Lancashire Now 102

FREE Issue. 102 - March 2019 0115 6972677 | www.wilcopmedia.co.uk | sales@wilcopmedia.co.uk

Inside this issue: wALES - CUMBRIA - WEDDINGS

£9 MILLION BOOST FOR LANCASHIRE AS COUNCILS GIVEN GO-AHEAD TO KEEP 75% GROWTH IN BUSINESS RATES LANCASHIRE has been selected to take part in a Business Rates Pilot Scheme that looks set to bring a £9million boost to the county.

The scheme will see 11 borough councils, two unitary authorities, the county council and fire authority keep 75% growth in business rates and work together to deliver economic growth.

see page 7..

£630K boost for electric taxis

see page 3..

Have you renewed your garden waste subscription for 2019/2020

see page 9..

Nominate your local heroes for the 2019 Community Volunteer Awards

see page 36..

10 Things Golfers Love

see page 44..

Difficult decisions as budget is set for 2019/20

see page 9..

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Have Your Say on

Plan for Barrowford In July 2015 Barrowford Parish Council asked Pendle Council to formally designate the parish as a neighbourhood area, so they could prepare a Neighbourhood Plan.

Neil Watson, Pendle Council’s Planning, Building Control and Licensing Manager, explained: “Neighbourhood Plans allow local communities to set out a vision for the future of their area.

“Barrowford was the first parish council in Pendle to take up the challenge back in 2015 and it has now submitted what it considers to be the final version of its Plan.

“Before we pass this to an independent examiner, local residents, businesses and other interested parties have one last chance to comment on its proposals.”

Councillor Paul White, Leader of Pendle Council, said: “The public consultation runs for six weeks and all comments must be received by Pendle Council by 5pm on Friday 22 March 2019.

“Once the plan is made* it is part of the development plan for Pendle and its policies must be considered when making decisions on planning applications.

“This is your opportunity to have your say on the content

of the plan and ensure it reflects how you’d like to see Barrowford develop and grow.” The Barrowford Neighbourhood Plan does not allocate sites for new development. These will be considered in the Local Plan, which is currently being prepared by Pendle Council.

Copies of the Plan and its supporting documents are available on Pendle Council and Barrowford Parish Council websites, and at the following locations during their normal hours of opening: • Pendle Council website – www.pendle.gov.uk/ neighbourhoodplans

• Barrowford Parish Council website – www.barrowford. net/ • Barrowford Parish Council (Holmefield House) • Barrowford Library • The Pavilion Café, Victoria Park, Barrowford • Number One Market Street, Nelson (Head Planning Office) • Nelson Library If you wish to comment on the Plan, representations must be submitted either by email to ldf@pendle.gov.uk or by post to Pendle Council, Strategic Services, Planning, Building Control & Licensing, Town Hall, Market Street, Nelson,

Lancashire, BB9 7LG. Robert Oliver, Chairman of Barrowford Parish Council, said: “Following the public consultation the Neighbourhood Plan, and all the comments received in response to this consultation, will be sent to the independent examiner appointed to conduct the formal examination of the Barrowford Neighbourhood Plan.

“The Examiner will normally recommend that the Plan proceeds to a public referendum, subject to certain amendments.

“Anyone registered to vote in the area covered by the neighbourhood plan will then be entitled to vote in a public referendum.”

If a simple majority of votes are in favour of the Neighbourhood Plan (over 50% of those voting) it will become a consideration in the determination of planning applications from that day onwards.

Council leader welcomes hospitals trust’s “good” rating

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Leader has praised East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust after it was rated good with areas of outstanding in its latest inspection.

The trust, which manages Royal Blackburn Hospital, retained its ‘Good’ overall rating and now has two services rated ‘Outstanding’ in the latest Care Quality Commission inspection report published on https:// www.elht.nhs.uk/news-and-

media/news/east-lancashirehospitals-rated-good-areasoutstanding-following-latestcqc-inspection.

Councillor Mohammed Khan welcomed the news. He said: “This is great news and I want to congratulate Kevin McGee, his management team, the doctors, nurses, other staff and volunteers who keep delivering high standards of care to their patients. It is pleasing to hear Blackburn with Darwen residents have excellent facilities when

they fall ill and need treatment. We know the NHS and hospitals especially have huge challenges at the moment but it’s good to know our hospital is in good hands.

We are committed to continue to work very closely with our local trust to improve the health and wellbeing of all our residents.

£630K boost Sales E: sales@wilcopmedia.co.uk | T: 0115 6972677

for electric taxis Lancaster City Council is delighted to have been successful in a funding bid for the installation of new electric charge points for taxis.

The Department for Transport has announced it is to provide £630K in funding to support ultra-low emission taxis in Lancashire.

The successful bid was submitted by the city council on behalf of itself and five other local authorities and will see the installation of 24 charge points – four per council area – across Lancashire.

The six authorities which formed the winning bid are: Lancaster City Council, Burnley Council, South Ribble Borough Council, Rossendale Borough Council, Fylde Borough Council and Wyre Council.

Coun Andrew Warriner, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental health, said: “As a council we are committed to reducing emissions and improving the

quality of the air our citizens breathe. “We are delighted to receive this funding, which will allow us to support taxi drivers to move towards electric vehicles and reduce pollution.” The new funding is the latest good news in the city council’s priority of

reducing air pollution and its impact on climate change.

Work is currently underway to install charging points at five of its public car parks, which should be completed in the spring. Charging points have also been installed by the council at White Lund

previously been agreed.

County Councillor Towneley said: "We're very glad to be getting our library back and I'm delighted to be given the honour of reopening it soon.

"Libraries are one of the most important services we deliver, and they are very highly valued by Lancashire's communities.

"People in this local community have really missed their library and I couldn't be more pleased that we are delivering on our commitment to reopen it.

"Libraries allow everyone, whatever their circumstances, to be able to access books and information on their doorstep.

"They're also somewhere that people can meet, and all ages can interact and share interests, which means they also play a vital role in helping people to maintain their health and wellbeing."

HELP SHAPE HYNDBURN’S FUTURE TO 2036

Depot and Lancaster Town Hall as the city council begins the process of converting its vehicles from diesel to electric.

Two new electric pool cars and three electric vans have already been added to its fleet in a bid to reduce emissions.

Burnley's Pike Hill Library has reopened Lancashire County Council's flagship programme to reopen libraries which closed in 2016 will mark another milestone this month with the reopening of Pike Hill Library.

The library, on Langwyth Road, was reopened on Wednesday 20 February at 1pm by County Councillor Cosima Towneley, who represents the local area.

Following the closure of 26 of the county's 73 libraries by the council over two years ago, a new administration was elected in May 2017, and decided to re-open as many libraries as possible. Plans have been agreed for the phased reopening of libraries, and Pike Hill is the 14th to reopen following the reopening of Silverdale Library, Parbold Library, Burnley Campus Library, Bolton-le-Sands Library, and Fulwood Library in late 2017, and Freckleton Library, Oswaldtwistle Library, Barrowford Library, Whalley Library and Lostock Hall Library, Thornton Library, Earby Library and Bamber Bridge Library last year.

A further three libraries have reopened as independent community libraries, and plans to reopen another two county-run libraries (Lytham and Cleveleys) and a further two libraries as independent community libraries (Upholland and Penwortham) have also

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Opening times for Pike Hill Library will be: Monday Closed Tuesday 1pm to 7pm Wednesday 9am to 1pm Thursday Closed Friday 1pm to 5pm Saturday 9am to 1pm Sunday Closed You can find out more about Lancashire County Council's libraries by phoning 0300 123 6703, or at www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries Anyone who lives in the UK can join a Lancashire library, either online or by visiting in person. Membership is free and there are no age restrictions.

Local people are being asked their views about how they want the Borough to develop in the future.

Following initial consultation last year 2018, the Council has been preparing the next stages of the new Local Plan.

Local people are now being asked to take part in further consultation on two key documents, to spark debate and discussions in order to plan ahead for the Borough.

Councillor Miles Parkinson, Council Leader, urged people to take part, saying; “The Council has to maintain up-to-date plans to support growth, so there is enough land for homes, jobs and the infrastructure necessary to support them. We’re urging as many people as possible to take part in the debate and help shape the plan which will take the Borough up to 2036.”

Cllr Parkinson added; “The Council is putting forward draft policies for distribution of growth around the Borough and the amount of housing and employment land to plan for each year.

A key element of the growth strategy builds on the Council’s existing commitment to develop the Huncoat Garden Village.

We are also seeking views about sites which might be considered for allocation later in the process.

At this stage no decisions have been taken and so it is important that as many people get involved as

possible and have their say about this.”

The consultation is open now and will run until Monday 8 April. Six public drop-in events will also take place around the Borough during March where people can see a presentation, view information boards and discuss the documents with Council Officers.

Events as follows: • Rishton Conservative Club – Monday 4 March (3.30pm-6.30pm) • Clayton-le-Moors Arthur Wilson Centre – Wednesday 6 March (3.30pm-6.15pm) • Accrington Town Hall – Thursday 7 March (3.30pm6.30pm) • Great Harwood Churchfield House – Wednesday 13 March (3.30pm-6.30pm) • Oswaldtwistle Hippings Vale Centre – Thursday 14 March (3.30pm-6.30pm) Huncoat Primary School – Tuesday 26 March (3.30pm7.30pm – joint event with the Huncoat Masterplan) See a short video explaining the key points of the local plan and how you can get involved in the consultation on the Council’s website here: https://www. h y n d b u r n b c . g o v. u k / hyndburn-local-planconsultation-video-2019/ You’ll also find more information about the consultation on the Councils website at www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/ localplan or call Planning on 01254 388 111.

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City council team are simply the pest Lancaster City Council’s pest control team has been shortlisted for a national award.

Lancaster City Council’s pest control team has been shortlisted for a national award.

The team, which is based at Morecambe Town Hall, has been nominated in the Local Authority of the Year category of the British Pest Management Awards.

The nomination recognises the team’s continued commitment to innovation, which has seen it launch a new commercial arm to offer commercial contracts to businesses.

Called Unbugged, the aim of the new commercial operation is to increase income from pest control services, which will enable the council to continue to provide subsidised services to the public and discounts for people on benefits.

The committed team of pest control technicians now boasts an impressive roster of clients ranging from food outlets, office complexes, shops and restaurants, commercial, industrial and agricultural premises, and local education providers.

Coun Andrew Warriner,

Cabinet member with responsibility for health and housing, said: “This nomination is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the pest control team.

Win or lose, they should feel extremely proud at being nominated for this prestigious award.”

The pest control team offers services dedicated to eradicating all manner of pests from wasps, fleas, bed bugs and beetles to moths, cockroaches and ants – no job is too big or small.

Unbugged also offers a range of bird-proofing services including spiking, netting and gull egg replacement, as well as flying insect control including supply and servicing of flykiller units and fitting of window and door screens.

They’ll find out whether they’ve won the coveted trophy at the awards ceremony on Tuesday March 20.

For more information on pest control services visit Lancaster.gov.uk/pestcontrol or follow them on Twitter @ lcstr_unbugged.

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Try an experience you won't forget!!

Ellerbeck Narrowboats was established in March 2005.

Owned and run by Lucien Burkhardt and Adam Pope.

Adam is a long term served engineer in all types of diesel and gas powered engines whereas Lucien has an administration background, so Adam concentrates on carrying out the work and Lucien concentrates on running the business. Adam and Lucien started P B Mechanical Services from a larger than normal garden shed from their then home in Swinton, Manchester. Lucien left his job as an Insurance Underwriter and Adam left his as a Service Engineer to set up the business in January 2002.

