Lancashire Local 49

Issue. 49 - November 2018

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Inside this issue: NEWS - Sport

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Peak time Corner-cutting landlord hit by prices have £1,000 penalty for dumped waste

increased for

disabled travel

pass holders

Lancashire County Council is reminding people who have a disabled NoWcard that it now costs £1 to travel at peak times on weekday mornings.

The mandatory national concessionary travel scheme allows holders of a disabled persons pass to travel for free between 9.30am and 11.00pm Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and bank holidays.

Councils which operate the scheme locally have discretion to offer further concessions outside these times.

The NoWcard scheme allows holders of a disabled person's pass to travel at a lower flat fare on journeys on local buses, which begin before 9.30am on Mondays to Fridays.

The charge for people who live within the Lancashire County Council boundary increased from 50p to £1 from Monday 3 December. There has been no increase of the 50p charge for over 10 years.

A landlord has been successfully prosecuted after a large amount of flytipped waste dumped in Harpurhey was traced back to him by Manchester City Council's Environmental Crimes team.

Tahsin Ali Jawdet, 57, of Barcicroft Road, Heaton Mersey, was ordered to pay a total penalty of more than £1,000, after admitting to allowing an individual to dispose of waste from his property without first checking that they were licensed to do so.

On January 24 this year, officers working for Manchester City Council’s waste contractor Biffa discovered a substantial pile of furniture and household

items dumped in Vauxhall Street, Harpurhey. These items included tables, wooden cabinets and soft furnishings.

When investigating before the waste was cleared, officers found documents which linked the waste back to a property in Chapel Street, Levenshulme, owned by Jawdet.

When interviewed under caution in April, Jawdet confirmed that he was the owner of the Levenshulme property and that the dumped items had come from that address. He told investigating officers that after the end of a tenancy, he had arranged for items inside the house to be removed, paying

£205 for two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom and living room to be cleared. Jawdet admitted he did not check if the person hired to carry out the clearance was authorised to transport and dispose of waste.

Officers from the council’s Environmental Crimes Team have not been able to trace the person hired by Jawdet.

At a hearing at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on November 8, Jawdet pleaded guilty to failing to adhere to his duty of care by passing on waste to an unauthorised person.

He was fined £300, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30, and pay court costs of £697.36 - a total

penalty of £1,027.36. Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, said: “Flytipping is a blight on our communities and our residents should not be left to suffer the consequences of such selfish crimes. This prosecution shows that we are determined to crack down on individuals or businesses who dump waste and track down those responsible. “Jawdet tried to wash his hands of his responsibilities when he hired someone to remove waste from his property without checking that they were licensed, so I’m pleased that our officers made sure he paid the penalty. I want to thank the Biffa staff who initially detected this offence and our Environmental Crimes Team for successfully bringing Jawdet to justice.

“The law governing the proper disposal of household waste is clear and information is easily available about how landlords can dispose of unwanted furniture and large household items. There is no excuse for ignorance in this situation. “

Get your dog microchipped this year for FREE! Page 2.

Dog owners in Pendle have their last chance to get their pet microchipped for free this year.

The event is taking place on Tuesday 4 December from 11am – 3pm at Victoria Park Pavilion, Carr Road, Nelson BB9 7SS. David Alexander, who manages Pendle Council’s Dog Warden Team, said: “Don’t forget it’s the law for all dogs to be microchipped and dog owners risk a £500 fine if their dogs aren’t chipped,” he warned.

“Microchipping is a permanent way of identifying your pet if they get lost, so make sure you change your chip if you move house!”

He added. Pendle Council has teamed up with the Dogs Trust for this final event of the year which includes free nail clipping, a general health check by a veterinary nurse and a check your chip service.

“The health check includes

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looking at eyes, ears, teeth and weight, to make sure your dog is happy, fit and healthy,” explained David.

Councillor Paul White, Leader of Pendle Council said: “Pendle dogs are in good hands as our Dog Warden Team has won an RSPCA Gold Pawprint award for the 10th year in a row for their work in caring for dogs, including stray dogs.

“We’re delighted that for every year since the RSPCA awards first began our team has won a Gold Pawprint award, making them one of the top teams in the UK,” he said. The team takes care of stray, lost and found dogs and helps with problem dogs and dangerous dogs. Information on how they can help plus details on microchipping can be found on www.pendle.

Stray Dogs Footprint in Pawprint winners,” he added. and helps with problem they can help plus details on gov.uk/dogs “And this landmark year we recognition of our ten The team takes care off dogs and dangerous dogs microchipping can be found were awarded a Platinum continuous years as Gold stray, lost and found dogs and information on how on www.pendle.gov.uk/dogs

Stock up to stay well this winter GPs in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen are urging people to keep medicine cabinets fully stocked – and don’t leave themselves at the mercy of the fast-changing winter weather.

People living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, respiratory disease (severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchitis), heart disease, kidney or liver disease, or neurological disease, are particularly vulnerable when the temperatures drop.

Venturing out in extremely cold weather can easily make an existing illness worse, which makes it all the more important to stock up on medicine while you can.

Dr Preeti Shukla, a Clinical Lead at NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: At this time of year the weather can quickly turn from being mild and pleasant to becoming bitterly cold, and if you’re not adequately

prepared for a cold snap you may find yourself stuck at home without the provisions you need to stay warm and well.

