East Lancs Now 116

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Issue. 116 - Feb - 2020 0115 6972677 | www.wilcopmedia.co.uk | sales@wilcopmedia.co.uk

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: WHAT’S ON - GETAWAYS - WEDDINGS - CARE

Unlock digital skills at Blackburn Library dON’T BE A

VICTIM OF FRAUD

see page 10..

Award-winning Arts in Libraries project returns for 2020

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The Mayor and Mayoress of Blackburn with Darwen with the Leader of the Council and other dignitaries at the launch of the health hub

The borough’s first digital health and wellbeing learning centre is now open in Blackburn Library. Also known as a digital health hub, the centre is a place where staff and volunteers can help people to improve their digital skills and confidence, so they can use online health services more confidently. There are more and more opportunities for people to use digital services to manage their own health. People can already book online GP appointments, repeat medications and view GP records online or through an app or websites. As the technology improves across

public services, people will in future be able to view their own detailed care plans and interact with NHS and care services through new digital channels, with an aim of improving lives and experiences. The digital health hub, located in the library’s breakout space on the ground floor opposite the main entrance, aims to help the people who need technology the most to embrace the opportunities offered. The hub, a concept which has been successfully piloted elsewhere, will provide coaching, education and showcase digital devices and

apps to help local people learn and use these new tools to manage their health and wellness. The Council successfully bid for money from NHS Digital and the Good Things Foundation to develop a hub and has been working with local NHS partners and other organisations to get it up and running. Councillor Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: I am really pleased we have developed such an innovative service here in Blackburn with Darwen. Technology can be a vital tool in helping give people more control over

their health and care but they need the skills to make the most of these opportunities. This hub can teach residents those skills they are able to enjoy the benefits digital can provide. Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Executive Member for Digital and Customer Services, said: I am really excited to see how this project develops. It would be great to see more of these hubs around the borough at trusted public places people regularly visit. While digital won’t work for everyone, I believe the more we can show how it can make things easier and more convenient and give people greater control, the more people may consider doing things online. The Council is working with other local public service partners in the region to change health and care services for the better. Together A Healthier Future, the programme driving the change, has big focus on digital health in its Pennine Plan.

Spicing it up – new Rochdale restaurant backs town’s food festival

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The Tipsy Truck Co

see page 24..


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Appeal to Funding secured for identify man

Police would like to speak to this man after he is thought to have witnessed an assault in Brierfield town centre. Officers are investigating after reports a man was assaulted at around 4pm on January 9, close to Brierfield Community Centre, on Colne Road. The potential witness (pictured) can be seen boarding a bus near the library shortly after the incident and police believe he may be able to assist with their enquires. Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 or email 3700@lancashire.pnn.police.uk quoting log number 1021 of January 9 2020. Information can also be provided anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail pending further enquires.

Padiham Town Hall business hub Moves are underway to transform part of Padiham Town Hall into a business hub as part of wider proposals to improve the town centre. More than £330,000 of Growth Deal funding has been secured from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to cover the cost of the programme of refurbishment work to the first floor of the Grade II listed building. The £331,379 funding, which has been approved subject to contract, will see 3,000 sq ft of office space which has been unused since the 2015 floods transformed into highquality office and co-working space to meet the needs of small businesses. Councillor Gordon Birtwistle, Burnley Council’s executive member for economy and growth, said: “This is good news for Padiham. The LEP funding will help breathe new life into this historic building in the heart of the town and support new and growing businesses. “It is part of the council’s wider plans to improve Padiham town centre. The re-development of the first floor of the town hall to create a business hub which will provide a modern and flexible working space that caters for a wide range of businesses. “The proposals will bring new businesses and visitors to the town’s main street, supporting existing businesses and building on other activity to regenerate the historic centre through the £1.3m Townscape Heritage Initiative”. The funding is in addition to the £10.9m

already secured by the Council from the LEP and the Environment Agency for public realm improvements and flood defense works. Chairman of the LEP Steve Fogg said: “This project, which is subject to contracting, is a great example of how the LEP uses Growth Deal funds to support economic growth and job creation. In this case this will be achieved by funding improved infrastructure to support business growth in the Padiham area and, at the same time, boosting the vitality of the town centre by putting empty space to good use. “This initiative is part of an overall investment by the LEP in this part of Burnley borough totalling £4.9m so far and which aims to regenerate and protect Padiham town centre and the local area and unlock land for development. “The LEP’s £320m Growth Deal programme is supporting strategically important projects like this all across Lancashire which, combined, will lay the foundation for significant growth in the county’s economy for years to come.” Anyone interested in taking space in the new business hub can contact Martyn Hardacre in the council’s economy and growth unit on 01282 477213 or email mhardacre@burnley. gov.uk About Lancashire’s Growth Deal Programme: In the last three years the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has successfully secured

£320 million of Growth Deal investment from the Government's Local Growth Fund. This funding, one of the largest Growth Deal settlements to be allocated to a Local Enterprise Partnership, is designed to help improve and upgrade existing commercial infrastructure, kickstart new economic initiatives, and unlock additional private investment to drive further growth across the county. More than 50 projects have directly benefitted from the LEP’s Growth Deal Programme. These include: • New and improved transport connections including the Blackburn-Bolton Rail Corridor; the Broughton bypass; the Centenary Way viaduct; and the HyndburnBurnley-Pendle Growth Corridor; • World-class higher

education, research and vocational skills provision and facilities including UCLan’s flagship Engineering and Innovation Centre; the national Energy HQ in Blackpool; Lancaster’s Health Innovation Campus; and Myerscough College’s Food & Farming Innovation Centre; • A wide-ranging package of regeneration programmes specifically for Blackpool including a new international conference centre at the Winter Gardens complex; the development of Blackpool town centre ‘Green Corridors’; traffic management, bridge and road improvements and an extension of Blackpool’s tram network. The Growth Deal programme will help to generate up to 11,000 new jobs, create 3,900 new homes and attract £1.2 billion of additional public and private investment for Lancashire. Lancashire’s Growth Deal programme is also fully aligned to other major economic initiatives such as the £450 million Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal, the £20 million Growing Places Investment Fund, and the Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Enterprise Zone Cluster. For more information visit www.lancashirelep. co.uk

Recycling your unwanted recycling boxes Burnley Council is organising a collection of any unwanted blue recycling boxes from homes across the borough. Residents can book a free collection by visiting https://your.burnley.gov.uk/ service/Return_Recycling_ Blue_Box- you will be asked to go on but it is not a requirement. You can also book by calling 01282 425011 and asking for streetscene. Collections must be booked by 5pm Thursday 6th

February; the boxes will be picked up from 6.30am on Monday 10th February. The service covers the whole borough and not just those homes that switched to a new wheelie bin recycling service in the autumn. Councillor Cosima Towneley, the council’s executive member for community and environment services, said: “Over the years people have collected blue recycling boxes for various reasons and we’re happy if they want to keep them to use for

collecting recyclable rubbish or anything else they might get used for. “However, when we launched the new wheelie bin system for around half the homes in the borough a lot of people asked what they should do with their blue boxes. We wanted the new system to bed in before we went around to collect any unwanted boxes. “I’m sure some people have found imaginative ways of re-using them but if you don’t need them this is a chance to get rid of them. We will recycle the recycling

boxes and keep them in store for those residents who are still on the box system and may need extra ones in the future.” Residents still on the blue box and white sack system need to keep enough boxes to be able to collect their recyclable rubbish in, but can use this collection to get rid of any unused extra boxes they no longer need.


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Lancashire Constabulary rated as ‘outstanding for efficiency’ by Inspectorate

Lancashire Police have been rated as outstanding for efficiency following an inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). Additionally, the Inspectorate rated the force as good at reducing crime, keeping people safe, protecting vulnerable people and treating its staff and communities with fairness. HMICFRS inspects all Police Forces and Fire and Rescue Services in England and Wales to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of these bodies. The 2018/19 report, published today (Friday 7th February 2020), praises their approach to planning based on evidence and insight, making investment in critical service areas to meet the changing nature of demand and aligning resources to meet the expectations of the public. This robust approach to planning has enabled them to focus on core services answering calls from the public, responding to the public’s needs and investigating crime. Lancashire Constabulary’s Chief Constable Andy Rhodes said: “I am delighted that we have been rated as ‘outstanding’ in how we operate and provide sustainable services. We know there is still work to do, but by focusing on getting our core services right over the past couple of years, we are now in a good position to meet the challenge of growing the Constabulary in the future, as a result of new funding into policing. “The report endorses that we are focusing

our resources in the right place, at the right time, and importantly, that we are getting it right - listening to our staff and communities, tackling the issues that are important to them and investing where we need to. “Whilst the last few years have been incredibly difficult due to the impact of austerity and budget cuts, we have made significant investment to ensure that the most vulnerable people in our county are protected from harm, and, that we deliver on our purpose of keeping people safe.” Lancashire Police have invested in key services people need and provided officers and staff the tools they need to do their job: £3m has been invested in Neighbourhood Task Forces who tackle the issues that are important in their area and strengthened specialist target teams thanks to local people supporting an increase in their council tax precept The number of response

officers has been increased to ensure that our officers are there for people when they are needed the most Invested £8million in investigations to protect vulnerable people, over the last three years Increased the number of Control Room Operators, in line with growing demand into the Force Control Room, to enable people to get through to us as soon as possible Maximising evidential opportunities from the growing demand for digital forensic examination by investing £3m in digital technology to aid investigations and solve crime Rolled out of over 4,000 new digital devices to officers to improve efficiency and effectiveness, meaning officers can be responsive in real time, complete relevant reports on the move and away from the police station, be contacted directly by members of the public Financed a £5.5 million investment in information communication technology, including rolling out new body worn video to protect officers and members of the public Committed to spending on refurbishing existing police buildings to ensure they remain fit for purpose and retain a visible presence in our communities Looking after the physical and mental

welfare of Officers and Staff by significantly investing in Occupational Health and Wellbeing Services so they can continue to serve and protect the county Mr Rhodes continued: “It is important to note the significant contributions made by my Police Officers and Staff to our inspection outcomes. I am very proud of the work they do on a daily basis to continue to keep our county a safe place to live, work and visit.” Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner praised the Constabulary, saying: "In spite of 10 years of government cuts, this inspection is testament that Lancashire continues to have one of the best and most efficient police forces in the country which we should all be proud of. "Since 2010, we have delivered over £86m of savings – this is significant and represents 28% of the total police budget, with Lancashire having one of the leanest support services in the country. "Thanks to the support of the public last year, for the first time since 2010 we were able to invest into policing here in Lancashire, launching Task Forces across the county, focusing on reducing and preventing crime and dealing with the issues that matter most to people. We've already seen some really great work