Initially the business was set

up to trade as Corgi registered domestic and commercial gas engineers. It wasn’t until one day when Adam and Lucien were out fitting one of their remanufactured BMC engines that the customer showed them a copy of Waterways World magazine with an advert that L&L Cruisers Ltd in Chorley was up for sale.

They decided to give the sale agents a call to arrange to have a look as it was only 20 miles from Swinton so keeping all of their existing customers was possible. They met the previous owners, explained their predicament, and the previous owners offered them a deal to rent the workshop for six months, decide if they liked it and then

buy the workshop, the rest of the business.

This was a fantastic offer, one they could not refuse to investigate. They moved into the workshop in October 2003 and agreed to purchase the workshop after the six month rental period. So in April 2004 Adam and Lucien owned a canal side workshop. One of there customers was a couple from New Zealand who purchased a boat to live on in England. The boat needed quite a lot of mechanical repair work, in turn Lucien and Adam became good friends with the owners of narrowboat “Aroha”.

In March 2005 the owners of “Aroha” decided to move off

the boat to live in Scotland and offered Adam and Lucien the opportunity to use “Aroha” as a weekly hire boat. As L&L Cruisers Ltd was one time a big narrowboat hire company this seemed a good idea.

This lead to the creation of Ellerbeck Narrowboats.

The weekly hire boat business went well, with lots of happy customers, but complications arose when “Aroha”‘s owners decided that they needed to sell her. With the purchase of the rest of L&L Cruisers Ltd looming, which included the day boat hire business, Adam and Lucien couldn’t afford to buy “Aroha” and provide the necessary deposit for the next stage of buying the boatyard.

It was decided the the weekly hire business would no longer be in operation from January 2008. It was an amicable decision and Adam and Lucien are still good friends with them today. In April 2008, Ellerbeck Narrowboats daily and evening hire began operation. Today you can enjoy a day on the canal with your friends, family or work colleages. Ideal for family days out, friends, reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, work outings, etc.

Ellerbeck Narrowboats are available to hire during the day or for the evening. They are easy to handle, so no previous experience is necessary.

Ellerbeck pride themselves

on our training and are RYA Inland Waters Helmsman certified. When you arrive we will conduct a safety brief, demonstrate how the boats works, offer everyone in the group bouyancy aids and will offer to come out with you to show you how to steer the boat, turn it around, moor up, tie up and explain the rules of the waterways. We are in the middle of a 12 mile stretch of canal between locks as the boats are not permitted to travel through the locks. A detailed explanation of how to hire a boat from the initial enquiry to the time you get home from your day out can be found by visiting www. boatstohire.co.uk/boat-hire

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New team to crackdown

on littering and dog fouling A new team of six enforcers start work in Pendle in February to help tackle the problems of littering and dog fouling. “We’re having a new crackdown on people who are bringing parts of Pendle down,” announced Councillor Paul White, Leader of Pendle Council. “As councillors, the number one complaint we get is about dog dirt and littering.

“We’ve listened to residents and we’re taking tough action to clamp down on those who litter and on people who don’t clean up after their dogs.

“The aim is simply to make Pendle a cleaner place, because it’s infuriating for those residents who do look after our area to see others spoiling it”.

Feedback from over 500 people who took part in the Council’s recent Life in Pendle survey also shows that clean streets and tackling

the problems of littering and dog fouling are top priorities for people. Pendle Council made the decision in early December to take on the team of enforcement officers for a 12 month trial at no cost to the Council. The decision follows finding out how teams of district enforcers have worked well in other areas, including Rossendale and Blackburn with Darwen.

Councillor White added: Littering is an environmental crime and the fine for littering has recently increased to £150, or £80 for early payment and the fine for dog fouling has increased from £75 to £100.

Local people can flag up problem hotspots for littering and dog fouling online www. pendle.gov.uk/doitonline “We’re urging people to provide as many details as possible to help us catch the culprits,” said David

Alexander, Pendle Council’s Senior Officer.

“This new team means that we will free up time for our Environmental Crime Officers to tackle lengthier problems such as investigating fly tips and work to bring the culprits to court,” David explained.

“We have one of the best Environmental Crime teams in the country which has been featured in two TV series of Dom on the Spot.

The show, which is fronted

by People’s champion Dom Littlewood, follows law enforcers across the UK as they catch and fine people for fly-tipping and littering.

“But this is a huge task and our team cannot cover every area of Pendle and also devote the investigation time they need to tackle fly tipping, at the same time,” he explained.

Facts about litter, dog fouling and fly tipping

Since April 2018 Pendle Council’s Enforcement Team has issued well over 100 fines.

22 people have been prosecuted for flytipping resulting in £2,000 in fines The fixed penalty for this offence is £400 52 people have been prosecuted for littering

resulting in £3,375 in fines 20 people have been prosecuted for littering from a vehicle with fines totalling £1,500 12 people have been prosecuted for dog fouling offences resulting in £600 in fines And we’re getting tougher!

Fines have recently gone up for people committing environmental crimes in Pendle.

Littering fixed fines were £75 and are now £150 Littering from a vehicle fines were £75 and are now £150 Dog fouling fines were £75 but are now £100

Nominations are open for 2019 design awards If you have a favourite building or development you feel is a real asset to your area then why don’t you nominate it for West Lancashire Borough Council’s design awards.

Nominations are being sought for the 2019 West Lancashire Design Awards, which aim to acknowledge and promote the importance of good quality development and building design.

Northwest making in the North.

The award scheme shows the Council’s commitment in showcasing good design and in particular showing how well-designed buildings and places can greatly improve our local environment and contribute to a sense of place. Judging in the awards will be in five categories: • Residential developments creating more than one new property

• New single dwellings and extensions to existing property • The conversion and re-use of existing buildings • Commercial developments • Landscaping proposals.

Awards will be given for designs which contribute to the overall quality of the borough and will focus on community, economic and environmental regeneration and the use of sustainable building techniques.

Buildings and sites must have been completed after June 2017 to be eligible for entry.

Councillor John Hodson, portfolio holder for Planning, said: “It is important to recognise and reward well designed new developments. I encourage people to nominate the buildings and schemes they feel have enhanced the area they live in.

“The Council is committed to encouraging good design throughout the borough and the awards are a great way to

celebrate distinctive, highquality development here in West Lancashire. “The award scheme, which has been running since 1989, highlights the Council’s wish to work in partnership with architects, developers, owners and other agencies involved in planning to improve our built environment and the quality of life for all the residents of West Lancashire.” You can nominate online or download the forms by visiting www.westlancs. gov.uk/design. Alternatively the nomination forms are available at, the Customer Service Points in Derby Street, Ormskirk, and The Concourse, Skelmersdale, or by emailing Ian Bond, Heritage and Environment Manager, at ian.bond@ westlancs.gov.uk or calling 01695 585167. The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Friday 17 May 2019.

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£9 MILLION BOOST FOR LANCASHIRE AS COUNCILS

GIVEN GO-AHEAD TO KEEP 75% GROWTH IN BUSINESS RATES LANCASHIRE has been selected to take part in a Business Rates Pilot Scheme that looks set to bring a £9million boost to the county.

The scheme will see 11 borough councils, two unitary authorities, the county council and fire authority keep 75% growth in business rates and work together to deliver economic growth.

It will help to provide financial stability to the 15 participants and more funding to invest in services at a time when local authority budgets are under intense pressure.

It will also increase resources to target strategic economic growth across the county.

The councils involved have a combined collectible rate income of more than £360million.

Geoff Driver CBE, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “We are pleased to be selected for this national pilot scheme. We have worked with our partners to successfully bring this to Lancashire, which will result

in an additional £9m boost for the county. This is welcome news, as the extra funding will help to support our work to deliver high-quality services at a time of increasing pressures and demands on services. This scheme should also bring additional support for economic growth, which is one of our key priorities.”

Martyn Rawlinson, cabinet member for resources at Preston City Council, said: “We are pleased to be taking part in this scheme, which will bring much- needed income to the authorities taking part. Our budgets have been squeezed for a number of years and ultimately that affects jobs and the services we provide to residents.

Preston is already seeing the rewards from recent growth and we continue to seek further investment in the city for the benefit of everyone.”

Joyce Plummer, cabinet member for resources at Hyndburn Council, said; “We welcome the news of this successful bid for additional

funds to be retained in the county. It helps to reinforce our goal to support business growth in Hyndburn and will benefit our residents.”

Alan Vincent, deputy leader and portfolio holder for resources at Wyre Council said: “This is a great example of the benefits that can be achieved by councils and the Government working together. We are hopeful that based on the financial modelling done by the authorities involved this will bring real cash into Wyre to help maintain the excellent services we provide.”

Ken Hind, leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council, which is the lead authority for the scheme, added: “We have much to gain from this scheme and are delighted to be taking part in it. We have set a course for growth and this means our efforts to encourage more businesses, jobs and prosperity will pay dividends, as we will all be able to share in the pooled rewards.

“I would like to thank Lancashire finance officers for putting the successful bid together, which should bring an extra £9million to the county and is an excellent example of partnership working for the benefit of our communities.”

The pilot scheme starts on April 1 2019 and will test whether full retention of

business rates can be rolled out nationally.

The Government’s aim is for all local authorities to retain 75% of business rates by 2020-21.

Business rates are charged on most non-domestic properties, such as shops, offices, pubs, factories, holiday rental homes and guest houses, with levels set by the Valuation

Agency.

The following councils are taking part in the scheme: Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre, along with Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority.

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Have you renewed your garden Difficult decisions as waste subscription for 2019/2020 Residents who want to avoid several trips to the tip this year with their garden waste may wish to subscribe to our garden wast During its second year of operation, the subscription service was used by more than 21,000 households, with some residents sharing bins with neighbours to halve the cost.

Others households with gardens chose to use alternatives such as home composting or preferred to

take their garden waste to a household waste recycling centre themselves.

For 2019/20, the subscription cost remains at £40 per bin, for collections from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020. Residents already subscribed to the service should have received an email or letter with instructions on how to quickly and conveniently renew their subscription. Those who haven’t and new subscribers should visit www.lancaster.

gov.uk/gardenwaste to sign up to the service beginning on April 1. Those who already use the service are being advised to re-subscribe by the end of February to ensure a continuous collection service.

Residents who no longer wish to use the service do not need to do anything – their subscription will cease on March 31 and they will no longer receive garden waste collections. e collection service for 2019/20.

NEW PLAY AREA COMING SOON TO MILNSHAW PARK A historic Accrington park is set to have a large new £120,000 play area installed soon.

Milnshaw Park, opened as Accrington’s first park in 1880, will soon boast a brand new play area for local children to enjoy, when a brand new facility is opened there in the summer.

Local children were asked what they’d like to see in their park and as a result the project will see an aerial runway, basket swing, large rotator, swings and a ‘skynet’, a pyramid shaped large net and

a climbing wall installed. For the younger children there’ll be a colourful climbing structure in the shape of a train, with a slide at one end.

The Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, working closely with Hyndburn Borough Council have secured a grant from the Lancashire Environmental Fund for £30,000 with Hyndburn Council providing the remainder to help deliver this dream.

Councillor Paul Cox, a member of Milnshaw Residents Association, said; “Providing the new play

area within Milnshaw Park compliments other recent improvements to the park including a large multi-use games area. This new addition is part of a long term plan to improve the park for the local community and one we’ve been working on for many years. Huge thanks to local children and community groups like the Milnshaw Residents Association and Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, who have helped us to deliver this vision”.

