FREE Issue. 115 - Jan-2020 0115 6972677 | www.wilcopmedia.co.uk | sales@wilcopmedia.co.uk
2020 Wall Calendar Inside
Residents urged to take pride in their communities A leading Burnley councillor has urged residents across the borough to take more pride in their communities in 2020.
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Brew + Bake re-launch in new location at Preston Markets
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ÂŁ250k to be invested in books for young people
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Warning to people dumping rubbish after new prosecutions
Businesses invited to Real Living Wage launch event A new initiative to help Preston businesses to become Real Living Wage employers is launched at an event on (23 January) at the Harris Museum. 'A real wage for Preston' will see Preston City Council launch the initiative to businesses showing them the benefits that paying the Real Living Wage can have on their business, employees and the city as a whole. It will also be an opportunity to celebrate the dozens of Preston employers who are already paying the Real Living Wage. Councillor Freddie Bailey, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building at Preston City
Council, said: "The Council is proud to have been the first Real Living Wage Employer in the North, having paid the Living Wage for over 10 years. We are proud to say that close to 50 other businesses and organisations in Preston have joined us and pay their employees the Real Living Wage. "Statistics show that average wages in Preston have increased more than the rest of the UK and the North West over the past eight years. We want to continue this great work and are excited to launch this new initiative as we want to encourage other businesses and organisations to join us in providing a fair day's pay for a hard day's work.
"Many businesses have told us they want to be Real Living Wage employers but need advice and support on how to make that a reality. This event will answer these questions and provide practical advice to businesses on how to get started. "Fair pay plays an important role in community wealth building and we're striving for Preston to not just be a city with Living Wage employers, but to become a Living Wage City. This new scheme will help us in this ambition. "As a Labour Council we believe in positive economics and we want to do all we can to increase wages for those who live and work in our city. When workers in our city
have more money, they spend more money which will boost our local economy and create more wealth, opportunities and jobs. This is the type of positive economics we want to further." The free event will provide businesses with an opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the Real Living Wage and find out how they can become part of the initiative. It will also be an opportunity to network with other likeminded businesses and organisations that operate in Preston with refreshments provided.
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Residents urged to take pride in their communities A leading Burnley councillor has urged residents across the borough to take more pride in their communities in 2020. Councillor Cosima Towneley said Burnley Council could only effectively tackle the problem of flytipping with the help and support of local people. “The council does what it can to keep our communities clean and tidy but it’s fighting a neverending battle to try and keep our streets free of flytipping and the only way we can win that battle is with the help of residents," she said. “Think how much money we could save if we didn’t need to have clean-up crews going out every day to sort out the mess left by a selfish minority
who don’t care about what effect dumping their rubbish on someone else’s doorstep has. “We are organising extra street clean-ups in certain areas but that hard work and investment is being abused by some people who think it means they can wash their hands of their responsibility to dispose of their rubbish properly. We can clean up a street only for rubbish to start appearing again within a matter of days. “In most cases people don’t go far to dump their rubbish and residents in the area know who’s responsible for the flytipping. We want people to report the flytippers and give the council information so that we can catch
those responsible and fine and prosecute them. We want to make the flytippers think twice before they dump any rubbish and realise there’s a good chance they will get caught and punished. “We need people to take a pride in their communities and help us catch and fine those that dump their rubbish on our doorsteps and wash their hands of any responsibility.
“Dish the dirt on the flytippers and help us keep your communities clean and tidy.” The council will clean up flytipping if it’s reported and officers try to gather evidence so that action can be taken against those responsible. For example, the council’s contractors recently cleaned up more than 20 bags of household rubbish dumped at the rear of Ormerod Road,
Burnley. Officers traced the rubbish to an address close by and the householders were spoken to and now face further enforcement action. Residents can give information on flytipping and those responsible online at www.burnley.gov.ukor by contacting the council’s streetscene unit by email streetscene@burnley.gov. ukor caling 01282 425011.
Brew + Bake re-launch in new location at Preston Markets Brew + Bake have successfully moved to their new stall in the Market Hall
and will be open for business from Friday 10 January Within their new corner unit, which backs onto Pickles, Brew + Bake are launching a new food and drink menu which is available to sit in or take away. Julie Fausset, Owner of Brew + Bake said: "I am really excited for the future of my business within Preston Markets. The move has gone really well and I can't wait to reveal the finished space and new menu. The larger area has allowed me to expand the seating area, creating a welcoming space for you to enjoy your breakfast, lunch, coffee and cakes." Councillor Robert Boswell, Cabinet
Member for Environment at Preston City Council said: "It is great to see Brew + Bake expanding their business at Preston Markets. Since their opening in February 2018 they have been very popular and I believe this expansion
will see their popularity grow even further." The original location of Brew + Bake will be put on the market for lease creating a fantastic opportunity for a new or existing trader to trade in this prime location at
Preston Markets. Anyone interested in vacant stall opportunities see New Preston Markets Opportunities. https://www. preston.gov.uk/article/1383/ New-Preston-MarketsTrader-Opportunities
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One step closer on the road to big improvements in Blackburn Plans to widen one of Blackburn’s busiest roads to ease traffic and boost jobs and business are progressing before works starts in April 2020. Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Board is set to give the full approval application for the “Local Growth Fund 3 – Blackburn South East” project to be submitted to the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board (LEP). The £11.5m. Local Growth Fund 3 package will then be considered by the LEP with works due to start this April and run to April 2021. The Casey Group has been named as the contractor for the works. The planned work will see Haslingden Road widened between Shadsworth
Road and Lions Drive (Beehive Roundabout) as well as the creation of a new entrance to Royal Blackburn Hospital at Old Bank Lane. There will also be upgraded roundabouts at major access points along Haslingden Road including Shadsworth Road and DW Sports. As part of the scheme, there will also be a new Blackamoor Link Road created including two new junctions at Roman Road/Newfield Drive and Blackamoor Road. These are much-needed improvements to the area and designed to improve congestion on the Haslingden Road corridor around Royal Blackburn Hospital and Junction 5 of the M65. When completed, the works will support the development of nearly 650
new homes and over 65,000 square metres of land to be used for business growth and job opportunities in the area. The Blackamoor changes are also designed to improve air quality and pedestrian facilities, at a designated Air Quality Management Area. There will be disruption while the works are being carried out, which may result in some temporary delays and diversions. However, the Council will work closely with residents, contractors, businesses, the hospital and the emergency services to minimise this as much as possible and to co-ordinate construction works. The Council has also taken on comments and suggestions from the public in a previous consultation. These include:
• Extending solid islands for easier pedestrian crossing across Haslingden Road • Creating additional parking at the front of Roman Road “cottage” properties south of Newfield Drive with a new lay-by area • Making sure access to/from future Blackamoor development sites will be from the new Blackamoor Link Road only Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development, said: This is one of the final steps to take before this important work starts. Obviously, there is going to be some disruption as this is a big piece of work and I understand that this may be frustrating but it is essential that it is carried out. These works are essential for future growth of the borough, in jobs, business investment, housing developments and a better experience for road users. It is impossible to make changes on this scale without causing some disturbances but we will be working hard to minimise these as much as possible, including working off peak as much as we can. This project will transform these areas and will make traffic flow much better.”