Our advice is to check your medicine cabinet is stocked with everyday remedies for minor winter illness as well as any regular medication. It’s also a good idea to make sure kitchen cupboards are well stocked with nutritious food, too. We’d also recommend contacting a friend or family member to see if they would be available to help you in case you get stuck at home without something you need.

That way, you can be fully prepared should the weather take a turn for the worse and it’s difficult to venture outdoors.

Alongside regular medication, a well-stocked medicine cabinet should include the following: • A first-aid kit including bandages, plasters, thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings, medical tape for

dressings and tweezers.

• Pain relief such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen for aches, pains and high temperatures.

• Oral rehydration salts to replace lost minerals and fluid after a fever or vomiting and diarrhoea.

• Anti-diarrhoea tablets to relieve symptoms of diarrhoea (though these will not help with the underlying cause).

If you’re already on medication, make sure you’re not going to run out.

Contact your GP surgery

about registering for GP Online Services, which will enable you to request repeat prescriptions online as well as booking appointments..

To sign up, you’ll just need to go to your practice and complete a form. Remember to take some photo ID, such as your passport.

If you’re not sure which overthe-counter medicines to take with your regular medication, you can talk to a pharmacist for advice.

For more information on staying well this winter visit www.nhs.uk/staywell

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Pendle gives domestic violence the red card

Pendle is giving domestic violence the red card with sports clubs and other groups signing the White Ribbon pledge in our area.

Pervez Akhtar, one of Pendle Council’s White Ribbon Ambassadors, said: “Pendle Council has already signed the pledge and we have three White Ribbon Ambassadors here supporting the campaign.

Pendle Council, along with all councils in Lancashire, was awarded White Ribbon status in October 2017 and Lancashire was the first White Ribbon county in the UK. “We’ve been working with local sports clubs and other organisations to promote joining the White Ribbon Campaign and we’re urging more people to become champions and ambassadors.

“The international pledge is to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women,” he explained.

Kieron Roberts, Pendle Council’s Green Spaces Manager said: “We’re working with local sports clubs to help them become White Ribbon accredited sports clubs.

“Our shared aim is to raise awareness and get hundreds more people who either play, volunteer or watch sport in Pendle to sign up to this vitally important pledge.

“Colne and Nelson Rugby Club, Trawden Athletics Club, Colne FC . Pendle Park Run and the Pendle Charity Football League have all pledged their commitment to the campaign.

“And they’ll be getting players, club members and supporters to sign up before the start of matches and events this weekend as part of international White Ribbon Day,” he explained.

White Ribbon Day 25th November kick-starts 16 days of action. Pendle Domestic Violence Initiative is holding an event for professionals in this field called Hear Me Too in Nelson Town Hall on Friday 7th December, 10am – 12.noon. #HearMeToo is an interactive event focusing on the voices of people affected by domestic abuse.

Councillor Paul White, Leader of Pendle Council, said: “In Pendle alone Victim Support has helped150 victims of domestic abuse during 2017-18.

“Nationally six out of seven victims of domestic violence are women,” he explained.

Over 35,000 people across the UK have signed the pledge and people can find out more and make their commitment via www.whiteribbon.org.uk Paul said: “I have signed the pledge and as International White Ribbon day approaches on Sunday 25th November we are urging more people to

sign it and take a stance,” he said.

“We cannot ignore the fact that one in four women experience domestic abuse in their lifetime and a similar number suffer from sexual assault or stalking,” explained Paul. “The majority of these incidents are committed by men, but men like us can help bring the issue out into the open and work to prevent it ,” added Kieron.

“I’d like to thank our local sports clubs for their support and commitment for this initiative.

“We want more people living and working in Pendle to join the thousands of people who’ve already taken the

pledge and we urge them to wear the white ribbon,”he stressed.

Pervez Akhtar added: “Only by standing up and being counted can we hope to end male violence against women.” Anyone experiencing domestic violence or who know someone who is can contact Lancashire Police on 08451 25 35 45 or 999 in an emergency.

You can also contact: • Pendle Domestic Violence Initiative Helpline - (01282) 726000 or email pdvi@p-a-c. org.uk • Lancashire Victim Services – 0300 323 0085 There’s also a 24-hour

Magical Parade adds some

Christmas Sparkle to Blackburn

Nothing could dampen the Christmas sparkle that came to Blackburn on Saturday 1 December 2018, when a magical Christmas Parade took to the streets.

The event organised by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and produced by local company Pop Up Entertainment, saw a cavalcade of princes, princesses, elves, toy soldiers and fairies march through the Mall, Blackburn Market and end with a performance of festive classics on stage in

Cathedral Square at the heart of Blackburn’s Christmas Market.

Visitors to B l a c k b u r n could enjoy two performances of the parade at 11am and 2pm. Main Picture: BwD Mayor, Councillor Mrs Pat McFall with Mayoress, Mrs Lucie Higham lead the parade into Cathedral Square.

National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline – 0808 2000 247 Two women a week are killed by a current or former partner - *Source: March 2015 Crime Survey For England and Wales. Nine out of 10 defendants in cases of domestic violence are men. *Source: Crown Prosecution Service.

10,000 women are sexually

abused every week - *Source: March 2017 Crime Survey For England and Wales.