Tom Dunne, Chair of Milnshaw Residents Association; said; “It’s great that the park will soon have a new and improved play area for local children to enjoy.”

Cath Holmes from the Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, said; “This is fantastic news for one of Hyndburn’s much loved green spaces and the children in the area.”

budget is set for 2019/20 Council Tax in Blackburn and Darwen will be recommended to remain the second lowest in Lancashire despite proposals to raise it in the coming year while vital services remain under pressure.

The proposed increase of 2.99% is a weekly increase of 56p for a Band A Council Tax payer and 84p for a Band D property.

The proposals are due to be debated and decided at a meeting of the Finance Council on Monday, February 25th 2019.

Councillor Andy Kay, Executive Member for Resources at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: Every year the Council has to agree a balanced budget. As we are facing a £8m funding gap during 2019/2020 we have little choice but to ask residents to pay more. We managed to freeze it for five years but that’s no longer possible.

Government assumed we would increase Council Tax by this amount when they

set our funding for 2019/20.

Even with this increase, it will not prevent continued cut backs having to be made to all services.

The reason being there are increasing costs covering things like disposal of waste and more demand for services. Increased demand involves especially adults and children’s care as the number of older residents needing our support increase year on year we also see higher demand and more complex cases including children with disabilities.

The vast majority of housing in the borough is at the lower end of the Council Tax scale so the money which comes in does not cover everything we need. Council reserves will be set as they have been in previous years at the absolute minimum we are advised which is £4m.

Spending plans are limited and will focus on what people have

told us is important to them such as support for the most vulnerable, improvements to waste and clean streets.

We will focus on helping the borough grow and create jobs by supporting and attracting new businesses, working with residential and commercial developers and improving our town centres.

Councillor Kay added: Unfortunately we can’t plan any further ahead in any detail until the Government confirms any longer term funding. In the meantime we have to focus on making the most of what we have and looking at all opportunities for investment at the same time as keeping on top of the savings and service reduction programme.

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New Youth MP elected A new Youth MP has been chosen by young people across Blackburn and Darwen.

Youngsters voted in their thousands this week and elected Uday Akram as their new Youth MP. The announcement was made at a special annual ceremony at Blackburn Town Hall and saw more than 9,300 young people voting, more than 1,000 more votes than last year, in schools, colleges and youth clubs across the borough.

Councillor Andy Kay, Deputy Leader of the Council, announced the winners and new Youth MP deputies are A’aisha Patel and Corey McPartland. The new Youth MPs were also joined by Councillor Maureen Bateson, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, and Chief Executive Harry Catherall.

The Youth Forum as a whole will be focusing on key campaigns issues over the next 12 months, namely mental health, food poverty and integration.

The national campaigns this year are Votes at 16 and End Knife crime. These campaigns will be worked on with the North West regional youth councils known as Youthforia, in which the BwD Youth forum also attend.

Cllr Andy Kay, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, added: The Youth MP elections are always exciting as it’s great to see young people engaged in democracy and voting, and I want to congratulate all the candidates who were all campaigning with great ideas for the borough. I wish them all the best for the future

and I am sure they will be future leaders. I would like to welcome Uday to the council and I look forward to working with him over the next year.”

The MP’s duties will include attending the Council’s executive and scrutiny boards, representing young people’s voices in meetings and events and regularly visiting youth clubs and school councils from across the borough.

The Youth MP will join all the Youth MP’s from across the country later this year where they will debate the top issues affecting young people in the House of Commons in November.

STOLEN STREET NAMEPLATES

BACK WHERE THEY BELONG A number of Victorian cast iron street nameplates stolen from the side of terraced houses across the Borough last year are now back in Hyndburn where they belong.

The street name plates were among 20 reported as stolen last autumn and recovered in Morecambe recently.

Returning the name plates to Council Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, Inspector Steve Rides of Accrington Police, said; “We are thankful to the public whose information assisted the local policing team in tracing the stolen plates to a shop in Morecambe. We have identified two suspects and this investigation is currently on-going and they will be dealt with in due course.”

Council Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, welcomed their return, saying; “This shows crime doesn’t pay. These signs are expensive to replace and of course cause inconvenience to residents and visitors to the streets in question, so it’s great that the Police found

Pictured: Insp Steve Rides hands over one of the recovered name plates to Council Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson. them and returned them to us today. Thank you to Police for their hard work in finding the signs and also to members of the public who helped.”

If anyone finds that the street nameplate is missing from their corner property, please report it to the Council on 01254 388111.

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£5,000 donation makes it even easier to get on your way in Ullswater The Lake District National Park is thrilled to receive a generous donation of almost £5,000 for essential path restoration work on the popular Ullswater Way. With New Year’s resolutions still forefront of many people’s minds, this is a great route to do as one 20 mile walk or as a series of shorter walks over a few days or weeks.

This fantastic donation from the Lake District Foundation charity and Ullswater Steamers will fund surfacing and drainage projects between Pooley Bridge and Gowbarrow Fell to improve ground conditions.

Lake District National Park rangers will carry out this work over the coming months. Dylan Jackman, Project Ranger said: “We have

identified a number of sections of the Ullswater Way which are in need of improvement and are continually seeking funding for works to make the route an even greater success.

The generous support of Ullswater Steamers and Lake District Foundation allows us to continue to improve areas, meaning that this special area remains accessible and enjoyable for visitors.”

The £5,000 donation is the result of visitors to the area and local residents digging deep and donating to the Lake District Foundation. The

money has been raised mainly through visitor giving on Ullswater Steamers coupled with wider donations from the local community since Storm Desmond in 2015.

The Lake District Foundation raises funds for projects that care for the spectacular landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Lake District and Cumbria. Sarah Swindley, Chief Executive of the charity says: “We are delighted to be able to award funds to this fantastic local project. And we are so grateful to the generous visitors and

residents who love the Lake District and have made a donation. We have some exciting plans to raise more funds for the path in the spring so watch this space.”

Rachel Bell, Marketing Manager for Ullswater Steamers echoed these sentiments. She commented: “We are pleased our visitor giving donations will contribute towards vital repairs and upkeep of the Ullswater Way footpaths. This will look after our landscape for future generations to enjoy.”

Windermere, at 10.5 miles long, one mile wide and 220 feet deep, is the largest natural lake in both the Lake District and in England, and is fed by numerous rivers.

The long thin lake itself forms the central spine of the Windermere area of the Lake District. This area is also known as the South Lakes.

Looking north from the foot of Windermere lake, with Fell Foot Park right, and Lakeside Pier left.

On Windermere lake Bowness-on-Windermere is Lakeland’s most popular holiday resort. An excellent

centre for boating activities, it has over 10,000 boats registered.

Steamers and launches operate from Bowness Bay to Waterhead at Ambleside, and Lakeside at the southern end.

At the southern end of the lake is Lakeside Pier, and Lakeside Station of the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.

Another popular attraction here is the Aquarium of the Lakes.

The only car ferry takes around 10 minutes to cross the centre of Windermere lake.

It runs from Ferry Nab, just south of Bowness, to Ferry House at Far Sawrey and

operates all year round.

The lake is today one of the prime destinations for water sports in the Lake District.

Several marinas and Sailing and Windsurfing Centres are to be found on the shores. You will also find a large selection of Adventure Activity companies, guides and instructors for all abilities based around the lake. Details of these can be found in our Activities Section.

Arthur Ransome based his book ‘Swallows and Amazons’ partly on Windermere and partly on nearby Coniston Water.

Windermere (lake)

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What is a funeral plan?

A funeral plan helps you to plan and pay towards a funeral in advance. It helps to lessen the financial weight of a funeral and reduces the stress and worry for your loved ones. Why should you take out a funeral plan? Organising a funeral at an already difficult time can be both emotionally and financially

challenging. In 2017, the average cost of a funeral was £4,078. This is projected to rise to £4,944 by 2022.** By taking out a funeral plan, you can ensure that some of these costs are covered in advance.

Exactly how much of your costs are covered depends on which plan provider you choose, but most providers

guarantee to cover the funeral directors costs for arranging and conducting the funeral.

This means you can ‘lock in’ these costs at today’s prices, meaning the sooner you take out a funeral plan, the more money you are likely to save.

There are also additional costs associated with a funeral, such as cremation or burial

fees. Different plan providers treat them in various ways.

For instance, some providers only offer a contribution towards costs associated with cremation and for Burial a contribution that doesn’t rise in line with the Retail Price Index. Likewise, some providers can guarantee to cover these costs, while others

exclude them completely.

Planning ahead also helps save your friends and family additional worry when you die. A funeral presents a large amount of money for your loved ones to find when you’re gone. With a prepaid funeral plan, you can rest assured knowing that you are helping to reduce the financial

burden on your loved ones.

It also relieves your family from having to make many of the difficult decisions about your final send off. Your family can avoid painful conversations over what your last wishes were and you can avoid them overspending because you “would’ve wanted it that way”.

Most people grieve when they lose something or someone important to them.

The way grief affects you depends on lots of things, including what kind of loss you have suffered, your upbringing, your beliefs or religion, your age, your relationships, and your physical and mental health.

How does grief affect you?

People react in different ways to loss. Anxiety and helplessness often come first. Anger is also common, including feeling angry at

someone who has died for "leaving you behind". Sadness often comes later.

Feelings like these are a natural part of the grieving process. Knowing that they are common may help them seem more normal. It's also important to know that they will pass. Some people take a lot longer than others to recover. Some need help from a counsellor or therapist or their GP. But you will eventually come to terms with your loss, and the intense feelings will subside.

How to cope with grief and loss. There's no instant fix.

You might feel affected every day for about a year to 18 months after a major loss.

But after this time the grief is less likely to be at the forefront of your mind.

There are practical things you can do to get through a time of bereavement or loss: Express yourself. Talking is often a good way to soothe painful emotions. Talking to a friend, family member, health professional or counsellor can begin the healing process.

Allow yourself to feel sad. It's a healthy part of the grieving process. Keep your routine up.

Keeping up simple things like doing the housework can help.

Sleep. Emotional strain can make you very tired. If you're having trouble sleeping, see your GP. Eat healthily. A healthy, wellbalanced diet will help you cope. Avoid things that "numb" the pain, such as alcohol. It will make you feel worse once the numbness wears off. Go to counselling if it feels right for you. Counselling may be more useful after a couple of weeks or months. Only you will know when you're ready.

Grieving when you have children When you have children, you may not want to show your feelings. Sometimes this is a good thing. For example, showing anger towards their other parent during a separation can be painful for a child to see. Reassure your child that the separation isn't

their fault. Keep their routine as normal as possible, and tell them what's happening so they're less confused by it all.

However, if both parents are grieving for a loved one, it's sometimes good for children to see that it's normal to sometimes feel sad and cry.

Pay attention if your child wants to share their feelings, whether it's through talking, drawing or games.

Children need to feel they are listened to, so include them in decisions and events if it feels right. Your GP is a good place to start. They can

give you advice about other support services, refer you to a counsellor, or prescribe medication if needed.

Or you can contact support organisations directly, such as Cruse Bereavement Care (0808 808 1677) or Samaritans (116 123).

Dealing with grief and loss

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The true origins of Mothering Sunday Every year,people point out that the mid Sunday in Lent is not “Mother’s Day” but “Mothering Sunday”.

Many blame America for introducing the former and making it commercial.