News on transfers of Pendle parks to town and parish councils Alkincoats Park in Colne is now being managed by Colne Town Council as part of a series of transfers by Pendle Council to local town and parish councils, to help sustain Pendle’s parks despite financial challenges. This follows the transfer of Victory Park, Letcliffe Park and Valley Gardens to Barnoldswick Town Council two years ago. And Pendle Council expects to complete the transfer of Barrowford Memorial Park and Pendle Heritage Centre to Barrowford Parish Council within the next few days. Trawden Forest Parish Council has also now agreed to take the transfer of Ball Grove Park in the

coming months. Leader of the Council, Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, said: “Over the next three years Pendle Council needs to save around £3 million - and it’s a tough task! “We will continue to work with other town and parish councils by asking them to take on the ownership of other parks and green spaces. “I would like to congratulate town and parish councils who are helping us deal with the cuts,” he added. “We will be holding discussions with Nelson Town Council about the possible transfer of Marsden, Walverden and Victoria parks in Nelson. “And also with Brierfield Town Council about Heyhead

park, and Earby Town Council and Kelbrook and Sough Parish Council about Sough Park,” he explained. Dean Langton, Pendle Council’s Chief Executive said: “We’re still in a very challenging financial position so it’s important we continually identify ways we can save money and raise income. “We are taking steps to deal with our budget deficit and transferring parks and some of our facilities and services

to be run at an even more local level is an essential part of our strategy,” he stated. For the full report on Transfer of Services and Facilities to Town and Parish Council see Agenda item 11 on the 16 January Policy and Resources meeting on www.pendle. gov.uk/council

from these teams, including major drugs seizures and removal of dangerous criminals who blight our communities. "The force continues to invest in new technology to help make the best use of public money. This includes the funding of drones, which give our Officers a comprehensive view of large areas, helping to locate missing persons, stolen vehicles and manage large scale events, all at lower cost. "Across Lancashire, we continue to focus on improving efficiency and productivity. There are always challenges, as crime has risen and funding in real terms continues to be constrained, but the taxpaying public we serve should be confident that they have a police force that spends money wisely and is committed to keeping them safe."


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Nelson in multi-million pound bid

Nelson is gearing up to bid for up to £25 million for a Town Deal from the Government’s new Towns Fund - through a transformational Town Investment Plan. Nelson is one of 100 places in England which have been chosen to develop proposals which seek to drive the economic regeneration of towns “We’ve been chosen because of our proud industrial and economic heritage,” explained Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council. “And it’s recognised that we need investment to transform Nelson’s prospects for stronger economic growth in the future,” he stated. “I’m confident that 2020 will be a turning point for Nelson,” he said. “This is a once in a generation opportunity with the potential to create a strong impact across the whole of Pendle,” said Councillor Iqbal. This week, Pendle Council agreed on a Nelson Town Deal Board to oversee the development of the Town Investment Plan and the Nelson Masterplan. The new board will include representatives from local businesses, the community,

Pendle Council, Lancashire County Council, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, local voluntary organisations, Pendle’s MP and young people. “It’s vital that our local community is involved in helping us develop plans which will make a real difference to people in our area,” said Councillor Iqbal. A dynamic new Masterplan for Nelson will be drafted in early 2020 and completed by the summer, with another public consultation event being planned for the end of February. “The Nelson Masterplan will be the blueprint for the future direction of the town over the next ten years and the positive effects will be felt far beyond this,” explained Councillor Iqbal. “The Board will ensure that the multi-million bids for the town dovetail for a brighter future for Pendle,” said Councillor Iqbal. The opportunities include a bid for up to £25 million from the Future High Streets Fund to help provide a long term sustainable future for the town centre. “Nelson is one of the first 50 towns in the UK to reach round two in the Future

High Streets bidding process and we’ll be submitting our final business case in April 2020,” explained Councillor Iqbal. “If we’re successful in both these bids they could add up to £50 million of investment,” said Councillor Iqbal. “We are working hard to maximise the investment we can win for Pendle and I’d like to thank everyone who is involved in supporting our efforts,” he stressed. A wide range of organisations with a stake in the area will also be consulted on plans for Nelson including the Pendle Leisure Trust, voluntary sector organisations, the Police, Jobcentre Plus and providers of affordable housing such as Together Housing. Membership and arrangements for the new Town Deal Board were agreed at Pendle Council’s Policy and Resources meeting on Thursday 16 January. At this meeting it was also agreed that the Policy and Resources Committee will approve the strategies and proposals of the Nelson Masterplan, Future High Streets Fund and Town Investment Plan.

Weddings come back to Colne Town Hall Colne Town Council are excited to be able to now offer the Town Hall as a wedding Venue. Following major changes to the downstairs layout, Colne Town Council are delighted to be able to offer Colne Town Hall for use as a wedding venue for the Solemnization of Marriages and Registration of Civil Partnerships. In addition to the Council Chamber being licensed, the Mayors Parlour can be used for ceremonies. This allows Colne Town Council to be able to cater for small ceremonies of up to 15 people in the Mayors Parlour & up to 70 people in

the Council Chamber. With the changes to the downstairs of the Town Hall, there is also ample space for drinks receptions.

For more information about this please contact the team at Colne Town Council on admin@colnetowncouncil. org.uk or 01282 861888


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Tour of Britain Land Art winners Walmsley Primary School and Egerton Park receive trophy Walmsley Primary School and Egerton Park in Bolton today saw a special visit from Tour of Britain mascot ToBi to present them with their trophy for winning the National Land Art competition. The 2019 Tour of Britain finished with a spectacular Greater Manchester stage, that saw the world’s top professional cyclists race through all ten boroughs of the city, including Bolton, before the finish in the heart of the city, where Mathieu van der Poel was crowned

Tour of Britain winner. The Egerton community came together with Walmsley Primary School to create the winning cycling installation that was shown around the world on the race’s live television coverage, and came out on top in the public vote via tourofbritain.co.uk “Once again the reception to the Tour of Britain Land Art competition was outstanding and we had some truly exceptional entries from across the country. I would like to congratulate the whole

community in Egerton on their award, but also for their work in helping so many people to enjoy and be involved in the Greater Manchester stage of the Tour”, said Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett. Bolton Council leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said, “I’m thrilled that Walmsley Primary School and Egerton Park have won the National Land Art competition. To come top among so many fantastic entries from across the UK is testament to the hard work and creativity of everyone involved. “From Bromley Cross and Egerton to Horwich and Blackrod, I was so proud of the way everyone came out to support the event and cheer on the competitors. The support and enthusiasm of the local community is part of why major sporting events like the Tour of Britain want to come to Bolton.” Commenting on the presentation, Cllr Samantha Connor from Bolton Council and Miriam Shamir from the

Play team said, “We were very excited that the Tour of Britain was coming to Bolton and passing right through our village so wanted to get the whole community involved to support the cyclists. “Along with the Play team and Walmsley Primary School we created our land art Installation on Egerton Park and Bolton Council provided T-shirts for all the children to spell out ‘Bolton’. “This combined with the Play team’s fun activities, face painter and an ice cream van provided an exciting and memorable day for everyone as the Tour of Britain raced past. “We were thrilled to be shortlisted and then to actually win is an honour and a credit to every single person involved within our community!” Egerton Park and Walmsley Primary School

follow in the footsteps of the South Molton Farmers from Devon that won the inaugural land art competition in 2018. The 2020 Tour of Britain is a part of the new UCI ProSeries and will take place between Sunday 6 and Sunday 13 September, starting in Cornwall for the first time and finishing in the Granite City of Aberdeen eight days later. In October race organisers SweetSpot

announced that they are looking for a new title partner for the 2020 race, following the successful conclusion of a three year partnership with OVO Energy. The Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event, giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their doorstep and helping to build a great cycling nation.