The White Ribbon Campaign provides programmes for sports clubs to ensure they are taking male violence against women seriously.

Smaller and community sports clubs can apply for membership.

Memberships for the sports clubs is free-of-charge.

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New project nets £10,000 lottery

funding to encourage people to “go fish”

Burnley Leisure has teamed up with Burnley Play Partnership to hook £10,000 of National Lottery funding to develop a family fishing project.

The aim is to engage with and encourage local families to take up the sport and, by doing so, expand their

interest in nature and the environment.

It will also promote people of all ages to get outdoors more as a family, help reduce low activity levels in children, and encourage adults to be more active and promote better mental health.

As part of the project there will be a n u m b e r of nature workshops branded "Nature Detectives" - alongside some "family

fishing" sessions making use of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and streams running through local parks.

Michelle Grimes, events and funding officer with Burnley Leisure, said: “Fishing may not be as energetic as other sports but it does require co-ordination and technique and it requires patience and calm and its excellent for promoting good mental health.

“It’s a great way to get out as a family and discover more about our local environment and nature, as well as being great fun.

“This project will provide the fishing basics to families that perhaps never thought about taking up the sport or even

going out and enjoying nature in this simple but effective way.” The project is set to start in the new year.

To find out more contact Ben Heap on 01282 477167 or email bheap@burnleyleisure. co.uk

Pioneer Place leisure

development moves to next stage

Burnley Council’s executive has recommended that the council invest in a major leisure development at Curzon Street.

A final decision on whether to back the scheme will take place at a meeting of the full council on 19th December.

The scheme is to be known as Pioneer Place. The development would involve the

relocation of Reel Cinema from Manchester Road. A supermarket is expected to move to the existing cinema site. By relocating the cinema, the site will attract new restaurant and retail outlets. This approach to town centre development is replicated in many cities, with the increase in visitors supporting existing town centre businesses during the day and in the evening.

An assessment of the scheme has estimated that 300 jobs will be created, and £13 million will be added to the local economy each year. In addition to the cinema, the proposal includes seven new restaurant units and two new retail units, a high-quality public square and 128 car parking spaces. The council expects to receive a planning application in January, with the design of the scheme subject to approval by the p l a n n i n g committee.

The total cost of both the Pioneer Place development and the Manchester Road site is approximately £26 million.

The council will receive an income from rents on the back of its capital

investment in the scheme.

Councillor Asif Raja, executive member for economy and growth said: “Developments like this offer something for everyone. It will attract more visitors to the town which means more spend and a greater buzz about the place. If we don’t take actions like this to grow the local economy, we risk losing out to other places that do.” Lancashire County Council is also backing the scheme. County councillor Geoff Driver CBE, leader at county hall, said: “We have committed £3.2 million towards this scheme. This is an excellent example of the two councils working together with the private sector to further transform Burnley town centre.”

Councillor Mark Townsend, leader of the borough council, added: “I will encourage the council to take a considered

view of what this investment means. We should make our investment at the point when the level of risk is right. That point comes when enough businesses commit.

“That said, I am excited by the potential of this scheme and the long-term benefit to the borough. It will be a big draw to the town for both residents and visitors. Compared with other town centres, Burnley has bucked the trend. It is getting better while others are struggling. Town centres are the economic and social heart of communities- Burnley's town centre is on the up and I want to take it to the next level.”

Councillor Raja said “Another added benefit of Pioneer Place is that it will help to attract more students to come and study in Burnley, which in turn will generate further economic benefits for the borough.”

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Get into your local park and get active

Burnley Leisure has accessed £10,000 of Awards For All funding to deliver an innovative project to engage young people in outdoor activities as a way of improving their mental health.

Burnley, in line with national trends, is currently seeing rising mental health issues, particularly in primary school children.

Based in Thompson Park, Burnley, Getin2 Active Parks is an exciting opportunity to provide an engaging programme of educational outdoor activities. Burnley

Leisure is creating a programme based around a network of educational trails throughout Thompson Park and the neighbouring Brun Valley Forest Park; combining the benefits of education with physical activity.

The aim is to tackle issues for local primary school age children who are experiencing mental health issues by creating outdoor education packages for them to access on their doorstep.

Getin2 Active Parks will use the outdoors, incorporating mountain biking, kayaking,

fishing and orienteering, as group activities in order to improve children’s mental health. Michelle Grimes, Burnley Leisure’s events and funding officer, said: “We will be working closely with the local school sports partnership and newly-formed Burnley Health and Wellbeing partnership to target young people who would benefit most from this programme.

“Outdoor activities and taking children into a local open space, developing skills that outdoor education promotes such as team building, decision making, resilience, all help in improving mental well-being.

They are seen as the best way to support young people who are showing signs of mental health issues.” For further information contact Michelle Grimes on 01282 477167 or email mgrimes@burnleyleisure.co.uk

Council to build student

accommodation to boost 'university town' plans

Burnley Council is set to develop a purposebuilt student accommodation facility in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and Barnfield Investment Properties, if councillors approve a proposal being put forward by the council’s executive committee.

The development will cost approximately £9 million. Under the plans, the council will receive an income from rent, and UCLan will run the facility on the council’s behalf.

