Adrian Owens

Adrian Owens was elected a councillor for the Rural South ward in May 2024. Previous to that he was a councillor in Derby Ward covering part of Ormskirk and Westhead village for 24 years until 2023 when the ward disappeared with boundary changes. He was Deputy Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council between 2008 and 2014.

As the council’s Regeneration portfolio holder he helped secure investment in Skelmersdale, Ormskirk and Burscough’s centres. While Finance Portfolio Holder he reduced the real level of council tax and expanded services, while in housing he approved major investments to 1 in 4 council house properties and spearheaded the major estate revival at Firbeck while giving extra priority for council housing to people who work and volunteer.

He was responsible for initiating the Freedom of the Borough for the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. He promotes Ormskirk as a market town and was at the forefront of the opposition to Labour’s ill-conceived plans in 2018 to build 16000 houses mostly on the green belt (pictured at a public meeting organised by OWL here). As finance portfolio holder he provided funds for a changing room refurbishment at Park Pool; new roof at Nye Bevan Pool; massive improvements at Coronation Park and for a new children’s play area in Westhead.

Away from the council, Adrian has been a trustee of the Birchwood Centre in Skelmersdale for 15 years. The Centre provides accommodation and support to young people in crisis. Adrian was Chairman of Governors at Our Lady and All Saints Primary School in Parbold for a number of years and steered the school to an ‘Outstanding’ OFSTED category.