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£306 million investment strategy

set to be approved by Oldham Council An ambitious plan to transform Oldham, including creating more than 2,000 new homes in the town centre, 1,000 new jobs and 100 apprenticeship opportunities, is set to be approved by Oldham Council. The ‘Creating a Better Place’ vision will unlock £306m of investment across Oldham by focussing on building more homes for local people, delivering new jobs through town centre regeneration, and ensuring Oldham is a great place to visit and do business. Oldham Council has undertaken a detailed review of the regeneration plans for the borough in order to strengthen the focus on building homes in the town centre. This means it will be able to meet the urgent need for more housing for residents – designed for a range of budgets and needs - by prioritising urban sites, and where possible, avoiding building on greenbelt land to protect the borough’s much-

loved open spaces. ‘Creating a Better Place’ is expected to significantly boost regeneration across the town centre, making it a destination of choice with lots of familyfriendly and accessible places to go, creating a vibrant nighttime economy and improving the variety of retail space. The Council is also committed to preserving Tommyfield Market and providing a sustainable future for it. Councillor Sean Fielding, Leader of the Council, said: “Since becoming Leader of the Council I have listened to what residents are saying about the future of the borough and I have undertaken a detailed review of the evidence. “I believe that this refocus of our plans will be revolutionary for Oldham, bringing jobs, homes and investment into our town centre and will help to create a better place to work, live and visit. “Oldham Town Centre is at the heart of our borough and the potential to create lasting

change is immense. Together, we can Create a Better Place to secure the future of our town centre and ensure it thrives.” ‘Creating a Better Place’ is a boroughwide plan building on Oldham Council’s Town Centre Vision – a framework published in July last year which aims to address the challenges faced by town centres and sets out the priority areas for regeneration with housing as the catalyst. It will provide an approach for the Council to support inclusive growth, thriving communities and the cooperative agenda by: • Building quality homes • Providing opportunities to learn and gain new skills • Providing opportunities to grow local businesses and create jobs • Supporting Oldham’s ambition to be the greenest borough • Embedding sustainability, energy efficiency and low (zero) carbon • Improving life-chances

and the health/well-being of our residents and local communities. The strategy will build on Oldham’s recent successful town centre regeneration projects including the redevelopment of the Old Town Hall, improved connectivity via Metrolink and the redevelopment of Oldham Leisure Centre and Parliament Square. Whilst construction work to

transform the former Oldham Library into OMA – a state-ofthe-art £13m arts and heritage centre which will offer galleries, a modern archive facility and performance space – will soon begin. It accompanies ongoing investment and regeneration projects across the borough including: • The new Saddleworth School in Diggle • Redevelopment of

Alexandra Park depot to support the ground-breaking Northern Roots project which will create the biggest ecological centre and urban farm in the UK • The refurbishment of Royton Town Hall • The development of a leading hotel at Prince’s Gate, Oldham Mumps • Other projects to be announced in the coming months.


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Trio of new occupiers join line up at Rochdale Riverside

3 more major leisure and retail brands have joined the ÂŁ80 million Rochdale Riverside scheme. South African restaurant Nando's, famous for its Portuguese inspired peri-peri chicken dishes, has taken a 3,500 sq ft unit on a 15 yearlease. Nando's will be joined by luxury dessert chain Heavenly

Desserts, which is taking 2,000 sq ft of space on a 10year lease. Superdrug will also be joining the retail mix with a 4,500 sq ft unit, offering the best in accessible health and beauty products and services. The latest deals follow handover to M&S, H&M, Next, Boots, Reel Cinemas and Hollywood Bowl's new

mini golf concept, Puttstars, with all currently undertaking internal fitout works on site. JD Sports and River Island will also take units in the scheme. Delivered in a joint venture between Genr8 and Kajima in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Riverside comprises approximately 200,000 sq ft

(60,970 sq m) of retail and leisure accommodation in the heart of Rochdale. Work on site is set to complete in April 2020 with a launch festival scheduled for Easter weekend. These new deals mark another major step forward for the scheme, which will bring 24 new retail and leisure units to the heart of Rochdale town centre, alongside a 6-screen cinema. Lauren Gavaghan, Development Manager at Genr8 Developments, said: "We are delighted to have agreed a deal to bring 3 popular brands to the Rochdale Riverside scheme. These occupiers will complement the current tenant mix in the scheme and will help drive forward the leisure element. "The scheme is now 80% let and with works continuing to progress at pace, we are now looking forward to

completion and the launch." Councillor Allen Brett, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: "Rochdale town centre has undergone a major transformation in recent years, and Rochdale Riverside is a key part of it. These new additions will complement the ever expanding offer in Rochdale town centre, which includes fantastic new independent restaurants, Bombay Brew and the Mannerist, and will soon welcome a Hogarth's pub as part of a ÂŁ1 million restoration of one of our major historic buildings." Cheetham & Mortimer and LTL Property are joint agents on the scheme. Wa r w i c k

Smither, director at Cheetham and Mortimer, said: "This is a massive endorsement for the town and the Rochdale Riverside development. "Securing brands such as Nando's, Superdrug and Heavenly Desserts is a huge boost for the scheme and everybody involved. We are looking forward to the launch of Rochdale Riverside and announcing further deals as we draw closer to completion."


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Protect your pipes this winter

Whilst the UK enjoyed an unseasonably mild end to 2019, the winter is set to take a grip with weather forecasters warning a cold snap could be on its way during the first few weeks of the new year. As the weather gets colder, the risk to your home increases. Insulating your water pipes will protect them from freezing, bursting

and flooding. Sometimes pipes freezing and thawing can cause them to burst. There are simple steps you can take to protect your home: • Pay attention to the pipes in the garage, loft, or those outside your home, as these are the ones most likely to freeze when the temperature drops. • Wrap up your pipes to prevent them from freezing.

• Keep your heating on low during a cold spell, even if you’re away. • Should the worst happen find your stop tap and turn the water off immediately. The Met Office has more seasonal advice online and United Utilities’ winterwise campaign has tips on protecting your home this winter.


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dON’T BE A VICTIM OF FRAUD Page 10.

How long have you been in the Private Investigation Industry? I have been an investigator for over 40 years now. I was a detective at Scotland Yard for 16 years before transferring to the National Crime Squad where I conducted Investigations all over the world, working with many International Law Enforcement Agencies in the process. After retiring from Law Enforcement in 2009, I worked in both a Retail and an Investment Bank, in various financial crime investigation

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roles and this really helped, seeing frauds operate from both sides of the fence. I set my own Fraud and Corruption Agency (Fedora) up in early 2019 and have been amazed at just how many investigations are out there that don’t get reported immediately or ever to the police. That was really an eye opener. What made you get in to this line of work? From my first days in the police at the age of 18, I knew that I wanted to be a detective. The pride detectives put

into their paperwork and the painstaking amount of work that was required to get to the finish line astounded me. For me the real police work starts after all of the excitement of the arrest has subsided. However, it always frustrated me, that the police as an institution were too fond of putting crimes and the police officers who investigate them into boxes. I am afraid organised crime doesn’t work that way, it cuts across all areas of criminal activity. Organised fraud, usually involves some form of corruption and importantly is committed across numerous jurisdictions and involving a number of crime areas such as; cyber activity and money laundering. As a result, investigators need to be knowledgeable and proficient in all of these areas to take the crimes on otherwise the investigation that will follow will be too narrow and only progress within the comfort zone of the person investigating. Many times the investigator just doesn’t know where to start and so cases get left in the tray. Training is the key and that costs money.

In a crime survey for England and Wales there was an estimated 3,863,000 fraud offences against adults in England and Wales year ending 2019. What is the best way to protect ourselves? Unfortunately, individual greed and/or naivety lies at the root of many frauds that are perpetrated. The old adage that if somethings is too good to be true it probably isn’t, is so true yet so many members of the public don’t take heed and never think they will be scammed. However, nobody is safe from fraud and fraudulent approaches, all the fraudster needs is the key to open your door. Often this key can be obtained through cyber activity and it is more subtle than you would imagine. The fraudsters gain most of the information they need through phishing activity. Lots of people think they know what ’phishing is’ but if that was true why do so many fall for the scams? The first stage of the attack is often through the random use of spamming. The cybercrime world is a flat structure. Spammers are not fraudsters they do their thing and then

sell on the product to others on the net. Millions of emails sent out to millions of people. The messages usually carry no threat, no malicious payload such as a virus or trojan, they just want to identify whether your email address is ‘live’ and that you are a potential ‘clicker’, someone who clicks on anything without too much thought. Great, you clicked, you’re on the list. Once they have been identified your email address as ‘live’ the information will go on to a list that will be shared amongst internet spammers, hackers and fraudsters via password protected websites owned by cyber criminals. They are ready to take things to the next step. Some cyber criminals will send out emails to your email address which contain malicious code hidden in a link or word document. These virus’ are designed to spider their way onto your machine in order to steal information or turn your machine into a zombie to be used in other cyber-attacks. Others will start to do some homework, some research and try to link your email address to social

media activity. LinkedIn is very useful to cyber criminals. They want to see what makes you tick and most importantly what might make you click on a link. Once they have found the key, possibly a hobby or an interest of yours, you will be ready to be ‘spear phished’. A spear phishing email is an email designed especially for you. It might purport to be from someone you know or about an interest you like. It might be a friend who is organising that golf trip later in the year or it might be an invitation to a special event with your idol. Whatever the email looks like it will be designed to make you click on that link or open up that word document. When you do, the fraud or malicious activity will execute and you will be hooked. In short you are just about to be defrauded. You are just about to send lots of hard earned money to the wrong account, a ‘mule account’. What should people be looking out for? So, what do you do about it. Well, slow down and think! Does life really work that way? Why should you get that special email? What the hurry? Why the secrecy? Fraudsters always want you to rush and its always a big secret! A deal that no one else knows about. Emails that urge to you do something urgently and secretly should be ‘red alerts’ to you. Next, DON’T click on anything until you are sure who the email is from. Take a look at the email address of the sender and once you have taken a look, have three more looks. It might not actually say what you think it says. Tiny changes to a name, changing the name ‘tommy’ to tomny’ is all that is needed. As a belt and braces, hover your cursor over the email address and see if the email actually resolves to a completely different email address. This is where any reply is really going to. Lastly, if you are told by anyone that your account and money have been compromised and you need to place your life savings into a safe account DON’T DO IT. Again, life doesn’t work like that and nor do banks or the police. Seek advice but don’t send that money. If you are


Sales E: sales@wilcopmedia.co.uk | T: 0115 6972677 reading this and are thinking I would never do that, I beg to differ. On a day when you are all over the place, rushing around and just not thinking straight, that email or phone call will catch you. On the end of that phone or email will be a fraudster so polished and convincing you will do whatever they say. When that day happens, remember this article and stop and think! Take a moment and remember, life doesn’t work this way. What should the government be doing to prevent this? I don’t want to criticise the police as it is in my blood however, things have got disturbingly bad. There just aren’t enough resources and nowhere near the right amount of training to cope with the onslaught of fraud activity that hits the UK. For this to happen there needs to be a sea change in the Government’s response and put fraud higher up the agenda. Fraud isn’t committed by fraudsters and they don’t fit in a box called fraud. They are organised criminals and the money that is made from such activity is used to commit more crime and this includes terrorism.