Cabinet to consider the provision of additional secondary school places in Burnley Lancashire County Council is proposing to expand Unity College in Burnley to meet the demand for places following the closure of Hameldon Community College. A report to the council's Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday 16 January recommends approving a further expansion of 30 Year 7 places from September 2021. The proposed expansion at Unity College, at Towneley Holmes, will increase the number of Year 7 places from 240 to 270 in 2020 and a further 30 in 2021. The initial
expansion in places from September 2020 was agreed at a Cabinet meeting held in August 2019. The expansion will create an extra 150 places at the school within five years, which the previous report had proposed to be provided at Shuttleworth College. The current report recommends rescinding the decision that was made by Cabinet in August to permanently expand Shuttleworth College in Padiham by 30 Year 7 pupil places from September 2020. Five potential locations
had been investigated on the Shuttleworth College site to facilitate the expansion, however three of these sites are affected by the possible presence of protected species which would delay the programme past the date that the places are needed by. The other two locations are affected by historic mine workings. The recommendation to Cabinet is that these places are provided by utilising the county council's site at Easden Clough, on Morse Street, and building a new premises.
This site, currently a social services building, adjoins the Unity College grounds. Edwina Grant OBE, Lancashire County Council's executive director for education and children's services, said: "One of our key responsibilities at the county council is making sure that there are enough school places to meet demand. "We are constantly reviewing changing demographic factors to make sure that we have the right number of school places throughout the county, and we knew that there was a need for some additional secondary places in this part of the county. "The two colleges are already providing the extra places that are needed on a temporary basis, and cabinet will consider the recommendation to provide the extra places permanently at Unity College only."
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Warning over 'ecstasy' tablets
Police are issuing a warning after a small number of people became ill after taking what they may have believed to be ecstasy tablets. Officers are advising that the tablets, described as blue cubed shaped, may have been sold as ecstasy but may be either another substance or very high dose and they are warning people not to take them. A small number of people have become ill after taking the tablets with symptoms including sickness and vomiting. None of the people are in a life-threatening condition. Police enquiries are underway into the source of the pills and to analyse their content. The people taken ill have been in the Blackpool and Wyre areas, although the pills could be circulating more widely. Insp Mark Douglas, of West Police said: “We are looking into this following reports a small number of people suffered adverse effects after taking what they may have believed to be ecstasy. “Our advice would be for anyone who has taking a tablet like his to seek immediate medical attention if they start to feel unwell. If anyone has any of these tablets and has not yet taken them they should dispose of them safely by taking them to a police station, hospital or pharmacy. As they are cubed shaped they could look like sweets to a child so we are especially concerned. “There is no safe way of taking drugs, and no way of knowing exactly what you are putting into your body and whether it is safe.” For information about the dangers of taking drugs and their effects, please visit Talk to Frank at www.talktofrank.com. Lancashire Constabulary takes a proactive response into tackling the issue of drugs in the county. We would urge people who have information about illegal drug related activity to come forward and contact us. Anyone with information about the blue ‘ectsasy’ tablets should call 101 quoting log 0535 of today (Jan 14th) or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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The Harris welcomes library staff transfer The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library have welcomed Harris library staff who have transferred over from Lancashire County Council to Preston City Council to create one Harris team. The Harris is managed by Preston City Council working in partnership with Lancashire County Council and is in a transformative
point in its history to create the UK's first blended museum, art gallery and library. Bringing the museum and library together as a single service will help the Harris to move forward with its unique and exciting vision to reimagine the Harris and ensure the Grade 1 listed building remains a cultural, civic and community hub for the city and county. There will be no change in service and you will still be able to enjoy all the great offers available at the Harris Library. Tim Joel, Head of Culture for Preston City Council, said: "We have a superb team at the Harris who work closely on offering the best visitor experience
possible. Moving to a single team is a real boost to the Reimagining the Harris project which seeks to reposition the Harris as focal point for creativity and making, digital technology, learning and reading." Lancashire
County Council Head of Libraries, Museums, Culture and Archives, Julie Bell, in a thank you message sent to staff said: "I must say a huge thank you to the staff at the Harris Library who officially transferred to Preston City
Council on 1st January. Good luck with the Re-imagine the Harris project and we look forward to working with you all in these exciting times for Preston." Further information. Staff transferred is one library branch manager
and 10.3 full-time equivalent library assistants. Plans are underway with the staff to create a new single visitor services team that will work across the building and build on the excellent customer service already delivered.
A new campaign is asking people to stop feeding pigeons to help keep our town centre clean and tidy. A campaign has been launched to ask people not to feed pigeons in Blackburn town centre and you may end up with a fine for feeding the birds. The campaign will start with putting up signage asking residents not to feed the pigeons and explaining why. Following this, anyone caught feeding the pigeons could face a fine, as they attract other vermin, carry and spread diseases which can be transmitted to humans and cause mess and destruction. By feeding pigeons means they are attracted to areas not natural to them, leading to nuisance behaviour and overcrowding. Food given to pigeons can attract rats and leads to more droppings in the town centre. Pigeons can also spread diseases which can be caught by people, and the more pigeons there are, the higher this risk becomes. It can also affect the pigeons’ ability to hunt for their own food. Posters have been placed in Blackburn Bus
Station and people spotted purposely feeding pigeons could end up with a £75 fine. A particular problem has been noted around the bus station with the birds creating a mess inside and outside the station. The Council is working with Blackburn BID to try and reduce these issues for the benefit of residents and visitors. Jim Smith, Executive Member for Environmental Services, said: Not only can it be potentially harmful to the pigeon population, it is very unhygienic especially as it leads to increased pigeon droppings. Any surplus food will also be scavenged by rats causing further issues. Pigeons have their own natural sources of food, their digestion systems are not designed to eat human food, so feeding them does more harm than good. We are working hard with local business to make sure they dispose of waste responsibly and we provide rodent proof waste bins across the town centre that the public can use to dispose of litter. Our street cleansing teams work hard
to make sure that Blackburn Town Centre is an attractive and clean environment for residents, shoppers and other visitors – but we need the public to play a part and help us do this. We know people who feed the pigeons do this because they think they are helping, but they are actually creating problems and you could end up getting a fine.” BID Manager Catherine Price added: We know that pigeons aren’t interested in interacting with people – they’re just after your food. But the mess and disturbance caused by feeding them leaves parts of the town centre looking dirty and unkempt. One of the BID objectives is to ensure that Blackburn town centre is clean, green and as attractive as possible and residents, visitors and businesses can do their bit to help by not feeding the pigeons.”
Please don’t feed the pigeons!