In America, of course, Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May, as proclaimed

by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. It is marked on that day because it was the result of a campaign by Anna Jarvis (1864-1948), whose own mother had died on May 9.

This is where the British tradition grows a little complicated. For the revival of Mothering Sunday must be attributed to Constance Smith (1878-1938), and she was inspired in 1913 by reading a newspaper report of Anna Jarvis’s campaign in America.

A big difference was that Constance Smith was a High Anglican who believed that “a day in praise of mothers” was

fully expressed in the liturgy of the Church of England for the fourth Sunday of Lent.

This is not entirely the case, for the Collect on that Sunday asks God that “we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved”. That doesn’t sound specifically maternal.

It is only the Lesson for the day that declares: “Jerusalem which is above is free; which is the mother of us all.”

It is true that this Sunday harked back centuries to the pre-Reformation connotations of Laetare Sunday, on which the Introit, the first prayer of the Mass, says: “Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her ... and be filled from the breasts of your consolation.” Laetare Sunday’s connections with mothers came through it being the day to visit the mother

church or cathedral. Some customs of the day outlived the Reformation. These included making a simnel cake and taking it to Mother. “I’ll to thee a Simnel bring, / Gainst thou go’st a Mothering,” wrote the celebratory poet Robert Herrick in the mid 17th-century.

Constance Smith reconnected simnel cakes and what local customs of the day that survived with the honouring of mothers. Under the penname C. Penswick Smith she published a booklet The Revival of Mothering Sunday in 1920. Things snowballed, impelled by feelings consequent on the loss by many mothers of their sons in the First World War. Constance Smith’s idea was not that Mothering Sunday should be limited to one Christian denomination, and its popularity spread through such open organisations as the

Boy Scouts and Girls Guides.

“By 1938,” wrote Cordelia Moyse, the modern historian of the Mothers’ Union, “it was claimed that Mothering Sunday was celebrated in every parish in Britain and in

every country of the Empire.”

Neither Constance Smith nor Anna Jarvis ever became mothers themselves. Anna Jarvis regretted the growing commercialisation of the day, even to disapproving

of pre-printed Mother’s Day cards. “A printed card means nothing,” she said, “except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world.”

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Paintings by the artist Brenda Chamberlain at Storiel, Bangor This new exhibition at Storiel brings together some of Brenda Chamberlain’s paintings and drawings which are held at Storiel and Bangor University art collections.

On view are three oil paintings ‘Chapel and Ruined Abbey, Bardsey’, ‘The Fishing Net’ and ‘Still Life with Fish; ‘Doves’, a large mixed-media work; a charming ink sketch ‘Girl with Siamese Cat’, and various other pencil and ink studies on paper. These works date from between 1949 – 1953. An oil painting ‘Grey Breast’ shows how during the early 1960’s her paintings became more abstract.

Brenda Chamberlain (19121971) was born and educated in Bangor. She knew from a very young age that she wanted to be an author and an artist. After leaving school Brenda spent six months in Copenhagen, where the paintings of Gauguin influenced her early works, before she then attended the

Royal Academy Schools in London. She returned to north Wales, to Llanllechid with John Petts where they set up the Caseg Press in 1937.

Brenda also lived and worked on Bardsey Island between 1946-62, spent many winters with friends in Germany and lived on the Greek island of Hydra(1962-67). Wherever she lived she would paint, write and keep illustrated journals.

Although she had lived in numerous places, she rarely

painted landscapes. It was people that fascinated her, and she would draw them at every opportunity.

During her lifetime Brenda Chamberlain twice won the Gold Medal in fine Art at the National Eisteddfod and held several exhibitions in London and Wales.

To discover more about her life and see her work the exhibition can be seen at Storiel until 6 April.

Storiel is open Tuesday – Saturday - 11:00 – 17:00.

Porthmadog's Community Pride

Around 25 local Porthmadog residents and discarded and windblown litter. Councillor volunteers came together by the inner harbour Jeffreys said: "Thanks to everyone who came of Llyn Bach recently to collect carelessly to help. We collected a lot of litter which included some unexpected items, such as a car head-rest and a fishing rod. The group would like to thank Tidy Towns and also the Council's Street Cleaning staff who disposed of the rubbish as well as recycling a number of cans and bottles.” Councillor Gareth Wyn Griffith, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Municipal Affairs, said: “A big thank you to the many Porthmadog residents who went litter-picking on a cold winter’s morning.

These efforts show how important community pride is in maintaining the health and wellbeing of our communities.

“It also clearly demonstrates that it is unacceptable to discard waste in our fragile environment." Thanks also goes to Port Café for providing a well-earned panad and cake following the group’s effort. Those who discard litter in a public place are committing a crime. Anyone found guilty of littering in any public place could face a court summons and a fine of up to £2,500.

For more information about Gwynedd Council's Tidy Towns scheme or if you would like to start your own community group contact the team on 01766 771000 or send an e-mail to trefitaclus@gwynedd.llyw.cymru if you’d like to request a community pack.

Gwynedd’s Tidy Towns scheme is funded by a Welsh Government grant which aims to improve Wales’ local environment.

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Boat show will help transform Anglesey into the events capital of North Wales

A major maritime-themed show will spearhead ambitious plans to transform Anglesey into the events capital of North Wales.

Tourism chiefs have hailed news that the All-Wales Boat and Leisure Show is coming to the Anglesey Showground as an economic boost for the island. The event from Thursday, May 30, to Saturday, June 1, is expected to attract boat lovers from across the UK. It’s grown out of the All-Wales Boat Show that’s previously been staged in Conwy and Pwllheli.

According to organiser Davina Carey-Evans, managing director of Beaumaris-based Sbarc Event Management, the

showground is a great venue with huge potential to be developed while Anglesey is the perfect setting.

The marine sector is growing faster in Wales than any other part of the UK and boating generates an annual tourism spend of £282 million.

Anglesey is also popular with surfers and scuba divers, who pump £7.8 million into the local economy.

Davina, who has previously been involved with marine events such as the One Ton Cup, a world-renowned sailing event which was based in Pwllheli in 2001 and the annual Round Anglesey Race, said: “The All-Wales Boat Show has evolved and grown and the 2019 event will also include a strong leisure element. “Moving the show to Anglesey showground will hopefully be a catalyst for

our plan to turn the island into a major events hub.

“We certainly have all the right ingredients. Anglesey is already a destination for 1.8 million visitors every year looking for things to see and do while, the venue is ideal, with 3000 square metres of undercover buildings, parking for 3,000 vehicles and excellent accessibility as it’s just off the A5 and A55. “The show will connect together industry leaders in boat and leisure products and services across Wales, with not only watersport and boating enthusiasts but all those that have a passion for the great outdoors. “The level of interest from the marine sector is unprecedented for the next event, with over 17 of the best-known brands already signed up.

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Discover how the story of a young Welsh girl changed the life of millions.

In 1800, a 15 year old girl called Mary Jones More information can also be found on their walked 26 miles from Llanfihangel y Pennant website www.bydmaryjonesworld.org.uk to Bala to buy a book.

What was that book? And why did her journey inspire a movement that’s still thriving today?

Mary Jones World is a state of the art visitor and education Centre brings Mary’s story to life through multimedia and interactive displays, exhibits and activities. Set on the edge of Llyn Tegid in a redeveloped Grade 2-listed building, visitors can discover the impact Mary’s story has had on Wales and the rest of the world.

The Centre warmly welcomes all visitors, prebooked groups and school visits for which staff can arrange a visit that caters to their needs.

The bespoke education facility provide a great setting for pupils to learn whilst having plenty of fun participating in various activities.

Awarded Visit Wales’ Hidden Gem award for a second year, Mary Jones World is idyllically placed in the heart of Snowdonia National Park. The Centre is along some of the best walking and cycling routes in the UK, and the beautiful backdrop of the Welsh mountains provides an ideal stop for any journey.

The café serves refreshments in a picturesque location with a picnic area, facilities and children’s playground – the perfect place for the whole family to enjoy.

The Centre reopens for the 2019 season on Monday April 1 and will be open 7 days a week until Saturday November 2 from 10am - 5pm (last entry 4pm). If you know of someone who would love to visit please contact the Centre on 01678 521877 or email centre.manager@ bydmaryjonesworld.org.uk.

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Continued On..

“Among them are Robalo, Bayliner, Finnmaster, and Ocean Master, to name a few.

“Anglesey is already a mecca for water sports that’s surrounded by 146 miles of brilliant coastline. “We’re aiming for the enthusiasts in the middle of the market, we’re not going for the high-end multi-millionaire yachtsmen or women.

“This event is designed for the people who tow their boats behind their cars, not to mention the kayakers, surfers, wakeboarders and scuba divers.

These are the people who do it for the fun of it.

“It’s going to be a must-visit for boat owners, water sportlovers or families looking for a great day out. “Eighty 80 per cent of the people who come to Anglesey are repeat visitors, which means they probably have access to a boat and certainly have access to the water with all the available slipways. “I’m really excited by the potential of the event

and how it can be the start of something even bigger.”

It was a sentiment endorsed

by Phil Scott, who is chair of the Destination Anglesey Partnership and a Director of the award-winning RibRide Adventure Boat Tours, who are based in Menai Bridge.

He said: “Anglesey is defined by its coastline so this is the perfect place for the event to be held.

“We’re also very lucky to have Snowdon very close to us, and we always think of Anglesey as the best place to visit Snowdonia from.

“RibRide has just recently been honoured as the best tourist attraction in North Wales at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards and we have also been named as the number one boat tour in the UK on Trip Advisor.

“The success that we’re enjoying is a good pointer to the huge potential of staging the All-Wales Boat and Leisure Show here on Anglesey.” Jim Jones, the Managing Director of North

Wales Tourism, is equally excited.

He said: “Maritime tourism is on the up here because North Wales generally and Anglesey specifically has so much to offer. It’s second to none.

“We already have fantastic attractions on the Menai Strait, includingRibRide and the brilliant facilities at the National Outdoor Centre for Wales, Plas Menai, which excels in delivering the ultimate in water sports courses and outdoor adventure activities. “North Wales is undoubtedly the European capital of adventure tourism and marine tourism is a big part of that.

“There is so much confidence in the industry, so much investment going into North Wales, and we’re now reaping the rewards.

“The plan to stage the AllWales Boat and Leisure Show at the Anglesey Showground heralds another economic boost for the region and underlines that we are now in a golden age for tourism.”

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Cumbria County Council meets the

challenge and keeps council tax rise below inflation At a meeting yesterday, Thursday 14 February, Cumbria County Council’s Full Council agreed a balanced budget despite ongoing financial challenges and growing demands on its services.

Full Council agreed the following: • A general increase of Council Tax by 1.99% for 2019/20; • An additional precept for Adult Social Care of 2.00%

for 2019/20; • The Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2019-2022; Cllr Peter Thornton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “We have risen to the challenge and we have done this despite national funding pressures. We have successfully delivered a balanced budget and at the same time we have kept our council tax rise below the rate of inflation. This demonstrates

how hard this council is working to help protect the vulnerable and those in need, whilst ensuring that any increases are kept to a minimum for everyone.

“This council prides itself on providing value for money and key to us being able to do that has been our transformation journey, we have embraced change and we will continue to do so with even more plans to go digital and change the way we deliver services now and in the future.

I believe this demonstrates our core competence at providing effective services

within the money we have available”. “To date we have made £249m of savings, and by 2022 that will have grown to savings of £296m despite this we are providing an exceptional amount of important services to the public - care for the elderly and for the young, libraries and thousands of roads and streetlight repairs every year.”