It is interesting to note that the UK is targeted more than any other country on earth by fraudsters, because of our unique character. We are in the main, very polite and trusting, especially of people we believe to be professionals, such as solicitors. Even the word commands respect for the typical Brit. All that a fraudster needs to do is raise his or her inclination and tone on the phone when you are hesitating, saying something like, “Don’t you trust me?” and the UK caller will back down and become totally subservient. I have listened to literally thousands of phone calls where it happens just like this. We just don’t like saying no and we certainly don’t like slamming the phone down. However, on the end of that phone is a master at deception. Possibly with ‘call centre’ experience, they have a silky charm, are very used to talking to members of the public, sound like they know what they are talking about and are very, very persistent. Take a deep breath and say No. Give yourself time, don’t be rushed or bullied. Put that phone down and DON’T apologise when you do it!

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Residents urged to take pride in their communities A leading Burnley councillor has urged residents across the borough to take more pride in their communities in 2020. Councillor Cosima Towneley said Burnley Council could only effectively tackle the problem of flytipping with the help and support of local people. “The council does what it can to keep our communities clean and tidy but it’s fighting a never-ending battle to try and keep our streets free of flytipping and the only way we can win that battle is with the help of residents," she said. “Think how much money we could save if we didn’t need to have clean-up crews going out every day to sort out the mess left by a selfish minority who don’t care about what effect dumping their rubbish on someone else’s doorstep has. “We are organising extra street clean-ups in certain areas but that hard work and investment is being abused by some people who think it means they can wash their hands of their responsibility to dispose of their rubbish properly. We can clean up a street only for rubbish to start appearing

again within a matter of days. “In most cases people don’t go far to dump their rubbish and residents in the area know who’s responsible for the flytipping. We want people to report the flytippers and give the council information so that we can catch those responsible and fine and prosecute them. We want to make the flytippers think twice before they dump any rubbish and realise there’s a good chance they will get caught and punished.

“We need people to take a pride in their communities and help us catch and fine those that dump their rubbish on our doorsteps and wash their hands of any responsibility. “Dish the dirt on the flytippers and help us keep your communities clean and tidy.” The council will clean up flytipping if it’s reported and officers try to gather evidence so that action can be taken against those responsible. For example, the council’s contractors recently cleaned

up more than 20 bags of household rubbish dumped at the rear of Ormerod Road, Burnley. Officers traced the rubbish to an address close by and the householders were spoken to and now face further enforcement action. Residents can give information on flytipping and those responsible online at www.burnley.gov.ukor by contacting the council’s streetscene unit by email streetscene@burnley.gov. ukor caling 01282 425011.


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Award-winning Arts in Libraries project returns for 2020 An award-winning project which brings a broad range of arts events into libraries across the borough is back for 2020. Now in its 16th season, Cultural Hubs: Arts in Libraries - crowned the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded arts programme in 2016 - will run a packed programme of events between February and July, with something for everyone to enjoy. This February half-term in partnership with local organisation, Citadel Arts – St Helens Libraries will present

a week of events showcasing the very best theatre for children and families as part of a new Story Telling Festival. Featuring uplifting shows using puppetry and songs in unusual, intimate settings such as giant pop-up story caves, The WhirlyBird; Twisted Tales for Terrible Children; and Beastly Belle are certainly not to be missed. Heading into March multi-awarding winning writer, performer, and BBC Radio 4 broadcaster Byron Vincent will bring

his funny and entertaining show, Instagramming the Apocalypse, to Chester Lane Library on Friday 20 March at 7:00pm. Then on Saturday 28 March, a group of local artists will come together in the former Argos store in Church Street for a day of diverse works, including dance, photography, sculptures and live art. Moving into April – a digital maker station will make its way to Bllinge Library on Thursday 9 April. Held during the library’s opening hours of 11:00am-4:00pm –

you can let your imagination run wild by creating digital crafts – and best of all, you don’t have to be a tech whiz to take part. There will be football fever in Parr Library on Saturday 25 April, 1:00pm, when Mikron Theatre perform ‘Atlanta Forever’ 100 years on from when Dick Kerr’s Ladies football team drew a 53,000 crowd to Goodison Park – a side one of St Helens’ famous daughters, the legendary Lily Par, was a part of. Meanwhile, following successful bids to the Arts in Libraries Fund, local artists and performers have been given the opportunity to showcase their talents at a number of exhibitions in libraries around the borough. Pete Fletcher will use his fascination of old and new technology to create a virtual reality film of St Helens Borough which will be premiered at Haydock Library on Thursday 27 February – while on World Book Day (5 March) Rebecca Ainsworth will display her exhibition ‘The Trace of Words’ in Rainhill Library - a video installation made up of words in response to library visitors’ favourite books. Drawing on the history and landscape of where she grew up, Stephanie Fry has used film, photography, collage and audio to bring back two forgotten Billinge locations; the old cinema that used to be on the same site as Billinge Library and the Cold War bunker on Billinge Hill. ‘Threads of History’ will be on display at Billinge Library

on Thursday 12 March. Then from 22 May until 19 June - Alice in Wonderland fans will be in for a treat when Angela Wilkinson brings Exploring Wonderland to Rainford Library which will see re imagined scenes from Lewis Carrol’s much-loved story, using libraries in St Helens as the backdrop. And finally on Friday 3 July at 7:30pm, father and daughter duo Imogen and Jeremy Sleith will hit all the right notes as they perform a collection of new jazz songs titled ‘Songs of Hope and Redemption’ in Rainhill Library as part of their St Helens Jazz Café project. As part of the Cultural Hubs: Arts in Libraries programme, residents looking to lift their mood and self-confidence can also access award-winning ‘arts on prescription’ service ‘Creative Alternatives’. The programme can be offered as an alternative or as an additional treatment for people with mild to moderate depression, anxiety or stress – opening up opportunities to take part in a number of workshops led by trained artists. A Creative Alternatives open day will be held at Peter Street Library on Friday 20 March between 2:00pm- 4:30pm.

St Helens Council’s portfolio holder for libraries, arts, events and culture, Councillor Anthony Burns, said: “We’re really proud of our Cultural Hubs programme and how it has positively impacted communities across the borough, with over 4,000 people engaging with the project last year. “Cultural Hubs is an opportunity for people, who may not usually engage with the arts, to be introduced to the world of arts and culture in a comfortable setting, and I’m delighted to see it return, with more exciting and inclusive events scheduled to take place in our libraries this year.” Cultural Hubs is funded by Arts Council England and delivered by St Helens Council’s Library Service, which is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Look out for a new Cultural Hubs events brochure in libraries and venues across the borough very soon, or alternatively visit www. sthelens.gov.uk/artsinlibraries Keep up to date with what’s happening in your local library by following St Helens Libraries Service on social media. Check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


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Two men arrested following RTC with scrambler bike Officers have arrested two men, both in their 20s from St Helens on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle following a road traffic collision on Travers Entry. The incident happened at around 4:40pm on 9th February when two people riding a scrambler bike collided with a white Mercedes causing damage to the side of the car. Both men made off from the scene, however were detained shortly after in a nearby garden. The 21 year old and 25 year old were arrested and taken to hospital for treatment and later returned to custody. The driver of the car also sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding people driving dangerously, should please call 101, contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously or DM @ MerPolCC #OpTarget


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Spicing it up – new Rochdale restaurant backs town’s food festival

Rochdale's new arrival Bombay Brew will be spicing up the 2020 Rochdale Food & Drink Festival. The Indian street food and craft ale restaurant is sponsoring the festival kitchen when the event returns to the town hall for its 3rd year on Saturday, 4 April 2020. Bombay Brew will be trading at the festival itself, selling street food, hosting menu tastings and their head chef Austin Hopley will be showing off his culinary skills

on the Hill in Littleborough and Noo Meenan from Rochdale's Thai food experts Issan Friends. The Festival Kitchen will be located inside the gothic splendour of Rochdale town hall along with stalls and activities. There'll be an outside food and drink village, an indoor seating area to watch chef demonstrations on a big screen plus a live music stage and lots of other activities. On the Family Stage popular TV presenter and Gastronaut Stefan Gates

new venture Bombay Brew. There is already a strong food and drink offer in the town centre and we need to keep on promoting it to as wide an audience as possible, which is why events like Rochdale Food & Drink Festival are so important. We’ve had a busy first couple of months at Bombay Brew and the team are really looking forward to being part of this festival.” Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community

in the kitchen, revealing how a couple of their most popular dishes are created from scratch. The restaurant, based at 1 Drake Street in the town centre, will also stage festival warm up events in March during the run-up to the event. Television presenter Chris Bavin will be hosting the festival, also introducing local favourite Andrew Nutter, Tom McNeeney from The Oxford, Adolfus Lewis from The Hare

will be performing his shows – promising hilarious, mindblowing edible adventures with food and science stunts including food rockets, edible chemical reactions, magical colour-changing cocktails and more. ‘A great addition’. Ben Boothman, owner of Bombay Brew said: “I have supported many local events over the years and this festival is a great opportunity for our latest

and culture at the council, added: “Having one of our new restaurants on board is a great addition, adding value and expertise to the festival. We are grateful to businesses who support this event, who share our goal of celebrating Rochdale’s wonderful food and drink offer to visitors and locals all year round.” Rochdale Food & Drink Festival is on from 11am6pm, Saturday 4 April 2020.