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George’s silver cup returns to Blackburn A silver cup awarded to a Blackburn campaigner in the 1800s has been returned to the town after his family crowd funded more than £1,000 to buy it. George Dewhurst fought for reform and workers’ rights all his life and was even accused of High Treason and imprisoned for two years for his efforts. He was presented with the cup in 1832 by his followers and supporters – an unusual thing to do and a precious item for a working class man. His great-great-great-greatgranddaughter, Emma Speed, launched the fundraising drive after being contacted by a jewellers to say they had George’s silver cup. She has now presented it back to the town for safekeeping at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery so it can be kept as part of the town’s history. She was joined at a special event by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Damian Talbot and the Mayor for Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Jim Shorrock. Emma said: Thank-you to all those who also campaigned to make this happen. As a family, we wanted George’s legacy to be kept alive. Bringing the cup to Blackburn seemed the perfect way to do this. I think this journey has been a fitting tribute to George
and the tireless work he did for the working classes of Lancashire. George’s cup was located last year at a Bristol Jewellers, Grey-Harris and Co. After researching the name on the antique, they discovered Emma’s three-year journey to explore George’s past online, and decided to contact her. The cup now sits proudly in Blackburn Museum, free for all to see. Emma and UCLAN animation student Beth Joy have also produced a short
film depicting how George was arrested for High Treason shortly after the Peterloo Massacre in 1819. Peterloo took place at St Peter’s Field in Manchester on August 16, when cavalry charged into a crowd of 60,000 – 80,000 who had gathered to demand the reform of parliamentary representation. Emma and Beth’s film, narrated by Emma’s son Monty, was premiered as part of the Peterloo commemoration.
HELP SHAPE HYNDBURN’S FUTURE TO 2036 Local people are being asked their views about how they want the Borough to develop in the future. Following initial consultation in 2018, and a second stage earlier in 2019, the Council is continuing to prepare its new Local Plan for the Borough. Local people are now being asked to take part in a further consultation on two key elements of the Local Plan: firstly the planning policy approach to addressing the needs of gypsy and traveller and travelling showpeople provision in the Borough; and secondly a final opportunity to suggest sites for allocation for any uses e.g. housing, employment, gypsy and traveller sites, or protection for open space. The consultation is designed to spark debate and discussions
in order to help finalise the Local Plan for the Borough at the next stage. Council Leader, Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, urged people to take part, saying; “The Council has to maintain up-to-date plans to support growth for all parts of the community, 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; “As part of this consultation the Council is putting forward draft proposals for planning policy on the provision of gypsy and traveller sites, including site options, around the Borough to meet the need identified in the
latest accommodation needs assessment. We are also seeking views about any further sites that the Council has not yet considered which might be considered suitable for any use either for allocation or protection from development in the new Local Plan. This is the final opportunity to suggest sites for consideration. At this stage no decisions have been taken on preferred policy approaches or sites for allocation so it is important that as many people get involved as possible and have their say about this.” The consultation will run until Monday 27 January 2020. For more information about the consultation visit the Councils website www. hyndburnbc.gov.uk/localplan or call Planning on 01254 388111.
Cllr Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: It was lovely to see Emma and Monty proudly handing over the cup to the museum
so that it can be truly valued in the town that it belongs. George’s silver cup is a key part of our local history, and bringing such an important item back to its home town is
a great achievement. In March, Emma is hoping to host a George Dewhurst Day and all donors and descendants of George will be invited to take part.
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£250k to be invested in books for young people Blackburn with Darwen Council has re-signed a deal that will see £250k invested in providing books for the children of Blackburn with Darwen over the next three years. The Council’s Library Service leads on the Bookstart scheme – which has been running in the borough for 20 years – with its Children’s Services team, NHS partners and the national BookTrust charity. To deliver the scheme, BookTrust works with the library and staff from children’s centres and health visitors and schools to provide free books, parent/child reading resources as well as general information about the library and literature on other schemes. Book packs are first handed out to families of babies by health visitors at their 6-10 month development checks. Treasure packs for older children begin from ages 3-4 and are handed out at children’s centres, nurseries and pre-schools, with ageappropriate books and library literature included. Library volunteers are crucial
to the success of the scheme putting the packs together prior to distribution. The £250k funding originates from Arts Council England, and the new deal will see the scheme being rolled-out locally until March 2022. A recipient of one of the book packs said: Thank you to Bookstart for our pack with the free books. I want my son to love reading as much as I do and we read every day which we both enjoy enormously. Reading is a great way to connect with my son, encourage his talking and have fun together. Volunteer Susan Whitsey said: The scheme helps to prepare children for when they start school and we also hope it will encourage more men to read with their children. Volunteer Taiba Rashid said: Bookstart is a great way to introduce children and their families to various storybooks and rhymes. Volunteering has meant gaining new skills and building on my existing ones. It’s a great experience. Dominic Harrison, Director of Public Health and Wellbeing,
Cllr Zamir Khan and Dominic Harrison with volunteers Susan Whitsey (l), Taiba Rashid (r) and Vanessa Dullard with two year-old Annabel Hegarty
said: This is a fantastic, free contribution to the social, health and educational wellbeing of our local children. We aim to reach every child in the borough. You are never too young to be introduced to books, in fact there is strong evidence to suggest babies and toddlers who grow up around books go
on to become more confident readers when they start school. For our libraries too this scheme allows them to reach more people, promote their service and hopefully gain new members who will keep coming back year-on-year. Diana Gerald, CEO, BookTrust said
I’m delighted that we’re able to work with Blackburn with Darwen Council on such an exciting partnership. They are clearly committed to changing the lives of their children and young people through reading and understand how important reading is to improving life chances. Research shows that a child who enjoys reading
will do better in all subjects, even maths. That’s why we make sure every child gets high quality children’s books and support from birth and why, working with Blackburn with Darwen Council, we will be distributing over £250k worth of books to children and families across the borough over the next three years.
Protect your pipes this winter
Whilst the UK enjoyed an unseasonably mild end to 2019, the winter is set to take a grip with weather forecasters warning a cold snap could be on its way during the first few weeks of the new year. As the weather gets colder, the risk to your home increases. Insulating your water pipes will protect them from freezing, bursting
and flooding. Sometimes pipes freezing and thawing can cause them to burst. There are simple steps you can take to protect your home: • Pay attention to the pipes in the garage, loft, or those outside your home, as these are the ones most likely to freeze when the temperature drops. • Wrap up your pipes to prevent them from freezing.
• Keep your heating on low during a cold spell, even if you’re away. • Should the worst happen find your stop tap and turn the water off immediately. The Met Office has more seasonal advice online and United Utilities’ winterwise campaign has tips on protecting your home this winter.
