Lancashire|

* Blackburn with Darwen
* Blackpool
* Burnley
* Chorley
* Fylde
* Hyndburn
* Lancaster
* Pendle
* Preston
* Ribble Valley
* Rossendale
* South Ribble
* West Lancashire
* Wyre

Merseyside|

* Knowsley
* Liverpool
* St Helens
* Sefton
* Wirral

North West England portal

* v
* t
* e

Ceremonial county of Lancashire

Lancashire Portal

Unitary authorities|

* Blackburn with Darwen
* Blackpool

Boroughs or districts|

* Burnley
* Chorley
* Fylde
* Hyndburn
* Lancaster
* Pendle
* Preston
* Ribble Valley
* Rossendale
* South Ribble
* West Lancashire
* Wyre

Major settlements
(cities in italics)|

* Accrington
* Adlington
* Bacup
* Bamber Bridge
* Barnoldswick
* Bispham
* Blackburn
* Blackpool
* Brierfield
* Burnley
* Burscough
* Carnforth
* Chorley
* Clayton-le-Moors
* Clayton-le-Woods
* Cleveleys
* Clitheroe
* Colne
* Coppull
* Darwen
* Earby
* Eccleston
* Euxton
* Fleetwood
* Fulwood
* Garstang
* Great Harwood
* Haslingden
* Heysham
* Kirkham
* Lancaster
* Leyland
* Longridge
* Lostock Hall
* Lytham St Annes
* Morecambe
* Nelson
* Ormskirk
* Oswaldtwistle
* Padiham
* Penwortham
* Poulton-le-Fylde
* Preesall
* Preston
* Rawtenstall
* Rishton
* Skelmersdale
* Thornton
* Waterfoot
* Wesham
* Whitworth
See also: List of civil parishes in Lancashire

Rivers|

* Calder
* Darwen
* Douglas
* Hodder
* Hyndburn
* Irwell
* Lune
* Ribble
* tributaries
* crossings
* Wyre

Canals|

* Lancaster
* Leeds and Liverpool

Topics|

* Parliamentary constituencies
* Places
* Population of major settlements
* Scheduled monuments
* Schools
* Lancashire
* Blackburn with Darwen
* Blackpool
* SSSIs
* Country houses
* Grade I buildings
* Grade II* buildings
* History
* Museums
* Lord Lieutenants
* High Sheriffs
* Red Rose

Authority control databases

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* Yale LUX

53°45′47″N 2°56′02″W﻿ / ﻿53.763°N 2.934°W﻿ / 53.763; -2.934
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