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MasterChef winner to create dishes from Cumbrian produce at 2020 Lakes Hospitality Show The winner of MasterChef forthcoming Lakes Hospitality Show from nationally alongside Cumbria Tourism. 2019 has been confirmed on 25 & 26 March 2020, where she and internationally Irini, who impressed as a special guest at the will be creating special dishes made renowned local MasterChef judges in early Cumbrian produce. 2019 thanks to her ambitious methods, says, Irini Tzortzoglou cooking hasn’t been wasting “Coming from Crete, which is any time, having acknowledged by many as the already highlighted European seat of eagerness to local products show hospitality – as well as including Kin a foodie island, I feel that I fit Vodka, Hawkshead right in in Cumbria. Relish, beverages It is a wonderful county which from the Lakes welcomes millions of visitors Distillery, Claire’s every year and its tourism Handmade and industry has such a strong even Windermere culinary focus. Artisan ice cream as “I have always considered potential ingredients myself extremely fortunate for her creations. to have homes in two very One of the region’s different places, Cumbria biggest trade events and Crete, where nature is of 2020, the Lakes stunning, the people are warm Hospitality Show is and hospitable, and much time Cumbria’s longest- is taken by many to produce running show of amazing culinary delights. its kind and is This is my hope for this year’s organised by The LHA show where I will create Lakes Hospitality dishes that I love using great, Association (LHA) world-famous local produce.

“I was honoured to be asked to participate at the LHA show this year and I will very much enjoy bringing together the abundance of wonderful Cumbrian produce made by passionate artisans and elements of my culinary heritage, demonstrating what is possible with only a small amount of effort and time, along with a lot of enthusiasm.” Cumbrian hotelier and Director of the Lakes Hospitality Trade, James Tasker, says, “We’re so pleased to announce Irini as one of our special guests, especially so soon after she brilliantly won such a prestigious TV cooking show. We’re delighted and have no

doubt that Irini will come-up with some amazing ideas and we’re all very excited that she’s planning on using local produce to come up with what are sure to be extremely tasty creations!” The 2020 event will celebrate the show’s 45th anniversary, at the Junction 36 Rural Auction Centre. Just a one minute drive from the M6 motorway, the show is not only one of the biggest in the north of England, but one of the most easily accessible.


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More than 1,250 delegates from across Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and beyond were welcomed through the doors during last year’s two-day event, where the show hosted a recordbreaking 136 stands for a wide range of hospitality businesses including tourist attractions, food and drink suppliers and support services such as IT technology and catering equipment. For 2020, even more exhibition stands have been made available, giving businesses from across Cumbria and the north of England the chance to showcase their products and services to hospitality industry businesses from all over Lancashire, Cheshire, Manchester, Liverpool and the North East. The 2020 Lakes Hospitality Trade Show will also include the introduction of ‘Level 1’; 17 new stands created for smaller or start-up businesses, for just £225+vat for both

days. Also appearing at the a mentor for young managers, training; and also trains and To find out more about Show, visit: www. Lakes Hospitality Show are leads courses for those develops butlers in both exhibiting at the Lakes lakeshospitalitytradeshow. wine expert Joe Wadsack, undertaking customer service private and corporate service. Hospitality Trade co.uk whose TV credentials include regular appearances on shows including Great Food Live, Saturday Kitchen, Ladette to Lady and Richard and Judy. A columnist for The Sunday Express, Joe also writes for magazines including ‘Waitrose Food Illustrated’, ‘Red’ and regular articles in the trade press. Joe also judges at various international wine competitions and acts as a consultant to numerous companies in the wine trade. Meanwhile, Andrew Coy will bring his tales of his 50+ years working in the hospitality trade to the event, putting a focus on how to deliver the very best customer service. Andrew is Proprietor at Simply Banqueting and undertakes consultancy contracts in Private Houses, Villas, Hotels and Venues. Andrew also manages VIP areas at major events, acts as

The steep path from the Sticklebarn pub follows Stickle Ghyll all the way up the valley side giving plenty of excuses to take a breather and wonder at the dramatic waterfalls and rock pools cut into mountainside and the striking views across the valley towards Lingmoor.

1. Leave from the top end of the car park and head through a wooden gate behind Sticklebarn. You'll then pass between some stone walls on the left and a bird feeding station to the right. The stone walls are part of the remains of a fulling mill which was built here in 1453 to clean and felt wool. The mill would have been powered by water wheel using water diverted from Stickle Ghyll (you can still see a channel further up the path on the left which would have provided water). 2. The trail very quickly heads uphill along a well defined path. An enormous amount of work has been done over the years repairing this much

Stickle Tarn trail Route Details Difficulty : Challenging Time : 2 hours Distance : 1.9 miles (3km) Terrain : Steep, well defined, stone pitched path with some short easy scrambling sections Starting Point : Stickle Ghyll Car Park OS Explorer Map OL6

used path. The majority of the route is constructed using a technique called stone pitching. 3. The trail continues onwards and inevitably upwards. The scenery is dramatic so take every opportunity to pause, catch your breath and take in the views. 4. After a while you'll approach a wooden footbridge over the stream. This is the location of the Stickle Ghyll hydro-electric scheme that is helping the National Trust in its aim to become a greener organisation. 5. Once you're over the footbridge you'll start to gain height fairly rapidly as the path becomes steeper and, in places, turns into short scrambles over rocky outcrops. Eventually, as the top ridge comes into view you'll cross back over the stream on to its left side. 6. A few minutes later as you come over the final rise, you'll see the

rewarding sight of Stickle Tarn below the stunning backdrop of Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark. These summits together with Pike

O' Stickle once formed part of the outer rim of a massive volcano. 7. Stick around for a while and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Stickle Tarn.

It's a great spot to dangle your bare feet in the water before retracing your steps back down the same path to your start point.


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Double, double toil and trouble – help a witch escape Selby library

Grab a cauldron and create the perfect spell! Young sorcerers are invited for a day of Magick and Mayhem at Selby library to help a trapped witch break free. Based on the bestselling children’s series, The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol, Selby library has created an escape room for budding witches and wizards aged seven to 11. In teams of five, players will enter the world of Arianwyn, the apprentice witch, and try to save her from her nemesis, Gimma. By solving puzzles and quizzes read by James, they will need to find the right spell to release Arianwyn and

escape from the room. James Nicol, author and library supervisor, said: “It’s very exciting to see my books being adapted into an escape room event. I’m a huge fan of board games and escape rooms, so this is a dream come true. I’m really excited to be involved with being a virtual presence dishing out helpful clues to the participants.” The escape room is running on Monday, 17 February, with morning and afternoon slots. Tickets cost £2.50 and must be pre-booked. The Magick and Mayhem programme of activities is continuing on Friday, 21 February, from 10am to 4pm, when York Bird of Prey will bring owls to the library. At 4pm, James Nicol will talk about the world of The Apprentice Witch, sign books and host the game show Which Witch is Which? Tickets for the talk (ages 6+) are £2.50 and must be pre-

booked. Anybody who is taking part in the escape room will be able to buy tickets for £1. “If you’re looking for something to entertain the kids this half term I would urge you to support your local library and get involved in these unique events,” said County Councillor Greg White, Executive Member for Libraries. “We are very lucky to have James as a member of our library staff, willing to share his writing skills and helping to run the exciting escape room. The game gives children the chance to socialise and test their problem-solving skills with a magical twist.” For more information and to book your tickets, contact Selby library.


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Planning a day out? Discover incredible things to do in North Wales But where to begin? Well, the north east of Wales has plenty of history and is home to North Wale's only World Heritage Site. The coastal regions like Colwyn Bay and Conwy have excellent beaches and family attractions. You’ll find adventure in the mountains of Snowdonia & stunning locations along the Llyn Peninsula. Picture this. An abandoned

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quarry, once the world’s largest, turned into the world’s fastest zip zone. Or how about the world’s first manmade surf lagoon delivering consistent two metre waves. You can even scale to Britain’s lowest point, deep beneath the mountain's of Snowdonia. With all this, it’s no surprise that North Wales has a growing reputation as being the adventure capital of the UK. Underground, on ground or above ground, be prepared for an unforgettable adventure in North Wales. But it’s not all about flying through the air. There are plenty of things to do in North Wales snd Betws-y-Coed for example that don't require a helmet or wetsuit. The region

has an incredibly rich and eventful history & heritage – which has to be explored. Medieval castles dominate historic towns, historical structures can be seen across the region & you can even explore a 4,000 year-old mine! For a comprehensive look at the regions history, be sure to visit North Wales’ intriguing museums. For families, North Wales and Llandudno in particular has a great array of attractions. Adventure parks provide an array of things to do in North Wales including roller coasters, slides and experiences. For a day of discovery, head to one of the regions zoos & aquariums – here, the kids can be

introduced to animals from all over the world. With so much going on, you might forget to take it all in so why not make your stay a bit longer? Whether you are looking for seaside hotels, traditional

bed and breakfasts, quirky glamping and campsites, family friendly holiday and carvan parks or just basic self catering accommodation, all needs and tastes are catered for in North Wales!