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Warning to people dumping rubbish after new prosecutions Blackburn with Darwen Council is continuing its crackdown on people dumping rubbish in the borough. The Council secured half a dozen prosecutions in December for offences ranging from dumping rubbish in back yards to traders leaving waste on land around the towns. Catherine Porter (49), of Whitebirk Road, Blackburn, was charged £690. She was found guilty of accumulating waste in her back yard. She did not appear in court and was charged in her absence. A&R and Co Developments Ltd of Flat 1, Tendring House, Tulse Hill, London, was charged with failure to remove household waste from land at 91 Infirmary Street, Blackburn. The fine given was £876. Father McKenzie Holdings Ltd, based at Real House, Crosby Road South,
Liverpool, failed to comply with a Community Protection Notice to remove controlled waste which had been left on land at Eleanor Street, Blackburn, The company was fined £690. Sherryl Louise Hough, of Lynwood Avenue, Darwen, was fined £565 for leaving household waste was within the rear yard of the address. Household waste in a rear yard led to Mohammed Younis (53) of Cherry Street, Blackburn, also being fined £565 in his absence. Fakhruddin Lodal (41) of T/A 3d Properties, of Chatburn Street, Blackburn, failed to comply with a notice to remove household waste from land at 6 Leach Street, Blackburn. He was fined a total of £690. Further household waste was discovered at the property of Julie Drinkwater (38), at Kay Street, Darwen. A fine of £125 was given in her absence. Finally, Claire Wilkinson (35)
of Bonsall Street, Blackburn, was fined £690 for household waste in the back yard of her home. Councillor Jim Smith, Executive Member for
Environmental Services, said: This is a real warning for people who think it is OK to dump rubbish. They could end up with a hefty fine as well as
being named and shamed. These are serious offences and not only cost a lot to clear up but it is also harmful to the community and the
environment. We will not tolerate this and are working hard to tackle the issue and hold those responsible to account.
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Empty house given new lease of life A derelict house in Morecambe’s West End that was left empty for more than six years is to be given a new lease of life thanks to the tenacious efforts of Lancaster City Council. The property, on Hampton Road, was last occupied in April 2013 and had increasingly become an increasing stain on the neighbourhood. A fire in the roof caused neighbours to experience severe issues with damp and it was also a target for squatters and fly-tippers. But it now looks set to be turned back into a family home after the city council enforced the sale of the property and it was bought by a local property developer. The complicated story begins earlier this decade when the terraced house was the subject
of a complicated fraud scheme that saw its then owners sell shares in its renovation, with the promise of unrealistic returns. Shares were sold for between £10,000 to £20,000 to five separate people, despite the fact it was only worth around £50,000. After the fraud was discovered the company liquidated itself and the property was disclaimed, a legal term meaning it became the property of the Crown. However, due to charges against the house being more than it was worth, the Crown was content to allow it sit empty and a legal quagmire ensued, with the property remaining boarded up and unloved. Until, that is, the city council’s empty homes office, Claire Taylor, intervened and managed to find a solution.
“It’s safe to say that without the council’s involvement the property would still be empty today, explained Claire. “Because our environmental health team had undertaken work at the property to clear the rear yard of fly-tipping we had a legal charge against it, meaning we could enforce the sale to recoup our costs. “It’s very satisfying to know that everything has been resolved and I hope that it will now have a future again as a family home. “It also serves as a warning to other property owners that leave their properties in disrepair that the city council will take action.” If you are aware of a problem empty property in your area or own a property that you would like to discuss, Claire can be contacted on 01524 582321 or cdtaylor@lancaster.gov.uk
Leisure venues seek
private sector experience
Some of Rossendale’s best known leisure and tourism venues are seeking experienced business people willing to join their boards as unpaid non-executive directors to share their knowledge and experience. Guy Darragh, Economic Development Manager, said: We have some outstanding
visitor venues in the borough and their continued growth is really important to our aspirations to grow the Visit Rossendale and Adrenaline Valley brand and continue the increase in trips to the borough. In order to do this some of our venues would benefit from experienced business
directors joining the boards and offering vital private sector experience. It is likely that a two hour-permonth commitment would be required as a minimum. If you are interested in this opportunity please email: guydarragh@rossendalebc. gov.uk
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Cinema getting ready for its close up Outside works are well underway at the new Reel Cinema in Blackburn town centre. Outside works are nearly complete on the building, which will be a new eightscreen independent cinema for cinema operator Reel on the former Waves Leisure Centre Centre site in Blackburn town centre. The site is located within the Northgate Conservation area and near to King George’s Hall and the old college building, therefore the materials used are respectful of the existing surroundings. The main cinema structure is designed in a light brown colour to complement the surrounding stone and upper sections of the cinema in a textured cladding which will be finished in a colour to tone in with the surrounding red brickwork. Some of the outside will also be finished in a pale gold material to complement the adjacent buildings – the gold cladding to Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre and Feilden Street Car Park and
the nearby Blackburn College building. Barnfield Construction were selected as construction partner and started on site in August 2018, with full completion due in Summer 2020. Blackburn Cinema is a new eight-screen independent cinema for cinema operator Reel being built on the former Waves Leisure Centre a site in Blackburn town centre. It is the latest part of the borough’s scheme to regenerate the town centre and the night-time economy. The 2,400m2 single storey cinema includes cafes, a dessert bar, an under-croft car park and a public realm outdoor space, better linking the Northgate – King George’s Hall – Blackburn College area of town. The area around King George’s Hall, Northgate and Blakey Moor is set to be
transformed in this ambitious project to revamp the entire space. Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for
Pendle Council’s new wards finalised Final recommendations for Pendle Council’s wards, ward boundaries and ward names have been published by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. All of Pendle’s current Council wards will change as part of the review which included two rounds of public consultation. The Commission’s final recommendations propose that Pendle should be represented by 33 councillors in future. This is 15 fewer than the current arrangement. It also proposes that those councillors should represent 10 three-councillor wards, one two-councillor ward and one single councillor ward. Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council, said: “The aim of the electoral review is to recommend and re-draw ward boundaries that mean each councillor represents approximately the same number of voters. “The review also ensures the ward boundaries reflect
the interests and identities of local communities.” Philip Mousdale, Corporate Director, added: “We are happy with the final recommendations. “The Boundary Commission accepted some of our comments which means that largely it’s in line with what we hoped for.” The Commission took on board the Council’s suggestion that Fence and Higham be taken out of the original proposal to create Brierfield West, Fence and Higham. Fence and Higham ward is now recommended as a onecouncillor ward alongside a two-councillor Brierfield West & Reedley ward to better reflect community interests and identities. The Commission also agreed with the Council that the new West Craven wards should be called Barnoldswick and Earby & Coates. And they’ve agreed to change the name of the proposed Waterside ward to Waterside
& Horsfield and the proposed name of the proposed Southfield & Marsden ward to Marsden & Southfield. The proposed new arrangements must now be implemented by Parliament. A draft Order, which will be laid in Parliament in the coming months, will state that the new electoral arrangements will come into force next year. There will be all out elections in May 2020, which means all Pendle councillors who wish to be re-elected, will stand as candidates in the new wards. Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We’re extremely grateful to people across Pendle who took part in the review. The Commission has looked at all the evidence that was put forward during the consultation. “We believe these recommendations deliver electoral fairness for voters as well as reflecting community ties throughout Pendle.”