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Family Business Network joins

thriving hub of businesses in Staveley The Family Business Network is the latest organisation to move into what is fast becoming a thriving hub of businesses at Cumbria Tourism’s headquarters.

As well as being home to the county’s official Destination Management Organisation, the building in Staveley is already a permanent base for long-term tenants Land & Lakes and Lambert Smith Hampton.

The Family Business Network now joins two other recent additions: wealth management business Raymond James and placemaking, destination marketing and business development specialist Tapir Ltd. There is also room for further expansion, with a newly converted 600 sq ft (56

sq m) office space currently available for lease and offering desk space for up to 10 people.

The Family Business Network, founded by Sue Howorth, represents a large and growing community of family businesses, which began in Cumbria in 2014 and now covers Yorkshire, Lancashire and Lincolnshire.

Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, Gill Haigh, says, “It’s a pleasure to be welcoming another leading organisation like the Family Business Network to our impressive and contemporary Staveley HQ. Not only does having a variety of businesses in the building help generate a real buzz and sense of community, but it is also

great to be working alongside complementary businesses which all share a common goal of working towards a stronger, more forwardlooking Cumbrian economy.”

Founder of the Family Business Network Sue Howorth, add, “The move to a new office space within Cumbria Tourism has given us a rather exciting start to what promises to be a very busy new year for The Family Business Network. The location is perfect for us with its proximity to the M6 and a big advantage of the new premises is the ability to use the internal Conference room. Many of the businesses that we work alongside are already familiar with the building and it offers pleasant surroundings for hosting meetings and events”.

Visit Kendal Kendal Castle, probably late 12th Century, is now a ruin, but worth exploring.

From here you can get brilliant views over the town.

At Kendal Museum is an exhibition telling the story of the Castle, its people , and the life of the town. There is a reconstruction of the Castle.

The Parish Church, Holy Trinity, is mostly 18th Century, but has been a place of worship since the 13th Century. It is Cumbria’s largest parish church, having five aisles, two each side of the nave, and a fine western tower.

Beside the Church is the Abbot Hall Art Gallery, set in an attractive Georgian House beside the River Kent. Major art exhibitions are held here.

The Museum of Lakeland Life is housed in what was the stable block of Abbot Hall. There are displays of traditional rural trades of the area, including farming machinery and tools, showing

how Cumbrian people lived, worked and entertained themselves over the last 300 years.

The Museum of Natural History and Archaeology is one of the oldest museums in the country, housing outstanding displays of natural history and archaeology, both local and global.

The Quaker Tapestry, housed in the Kendal Quaker Meeting House, is an embroidery of community art, the creation of more than 4000 people in 15 countries. It shows 300 years of social history, beautifully illustrated.

Castle Howe consists of the earthwork remains of a motte and bailey castle, built around 1092.

Nobles Rest is a public park at the end of Maude Street.

Sepulchre Lane has a small park, where there was once a Quaker burial ground.

Serpentine Woods were created on part of Kendal Fell, overlooking Kendal and the

castle during the 1800s. The woods are home to a wide range of bird species, foxes and squirrels.

The trees and shrubs grow over a bed of limestone pavement that shows through its layer of foliage in several places. There are a number of paths that can be taken through the woods, with walks totaling around 3 miles in all. The woods have a nature trail with ten stops, each demonstrating a different environment within the woods.

Kendal railway station is on the branch line from Oxenholme to Windermere. Nearby Oxenholme railway station is on the West Coast Main Line from London to Glasgow.

Brewery Arts Centre is a multi-purpose arts complex presenting a year round programme of theatre, music, films, lectures and exhibitions, together with a range of amateur participatory activities including art and craft workshops, Cumbria Youth Theatre, and classes.

There were once about 150 ‘yards’ in Kendal, often named after the owner of the main house which usually stood at the top of the yard.

A good example is Yard 83 – Dr Manning’s Yard, on the right hand side as you walk up Highgate. The yards on this side of Highgate used to run in parallel lines down to the river, where there were factories, weaving shops, dying works, and even a windmill (Yard 65 is called Windmill Yard).

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New care home names publically revealed The names of two new care homes in Carlisle and Copeland have been publicly revealed today at a meeting of Full Council by Cllr Patricia Bell, Cabinet Member for Health and Care. The announcement follows the formal hand over by contractor Eric Wright Construction Ltd to the county council.

Carlisle’s new home will be called Burnrigg Court, whilst Copeland’s will be known as The Gables.

The names were identified following discussions with our existing residents who will be moving into the new homes and our staff. Burnrigg Court relates to the history and locality of the Carlisle home whilst for the Whitehaven new care home one of our residents said that as the new care home is located near where all the roads from different communities meet it

should be called The Gables.

This reflects the situation that in both new care homes, residents from existing homes will move in to the new modern care home, bringing together local communities.

Registered managers have now been appointed for both homes and staff have started to visit Burnrigg Court in Carlisle. For both homes there is still a significant amount of work to be completed in respect of furnishing the care home, staff training and completion of CQC registration. Once this is complete we can start to move our existing residents into the new care homes.

Feedback from staff about the "light, airy and modern buildings" has been positive and staff are keen to move into the new homes and support our residents in these fantastic facilities. Our newly

appointed registered managers are also looking forward to the challenge ahead.

Cumbria County Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Care, Cllr Patricia Bell, said: "I'm delighted to be able to reveal the names of these fantastic new care homes - they have been delivered ahead of the original schedule and within budget.

"It has been a huge combined effort from the service managers, the council's capital programme team and the contractors to achieve this whilst ensuring that the needs of staff and residents have been reflected in all the decisions around the design, build and names. The new care homes will provide a fantastic facility to their local communities."

Tracy Bindokas, manager of the new Carlisle Care Home Burnrigg Court, said: “I look forward to the new, exciting challenge ahead.

The building is beautiful and will benefit the service users and staff with the modern systems that are in place as well as the en-suite facilities and the safe access to the outside areas for each service user.

The layout of the

public area of the building, the outside areas and the facility for a shop will give us opportunity to engage with the local community. I look at this opportunity as a new adventure for myself, staff, service users and the community."

Helen Green, manager of the new Copeland Care Home The Gables, said: “I am really looking forward to moving to the new Copeland home, it is exciting times for everyone, staff and service users. I am sure we will face a few challenges along the way which we will all work through together as a team, to ensure service users feel happy and safe, in their new home, and to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

Council Leader Stewart Young and Cllr Patricia Bell recently met with Eric Wright at the new £6m Carlisle Care Home.

Construction on the 60bed Copeland home in Whitehaven is now complete and local members met senior representatives from Eric Wright Construction Ltd. With both homes scheduled to open to residents in Spring 2019, the next few months are a going to be an important time for everyone involved in these significant projects.

A third new council care home - Parkview Gardens in Barrow

- successfully opened in 2017.

The three new care homes will provide modern quality care for older adults, especially those who need to be supported with dementia and complex care needs in a residential setting. We are continuing to invest in our other Residential homes across Cumbria to ensure they will also continue to provide modern quality care to all of our residents.

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Remember punk rock? They’re back with Punk Fest 2019!

Punk Fest 2019 is a tripled distilled show with three mixed flavours from the punk rock era of the British music scene.

After their successful Anarchy Show last year at King George’s Hall, they are back with a twist for March 2019.

Blended with music from Small Weller, one of the UK’s best Jam tribute bands, playing all the sounds of The Jam, such as ‘Going Underground’ and ‘Down in the Tube Station at Midnight’.

Small Weller have been invited to play across the UK in pubs, clubs, festivals and private functions. They have shared the stage with many, including The Bootleg Beatles, T-Rextasy, The Real Thing and The Bay City Rollers.

What sets the band apart is their delivery and passion, the precision in the musicianship, the authentic equipment and the styling, which all together provides a high energy live show.

Next, we have one of the UK’s best Clash

tribute bands, The Complete Clash. Playing all the classic tunes as they should be played, these guys have played sold out shows at the 100 Club in London; headlined The Punk Weekender at The Grand in Clitheroe; supported The Sex Pistols Experience at the O2 Academy in Newcastle and Manchester and twice played at the Butlins Alternative Music Festival in front of 2000 people alongside Toyah, Boomtown Rats, The Vapours and Ten Pole Tudor.

Close your eyes and go back in time: you will think you’re listening to the real thing!

Finally, The Sex Pistols tribute band, The Sex Pistols Experience will take the

audience back to 1978, not only in sound but with the true likeness in character.

One of the world’s number one professional tributes to the most outrageous and controversial band of all time.

From their early beginnings performing pubs and clubs around England, they have worldwide reputation built from over 1,000 performances.

Having toured extensively across the USA, Europe, and Brazil, in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, El Paso, Rio De Janeiro, Berlin, Barcelona, Bradford and everywhere in between!

So convincing is their live show that the BBC, Sky TV, Channel4, Fox TV and lately

The Stars of Les Misèrables bring Barricade Boys to Blackburn

After sell out performances in London’s West End, an appearance on Broadway and many international dates, the exceptional Barricade Boys bring their show to King George’s Hall for one night only this March!

Fabulous harmonies, incredible vocals, dashing good looks and fantastic personalities; The Barricade Boys showcase the UK’s finest male voices from the world’s longest running

musical: Les Misérables.

As seen on ITV’s This Morning and The Paul O’Grady Show, The Barricade Boys are quickly securing their place as theatre land’s newest and most exciting show!

Don’t miss this spectacular group that promise “an unmissable show with talent, flair and fun.” (West End Frame) “These guys are fantastic…

DON’T miss this show!”

Alfie Boe

“Do you hear the people sing? Yes! With dashing good looks, incredible voices and outstanding musical magic!”

Elaine Paige, BBC Radio 2 EVENT DETAILS VENUE: King George’s Hall, Northgate, Blackburn. BB2 1AA DATE: Sunday 24th March 2019 TIME: 7.30pm TICKET PRICE: £23.50 BOOKING INFORMATION Tickets are available Online here.

By Phone: (01254) 582579 In Person: King George’s Hall Box Office, Northgate, Blackburn

the film, Who Killed Nancy? have all hired this band for reenactments.

‘The Sex Pistols Experience are the only band to of had the approval of the original Sex Pistols. Whilst on tour in America, they were invited as special guests on Jonesy’s Jukebox, the acclaimed radio show of Pistols guitarist, Steve Jones.

Spending the afternoon being interviewed and playing a few Sex Pistols favourites live on air together to millions of listeners throughout Los

Angeles and across the worldwide web!

Not to be missed! Relive your youth with music you have never forgotten!

EVENT DETAILS VENUE: King George’s Hall, Northgate, Blackburn. BB2 1AA DATE: Saturday 16th March 2019 TIME: 7.45pm TICKET PRICE: Advance: £16.50 Door: £21.50 BOOKING INFORMATION Tickets are available Online here.

By Phone: (01254) 582579 In Person: King George’s Hall Box Office, Northgate, Blackburn.

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Holbeck Ghyll is THE perfect setting to start your ‘happily ever after’ Holbeck Ghyll is a beautiful private country house hotel set in 28 acres of English countryside with award winning gardens, ancient woodland and babbling brooks. We pride ourselves on offering first-class service in luxurious but homely surroundings, ensuring a truly memorable occasion. Perched high on a hill, boasting breathtaking views over Lake Windermere, the Langdale Fells and beyond, Holbeck Ghyll is THE perfect setting to start your ‘happily ever after’.