And in terms of dining out, Don’t worry. With a wide variety of excellent restaurants, pubs and bars to choose from, you can be certain your stay in North Wales will be a fantastic one!


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HITTING THE BEACH? If you love beaches – then you’ll love North Wales. With 250 miles of coastline, beaches aren't hard to come by. You'll discover a fantastic variety of diverse beaches in North Wales, with something to suit everyone. North Wales’ coastal resorts were made famous by their fabulous beaches. Colwyn Bay beach, for example, has a longer coastline than Rio’s world famous Copacabana beach – that’s a lot of beach! It’s a consistent feature among the coastal resort beaches – long beaches which provide plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves peacefully. For a day beside the beach with the family, the everpopular seaside resorts of Rhyl and Llandudno continue to please. With long beaches

there’s plenty of room to enjoy activities whilst the promenades provide plenty of entertainment. If you’re planning a beach break to North Wales, a visit to one of the Llyn’s beaches is an absolute must. Hidden away, the Llyn’s secluded beaches provide the perfect location for a peaceful getaway. Popular resorts like Abersoch provide a much livelier day at the beach, with plenty of things to do including a world-class water sports programme. The Llyn is even home to one of the best beach bars in the world. Nefyn’s Ty Coch Inn has been voted by users of TripAdvisor as one of top ten beach bars in the world. Being an island certainly has its advantages. You’re never too far away from a beach

when visiting Anglesey. Scattered along the coast, you’ll discover a great array of beaches, from secluded to historic, Anglesey’s beaches

are sure to delight and surprise. If you’re a fan of history, then Anglesey’s beaches and coastline will be for you.

Anglesey has a rich maritime history, which is partly thanks to areas of water having a high copper content, which would help clean the boats

before an excursion. On Anglesey’s beaches you’ll find an array of historically important buildings including churches and lighthouses.


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How to Choose a Wedding Venue: What You Need to Consider Finding the perfect venue is likely to be at the top of any newly engaged couples list. With the venue playing a vital role in the success of your day it’s the big decision you really need to get right. Just like viewing a new property it is easy to become overexcited and fall in love with a place without checking the venue can cater to your requirements, so hitched. co.uk are here to answer that question - how to choose a wedding venue? Wait until you get the feeling Much like finding your dress, the shoes, a new home, it is true that when you view venues you will know if it is right for you. You need to be able to picture yourself there on the day and ensure the style of the building both exterior and interior will work with the theme of your wedding. Finding the right venue in our opinion is the most important factor, once you fall in love with somewhere before rushing in to anything at the very least check the following match your criteria: Is it the right location? Where will your guests be coming from? If they are not local, choosing a venue that is easily accessible, has accommodation on site or hotels in close proximity is desirable. If you have guests coming from abroad how far is the closest international airport? These factors may play a role in your decision making. Is the capacity right for you? Think about whether you need a large capacity wedding venue or a smaller and more intimate wedding venue. The size of the venue is just as important, too small for your number of guests and the room will feel stuffy and overcrowded, too big and guests will feel lost and the space will feel cold. When a space is empty it is hard to imagine how it will look when filled with tables. For this reason we would always advise viewing a venue when it is set up for a wedding. If this is not possible ask to see photographs, most venues should have a photo book or slide-show. Another tip is to ask for a seating plan of the room at capacity, this will give you a good idea of how much

space there is and how comfortably your guests numbers will fit. Ask about the flow of the day Make sure the venue representative talks you through how a typical day runs. The flow of the day is crucial, any long pauses or delays and your guests will become bored. If your ceremony and reception is in the same room how long does the turnaround take, where will the guests be and what will they be doing? This is also relevant between the reception meal and the evening dancing. The weather in the UK can be unpredictable to say the least! If it does rain does the venue have indoor space for the reception drinks? Do they provide a master of ceremonies/ manager? This takes the stress off you and is the best way to make sure all your guests are where they are meant to be at all times. Check the timings. Planning the time of your ceremony is a big decision; when do the venue advise? In our experience weddings of 8-9 hours work well, any longer than this and the atmosphere dwindles towards the end, you want your wedding to end on a high! Also bear in mind where the majority of people will be coming from on the day, leave plenty of time for people to get ready and arrive. Also ask, what set up time is included in the hire fee, when will your suppliers have access to the room and when do things need to be collected? Think about the lighting. Lighting plays an important part in any event, if your ceremony is during the day does the room have lots of natural daylight? During the evening do they provide/ let you bring in candles? Cameras will be a big part of your day so practise your smiles! Bearing this in mind what is the surrounding area around your venue like? Where will your photographs be? If you are looking at a central town hall where will you take outdoor photographs? The view from the venue and any outdoor space is also a massive plus not only for photographs but for your guests enjoyment. Does the venue have grounds or ample outdoor space – this is useful if you have children attending and for guests to stretch their legs for ten minutes after the reception meal. Check the finer details. At the venue viewing stage you will not know every detail of your day however you must ask the venue what is not permitted…. If you envisage a romantic candlelit winter ceremony check the venue permits candles! If you are having your ceremony at the same venue can you throw confetti? Finding these details out early in the planning stage before you book

is essential, you are likely to have an idea of what your day will be like and the venue needs to be able to live up to this, for this reason write a list of….. Make a list of your nonnegotiable's. Before viewing any venues sit down with your partner and discuss any non-negotiable's these could include: Budget – will the venue be able to provide everything you need within your budget, is VAT included in the price, are staff gratuities added and if so are they optional? Catering – What type of cuisine would you like? Can the venue provide this? Suppliers – do you have artistic friends that want to bake the cake or take the photographs? If so check the venue will permit this or do you need to use their recommended suppliers? Live music – if you would like a band does the venue permit this? If you would like a string quartet during reception drinks do the venue allow music outside?

Fireworks, sparklers, flame eaters etc. – if you have any different entertainment ideas check your venue will allow it. Finding your venue will

be one of the big milestones in your wedding planning and will determine your date, location and therefore will impact a lot of your other

wedding planning decisions. You may even want to consider finding a wedding dress that perfectly suits your venue.


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The Tipsy Truck Co Born out of a passion for hospitality and fantastic customer service, Martin and Rachel decided it was time for

them to bite the bullet and “Go for it”! Both Martin & Rachel started their careers in hospitality, Martin as a chef and Rachel front of house supervisor,

in the restaurant and on the bar. Their careers were leading to running their own business, when, whilst pregnant, complications occurred and their eldest Jake, was born 13 weeks early. Rachel decided to give up her career, as Jake was later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and left confined to a wheelchair. The couple put their plans for a business on hold, and 2 more children later, Martin and Rachel have a fantastic family with 3 amazing children, Jake, Olivia and Isaac. Martin moved into Hospitality training and Rachel brought up the children and became Jakes full time

carer. Then, in the autumn of 2018, things were about to take a turn…………... After watching a section on “This Morning” Rachel came up with an idea to convert a vintage horsebox into a bar that specialises in Gin. With Martin still heavily involved in the hospitality industry as a hospitality trainer, he was up to date with current trends, legislation and with a backlog of contacts in the industry, the idea quickly developed into a passion and so Hilda was born! With their colossal knowledge of Gin, they decided this was the area they would like to specialise in. After getting in touch with a few conversion companies, they decided to go with “Bespoke Conversions” in Widnes and after meeting Paula and Mark, they knew they had made the right choice. Bespoke Conversions sourced us a vintage “Rice Beaufort” horsebox, she was rescued from a field and at over 55 years old, she needed a little TLC. Rachel designed the trailer, from the colour, the layout, fixtures and fittings, wallpaper and accessories, Paula and Mark got to it and 5 months later, she was ready to roll. They decided to focus on local producers and suppliers, “We love the Ribble Valley” said the couple, “and being from Clitheroe, we have the best suppliers on our doorstep”. They have travelled the UK and seen many establishments, bars,

restaurants, pubs, etc… all serving Gin is various ways, from the perfect serve to personal preference, at the end of the day, it’s down to the customers taste when it comes to mixers and garnish. So, the bar carries a wide selection of Gins, over 40 from around the UK and afar and every flavour of mixer you can think of to accompany your preferred Gin. “We will always give our opinion and personal taste to Gin, but we make sure we tailor it to the customers preference, after all, the customer is always right!” The Tipsy Truck Co are also passionate about the environment, so all their accessories are recyclable and environmentally friendly, from their cups, straws and stirrers, to the cardboard they receive their deliveries in, it’s all handled and disposed of safely and responsibly. The Tipsy Truck has a 5-star rating for Food Safety and Martin has his personal licence for

the sale of alcohol, so you’re in good hands! They have fabulous family and friends who have helped them out, their cousins keep Hilda safe and sound on their farm, their parents help with the accounts and maintenance, their close friends who have a Clitheroe pub and keep us informed of new stock lines. “We have our fantastic kids who help with setting up and serving”. Their daughter Olivia has worked in restaurants and hotels, so she helps them at busy events whilst taking time out from her studies at University at Chester, Isaac helps them to set up for events and Jake keeps things organised at home, he also helps Rachel write the menu boards and corrects any spelling mistakes (he takes absolute pleasure in correcting her!). Jake enjoys books and literature and is hoping to become a famous author one day…...watch this space!