The proposed development will be located on council-owned land next to Sandygate Square, Burnley. It forms the next phase of the On the Banks development that the council has been delivering as a joint venture with Barnfield Investment Properties, the development arm of Barnfield Construction Limited.

Councillor Mark Townsend, leader of the council, said: “It is well documented that having a university campus helps a place to thrive. The evidence shows that universities have a positive social and economic impact on a local area.

“UCLan’s expansion plans for Burnley would be the envy of many other councils.

The council established a close working relationship with UCLan to help secure their commitment. UCLan has already made a significant investment in Victoria Mill and teaching resources in Burnley to deliver its growth. We want to maximise the ‘student pound’ and the economic benefits that students will bring, so the council has a role to play in making the town attractive to students. Good quality accommodation is crucial.”

A planning application setting out the design of the accommodation is expected in the coming weeks. If construction goes ahead, the scheme will be another milestone in the transformation of the historic canalside area.

Chair of UCLan David Taylor CBE said: ““Our aim is to provide students with a guarantee of value for money accommodation.

Our partnership with Burnley Council will provide a safe, comfortable living environment and a vibrant, inclusive halls community. This development will be key to encouraging students to study with UCLan in

East Lancashire.” Councilllor Asif Raja said: “This partnership with UCLan is a major opportunity to further the borough’s economic interests. We need to make the most of it so that the borough can keep moving forward.”

Tim Webber MBE, Chairman of Barnfield Investment Properties, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the council and UCLan on this project. It is the next step in the long-term plans to create a high quality development at On the Banks. UCLan’s base Victoria Mill is a building

we’re extremely proud of and it’s great to see it back in use.” A decision will be taken at a meeting of the full council on 19th December on the council’s investment.

If councillors at the meeting back the proposal, and if the subsequent planning application is successful, work on the 139-bed building will begin in March 2019, with completion expected by Autumn 2020.

UCLan expects to grow student numbers at the campus from 400 to 4,000 by 2025.

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Manchester unveils proposals for new world-class cycling and walking route

Proposals for one of the country’s most ambitious cycling and walking routes have today been unveiled as part of Greater Manchester’s plans to deliver the UK’s largest network.

The Manchester to Chorlton cycling and walking route is being proposed by Manchester City Council, the One Trafford Partnership, Transport for Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester’s Cycling and Walking Commissioner, Chris Boardman.

Local residents, businesses, community groups and other interested parties are now invited to review the proposals and have their say at www.manchester.gov.uk/ consultations.

Running along Barlow Moor Road, Manchester Road, Upper Chorlton Road and Chorlton Road, the new five kilometre route will benefit local residents and anyone wishing to cycle between the city centre and the thriving Chorlton area.

The new route has been designed using best-practice examples from the UK and other European cities with an established cycling culture. It has been designed in partnership by TfGM’s walking and cycling team and Manchester City Council engineers, who this year won the National Transport Award for Excellence in Cycling and Walking for their work on the Wilmslow Road / Oxford Road corridor. The Chorlton route will feature Dutchstyle segregated cycling and walking lanes and some of the most advanced junctions in the UK. £13.4 million is being invested in the new route, with funding coming from the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Challenge Fund and the government’s Cycle Cities Ambition Grant.

Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, Councillor Angeliki Stogia, said: “We are excited to have Chris Boardman’s input on creating

world-class walking and cycling infrastructure in Manchester. Lots of people have said that they want to walk and cycle more in Manchester and we present this scheme for consultation, as part of our ambition and absolute determination to create a new network of highquality, safe cycling routes across the city. We would like as many people as possible to have their say on the plans.

“This is already a very busy corridor for cyclists, but the proposed upgrade will make the route much safer and more appealing, encouraging many more people to adopt cycling and walking as their preferred modes of transport.

“Developing better cycling and walking routes is key to our aims of improving local air quality, reducing traffic congestion and encouraging more active travel choices.”

Greater Manchester’s Cycling and Walking Commissioner, Chris Boardman, added: “We want to make cycling and walking the natural choice for

short journeys, giving people the freedom not to have to drive. That means creating world-class streets where people want to socialise and relax. Some of the junction designs proposed are the most advanced yet that we’ve seen in the UK. “Manchester City Council and Trafford Council deserve full credit for coming up with such an ambitious and appealing cycling and walking route.”

Cllr Stephen Adshead, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change at

Trafford Council, said: “We are delighted to be working together with Manchester City Council to develop a new cycling and walking network. Local air quality and reducing our impact on climate change is really important to making Trafford a great place to live, work and relax. The provision of a better and improved cycle and walking route will give residents the opportunity to easily commute in and out of the borough whilst reducing their CO2 emissions.”

Detailed designs for the Metrolink bridge road option

on Manchester Road and the junction at Stretford Road / Chorlton Road are still being worked up to ensure that they meet the same high standards for people travelling on foot and by bike. Plans for these aspects will be published in the New Year.

The public consultation period on the designs will run until 11 January 2019.

Four public events will take place in Chorlton and Stretford during November and December.

To find out more, go to www.manchester.gov.uk/ consultations.

Information evening

for potential foster carers

Anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer is invited to an information evening in Preston to find out more.

The event will be held on Wednesday 19 December 2018 at County Hall, on Fishergate Hill in Preston, from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Members of Lancashire County Council's fostering team, as well as social workers and current foster carers, will be available to answer questions, talk you through the process, and offer advice.