Growth and Development at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: It has been very exciting watching the work progress
on this fantastic building, and the cladding is now bringing it all together, it looks really impressive. The regeneration of the
Northgate area is really coming along, and this is right at the centre of it all. It will be great to see it up and running in 2020.”
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Man to Man Menswear No more fines for late returns at Blackburn with Darwen libraries Man to Man is an exclusive menswear shop situated on Lord Street in the heart of Southport. Having served the community for over 50 years, Man to Man has become one of the largest stockists of Hugo Boss in the North West of England including the Big and Tall 2-5 XL. Our aim is to make Man to Man one of the top designer shops in the North West catering for all ages with bigger sizes and new fresh brands. We continue to offer the largest range of menswear from other top labels such as Ralph Lauren, Barbour, Eton, Eterna, Meyer Hosen, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, J.Lindeberg, Bugatti, Digel and many more. We also stock a great selection of shoes, trainers and loafers from Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Swims, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Goodwin Smith, Android Homme, and Berwick shoes. We offer a wide selection of accessories including, caps,
ties, socks, wallets, cufflinks, scarfs, pocket squares, wash bags, underwear, belts and many more. Latest Brands in store... Jacob Cohen jeans, and Mancini jeans. New brand for Spring/Summer 2020Lacoste with sizes up to 6XL. Also new in store.... BIG and Tall Ralph Lauren and Barbour up to 5XL Call 01704537521
Libraries across the borough are removing all fines for the late return of books and audio visual items. There will also be an amnesty for outstanding or historic fines, meaning these will be taken off the system. It is hoped the move will encourage more people to use the libraries, including those who may not have been for a while due to having overdue books and fines. It could also help with the return of books and other items if the borrower does not feel a sense of embarrassment or shame returning late items due to a fine. As well as the borrowing of books, libraries provide access to a large list of vital services including IT and digital training, community groups, literacy help and information services. Fines have decreased in the past few years and are expected to drop further in the future. Plans have been made to manage the library budgets without the fines. Other authorities in the region, including Blackpool,
Oldham, Salford and Leeds, have also taken the decision to abolish late fines and have not reported a rise in the number of late returns. There is evidence to suggest that this has resulted in a greater return of overdue books and stock and an increase in library visits and items being taken out. However, there will still be a temporary ban on borrowing if a person has outstanding items and items that are lost damaged or not returned will still incur a small cost. Several borrower categories, such as under-15s as well as
blind and partially sighted people, are already exempt from fines and concessions are already in place for the over-65s. Cllr Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: This is an important move for the library services, as there is evidence that people with outstanding fines or overdue items will stop going to libraries as they are worried about what the reaction might be. We want people to know that there will not be any repercussions for bringing back overdue books, and we want as many people as possible to use the libraries, which dedicated staff and volunteers have worked so hard to keep open over the budget cuts of the last decade. In terms of cancelling outstanding fines, there will be no questions asked and people can start again with a clean slate.
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Darwen housing with care scheme scoops award A Darwen housing scheme designed to support people over 50 with care needs has won a building industry award. Riverside Heights, a partnership between Together Housing Group and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, was named as Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development at Local Authority Building Control’s Building Excellence Awards. In addition to 85 selfcontained apartments, the development features a restaurant and hair and beauty salon which are open to the wider community. All apartments at the development have now been filled with a waiting list for future applicants. There is a strict assessment criteria for applications, which includes an assessment of social care and housing needs. Sue Lewis, Head of Supported Housing at Together Housing, said: Riverside Heights is designed to bridge the gap for people struggling to live on their own and residential care. The service is flexible and responsive, so residents
can continue to be supported as their needs change. We are delighted that the scheme, which offers residents privacy and independence alongside tailored support services, has been independently recognised as an example of best practice. Sayyed Osman, Director of Adults and Prevention at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: The innovative housing development at Riverside Heights extends the range of housing and care options for older people in the borough. It offers residents the reassurance of extra support being on hand if needed, helping people to maintain their independence for longer, as well as providing a wide range of modern facilities on site. The panel of expert judges said: The judges were in agreement that Riverside Heights is a stand-out example of top-quality specialised housing with care for the elderly. This scheme is truly part of the community with a restaurant open to local people and a stepped-up care
provision for those who need it so they do not have to move. LABC Chief Executive, Paul Everall, said: Our building excellence awards are an opportunity for the industry to celebrate good practice. Our winners demonstrate how positive working relationships with local council building control teams achieve high quality, sustainable buildings. Our awards are
unique because they recognise how this cooperation improves building standards and professionalism across the industry. To apply for Riverside Heights contact Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s Adult Services team on 01254 587547.
CCTV helping crime crackdown in Leigh thanks to £5m fund Dozens of CCTV cameras funded by a £5m cash injection are helping to crackdown on crime across Leigh town centre. The 50 cameras, plus two mobile ‘rapid-deployment’ units are in addition to the town’s previous network and are part of Wigan Council’s Believe in Leigh fund. Tackling anti-social behaviour and crime both in the town centre and residential areas was identified as a priority after 600 responses were received on how the money should be spent. As a result, £400k was earmarked for safety measures and environmental
improvements. The new CCTV cameras have supported Wigan Council officers in obtaining vital evidence and in the eventual prosecution of individuals when they are flouting the law. Lord Smith, Leigh West councillor and lead member of the Believe In Leigh board, said: “We asked Leigh residents what they felt needed investment and we have listened. “It is essential that people living in or visiting the town centre, whether that is through the day or in the evening, feel safe. “Significant action has now
been taken on those concerns and it’s pleasing to see the comprehensive network of cameras in Leigh town centre is having a positive impact.” Ten new CCTV columns have also been installed to hold the cameras and each one will have four fixed cameras and one remotely controlled camera. Their locations have been agreed following consultation with partner organisations including Greater Manchester Police, local ward members and community groups. Lord Smith added: “People who are thinking of committing crime or antisocial behaviour in the centre
should be aware they are likely to be seen and that evidence will be passed to police. “There is a lot of work taking place behind the scenes to ensure the right decisions are being made, and we are liaising with community groups such as Leigh Neighbours and Leigh Residents Association to see how the local community can lead on cohesion for the area.” In addition to the CCTV, there has been investment in brighter low energy LED lighting, refreshed road markings on Market Place and the refurbishment of benches, guard rails and poles.