Licensed for civil ceremonies Holbeck Ghyll allows you to hold your special day with us from start to finish. Our Oak Room, elegant Drawing room and spacious Segrave room can be transformed into the perfect setting to celebrate your special day. Each room offers splendid Lake and Mountain views, creating a timeless backdrop for your photographs. Our beautiful suites create the perfect surroundings for that ultimate

pampering experience for you, your loved ones and closest friends. Whether you choose a professional hair stylist, make-up artist or a beauty treatment at our health spa, we can guarantee you will feel fabulous as you walk down the aisle. Champagne reception and tantalising canapés will start your dining experience with us. These can be served on the Terrace so you can take in THE best view in the entire south lakes area. Our Award-winning fine dining restaurant will then deliver an exceptional wedding breakfast experience for you to share with your nearest and dearest.

Holbeck Ghyll celebrates the culinary heritage of North of England. The quality of locally sourced ingredients and combination of flavours produce exceptional cuisine prepared with passion and flair. Our Sommelier will help you select sublime wines to heighten the experience…the end result being a delicious

gastronomic experience to remember. Staying at Holbeck Ghyll will be a fabulous experience for both you and your guests. With 32 exquisitely designed bedrooms, in which to enjoy the peaceful surroundings, we take care of the rest. Guests can choose from our Classic Fell view rooms or indulge in a luxurious lake view Junior Suite. Should you opt to take an Exclusive package with us you will have all of the rooms in the hotel for your guests to enjoy.

At Holbeck Ghyll we understand that each wedding is as unique as your vows, with three packages available we have something for everyone, from intimate weddings for two, family gatherings of up to 20 and grand exclusive affairs of up to 64, come visit us for a chat and see how a wedding at Holbeck Ghyll will be the wedding of your dreams.

For a day like no other, chose a venue like no other…

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Wedding Wonder in Windermere From Cornwall to Cumbria

Holbeck Ghyll, a traditional Country House Hotel in Windermere, is proud to welcome Keira Beattie to the dedicated team. As the Wedding and Events Coordinator she’ll be making their couples dreams a reality.

With over 10 years’ experience within the Wedding Industry you really can lean on her expertise to help you plan your day… your way.

There’s nothing Keira hasn't experienced, from collapsing wedding cakes to chasing Seagulls - it’s safe to say that you’re in very safe hands!

Originally from Montrose, a

small town on the East coast of Scotland, Keira worked for a small family run hotel and was inducted into the hospitality industry at the tender age of 13. Almost immediately she realised her passion to work with people providing unforgettable experiences. From restaurant management to guest engagement she quickly worked her way through the hotels various departments to find the best fit for her. When Keira found herself running wedding and conference events it’s safe to say that it was a Cinderella story - the slipper fit perfectly! …When asked about her own wedding, Keira had this to say; ‘When I got married I remember feeling so pressured to plan the perfect day, not just for me and my husband to be, but for all of our family and friends too. I wanted them to treasure the day and take life

long memories away with them. I still remember that feeling now and that's what drives me to help every single bride and groom have the day of their dreams. Whether it's a regal occasion or an intimate ceremony I pride myself on being your ‘stress reliever’ throughout the planning process and your fairy godmother on the day itself.’

In 2011 Keira and her family headed South to the beautiful Cornish coastline and she found a new home at Tregenna Castle in St Ives. It was here that Keira, with the help of her team, won three awards for the hotel – Simply Wedding Venue of the Year for 2 years running and South West Wedding Venue of the Year 2018.

With an average of 100 weddings a year Keira was doing what she loved whilst successfully leading the department to its best ever

year. The saying really is true, when you love what you do it’s not really a job and her results speak for themselves.

During 2018 Keira and her family moved from Cornwall to Cumbria and landed in Windermere, where Elia Shreiber, the General Manager at Holbeck Ghyll was only too happy to bring Keira on board.

Since starting at Holbeck Ghyll Keira has set about getting to know the 4 red star hotel and all of the beautiful brides to be - how exciting! She’s also revamped the wedding packages and attended several wedding fayres already.

One of the flagship packages Holbeck Ghyll offers, is the ‘Exclusively Yours’ package where couples have full use of the entire hotel and its 28 Acres for 24 hours, the package includes all accommodation, breakfast, wedding dinner with wine,

toast drinks and many other premium additions … prices start from as little at £5,500 for up to 50 guests!

When asked about joining the team at Holbeck Ghyll, Keira said: ‘The hotel is simply stunning; it’s a dream to sell. With acres and acres of beautiful gardens and breathtaking views of the lakes and mountains for pictures, the amazing food courtesy of head chef William Dimartino, the individual bedrooms….. it really is the dream venue.

I must be drawn to stunning

venues with incredible views as I have been lucky enough to find two I have had the privilege of working in’ Keira has her heart set on an award-winning future for Holbeck Ghyll and can’t wait to set the perfect scene for brides and grooms.

If you’re planning to tie the knot and would like to find out more please contact Keira.

TEL: +44(0)1539-432-375 EMAIL: EVENTS@ HOLBECKGHYLL.COM WEBSITE: https://www. holbeckghyll.com/

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Churchmouse Cheeses Wedding Cakes

Just two weeks before the wedding of Jules and John Natlacen, something happened which changed their lives forever. Jules

tripped over at their home in Manchester, fell and broke both her legs. The wedding went ahead, but the walking honeymoon in Devon was scuppered! So they decided to take a short break to the beautiful town of Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria. During their "mini" honeymoon, they chanced upon an empty shop and it was here that their dreams were born - to open a speciality cheese shop, next to the Church - namely

"Churchmouse Cheeses" They moved to Kirkby Lonsdale and John started to design and sell Wedding Cakes made out of cheese and since 2004, their Wedding Cheese Cake business has grown and grown. They send their cakes throughout the whole of the UK and the cost of a cake includes all the cheeses, all the decorations, courier delivery the day before the wedding, instructions on how to build your special cake and lots of photographs of similar cakes. "The cakes are easy to assemble, but looks amazing" says John. "We have gone for a rustic, artisan approach and the photos in the box help the person building the cake to recreate what the bride and bridegroom have seen on our website" Most cheeses can be used on the wedding cake, as long as they tier in the correct way.

"We use a lot of Lancashire cheeses in our cakes, including Tasty Lancashire, Blacksticks

Angy Morton collections

With many years in the fashion industry and a degree in tailoring, I decided to open Romantique Couture in 2004 and offer a variety of dressmaking/designing services. Since 2004 I have created five beautiful collections from my studio

in the Lakes ; collections exhibited to various fashion shows and art exhibitions around the country. From Carlisle to Newcastle to London Fashion Week and back. My services are centered on unique outfits, one-off designs as well as ready to wear versions of stylish clothes from my collections. My speciality is creating something unique and 'different' by challenging that fine line between the 'urban chic', 'fantasy' and 'practicality'. I am committed to provide a professional and unique service at all times, as well as maintaining the highest quality of work.

Angy provides the following services: unique bespoke gowns unique designer outfits unique ready to wear collection unique prom dresses & ball gowns unique wedding dresses and oufits. unique accessories – clutches, handbags, bags

unique recycled clothing unique baby wear (A-Goo label) Romantique Couture High Dyke Cottage Mosser, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0RA T: 01900 824329 M: 07379 496485 E: romantiquecouture@ yahoo.com Facebook: https:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / amdressdesigner/ Instagram: https:// w w w. i n s t a g r a m . c o m / angymortondressdesigner/

Blue, Smoked Lancashire and Creamy Lancashire" says John. "We also have a cake called "Piggy in the Middle" which has a delicious Hand Crafted Pork Pie as one of the layers. This cake was designed by me in 2017 and has long been our Bestseller.

What could be more of a Match Made in Heaven? Pork Pie and Cheese" John and Jules also offer their Churchmouse Chutney to complement the Cheese Wedding Cake. A delicious mix of ruby port, fig and apple in a dark chutney. The store boasts a fine array of Artisan

Crackers and Biscuits, such as Three Seed Crackers, Sourdough Crackers, Charcoal Biscuits, Hazelnut and Raisin Toasts to name just a few. They can even offer a rustic cheese board to place the Cheese Wedding Cake on, which is made from a slice of an old tree. "I chanced upon this idea after driving past a logging yard nearby"said John. "We sand them down and the Wedding Cakes look amazing sat atop of a slice of tree" John and Jules even offer a FREE cheese tasting to any Bride and Groom -to- be who have already booked their venue. "Come up and see us in the beautiful village of Barbon, for a leisurely day out and have a cheese tasting with us" says Jules.

"We are 90 minutes North of Manchester and not a traffic light between us and Manchester Airport" Their

store, which they moved too after their children were born, is called The Churchmouse at Barbon and is a heady mix of cafe, speciality cheeses, delicatessen, with outdoor seating on a terrace with great views of the Barbon Fells.

The Churchmouse at Barbon, Barbon, LA6 2LL Tel 015242 76224 Mob 07966 336789 Churchmouse Cheeses Wedding Cakes www.churchmousecheeses. com/weddingcheesecakes/ f a c e b o o k . c o m / churchmousebarbon

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A fantastic drinks initiative is the answer to a memorable day

Trying to make your wedding different from the others you have attended is not easy. Being creative with your venue can often be the start of helping to bring your ideas to life.

Every little detail should say something about the happy couple and your choices of food and drink should be no different to this.

A drink on arrival for guests doesn’t have to be a glass of fizz, ready poured on a table. Why not think

about a quirky Prosecco Van if you are outdoors ?

Also, a simple but delicious glass of fizz can be lifted by the addition of fresh fruit, luxury cordials or liqueurs, even a small cloud of candy floss, so think about how you can ‘pimp that fizz’.

Alternatively, if the happy couple love a G&T, a Gin bar can be curated to reflect artisan gins from the area where the happy couple are from, or are planning to set up home together.

Special gin bottles can even be given as table wedding favours or included into the table plan, as a reminder of the bride and groom. A good mobile Gin and Prosecco bar can provide all these services and we can even create a wedding cocktail, personalised menus and help make your wedding standout and memorable for all the right reasons.

For all your innovative drinks related solutions, please contact: Gillian Bartlett Director, Copa Fizz on 07787867262 or visit w w w. c o p a f i z z . c o . u k 'If Prosecco isn't the answer..... then Gin definitely is!'

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LOCAL PLAY AREA IMPROVED

Pictured: Harvey Robbins (12) and Molly Robbins (9) try out the new basket swing at Baxenden Play Area, with L-R Cllr Paul Cox, Cllr Kath Pratt and granddaughter Lauren Pratt (2), Bill Matthews, Chair of Baxenden Community Forum and Sheila McVan Secretary of Baxenden Community Forum.

New facilities added to a popular play area in Baxenden have proved a hit with local children.

The new facilities, which local school children helped to choose, have been added to Baxenden Recreation Ground play area and include an aerial runway, a basket swing, a rodeo board, a large

rotator and new swings. This complements the existing range of play equipment for younger children including slides, a dish roundabout and a rotating climbing net.

The improvements are a result of Baxenden Community Forum working closely with the Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum to be awarded a grant of

£30,000 from the Lancashire Environmental Fund and a further contribution of £30,000 from Hyndburn Council.

Shelia McVan of Baxenden Community Forum said; “Although the weather has been cold the local children have been enjoying the playground when they come

out of school. You can tell when they are on it as there is a lot of yelps and laughter”.

Councillor Paul Cox said; “The improvements are part of an ongoing plan to improve the Borough’s play areas.

We work closely with local groups like the Baxenden Community Forum and the local community to provide a community facility which can be enjoyed by the current and future generations of children and families.”