The county council has recently increased the allowances payable to new foster carers, so now they can expect to receive between £241 and £300 per week for each child they care for.

People who have considered fostering before, but weren't sure they could afford it, are

advised to come along to an information evening and find out if it could now be a viable option.

County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, said: "With around 20 Lancashire children needing homes each week, we need to recruit new foster carers.

"We have increased our allowances to foster carers in recognition of their valuable role in providing loving homes for the children in our care. There is also a rising demand for placements with more children and young people coming into the care of the local authority each week. "We are looking for people who can foster all ages of children, particularly siblings who need to stay together, and teenagers.

No formal experience or

qualifications are needed, all we ask is that you have a spare room available and a desire to make a difference to a local child's life."

A package of support is available 24/7 to help foster carers in their role, including local support groups, their own social worker, a dedicated helpline and flexible training.

If you're unable to come along on the night, call the fostering recruitment team on 0300 123 6723 or visit www. lancashire.gov.uk/fostering There is no need to book for the fostering information evening - you can just turn up, but please arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Free parking is available on the Arthur Street car park, next to County Hall, and the Pitt Street entrance is accessible for disabled people.

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Nine taxi drivers snared

in illegal pick up operation

Continued pressure was applied to taxi drivers illegally picking up fares following a crackdown on rogue operators working in Manchester City Centre.

Last weekend officers from Manchester City Council’s Licensing Team and Greater Manchester Police took to the streets under the banner of ‘Operation Aztec’.

The operation saw plain clothes officers pose as mystery shoppers across the city centre, approaching private hire cars parked up, and request a journey then and there.

If the fare was accepted the officers would get inside, with the taxi subsequently being intercepted by marked police vehicles. The cars were then escorted to a secure checkpoint where they could be inspected, with their drivers interviewed and

warned they were liable to face prosecution. It is illegal for private hire taxis to accept fares which are not booked in advance. Only licensed Hackney Carriages are permitted to ply for hire for customers on the street.

If successfully convicted drivers can face a fine of up to £7,500, between six to eight penalty points on their licence and required to pay the cost of prosecution. They could also then face having their licences revoked by their licensing authority.

One driver was also found to have been driving without insurance. His vehicle was seized and impounded by Greater Manchester Police.

In total nine vehicles were caught during the operation.

The cars and drivers were licensed by the following authorities: Manchester, Rochdale, Bury, Rossendale

and Wolverhampton.

Operation Aztec is just one example of the work carried out every day by Manchester Taxi Enforcement Officers.

Over the past two years 66 cases have been pursued after a private hire driver was found to have illegally plied for hire. Following the success of Operation Aztec this year, the Council and GMP will continue this proactive approach to policing taxi drivers in Greater Manchester.

Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, who went out with officers during Operation Aztec, said: “As we near the festive period it is more important than ever to make sure everyone who visits our great city is able to get home safely. Personally, I saw many people putting themselves at risk by getting

into an un-booked vehicle.

“When they do that they are not insured in the event of an accident, there will be no record of a journey having taken place and the driver cannot be tracked. “The number of drivers caught during just one night of action should serve as a warning to others who think they can get away with illegally activity.

They should be in no doubt that if they are caught, the council will take them to court.

“Operation Aztec was a great example of what Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police can achieve when we work together, and I look forward to similar operations like this taking place in the near future to ensure Manchester is a safe place for all to enjoy.”

Sergeant Paul Lenarcic from GMP’s Safer Roads Targeting

Team said: “Intercepting nine vehicles during Operation Aztec is a positive result for the partnership alongside Manchester City Council and we hope to see this continue as we carry on the operation in our joint bid to crackdown on unlicensed and uninsured taxis. “We would urge people

when they are out and about to always use pre-booked private hire vehicles or use licensed hackney carriages such as black cabs. If you are concerned about anything, please dial 101 or report it via the LiveChat function on our website. Always call 999 in an emergency.”

Heaton Park Golf Course reopens to the public

Heaton Park Golf Course reopened to the public on Friday 30 November, welcoming back existing golf members and inviting new visitors to try the facilities.

Manchester City Council has appointed Green Circle Estates to run the golf course on an interim basis until the end of October 2019. The firm currently runs three other local authority-owned courses - Allerton Manor in Liverpool, Kirkby Valley in Knowsley and Sherdley Park in St Helens.

Green Circle will manage the park’s golf course and pitch-and-putt and maintain its bowls facilities, on behalf of the council. Greenkeepers have been on site carrying out essential maintenance work to allow the courses to reopen.

The agreement - put in place following the announcement that previous operator Mack Golf had ceased trading across all of their UK sites - means that all current season tickets which run until 31 December 2018 can be honoured and that golfers will be able to purchase new season tickets from the start of January.

A contract for the long-term

operation of the golf course is to go out to tender, with a new permanent operator scheduled to be in place from

the start of November 2019.

Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure, Councillor Luthfur Rahman,

said: “We’re delighted to welcome Green Circle to Heaton Park and to welcome golfers back to the excellent

facilities on offer. We remain committed to securing a longterm arrangement for golf and bowls to continue at Heaton

Park for the benefit of local residents, with permanent arrangements to be confirmed next year.”