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Below is “Our story” taken from the website - www. tipsytruck.co.uk. “We are The Tipsy Truck Co, passionately known as “Hilda” She is a vintage Rice trailer, lovingly converted bespoke to our specification. We can provide all your beverage requirements, served by our professional and qualified team from Hilda whatever the occasion. We are really happy to attend any event, weddings, festivals, Christmas markets, etc… anywhere we can park up, we will attend and provide and excellent service and quality beverages. We are fully licensed and H&S/Food safety qualified and we have both worked in Hospitality for over 30 years combined. We are a husband and wife team, both passionate about the industry and providing excellent customer service and with a good dose of humour, you won’t be disappointed with our service and products. Our Hilda is stylish, trendy and will fit any occasion, whether it’s a large festival, or a family gathering, a wedding or a corporate event, we will tailor it to fit your preference. We will even personalise Hilda with your colour scheme or we will add your favourite “Tipple” on our bar menu, we can be as bespoke as Hilda is, nothing is too much trouble!” As a business, we can offer so much more than just a bar, our tariffs below can be made to suit your needs and whatever your budget, we can work around this o make your event magical! The options are. Cash Bar - We turn up fully stocked, staffed, and ready to go. Guests pay for their drinks

as they would at any event or bar. Dry Bar - Hire the “Tipsy Truck” and bar staff, fill her up with your drinks, accompaniments, etc… and we’ll do the rest! Or we can source the drink supplies for you, a small fee will be charged to cover this additional service. Complimentary bar - We will serve your guests up to the arranged limit, once it’s gone, you can either top up the amount or we will revert to a cash bar where guests buy their own. The couple have a wealth of contacts from the industry, from chefs to mixologists, wine experts to BBQ Kings (or Queens!), whatever you need, we can source it for you! Additional services. Glass hire Arrival drinks for wedding receptions, etc… Canape service Food caterers sourced Additional staff for your event. Indoor “Pop-up-Bar” new for summer 2020! Nothing is impossible…………. Their recent Christmas events have been amazing, “We have made some amazing trader friends and met some fantastic people along the way, plus a huge variety of dogs, so we are always on hand with a bowl of water and bucket full of doggy treats!” Their own special recipe for “Mulled Gin” was warmly received, with a choice of flavours, they can even “pimp” up your winter warmer to and kept the Christmas shoppers in the festive spirit. Rachel also developed the Tipsy “Gin-Secco” which has been very popular at their events. So, what’s new for 2020! “We are gearing up to move into the wedding trade, we have already had interest from Marquee and Tipi wedding companies around the North West and will be involved with a local company with their marketing campaign, so that will be exciting”. “We feel Hilda will be a fabulous addition to any wedding day, she can be decorated in the brides and grooms colour scheme, we can have arrival drinks and canapes, full bar

option and we can even make up a drinks menu of all the happy couples favourite drinks, nothing is too much trouble for us to make their day that little bit more special. We have plans for an indoor “Pop-up–Bar” option, this will mean that we can bring all our service indoors for smaller events or customers who are unable to have Hilda at their event. It will be the same service, same quality drinks, but all indoors, so the weather will have no effect on the event or special occasion. We can even place the bar under cover outdoors, this way we can supply a bar for any situation, occasion and event to our customers needs”. They are also looking to expand to another horsebox bar, “We haven’t yet decided on the service we will provide yet, but I’m sure it will be fantastic and we can’t wait for what the future holds for the Tipsy Truck Co!” If you would like “Hilda” to attend your event, help you to plan your big day and bring a little “Hilda magic” to your special occasion, then give us a call and we can create a bespoke package for you.

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“We look forward to joining you on your special day or at your fabulous event!” Martin & Rachel Houghton The Tipsy Truck Co Clitheroe Lancashire 07368692633/07590477626 enquiries@tipsytruck.co.uk www.tipsytruck.co.uk Facebook – The Tipsy Truck Company Instagram – tipsytruckco (#tipsytruck) Twitter - @TruckTipsy


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Planning for your Wedding Day 2020 As couples plan for their big day for 2020 now is the time to get into shape. and start organizing for what will be the best day of their lives. For the bride, you can’t start earlier enough. You want to arrive at the alter looking vibrant with health and beauty, so what better excuse do you need to invest a little bit of time, money and energy in getting you there? Whether it is planning a few pampering trips to some spas or joining a gym, not only can you trim your figure, you’ll do wonders for your complexion and overall energy levels. Shopping for the wedding dress is probably the part of the wedding plans you are looking forward to more than any other aspect. The majority of bridal gowns bought in the UK are classed as ‘off the peg.’ You try on a sample of the gown in the shop; they take your measurements and order the most appropriate size for you which is then delivered to the shop for alterations to fit your exact shape and size.

Don’t panic, there may be a huge amount to do but here is a handy checklist with some of the main points to take into consideration in the build up to the big day! 12 months before… Choose a wedding date Decide on a budget Make a list of guests and decide on numbers Book your Church/Ceremony location. Book your reception venue/caterers. Choose your Bridesmaids, Ushers and Best Man. Start looking for The Dress!. Choose and book your photographer 8 months before… Choose bridesmaids’ dresses Book entertainment Choose and order your wedding cake Make an appointment with your chosen florist 6 months before... Give Notice of Marriage Purchase or hire menswear Select your wedding rings 4 months before... Send out your wedding invitations Arrange fittings for the

wedding dress and menswear 1 month before... Arrange a final fitting of your wedding dress your bridesmaids, ushers and best man. Enjoy your hen and stag parties! 2 weeks before... Confirm the date and time of the rehearsal to the relevant people 1 week before... Arrange to collect your wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses and the menswear Have all your beauty treatments Drink plenty of water and have some early nights Relax and enjoy this time – all your hard work is about to come to completion!

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30 YEARS IN CARE In May 1989, Mary Lee founded a small company dedicated to providing a personal and person-centred care service in Alcester, enabling its customers to remain in the comfort of their own home while still receiving the support that they needed. Since then, Helping Hands has opened 97 branches across the UK alongside a dedicated Support Centre in the small Warwickshire

town it was founded. With an exceptional level of carer training and a team of dedicated clinical nurses and dementia specialists, Helping Hands is the only homecare provider that has been endorsed as a Centre of Excellence by Skills for Care, as well as being fully licensed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Whether you need a 30-minute drop-in to help you prepare your meal, or more complex

and intensive support that involves overnight or livein care, the Helping Hands team will provide you with

a dedicated support plan that is tailored to you and your individual needs. Regardless of your requirements, the carers at Helping Hands are fully trained and experienced in supporting a range of conditions including cerebral palsy, ADHD and

neurological conditions such as MS and motor neurone disease. Helping Hands is also one of the UK’s leading dementia care specialists, offering extensive knowledge in dementia care and fully-trained carers to support you and your loved

ones while enabling you to remain comfortable in the familiarities of your own home. Since it was founded 30 years ago, Helping Hands remains a family-run business that is now managed by Mary’s sons, Tim and Ben. When asked about the progress of Helping Hands in the industry, Mary said: “I started Helping Hands as I believed there was a gap in care for the community that social services could not provide. I had no idea we would grow to such a large caring family.”


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Martin Mere Careers in Lancashire Police

Step into a wilder world. Come and enjoy each season; from ducklings to migrating swans - you’ll be amazed at how close you can get to fantastic wetland wildlife.

We offer hands-on experiences in amazing wetland habitats, linking with your work on adaptations and survival, food chains, the water cycle, birds and many more topics.

Policing Lancashire is no easy task. It takes a huge number of people from all sorts of different backgrounds with a wide range of skills and experience. Do you have what it takes to be one of them? Lancashire Police are planning to open Police Officer applications in Spring 2020. In the meantime, if you would like to receive confirmation of the opening date for Police Officer applications and useful information about becoming a Police Officer, you can register your interest at www.lancashire.police.uk/ JoinUs We can cater for a wide range What's Life Like as a Police of ages, needs and abilities, so Constable? get in touch to book a fantastic All new Police Constables at Lancashire Police spend day at Martin Mere.

their first 2 years working on emergency response. You'll find yourself: • Providing a police presence in town centres on a Friday night • Responding to domestic violence incidents • Helping people who are going through a mental health crisis. It's a 24/7 service. That means you'll be providing support around the clock including weekends and during the holidays. It's fast paced. Lots of Police Officers thrive off the fast paced business of responding to emergencies and stay in 'response' for many years. Others find a different area that interests them and go on

to specialise. This could be: • Supporting victims of abuse • Solving serious crimes • Working in counter terrorism • Preventing cyber crime. It's supported. Whatever you choose, you’ll have a full training programme to get you started. We also offer defined pathways to help you to meet your career goals. It's diverse. Here in Lancashire we are working towards a workforce that better represents the communities we serve. This will ensure we are better able to respond to and meet the needs of our local communities and better understand all cultures and lifestyles.


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Want to advertise here? call: 0115 6972677

Want to advertise here? call: 0115 6972677

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Kingfisher Caravan Park

wins top award for seventh year East Lindsey District Council's Kingfisher Caravan Park has once again secured the Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award, marking the seventh consecutive year the Park has achieved the accolade. The David Bellamy Conservation Award is one of the longest running green tourism awards in the UK and champions holiday parks that are working to protect and enhance Britain's natural environment. The Park, which is located on Sea Lane, Ingoldmells, has been assessed by the scheme's team of local wildlife experts and has been scored in across a range of criteria in three key areas: Good Neighbourliness, Sustainability and Ecological Management. The Park team were praised for their work in each area, with the assessor specifically

commending the excellent links between the Park and the local community, the recruitment of a Park Development Manager and the Park's longer term plans. The scheme also awards Parks a number of badges for work on specific areas and this year Kingfisher successfully secured three of those badges: Woodland Habitat, Wildflower Habitat and Hedgerow Habitat. Kingfisher Park Development Manager, Mickey Reeson, said: " W e ' r e delighted to have secured the Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award once more. We take great pride in the work we do

and the national recognition we receive through this Award is a testament to our whole team." Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Richard Fry, added: "We were saddened to hear of the passing of David Bellamy, who founded these Awards. His tireless work in establishing these conservation awards will ensure his legacy lives on and I'd like to pass on my condolences to his family."