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Mad for Grit! Manchester’s new gritters ready to "Snowel With It" after Twitter poll A new army of eight gritters is set to hit Manchester’s streets - and after being invited to name the salt-spreading machines, Mancunians didn’t need a second invitation. The eight most popular suggestions, including a wintry pun on the name of Manchester music icon Noel Gallagher, have received the distinction of being emblazoned on the new vehicles - which have been provided through a £960,000 investment to strengthen Manchester’s resilience to winter weather and help keep traffic on the go. The response to Manchester City Council’s call for ideas was overwhelming, with 2,000 suggestions received, ranging from the witty to the downright corny. And after much deliberation, 24 of the catchiest ideas were put to the public to have the final say via a series of Twitter polls. The winning entries are:Basil Salty
Grit Astley Gritter Thunberg Slushay Away Snowbi-Gone Kenobi Snowel Gallagher Spreaddie Flintoff Spreaddie Mercury Thousands of tonnes of rock salt are stored at the council’s depot to help make sure that more than 700km of Manchester roads
can be gritted and the city keeps moving, whatever the weather, with winter services active from at least October until April each year. A special liquid de-icer is also deployed to treat segregated cycleways and footways. New ‘track my gritter’ software has been developed and will be available soon on the council’s website,
allowing Manchester residents to check whether Basil Salty, Slushay Away or another of the fleet has been gritting their area. In addition, residents will also be able to “Ask Alexa’ if their area has been gritted. These features have been developed with the support of Truview Visuals. Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, Councillor
Angeliki Stogia, said: “So many suggestions were received that it was hard to whittle them down, but the public decided on some cracking names for our new gritters - including a Mancunian connection in ‘Snowel Gallagher’. “Our investment in these vehicles will help to ensure that our roads, footways and cycle lanes are kept safe and accessible in the face of harsh
weather. And people might see the name they voted for on the roads, meaning that the vehicles will be spreading a little cheer, as well as grit, throughout the winter months. “I’m also proud that we are one of the first councils to introduce innovative ways in which residents can find out in real time about our winter service, through the use of new technology.”
New road closure due for Burnley junction improvements The next phase of improvements to Rose Grove junction in Burnley will see Accrington Road to the west of the junction being closed from Monday 20 January. Work began in early November on a 12-month project to widen the junction of Accrington Road, Rosegrove Lane and Rossendale Road close to junction 9 of the M65 to manage traffic congestion as the area grows. It represents a particular engineering challenge as there are a large number of services and utilities which need to be rerouted to allow the highway improvement to take place, with major fibre communication and broadband cables, gas, water and electricity pipes all passing through the junction. Lancashire County Council was able to keep all four arms of the junction open during the first phase of the work to minimise the impact on residents and businesses. However Accrington Road now needs to be closed to allow the project to progress. The £3m scheme is one of the final parts of a programme of
improvements to junctions and nearby local roads from Junction 7 at Accrington to Junction 13 at Barrowford, known as the HyndburnBurnley-Pendle Growth Corridor. County Councillor Keith Iddon, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We are trying to minimise disruption as far as possible while these improvements are delivered, which is why we have initially done as much of the work as we can while keeping Accrington Road open. "However we now need to move onto the work to divert utilities which run across Accrington Road, and progress the widening of the junction. "This is a very busy junction and we would ask people to find alternative routes if they do not need to travel though this area, and leave extra time for their journeys if they do. "We're grateful for the understanding that many people have already shown in recognising the need for this scheme, and we're sorry for the inconvenience."
Accrington Road to the west of Rose Grove junction will be closed except for access to homes and businesses, and for pedestrians and cyclists. Access will also remain for visitors to Burnley Crematorium. The remaining three arms of Rose Grove junction will continue to operate with temporary traffic lights in place. A diversion will be in place via M65 Junction 10 for traffic to access this area to and from the motorway. A diversion will also be signed via local roads for non-motorway traffic and via Junction 8 for residents and businesses located to the west of the closure. The programme, which is worth more than £12m in total, is part of the £320m Growth Deal secured from government by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and includes contributions from Lancashire County Council and Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn councils. A contribution to the work at Rose Grove will also come from the Department for Transport's local pinch point fund.
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Enjoy a new view in the Lake District in 2020
As a new decade dawns, the Lake District National Park Authority is encouraging people to get out in the Park and take in a new view to improve health, fitness and wellbeing. The #NewViewNewYou drive gives people at all stages in their fitness journey a varied list of suggestions on how they can explore their Park in a brand new way. Whether people are looking for ideas to take the first tentative
steps into the great outdoors, or are seeking ideas to really take their fitness to a new level, #NewViewNewYou gives tailored inspiration for everyone. Local guest bloggers will be sharing their life experiences and giving first hand insights into how to improve your health and wellbeing in the Park. Cumbrian Rambler, Beth Pipe, discusses how her love affair for the Lake District
began. She’ll offer ideas on how to get outside to benefit health and physical wellbeing and how to plan your walks and activities to make them a little more challenging. And to inspire those who want to take their fitness to a new level is Steve Birkinshaw, who until recently held the record for running all 214 wainwrights in an impressive 6 days and 13 hours. He’ll highlight some of the events happening in the Lake District
this year and give tips on how to set achievable fitness goals for 2020. So, if you’re venturing on your first family outing of the decade, there are a selection of routes to try such as Bowness to Cockshot Point, which is a pleasant, accessible 1.2 mile route suitable for all. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, why not see how many Wainwrights you can tick off during 2020. And if you are a seasoned fell fanatic and want to take on a new challenge such as wild swimming or cycling, there are a variety of suggestions for how the National Park can inspire you with a new view!
Kingfisher Caravan Park wins top award for seventh year East Lindsey District Park has once again secured Council's Kingfisher Caravan the Gold David Bellamy Conservation A w a r d , marking the seventh consecutive year the Park has achieved the accolade. The David Bellamy Conservation Award is one
of the longest running green tourism awards in the UK and champions holiday parks that are working to protect and enhance Britain's natural environment. The Park, which is located on Sea Lane, Ingoldmells, has been assessed by the scheme's team of local wildlife experts and has been scored in across a range of criteria in three key areas: Good Neighbourliness,
Sustainability and Ecological Management. The Park team were praised for their work in each area, with the assessor specifically commending the excellent links between the Park and the local community, the recruitment of a Park Development Manager and the Park's longer term plans. The scheme also awards Parks a number of badges for work on specific areas
and this year Kingfisher successfully secured three of those badges: Woodland Habitat, Wildflower Habitat and Hedgerow Habitat. Kingfisher Park Development Manager, Mickey Reeson, said: "We're delighted to have secured the Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award once more. We take great pride in the work we do and the national recognition we
receive through this Award is a testament to our whole team." Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Richard Fry, added: "We were saddened to hear of the passing of David Bellamy, who founded these Awards. His tireless work in establishing these conservation awards will ensure his legacy lives on and I'd like to pass on my condolences to his family."