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Art & Soul Tattoo Studio Pendle’s Aqsa is finalist

Art & Soul Tattoo Studio, a Leyland based, well established studio Nick opened in 2001. Through all the changes Leyland has seen this particular shop has weathered every storm.

With many, many regulars and more clients being added weekly this studio is very well settled. Nick Bleasdale found his passion in art at a young age, influenced by his \father, also a talented artist.

He spent many years travelling most of the country, often requested for personally, he could be on a journey to the top of Scotland at the start of the week and in devon by the end !

He settled in Leyland and attended Preston University of Central Lancashire where he obtained his degree in fine art and illustration. By 1998 he and a friend were commissioned to paint a large 19ft mural in St. Georges shopping centre, Preston.

Nick’s first passion may well be tattoos, he is also accomplished with various other mediums including airbrush, paintbrush, pencil or charcoal and loves to do portraits, murals, recently completing a full wall in the

for Asian Apprenticeship Award

local Unicorn pub, Preston.

Nick’s studio is a friendly place, you are more than welcome to drop in for a chat, provided of course he’s not snowed under, as he often is, you can have a brew and get involved in some interesting discussions on many subjects! In his spare time he enjoys playing numerous instruments, including guitar,

mandolin, banjo, drums, penny whistle, flute and will often turn his hand to whatever instrument that has been passed to him. He also has a passion for magic and card tricks, being more than exemplary in the art.

So if you’re thinking of that special piece of art, you are more than welcome to pop in for a chat.

Aqsa Hafiz, who works in Planning at Pendle Council , has been chosen as a finalist for a national Asian Apprenticeship Award in the Charity, Voluntary and Public Services category.

The annual awards celebrate the talent and diversity of British Asian Apprentices, their employees and learning providers.

“Aqsa started as a Modern Apprentice with the Council’s legal team in 2016 and was promoted to Planning Support Officer in April this year,” explained Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul White.

“We are very committed to Apprenticeships in Pendle,” he said. Aqsa completed a NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration at Nelson and Colne College before her promotion and the College put her in for the award.

Aqsa who is 25 and lives in Pendle said: “I did two years in dental technology at Manchester Metropolitan University but it wasn’t for me and I dropped out after two years. “I then worked for a dentist before going down the apprenticeship route and that worked for me.”

Aqsa will be going to Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham with colleagues from Pendle Council and

Nelson and Colne College on Thursday 29th November for the awards ceremony which is sponsored by The Royal Air Force. “I’m looking forward to the big event and to meeting other finalists,” she said. Aqsa added: “I enjoyed my apprenticeship – it went really quickly and it got me a good job.

“It was a learning curve and the experience helped me.

The Apprenticeship is useful in this new role.

“I love my job at the council and I’m still learning now,” she said. Aqsa intends to pursue a career in Planning and the Pendle Council’s Planning Manager has said that Aqsa will get opportunities to develop her skills and expertise in planning. Barbara Livesey, Director of Apprenticeships and Training at Nelson and Colne College said: “Aqsa was nominated for the award because of the rapid progress

she made during her Level 2 Business Administration Apprenticeship and the impact her work has had at Pendle Council. “Aqsa’s Trainer Assessor was extremely pleased with her consistent high quality work and it is clear to see how she has developed professionally and personally through the qualification.

“The Apprenticeship has also given Aqsa the opportunity to climb the career ladder too.”

Nelson and Colne College is number one in the country for overall Apprenticeship achievement, at all ages and levels – according to the most recent Government data.

For more information on the wide range of Apprenticeships available at Nelson and Colne College visit www.nelson.ac.uk For more details on the awards visit www. asianapprenticeshipawards. co.uk

New gym plans for

Darwen Leisure Centre

Plans have been revealed to renovate Darwen Leisure Centre’s gym in time for the New Year. The new gym will include an updated layout, state-of-the-art equipment and new flooring.

A large functional training area with a purpose built, freestanding gym rig – which can accommodate functional and suspended body weight training – will also be introduced to the gym area.

Councillor Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, said: This is fantastic news for residents and everyone who uses Darwen Leisure Centre.

This investment has been achieved without any additional financial cost to the council and so represents great value for money as

well as improving the offer for customers. The changes will be a huge improvement to the customer experience at Darwen Leisure Centre and bring the gym right up to date. I’m excited to see how it will all look when it’s finished.

The improvements follow feedback from members during a consultation period.

An overwhelming number said they wanted to see a bigger and better range of gym equipment. The new equipment, provided by Precor, will include stateof-the-art-touch screen CV equipment, top-of-the-range spinning bikes, purpose-built HIIT cardio equipment and a dedicated weight training area. Work is expected to be carried out over the Christmas period to minimise the impact

on members. Exercise class and pool timetables are expected to remain the same during the renovation.

Dominic Harrison, Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, said: The Investment at Darwen Leisure Centre is fantastic news as part of our mission to support residents to be more active, more often.

We recognise that fitness trends and expectations from customers have changed over the years and it’s important to try respond to those.

Evidence shows that physical activity has a huge impact on overall health and wellbeing and the new Darwen Leisure Centre gym will play an active role in attracting new people to physical activity as well as making the experience more interesting and exciting for those who are already active.

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Winter Wonderland getting ready to open

Get your skates on this Christmas and glide, pirouette and whirl across Chorley’s real ice rink as it opens this weekend (Saturday 8 December).