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BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS ANNOUNCES EXCITING COLLABORATION FOR NEW INSTALLATION

Lancaster University (l-r) Kobi Hartley, Lorraine Underwood, Miriam Sturdee & Prof Joe Finney

One of the UK’s top universities is joining forces with an innovative young designer to create a spectacular light installation for this year’s world-famous Blackpool Illuminations. Jack Irving, known for his amazing costume designs for Lady Gaga, will collaborate with a team of computer scientists from Lancaster University after the two were named as winners of a £100k competition to deliver the new

attraction in the 2020 display. Jack and the university team, led by Professor Joe Finney, were among numerous entrants from all over the world vying for the unique opportunity to be part of Blackpool Illuminations. A panel of judges, chaired by Blackpool Illuminations creative curator, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, decided to award the prize to joint winners, with Jack providing the creative content and

Professor Finney’s team providing the technical expertise. Their concept will incorporate deep sea creatures brought to life in a high-tech, interactive projection show on the Promenade close to The Blackpool Tower. The project will now move from concept to manufacture stage with the two teams working together to create the installation which will be unveiled in time for the switch on of this year’s Blackpool

Illuminations on September 4. Jack, 26, born and raised just a couple of miles down the coast from Blackpool, said: “It’s been a childhood dream of mine to design part of Blackpool Illuminations and so excited that this competition has made my dreams come true. “Being brought up next to the sea, my fascination with the eye-catching creatures and organisms that live there, has been my inspiration for the design. “It’s a little appreciated fact that most of the animals in our ocean make light. This phenomenon is called bioluminescence. I have used this as my inspiration for my Illuminations design” Professor Finney, from Lancaster University’s School of Computing and Communications, added: “Lancaster University is committed to local, regional and international public engagement, and we are really excited about this opportunity to create a unique and

engaging visitor experience for this year’s Blackpool Illuminations. “This project provides a great example of the creative and collaborative nature of modern Computer Science, and how it can transform our daily lives.” Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council said: “The whole purpose of the Blackpool Illuminations competition was to bring exciting design and technological expertise to the table. “It has done exactly that with some incredible concepts submitted from designers and artists across the world. “When it is completed, this project will add a completely new dimension to the 2020 Blackpool Illuminations display.” Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen added: “Judging by the sheer number of extraordinarily exciting entries, there’s no doubt in my mind that our Illuminations X-factor style competition has captured the

imagination of the creative world. Young and old, professionals and amateurs, From Fylde to Australia we’ve had some truly illuminating ideas.” Other short-listed entrants included The Guild Hall School of Music and Drama and Lisa Ashcroft, an artist born in Preston, but now working in Australia. The new light installation will be revealed during the Blackpool Illuminations season which runs from September 4 to November 8 this year and will be located on the Tower Festival Headland. For further information, please go to visitblackpool. com/illuminations.

Jack Irving


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Duo depart Rovers

Rovers can confirm the departures of our two longest serving players - Jess Holbrook and Alex Taylor. Holbrook, 27, made 165 appearances in blue and white after joining from Manchester City, scoring 37 times from the middle of the park. The former England Youth international scored Rovers’ 100th goal of the 2016-17 campaign before being named Managers’ Player of the Season the following season. And last season, the midfielder was named Rovers’ Ladies Footballer of the Year, as well as picking up both Managers’ Player and Players’ Player of the Season at Rovers Ladies’ End of Season Awards. She had made 14 appearances this campaign, with two assists in Rovers’ first Championship season. Taylor racked up 158 games in six seasons for the Blues, netting 21 goals in the process. She was Rovers' Players’ Player of the Season in 2017/18 and picked up the Goal of the Season Award the previous campaign. Known as a utility player, she played in almost every position for the club, with a record-breaking three-minute hat-trick after coming off the bench at home to Middlesbrough in 2018-19. The 24-year-old played 12 times this season, scoring a goal of the season contender at Villa Park back in September. We would like to wish both players well for the future.

Goodridge Pens New Deal Midfielder Mace Goodridge has signed a new contract with the Clarets, extending his stay at Turf Moor until the summer of 2021. The central midfielder, who joined the Clarets in the summer of 2018, is a regular for the club’s U23 side and was named on substitutes bench for the first team at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League earlier this season. Goodridge, 20, originally started out at Manchester City, before spending two years at Newcastle United in the youth team, where he played alongside current Magpies midfielder Matty Longstaff. After an initial trial spell with the Clarets towards the end of the 2017/18 season, Goodridge then signed a first professional deal at Turf Moor, before going onto feature for the first team in pre-season of 2018/19. A serious knee-injury cut the season short in October last season, but after successful surgery, Goodridge signed a contract extension and was back in action for the U23s

in September last year, where he has been a key figure since returning. Goodridge smiled: “I’m really happy, to get it over the line, I’ve worked hard to get back from my injury, so I’m delighted to get it done. “Obviously, I have been in and around the first team a couple of times and that’s where I want to be. “You can see how well the first team lads have done, come through a tough patch against top teams recently and

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I want to be a part of that someday. “I really enjoy being here, it’s my third season here now and I’m delighted to be here for a fourth come pre-season. “And although I have been to a few clubs, I really feel like I have found a home here and I’m ready to kick on.”


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Lowton: We're In A Great Position Defender looking to kick on after helping revive Clarets' fortunes. Matt Lowton is aiming for a big finish when the Clarets get back to Premier League duty. Sean Dyche’s men have dug deep to transform their fortunes in a superb threematch unbeaten run. After slipping down the table on the back of a four-match

losing streak post-Christmas, Burnley have bounced back to beat Leicester City and Manchester United and take a first point from Arsenal in 11 attempts. And after the chance to re-charge their batteries in the Premier League’s first winter break, Lowton will be looking to pick up where he and his team-mates have left off. “They’re three tough games we’ve just played and

we’ve got the points there so we are all buzzing,” said the Clarets’ defender, who has bounced back himself after a tough time either side of the festive programme.“It’s a nice break now to get the legs rested and then we’ll be looking to finish the season off strong. “We have put ourselves in a great position and we will keep building to put points

on the board and try and finish as high as we can.” Lowton helped the Clarets keep a second successive clean sheet as he bagged the man-of-the-match honours in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with the Gunners. And with 13 games to go, Dyche’s side have lifted themselves back up to 11th place in the table – seven points clear of the drop zone – by playing some of their

best football of the season. “I thought the performance was bang-on,” Lowton added after Arsenal were left hanging on at a buoyant Turf Moor. “We didn’t quite get the finishes we needed to get three points. “But as long as the performances are there and we keep building. “The last three games have been tough on paper and we’ve come out with seven points, so

we’re going in the right direction. “Three games ago we were looking over our shoulders with three tough games coming up. “But it shows the character and the squad depth we’ve got to come away with seven points from those three games and now we’re looking to build on it.”

Diallo: We're all on the same wavelength Stanley midfielder Sadou Diallo previews tomorrow night's trip to face Shrewsbury Town. Having not had a game over the weekend, Accrington Stanley midfielder Sadou Diallo admits that it’s highly important to secure all three points away at Shrewsbury Town tomorrow night. The Reds had been scheduled to play Bury last Saturday, but Diallo admits that all he and the rest of the squad can do is remain professional and keep training as they usually would. “Sometimes you don’t really want to have time off during the season, especially after a win. “We’ve got to be professional though and we’ve got to go into tomorrow night’s game as we would do for any other. “If you have days off you don’t really train as a team, but we’ve had to make sure that we’re professional and

do the right things. “If you need to do some gym work or do some running, then you’ve got to make sure that you do it in order to be ready for the next game.” John Coleman’s side secured a 2-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon in their last time out, and Diallo wants to take that winning momentum into tomorrow night’s fixture at Montgomery Waters Meadow. “We’ve got to take the momentum from the win over Wimbledon into the game tomorrow night. “We’ve got to ensure that we’re going into every game wanting to win and we’ve always got to be thinking about securing the three points.” Diallo has been operating in a more attacking role in recent games, and the Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee admits that he is enjoying his new role within the team. “I’m playing in a

different role right now, but I’m just happy to be out on the pitch in whatever role the manager wants me to play. “I’ve already gained a lot of experience during my loan spell with the club, so hopefully that can continue and I can keep learning more about the game. “I’ve enjoyed playing further up the pitch because it’s allowing me the opportunity to have more chances in front of goal.” The 21-year-old also explained how he is enjoying being involved in creating chances as part of an attacking and exciting front four, along with Jordan Clark, Joe Pritchard and Dion Charles. “We’re all on the same wavelength and we’re all excited to play. “We saw glimpses of what we’ve got in our lockers in the build-up to Dion’s goal against Wimbledon, so hopefully we’ve got more of

that to offer in the upcoming games.” Following Benny AshleySeal’s arrival on loan from Wolves on transfer deadline day, Diallo is looking forward to being able to play alongside his friend again at the Wham Stadium. “I played with him a lot last year so I know what his game is like and I’m just

excited to play alongside him again. “He’s a good player and he’ll also make you a better player, so I’m excited for the fans to see him play.” The Reds now have two games in five days and the midfielder is hoping that they can secure maximum points from the games against

Shrewsbury and Lincoln City. “With not having a game over the weekend, we just want to get the three points tomorrow night and then move onto the next game. “We’ve got two games in five days now, so we’ve got to be aiming to secure maximum points and hopefully we can do just that.”

Each Edition of the East Lancs Now has an estimated readership of 15,000 from print and online. Published by Wilcop Media Ltd, 92L Rolleston Dr, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 7JP.


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