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Who is the best in your community? One Voice Blackburn is pleased to link up with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to announce the nomination process for the Leader’s Award. The Mohammed Khan Leader’s Award will acknowledge and reward an individual or an organisation that has promoted community cohesion through leadership in Blackburn and Darwen. Last year’s winners were Keep Blackburn Tidy. The group is a way to keep volunteers in touch, support and encourage each other. It is also a way of helping people realise that looking after our streets is something anyone can do. Blackburn with Darwen Council Leader Mohammed Khan said: I am honoured and humbled that this award has been named after me for a fifth year running. More importantly though is what the award represents – celebrating leaders in our community who bring people together and make Blackburn with Darwen a better place to live, work and visit. “ Councillor Jackie Floyd, one
Councillor Mohammed Khan of the admins of the group and herself keen litter picker, said she was delighted the group had been recognised for their hard work: It’s been amazing how quickly the group has grown and how many members we have actually making a difference. We are pretty shocked that our group has caught the attention of so many people and are proud to be part of what is becoming a real force for change in Blackburn. This award is recognition for all our amazing volunteers who have contributed to the
growing momentum of the group.” If you would like to nominate someone or an organisation send a 100-word explanation as to the reason for your choice. The closing date is 27th January 2020 Please email your nomination to: info@onevoicenetwork. org.uk The winner will be chosen by Councillor Mohammed Khan and One Voice Blackburn Directors. The winner will be announced at the One Voice Annual Dinner, due to take place at the end of February 2020.
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Mary’s a winner after losing 15 stone! A woman is celebrating after losing half their body weight in September this year and winning a golden slimming award.
Mary Barnes, from Colne had lost a life-changing 13st 11.5lb to win Slimming World’s ‘Club 50’ Award – which has been special-created this year to celebrate the c o m p a n y ’s 50th birthday – and is awarded to those members who have lost an incredible 50% of their starting weight. Mary, who’s had gone from 27st 9.5lb to 13st 11.5lb, says: “I’ve been overweight for longer than I care to admit. I’m so proud and happy to
win this award, especially in such a monumental year for Slimming World. It just gets better as we come closer to the end of this special year I feel like a new woman since losing weight – in fact, I look so different that people who I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe I’m the same person. For me though it’s the change on the inside that’s been the greatest – I’m happier, healthier and much more confident now.” The 58-year-old joined the Monday group, which is run by Gwen Mortimer, on 2nd July 2018. Mary says: “My weight impacted on so many aspects of my life, from struggling to catch my breath, high blood pressure, finding clothes to fit let alone that I liked, to not being able to do simple everyday tasks without feeling tired and exhausted. Before I lost weight, I hated having my photo taken and
whenever I saw pictures of myself, I didn’t feel like my smile was real – yet now I’m beaming!” After retiring at Christmas in 2017 and being ill throughout Christmas and into the New Year, in fact most of January, with flu, pneumonia and being hospitalised with whooping cough, suffering with cracked ribs Mary was advised to seek help with her weight. Her lungs constantly filling up struggling to catch her breath and high blood pressure meant that she had to finally accept that she was obese but didn’t really know how much she did actually weight. Mary took a further six months to decided to join her local Slimming World group at St Johns Methodist Church, Colne. She says: “Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I was embarrassed about my size and scared that I might be the biggest person there I had an image of what a slimming club was like judgmental, and full of thin people. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly especially my Consultant Gwen, I went along with my daughter Carrie who wanted to join and took my husband Roy as well for moral support, I was so
relieved when I found out that my weight was confidential between me and her – I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighed! “Since then I’ve made so many friends at the group and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week. They helped me with recipes and tips and if I was ever struggling, they were always there to build me up and remind me why I’d wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come since first stepping through the doors. And it was so rewarding to support other members who needed a boost too.” Mary followed the club’s Food Optimising eating plan and swapped junk food and the love of cake and not wasting anything for fantastic healthy meals finding a love of cooking and preparing meals from scratch fish, chicken, salads vegetables fruit all good things that have made such a massive difference to the way she and her family eat. She says: “People think slimming means going hungry, eating nothing but salad or obsessively counting every calorie you eat, but it’s not like that at all at Slimming World.
I love food and it’s never once felt like I was on ‘a diet’ – in fact, people are always surprised at how much food I have on my plate and can’t believe I’m losing weight eating so much without ever feeling hungry. “I still enjoy all my favourite meals like full English breakfasts and roast dinners, but I’ve learned how to make small changes like using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray instead of oil or butter. It fits in so well with the rest of my family and we can all eat the same meals. I know that I haven’t ‘gone on a diet’, this is a change that I’ve made for life and I have the tools I need to stay like this forever. My smile is definitely real now!” Today Mary’s lost a total of 15st and went from size 36 dress to a size 16 dress. She’s also more active nowadays and regularly walks between 7 and 14 miles at least 3 or 4 times a week and loves helping out on her youngest daughters farm herding the cattle and being involved with family life. Gwen Mortimer, who runs the St Johns Colne Slimming World group, says: “The changes we’ve seen in Mary are incredible. I hope her success will inspire other people who’d like to lose weight by forming new lifestyle habits and as a result, become happier and healthier to come and join us. There’s a warm welcome waiting at Slimming World and, just think, if you start today you could soon feel like a completely new person, just like Mary her confidence and zest for life is so inspiring and motivating.” The Colne group meets every Monday at 5:00pm or 7:00pm, Tuesday at 9:30am and Saturday at 8:30am or 10:30am at St Johns Methodist Church Colne. To join call Gwen Mortimer on 07783414157 or pop along.
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Events planned for Holocaust Memorial Day, 75 years on from of Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation St Helens Council will host a series of special events later this month for Holocaust Memorial Day, with this year’s commemoration holding extra significance as it marks 75 years since the liberation of AuschwitzBirkenau. From Monday 27 January until Thursday 6 February, St Helens Library Service will display moving exhibition ‘The Promise’ which tells the
story of Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss and her brother Heinz, who quelled his fears by writing poetry and painting artwork. The exhibition - which is on loan from the Jewish Museum in London - will be on show at Rainhill Library from 27-31 January before moving onto Billinge Library where it can be viewed from 3-6 February. Elsewhere, a formal commemoration ceremony,
open to the public, will take place at St Helens Town Hall on Monday 27 January at 10:00am which will see performances and readings from school children based on this year’s theme, ‘Stand Together.’ St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Leisure and Libraries, Councillor Anthony Burns, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day provides us with an
opportunity for all of our communities to come together, to not only honour the survivors who suffered in the Holocaust under Nazi persecution, but it’s also a chance to look to our own lives and communities today. “For those able to attend the town hall service, I would encourage you to do so because it really is a fitting service – and we are also very fortunate to have such an enthralling exhibition in two of our libraries which is certainly worth-while seeing while it’s around.
“We must never forget the Holocaust atrocities nor the genocides since. This day provides an opportunity to remember, reflect and yearn for a peaceful future.” Meanwhile, a memorial flame created by special needs students at Mill Green School in St Helens has been selected by a distinguished panel of judges to feature as part of a national art exhibition. The artwork is one of 75 memorial flames chosen to represent each year since the liberation of Auschwitz. These will be displayed at an
exhibition which is set to be unveiled at the UK Ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day in London on 27 January 2020, at which numerous VIPs are expected to be in attendance.