The attraction is back by popular demand along with the Christmas tipis where people can enjoy some festive drinks as part of Chorley’s fantastically festive winter wonderland on Cleveland Street car park.

The wonderland, which is being hosted by Chorley Council, is part of the town’s festive celebrations.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Deputy Leader of Chorley Council, said: “The winter wonderland was really popular when we hosted it two years ago and now we’ve got the event space in the town centre it was the ideal opportunity to bring it back.

“The winter wonderland has something for people of all ages with a real ice rink, children’s rides and fun house, food outlets, festive stalls and the tipis where people can get a drink.

“It’s just one of many There will also be themed bookings. please email events@chorley. christmas/ to find out more things we’ve got going on skating sessions and we are To register your interest for gov.uk about Christmas events in to give people an enjoyable taking school and group a school or group booking Visit checkoutchorley.com/ Chorley this year. experience and at the same time they can do some of their Christmas shopping whether on the markets, in Market Walk or at one of the many independent stores.”

Chorley’s Winter Wonderland will be open every day from Saturday 8 December until Sunday 6 January 2019, except Christmas Day. Betty’s Tipis will be open later on some evenings.

The ice rink is just £6 per skate session with payment on entry. Ice skates and other equipment provided.

Time credits will be accepted on the ice rink only for the first hour and last two hours of each day.

Cub Club, which are skate sessions for children aged 6 and under, will run on Sundays between 10-11am.

Cub Club is £3 per skater and all child skaters aged 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Please note there is limited availability on each Cub Club session.

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How to pick the best bottle

of bubbly for Christmas

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without bubbles.

But with 10 zillion options vying for a place in your festive fridge, which bottle should you take home?

2015 was the year that our collective zeal for Italian prosecco reached its zenith (Brits spent £41m on ownbrand versions of the stuff last year). But it was also when bright, fresh English wine started to be taken seriously (HMRC has seen a 41% increase in applications to produce English sparkling wine this year).

And let's not forget the original.

The fanciest.

Bone-dry, golden-toned champagne.

First up, let's talk basics.

Prosecco – This is a lovely lighter style of fizz. It's fresher and fruitier than champagne and cava, which makes it easier to drink and therefore great for parties. It's also the fizz of the moment, very trendy and obviously a cheaper alternative to champers. Cava – From

Spain, cava is a great allrounder. It’s much cheaper than champagne (about £6 a bottle) but made in exactly the same way, so the flavour profile is similar with those yeasty notes that come from the second fermentation in the bottle. Champagne – Naturally, the king of fizz, and the price reflects that. It can only be made in the Champagne region of France, and only from certain grape varieties. It has delicious brioche notes from its extended time ageing in bottle. English Sparkling – The home-grown stuff is having a great time at the moment as consumers are coming to realise its excellent quality. It tends to have similar traits to champagne as the climate of southern England, where most of the vineyards are, is very similar to that of the Champagne region in France – although the notes are more appley rather than lemony.

And buying it helps the English wine industry,

which is a good thing. And which fizz is best for which occasion​ ? For Christmas nibbles and antipasti platters: prosecco wins Shellfish starter or any fried fish: try cava – the acidity cuts through the oiliness. Smoked salmon: perfect with blanc de blancs champagne. The citrus notes work beautifully with the strong flavour. For pudding: try asti, the sweet sparkling white Italian wine.

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Female councillors inspire women

and girls to get involved in local politics

Female Blackburn with Darwen councillors supported a recent local community event that aimed to inspire young women and girls to get involved in local politics while celebrating the achievements of the suffragette movement.

Around 80 women and girls attended community group One Voice’s ‘Votes for Women, Women for Votes’ event, which celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the Representation of the People Act that first gave women the right to vote.

The Act gave some women and all men the right to vote in local and national elections.

The One Voice girls group, know as the WEGs, wanted to use the ‘Votes for Women, Women for Votes’ event to remember the key figures from the suffragette and suffragist movements that made this happen, including Emmeline Pankhurst and

Millicent Fawcett.

Speakers at the event held at Bangor Street Community Centre included Blackburn MP Kate Hollern, Councillor Saima Afzal, Councillor Jackie Ann Floyd and Sifa Turi, leader of the WEGs. Councillor Floyd urged more women to get involved in politics. She said: I would urge you all to join a local party. By doing so, you can herald a change in the lives of all the people living in Blackburn and Darwen.

I think this event has been absolutely brilliant because it has brought women from Blackburn of all ages into the same room at the same time to recognise the work that the suffragettes and suffragists did and that it hasn’t stopped, that it’s a continuum to get some justice for all.

Kate Hollern MP spoke about the importance of women in the Match Women’s Strike in 1888, and how they,

alongside the suffragettes, women to become a borough More information about group is available at www. made the change for women councillor in Blackburn.

One Voice’s WEGs girls onevoicenetwork.org.uk. as they challenged the atrocious working conditions they were subjected to. Kate also spoke about her own journey, and urged the women of One Voice, particularly from the Women’s Network and WEGs, to become more politically involved. Kate Hollern said: It’s been a fantastic event and hopefully it’ll encourage more young girls to get involved in politics.

Politics is in everyday life – you have an amount of money, you know how you’re going to spend it and set priorities and make sure those priorities help the people.