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Council leader to hold latest

“out and about” surgery

Burnley Council leader Mark Townsend will hold his next “out and about” surgery on Saturday 2nd March in Burnley town centre, between 10am and noon.

As well as picking up your shopping, you can raise your points and questions with him about local services and issues for the town and get information on council services.

Councillor Townsend will be in Curzon Street (between Marks & Spencer and Next).

He said: “I invite anyone to come along and talk through any issues or concerns they have. These Out and About surgeries are an opportunity for people to talk to me face-to-face about things that matter to them and their community.”

If you can’t make it along in person to one of these drop-in surgeries, there are other ways to contact the council leader: by phone – 07854 437417; by email mtownsend@burnley.gov.uk; or by letter – Cllr Mark Townsend, Leader's Office, Burnley Town Hall, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 9SA.

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Nominate your local heroes for the 2019 Community Volunteer Awards Nominate your local heroes for the 2019 Community Volunteer Awards It’s time to show local heroes some love as Blackburn with Darwen’s Community Volunteer Awards open for nominations.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has teamed up with Community CVS and a range of local sponsors to launch the new awards, which aim to recognise the contributions community groups and individuals make to life in our borough.

Whether it’s a sports coach who gives up their evenings and weekends, someone special who lends a hand at a local charity, or a group that makes a real difference to where you live – nominate them now for the 2019 Community Volunteer Awards. For the first time, the Council’s Good Neighbour Awards will be presented alongside the annual Community CVS Awards and there are opportunities for residents, local businesses, charities, community groups

and social enterprises to be nominated for awards.

Councillor Mohammed Khan, Leader of the Council, said: Our borough is powered by an army of volunteers who selflessly give up their own time to make where we live the very best it can be.

I’ve been incredibly privileged to have met many volunteers and seen first-hand the amazing work they do.

Most are very modest and don’t expect an award for what they do, but it’s really nice to recognise their efforts and share our appreciation for their hard work and dedication.”

In total, 21 awards will be up for grabs across 12 categories including Volunteer of the Year, an Environment Award, Grassroots Award and the Community Involvement Award, which is open to the local business community.

Chief Executive of Community CVS Garth Hodgkinson added: It’s great that we are bringing these awards together to honour our borough’s unsung

heroes and it is fantastic to see the local authority, Community CVS, the local charities and the local business community all working together to celebrate the impact of volunteering within our community.

We have lots of people who wouldn’t even class themselves as volunteers – they just see it as helping out, but they are making a big difference.

If you know someone who really deserves an award, I’d encourage you to nominate them now.”

The closing date for nominations is Friday 5 April.

Nominations can be made online at www.communitycvs. org.uk/volunteer/volunteerawards/.

You can also collect nomination forms from Community CVS at the Boulevard Centre, Railway Road, Blackburn – next to Blackburn train station – or contact Donna Talbot on (01254) 583957 or donna. talbot@communitycvs.org. uk.

The Community Volunteer Awards will be presented at a special celebration in King George’s Hall in June.

Among the sponsors of the 2019 Community Volunteer Awards are Euro Garages, Blackburn Rovers Football Club, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, Herbert Parkinson, East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, Social Inclusion Programme and Together a Healthier Future,

Library Explorers launch for young visitors on World Book Day Young visitors to Lancashire libraries can collect stickers of their favourite magical characters by becoming Library Explorers.

The new scheme is being launched on Thursday 7 March to coincide with World Book Day, encouraging parents of children up to the age of four to visit a library and benefit from the many free services available. Each young visitor taking part in the scheme will receive a Library Explorers booklet featuring various fictional character stickers including the Lancashire Reading Dragon and the Dream Fairies.

Children will receive a different sticker from the 13 characters available each time they visit. Explorers who collect ten stickers will also get a

certificate to recognise their achievement. Libraries offer all sorts for young children.

As well as thousands of books, there's also activities including Bounce and Rhyme and storytelling sessions.

Free Wi-Fi is available giving parents access to a wealth of information, and the ability to play online games and stream music. Hundreds of children's e-books and audio books are also available to download for free. Currently 14,734 children under five-yearsold are Lancashire library members and have their own library card. Children can get a library card from birth.

Children need to be a library member to take part in the Library Explorers scheme.

To join, parents or carers just need to visit a library with their child and fill in a few details. With their own library

card, children can get free access to: • Beginner and early reader books, and books with readalong CDs • Fun and educational preschool books • Family movie classics and new releases • Storytime, rhymes and music CDs • Children's digital content and online resources County Councillor Peter Buckley, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: "I firmly believe that children are never too young to visit a Lancashire library. "It's important to give children the chance to experience the joy of reading from an early age, and our Library Explorers scheme encourages this. "Our fantastic free service can help

them discover a lasting love of books that will remain throughout their lives.

“And as well as books, most libraries now offer free storytelling or music sessions, where parents and carers can bring their pre-school children and meet with friends and get involved.”

Children under 16 are not charged if they are late bringing books back, and staff are always happy to help to find books to suit their individual needs.

Anyone who lives in the UK can join a Lancashire library, either online or by visiting in person.

Membership is free and there are no age restrictions.

For more information, go to www.lancashire.gov.uk/ libraries. Alternatively call 0300 123 6703.

Blackburn Youth Zone, Age UK, Shelter and Personalising Freedom.

Ilyas Munshi, Euro Garages Group Commercial Director, said: EG Group are delighted to support the Community Volunteer Awards. For us it is an occasion which reflects our town as a place where voluntary organisations and people make the difference to the everyday lives of local

residents. We look forward to being part of the celebrations.”

Other Blackburn with Darwen businesses who’d like to get involved in the Community Volunteer Awards as a sponsor can contact Ben Greenwood, Partnerships Communications Manager at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, on (01254) 585181 or ben. greenwood@blackburn.gov. uk.

Lancaster City Council launches air quality survey Lancaster City Council is asking for people’s views on how to improve air quality in the district as it looks to produce a new action plan to tackle the issue.

The city council is in the process of producing a new Air Quality Action Plan for the Lancaster District.

It will include actions to address air quality issues within the three designated Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) in Lancaster, Carnforth and Galgate and apply to the district as a whole.

As air quality issues within the three designated AQMAs in Lancaster relate to impacts from road traffic,

the action plan is being developed alongside the Lancaster District Highways and Transport Masterplan and will reflect on the key actions proposed in this plan.

People are now being asked to give their views and suggestions on air quality actions that could be included within the action plan.

To take part in the survey visit Lancaster.gov.uk/airquality.

The closing date to take part is March 31.

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Foster carers celebrated Foster carers from across Lancashire who have looked after children for many years have been honoured with a lunch at County Hall.

The celebration, held on (Wednesday 13 February), was attended by foster carers from across Lancashire, county councillors and senior officers.

These foster carers have all been fostering for at least 15 years, caring for more than 750 children in total during this time.

The foster carers who attended the lunch were: Alison and Arthur Poulter from Skelmersdale, who have been foster carers for 26 years and have fostered over 50 children.

Susan Ewens and Brett Steven from Burnley, who have been foster carers for 15 years and have fostered nine children.

Gillian and Peter Blackwell

from Leyland, who have been foster carers for 19 years and have fostered 18 children.

Christine and Harry Gregoire from Carnforth, who have been foster carers for over 30 years and have fostered 200 children.

Kath and Pat Miller from Poulton-le Fylde area, who have been foster carers for over 18 years and fostered four children.

County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, attended the event.

She said: "It is such a pleasure to have the opportunity to be able to recognise the incredible efforts made by our foster carers.

"All of our foster carers work tirelessly to improve the lives of looked after children in Lancashire. The importance of the work they do is much appreciated by us all. Being

able to hold this lunch gave us a chance to meet the foster carers and to thank them. It also gave us the opportunity to mark the length of time that some of our foster carers have carried out this incredibly important role.

"For many years now they have all opened up their hearts and their homes to provide children with a secure and loving place to live, and they make a massive difference in improving children's lives each day. I'd like to offer my personal thanks to each one of them, including those who unfortunately weren't able to attend the celebration."

County Councillor Anne Cheetham, Chairman of the county council, hosted the lunch. She said: "I was a foster carer myself for 11 years, so it was a great pleasure for me to be able to host a lunch to honour the foster carers and to

Campaign launched for anyone thinking about adopting Lancashire County Council is always looking for adopters, but this month there's an added focus on finding people willing to adopt older children and sibling groups.

County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, said: "We're running a campaign from the end of the month to remind anyone wanting to start or grow their family through adoption that there are children of all ages ready for a loving home.

"When people first start to think about adoption, they usually consider a baby, or even a toddler, rather than an older child. "The unfortunate reality is that children are considered to be older for adoption at just four years of age. It is likely that these children will have a brother or sister, and we try to keep brothers and sisters together whenever we can. "We're trying to find homes for these children in particular.

"There is always a need for adopters to come forward to look after all types of children of different ages and backgrounds." "There are real

benefits to adopting a sibling group. The children will already have bonded and will settle into their new family much quicker if they are with their brothers and sisters.

Anyone open to adopting more than one child will also only have to go through the adoption process once to adopt a sibling group." The county council is keen to hear from a broad range of prospective adopters, including single people and couples, samesex and heterosexual, from all religious backgrounds or none.

Consideration is given to anyone who wishes to adopt, regardless of their age, marital status, sexuality or gender.

There are no strict rules about whether people should have jobs, their own homes or have their own children.

The only legal requirement is that adopters must be over 21 and live within Lancashire or nearby.

A range of adoption support services and advice is available to anyone who has adopted a child. The council recognise that adoptive families require support at

different times and even after people adopt, the authority is there to help.

People can spread the word about adopting with Lancashire County Council on their own social media channels. This can be done by: • Following the county council on Twitter @ LancashireCC and searching for #LancsAdoption for messages to retweet.

• Liking the county council on Facebook at www.facebook. com/lancashireccand sharing #LancsAdoption posts.

By doing this people can help to spread the word to their friends and family, their colleagues and maybe the organisations they work with.

Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption can contact the county council by: • Calling the friendly adoption team on 0300 123 6723.

• Visiting the website at w w w. l a n c a s h i r e . g o v. u k / adoptionand filling in the enquiry form.

• Attending an information evening, visit www. lancashire.gov.uk/adoptionfor details.

recognise the important role they do. I enjoyed spending time with them, and having the opportunity to personally thank some of them for their incredible contribution.

"Fostering is such a tremendous thing to do, as it gives children the opportunity for the childhood that they deserve, a childhood that otherwise they may not have

had. I'd like to say a personal thank you to all our foster carers." The county council is currently recruiting new people who can foster all ages of children, particularly siblings who need to stay together and older children.

No formal experience or qualifications are needed, all that is required is a spare room and the desire to make

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

If you want to find out more, call the fostering recruitment team on 0300 123 6723 or visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/ fostering

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10 Things Golfers Love We all play and enjoy this great game of golf for different reasons. There are lots of things that keep bringing us back for more, some of which are obvious, some of which might not be. We got to thinking about it and came up with 10 of the things that we love about golf. Let us know what it is that brings you back.

Empty courses Who wants to take five or six hours to play 18 holes of golf? So how good is it when, once in a blue moon, you turn up with your regular fourball and discover that there isn't another soul on the course?

You don't have to wait on every shot, you don't have to lean on your driver in an intimidating manner to let the people in front know that they are holding you up, and you don't walk onto the tee at every par three and find three groups already there.