Councillor Saima Afzal spoke about her mother being a spiritual suffragette in her own life and how she inspired Saima to get involved in politics. She stood up to many challenges and has become one of the first South Asian

Car parking charges set to be frozen

Daily car parking charges in Burnley are set to be frozen for the third year running as councilors consider proposed fees and charges for services next year. Garden waste collection subscriptions are also set to remain unchanged. The proposals

for fees and charges for council services next year are part of the wider process for setting the council’s overall budget for 2019/20.

The freeze on car parking charges applies to daily offstreet pay and display tariffs; long-term contract parking charges will increase by 3%.

Across the council the fee increase has generally been set at 3%, although some charges are changing by differing amounts. Councillor Sue Graham, executive member for resources and performance management, said: “Once again the council is setting its next budget

in the light of an evermore challenging financial situation and ever-decreasing Government support while, at the same time, delivering quality services to residents who are themselves facing financial challenges.

“We’ve done what we can to avoid increasing charges

if possible and, for the third year running, we’ve frozen car parking prices. That will help support the wider work we’re doing to attract more people and investment into Burnley town centre. “Where we’ve had to increase fees we’ve tried to keep it to a minimum. We’re doing our

best to balance the books and ensure services are financially viable.”

The council’s executive, which meets on 28th November is being asked to recommend that the full council approves a report outlining the full range of proposed fees and charges.

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Shot Scope V2 Review

Shot Scope's new and enhanced V2 has been designed to build on the sucess of the original V1 watch, including a series of additional features that have been created to assist your objective of game improvement.

Providing both automatic club recognition technology and detailed performance statistics through the use of

accurate front/middle/back GPS yardages, V2 uses Shot Scope’s course mapping data to deliver a tour level of detail to the hands of regular golfers.

But does it meet or surpass that promise? Golfshake Ambassador Kevin Paver has tested it for us.

Now, before getting into the very important analysis information, which is no doubt the main reason golfers

will purchase this product, we do need to talk about a feature that has been a huge upgrade. Shot Scope V2 has GPS watch functionality. So, you now have three options for your round of golf - GPS (this just shows GPS course information), Pro (only tracks your shots and shows no GPS data) and GPS+Track, which is a combination of GPS & Pro.

How Does It Work When you open the box, you have your Shot Scope GPS watch and a bag containing 20 tags that very easily pop into the grip of your clubs.

During the round, these tags record the data from your shots ready for you to upload to the Shot Scope website or mobile app, ready for you to analyse.

Set Up Setting up Shot Scope V2 is super simple. On the website, you can create your bag, which essentially means assigning clubs to the relevant tags. You do this from simple drop-down menus that have most brands and models covered. Then, before your round you need to select your 14 weapons.

It is also worth downloading the course you are playing and syncing it to the watch before you play.

On the Course Once you’ve arrived at the course, using the Shot Scope V2 is very easy. All you have to do it switch it on, and it will use GPS data to select your course. Then, choose the desired mode and off you go. It really is as simple as that. Shot Scope will literally collect data from every shot you hit.

The only thing you need to remember, is to tag the number of putts you took when you are at the hole as the only thing it can’t do is locate the hole position.

Shot Scope does remind you to do this by offering your the options of 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Hopefully, you won’t ever be selecting 4!

As for the ShotS cope V2’s

GPS, that was massively impressive. For the first couple of rounds I used it alongside my Bushnell laser, and it was just as accurate. So much so, I actually stopped using the Bushnell as this was much simpler. It also gives you front and back distances to bunkers and water hazards in addition to its existing front, middle and back of the green distances.

Hit one out of bounds? No bother. With Shot Scope V2 you can now classify a penalty during the round, which reduces the time you spend editing scores postround as well as the ability to highlight a provisional shot, which starts a five-minute timer to search for a lost ball.

Clever stuff.

Post Round Analysis Now this is the bit that geeky golfers like me get excited about. The analysis. The data Shot Scope provides is incredible. There is so much information, at first it’s almost a little intimidating.

However, you learn to love it very quickly. Firstly, you can review your round hole by hole, shot by shot, which is always quite interesting to see, but is also a good way to look at what your hole by hole strategy is and if it is working. You can see all your club distances, by round and as an average, which is great for giving you a very clear picture on how far you

Published by JAC Media Ltd, Unit 8, The Glade Business Centre, Forum Road, Nottingham. NG5 9RW.

are hitting your clubs. One of the features I really love, is looking at each element of your game and how you are performing - driving, approaches, short game & putting, which is fantastic for identifying patterns in your game.

Seriously, you could get lost in this information for days!

Pros A very clever bit of kit, that is super easy to use out of the box and gives you some incredibly powerful information about your golf that used in the right way will no doubt help you improve your game.

Cons The biggest negative for me with the Shot Scope V2 was the size of the watch. It’s pretty big and can take a little getting used to on your wrist.

Also, I often forgot to tag the putts at the hole which meant some post round editing.

Verdict Overall, the Shot Scope V2 is great investment if you are serious about improving your game. The analysis it provides is incredible, and it super easy to use. Not only that, you are getting a damn good GPS device too. All in all, for around the £200 RRP, I think it delivers tremendous value.

Rated 9/10 For more information, or to buy direct, visit https:// shotscope.com.