There can be one downside, however - thinking there is nobody on the course, the steward has shut the bar and locked the clubhouse, inside which are your shoes, mobile phone, wallet and car keys!

Wide fairways We may kid ourselves that we would like to face the challenge of threading drives with pinpoint accuracy through 20-yard-wide fairways surrounded by 3ftdeep rough, but please, let's not kid ourselves - that sort of golf course is no fun at all, all the more so because it encourages the higher handicappers among us to attempt to steer our drives, with disastrous results. What we ALL want is to stand up on the tee, open up our shoulders and thrash the ball as hard and as far as possible - and still be on the short grass, even if we are 50 yards off line.

Shallow bunkers Nobody likes to find that their perfectly-flushed drive has finished up the face of a hidden fairway bunker. If you have ever played the Old Course at St Andrews you will know what it is like to wander down the fairway and discover your golf ball lying in a tiny pot bunker that you did not even know was there, and then find it is impossible to take any

kind of stance without defying the laws of gravity. So how good is it when you play a course for the first time, hit a drive into a trap and get there to find that it has no lip, that it is filled with “proper” sand and that your ball is sitting up, inviting you to take a rescue club or long iron?

Drivers We lose all sense of reason when it comes to the driver, a

club we will use a maximum of 14 times in a round. Why is it that we are all seduced by the claims of manufacturers who suggest that the latest model will hit the ball further and straighter than the one upon which you have just forked out £350? There is something called the laws of physics which dictates precisely how much performance you are going to get from a driver, regardless of the brand name on the sole. You can adjust it all you want, but the chances are that it probably won’t hit the ball any further than the one you already have in your possession.

But we all just

love to go out and hit that shiny new club, filled with so much hope and promise.

And then we wonder why it is that it worked so well on the driving range but we can’t hit it for peanuts the minute we pay for it Cavity-backed irons If you ever thinned a shot with a blade iron on a cold winter’s day then you should give thanks to God every day of your life for the guy who came up with perimeter weighting and cavity backs to irons. They helped to make decent golfers of us all, and all but eliminated that dreaded judder that started at the tip of your fingers, went all the way up your arms, down your spine, through your legs to your toes and then all the way back again - and left you with no feeling in your fingers for the next four holes.

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Continued From Page 44...

Easy fixes We all love to take short cuts but the truth is that there is no “easy fix” to finding a good golf swing or a sound technique. All of us know this, so why is it that we keep falling for the “miracle cure” to your slice? Or the “three easy steps to playing par golf”? Or the sand wedge that is guaranteed to get your golf ball out of the bunker every time? Or the new driver that will add 40 yards to your drives?

Trees...

To be a little more specific, trees into which a drive disappears, rattles around among the branches for what seems like an eternity and then, lo and behold, the ball miraculously reappears slap bang in the middle of the fairway. Unless, of course, you are having one of “those” days.

Hot weather Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the

midday sun...and Scots, Irish and Welsh. We get more than our fair share of dud weather in the British Isles so when the sun comes out we cannot wait to get out there. Usually, we forget to take enough water with us. Sometimes we forget to take a baseball hat and almost always we don’t apply sunscreen before or during the round.

Four hours later, we stagger off the 18th green looking like ripe tomatoes and head straight to the bar and do the one thing that you should never do when you are dehydrated - consume one or two pints of alcohol.

The career shot Every once in a while we all hit a shot that could stand comparison with those that the world’s best tour professionals manage to accomplish every day of their lives. It might be a bunker recovery shot, it might be a drive that travels in excess of 300 yards, or a long, snaking birdie putt. It might be a holed chip or it could be

a miracle iron shot over a lake to the heart of a green. The problem with career shots, or course, is that they are precisely that and the chances of replicating them are slim but we always try.

Slow Greens Every time we switch on the TV and watch Tour professionals suffering the screaming heebie-jeebies on lightning-fast greens we long for the opportunity to play

on such surfaces. Except that we don’t. Not really. Can you imagine a downhill putt on a green so fast that if you hit it just a fraction too hard you know it will end up 50 yards back down the fairway? And

that when you play your next chip, there is every chance that the ball will finish up back at your feet? No, your humble, average amateur wants a green that is true and slow, so that he can hit the ball hard.

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RISHTON UNITED’S NEW GROUND NEARS COMPLETION

Pictured: L-R Chic Kelly-Rishton Utd FC Chairman, John Leaver of Rishton Utd, Council Leader -Cllr Miles Parkinson, John Townend & Laurence Loft -Trustees of Newground Together, Cllr Paul Cox and Martin Proffit of Proffitts.

With support from Proffitts – Investing in Communities, work to create Rishton United Football Club’s new £306K home ground at Norden Recreation Ground is nearing completion. The work will help to improve and protect Norden Valley Playing Fields in Rishton for future generations of football players.

The move comes after Hyndburn Council granted the club a 25 year lease for the site which enabled the club to establish this land as their home ground and apply for funding from Sport England and the Lancashire Football Association, who require a twenty-five year lease as an essential part of any funding application. Funding for the £306,000 refurbishment scheme has also come from

Lancashire Environmental Fund, Newground Together and Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’ fund with a contribution being made by Hyndburn Council.

Drainage and levelling works to the grass areas has allowed more pitches to be created and therefore more game time.

A new fence installed around the pitches will prevent horses and motorbikes damaging the playing surface.

The work has also included a seating area for visitors and spectators and improved access paths.

Cllr Miles Parkinson, Leader of the Council, said; “We are committed to helping local communities access quality sporting facilities and so it’s great to see to see this project for Rishton nearing completion. It will not only provide the town’s football

club with a home ground, but it will also help develop and inspire the next generation of footballers in the area.”

Chic Kelly, Rishton Utd FC Chairman, said; “We are really excited to see the project progressing and finally bringing local grass roots football back to Rishton.

Our teams have had to travel across the Borough to play matches and attend training so this will be welcomed by everyone to have our own home ground. Whilst we’ve spent 7 years on this project there’s still some fund raising to organise to ensure we complete phase 2 and provide changing facilities and a club house.”

Martin Proffit of Proffitts, Investing in Communities, said; “We’ve been working with the club on this idea

since 2012. Together we have overcome many hurdles to get to the stage we are at today.

With thanks to the funders involved Rishton United can now provide a great place to train and play for the benefit of many teams throughout Hyndburn for many years to come”.

John Townend, Trustee of Newground Together, said: “By reinvigorating the site, we hope to boost membership to attract more people, in particular young people and women back to the club.”

Fellow Trustee of Newground Together, Laurence Loft, added: “This is a great example of what can be achieved when partners work together. In addition to improving security and maintenance, we expect the landscaping to promote biodiversity on the site.”

Fulledge Colts YFC awarded funding for new base Fulledge Colts Youth Football Club has been awarded a grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund to provide improved facilities at Worsthorne recreation ground. The grant will enable Fulledge Colts YFC, which is a Charter Standard Community Club with boys and girls teams ranging from U7 to U18, to create four new junior football pitches, provide changing rooms and a club house, together with parking facilities. The scheme will benefit the many local children who play for Fulledge Colts YFC and the wider community of Worsthorne.

Fulledge Colts YFC and Burnley Council worked with the Football Foundation and the Lancashire FA to secure a of £183,111 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund towards the project. Dave Holmes, president of Fulledge Colts YFC, said: “We are very grateful to the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund for providing this grant, which will allow us to provide new pitches and facilities in Worsthorne and which will encourage more local children to take part in football, which is so beneficial to their health and wellbeing. We are also very grateful to the Lancashire Football Association for their support in developing the scheme.” Councillor Harbour, the council’s executive member for leisure and culture, said: “The existing football pitches at Worsthorne

recreation ground have been disused for many years because of poor drainage and a lack of changing rooms and toilets. We are delighted that, with generous support from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, we will be able to bring these pitches back into community use. There has been a great amount of time and effort gone into the project and I’d like to thank everyone for their involvement, we are incredibly excited as a club to have secured a home.”

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Since 2000, the Football Foundation has awarded 515 grants worth £13.9m across Lancashire County FA towards grassroots sports projects worth £32.2m and it is great to hear that Fulledge Colts will be the latest beneficiary. “Funding from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, delivered by the Foundation, will support the club in developing new junior pitches and changing rooms for the local community. Made possible by investment from the Premier League, The FA and the Government, via Sport England, the Fund is supporting the grassroots game by improving access to high-quality football facilities across the country.”

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Blackburn v PNE kick-off time explained Following questions being raised by supporters relating to the early kick-off for the forthcoming home fixture against Preston North End, Blackburn rovers would like to clarify why the kick-off time was moved.

Following the announcement and release of the 2018-19 fixtures last June, discussions were held with the Police around the fixtures that would attract a sell-out of the away end.

Preston North End and Leeds United were the two games identified as attracting away support in excess of 7,500 and therefore a mutually agreed decision was reached by the club and the Police for these two homes games to have the kick-off times brought forward.

For the visit of Preston North End, due consideration was given to the game being a local derby, previous encounters between the two clubs, the large away allocation and the short distance for the Preston fans to travel.

The impact on the wider Blackburn public and those residents living in close vicinity to Ewood Park was also taken into account.

We realise that by moving the start time will cause inconvenience to some of our home supporters and we can only apologise for that impact on those affected.

2ND COVENTRY 3PM

2ND ROTHERHAM 3PM

2ND SWANSEA CITY 3PM

2ND CRYSTAL PALACE 3PM

2ND MACCLESFIELD TOWN 3PM

5TH BLACKPOOL 7:45PM

9TH PRESTON NORTH END 12PM

9TH MILLWALL 3PM

10TH LIVERPOOL 12PM

12TH WIGAN ATHLETIC 7:45PM

12TH SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 8PM

16TH LEICESTER CITY 3PM

5TH CHELTENHAM TOWN 7:45PM

16TH ROCHDALE 3PM

16TH SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 3PM

16TH WIGAN ATHLETIC 3PM

30TH WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3PM

23RD BURTON ALBION 3PM

30TH ASTON VILLA 3PM

9TH BARNSLEY 3PM 12TH WYCOMBE W 7:45PM

30TH QUEENS PARK RANGERS 3PM

Fixtures home games in bold

16TH CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3PM 23RD GRIMSBY TOWN 3PM

30TH FLEETWOOD 3PM

MARCH

9TH STEVENAGE 3PM

30TH SWINDON TOWN 3PM

2ND YEOVIL TOWN 3PM

2ND STEVENAGE 3PM

2ND BRISTOL CITY 3PM

2ND LUTON TOWN 3PM

9TH FOREST GREEN ROVERS 3PM

9TH CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3PM

9TH BLACKBURN ROVERS 12PM

9TH SHREWSBURY 3PM

12TH MK DONS 7:45PM

12TH LINCOLN CITY 7:45PM

16TH NOTTS COUNTY 3PM

16TH TRANMERE ROVERS 3PM

23RD SWINDON TOWN 3PM

23RD NEWPORT COUNTY 3PM

30TH CRAWLEY TOWN 3PM

30TH GRIMSBY TOWN 3PM

13TH MIDDLESBOROUGH 7:45PM 16TH BIRMINGHAM CITY 3PM 30TH READING 3PM

12TH OXFORD UNITED 7:45PM 16TH ACCRINGTON STANLEY 3PM 23RD SCUNTHORPE 3PM 30TH GILLINGHAM 3PM

Each Edition of the Lancashire Now has a print run of 7,000 copies. Published by Wilcop Media Ltd, Unit 8, The Glade Business Centre, Forum Road, Nottingham. NG5 9RW.