If you’ve pledged to lead a healthier lifestyle this new year there’s no end to the benefits of getting outdoors, which St Helens Council’s Ranger Service knows very well. A good walk done regularly can lead to significant improvements to your physical health and mental wellbeing. And if you’re into nature, eagle-eyed Rangers could help you find the broad range of resident and migratory bird species that can be spotted in St Helens at this time of year. There are opportunities for both, as the Rangers are back with a fresh series of health walks and bird spotting events over January and February. Health walks all last around two hours at a fair pace. Bird walks are a gentler pace and last a little longer due to the nature of bird spotting. Please wear stout footwear and warm clothing, and bring waterproofs along with something to eat and drink. Walkers are encouraged to
bring binoculars to the bird walks and leave dogs at home. Bird walk places are limited so please book in advance by calling 01744 677772. January Sunday 19 January – Sankey Valley bird walk, from Heritage Visitor Centre, Blackbrook Road, WA11 0AB, at 10am. Monday 20 January – Siding Lane health walk, leaving from the visitor centre at Siding Lane in Rainford at 1:30pm. Tuesday 28 January – Bankes Park Loop health walk, leaving from Bankes Park car
park at 1:30pm. February Wednesday 5 February – Mesnes Park health walk, leaving from the park Pavilion at 1.30pm. Tuesday 11 February – Sankey Valley health walk, leaving from Sankey Valley Visitor Centre at 1:30pm. Monday 17 February – Siding Lane health walk, leaving from the visitor centre at Siding Lane in Rainford at 1:30pm. Tuesday 25 February – Bankes Park Loop health walk, leaving from Bankes Park car park at 1:30pm.
Start 2020 right on a ramble with St Helens' Ranger Service
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Abbeyford makes it a hat-trick of outstanding Ofsted inspections Abbeyford Children’s Home in Dentons Green is celebrating after receiving the best possible start to the new year – yet another outstanding Ofsted report. The council-run respite centre on Rainford Road – which provides short breaks for children and young people with complex health, learning and social communication needs – received a visit from inspectors in December 2019 and has been judged to be outstanding across the board. The inspection came less than 12-months after Ofsted last paid a visit to Abbeyford and makes it the third outstanding report in as many years. Key findings found that young people make excellent progress at Abbeyford and are encouraged to try new activities which leads to them learning new skills. Elsewhere in the glowing report, it was noted that the
home is a very safe place for children to stay, with parents reporting a high level of confidence in the staff team’s ability to keep their children safe, and demonstrating a high level of understanding of each young person’s complex health needs. In addition, the inspector was full of praise for the senior leadership team who are ‘committed to providing a high-quality, child centred service to the vulnerable young people in their care.’ – as well as offering full support to staff, which in turn has resulted in a high level of morale. Writing in her report, social care inspector, Sophie Thompson, commented on the many positive experiences children encounter which make their stay at Abbeyford enjoyable. Evidence of this coming in the form of a comment made by one parent
interviewed as part of the inspection process who stated that their child ‘loves it there. It’s fabulous. His face lights up when you tell him he’s going there.’ Speaking of his pride, Registered Manager Paul Spencer said: “We’ve established such a motivated and inspirational team of staff here who, together with the continued support of parents and guardians of the children and young people who attend Abbeyford, are without doubt the key to this success. “Our attitude is to never get complacent and we will now look to aspire to maintain our outstanding status and
continue to offer a quality service in the future to people in our communities who depend on us.” Passing on her congratulations, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Protecting Young People, Councillor Nova Charlton,
said: “The report is testimony to the dedicated team of staff who go above and beyond to ensure the children and young people in their care receive positive and rewarding experiences during their time there. “As a council, we are
committed to raising standards - particularly in children’s services to ensure our most vulnerable are kept safe and protected - and fantastic facilities like Abbeyford are a shining example of what can be achieved.”
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Domestic abuse can be happening right under our noses with victims suffering in silence or simply not knowing that they are victims. In a world where photos are constantly posted on social media, GMP are encouraging friends, family and colleagues to look beyond the lens, the filters and the emojis to find out if the person they love and care for needs help. Domestic abuse includes coercive and controlling behaviour, financial and emotional abuse as well as violence and can affect anybody, regardless of gender, age, race, sexuality or social background. It is not acceptable in any circumstance. Detective Superintendent Gwyn Dodd from Greater Manchester Police said: 'We want to encourage victims, friends and family to report domestic abuse and put an end to it. We are here to help and want victims or those with concerns to know they can turn to us. Domestic abuse has potentially devastating consequences and it’s important people are aware of how to spot the signs. Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right it might not be. If you can tell
that they are being controlled, are in a violent relationship or are being stopped from meeting friends and family report it. We know that one in three women will be a victim of abuse in their lifetime, as will one in six men. This is a sad statistic which highlights the scale of the problem across Greater Manchester. Always dial 999 where there is a threat to someone’s life or a crime in progress. By encouraging reporting we can reduce the number of incidents of domestic abuse and save lives.' It’s never easy to come to terms with knowing that someone is suffering. While every domestic abuse case is different, there may be telltale signs that indicate abuse is taking place. These include: Injuries Bruising, cuts or injuries or walking stiffly or appears sore. These injuries may come with explanations that don’t fit with the description. Excuses The victim may excuse their injuries by claiming they are clumsy or gives the same explanation each time. Stress Displays physical symptoms related to stress, other anxiety disorders or depression, such as panic attacks, feelings of
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Partner displays irrational behavior Their partner is jealous, irrational or possessive. Their partner may accuse them of having affairs, flirting or may read their emails, check their phone or constantly phone to check up on them. Unwanted pregnancy/ termination Pregnancy often triggers the start of domestic abuse. A individual may be unhappy at being pregnant, not wish to continue with the pregnancy, or be forced into having a termination. Substance abuse May use alcohol or drugs to cope or even prescribed drugs such as tranquillisers or antidepressants. Damage to property There may be damage to the home or even harm to pets. Unwilling to give out personal details – may not give friends and colleagues their address or telephone number and may insist that they contact you, so that you don’t turn up on their isolation and an inability to out with friends, or suddenly doorstep. cope. They may even talk pulls out of social meets at the Honour Based Abuse (HBA) about suicide attempts or self- last minute. includes Forced Marriage, harming. Absent from work Often off work, takes time off without notice or is frequently late. Personality changes You may notice personality changes when the victim is We are appealing for it occurred. around their partner, appears witnesses following a Sgt Paul Maguire, of to ‘walk on eggshells’, may serious collision in which Lancashire Police’s TacOps, be jumpy or nervous. a car hit a lamp post in said: “We are in the process Low self-esteem Clayton-le-Moors. of establishing exactly what Low self-esteem or lack of Police were called at occurred and would like to confidence regarding their 2.33am yesterday (Tuesday, speak to anyone who saw the relationship or life in general January 14) to reports a collision or who captured it and may seem sad, cry or be Mercedes car travelling on on dashcam or CCTV.” depressed. Burnley Road had crossed Lack of opportunity to the roundabout at the communicate independently junction with Bold Venture Perhaps their partner talks Way before colliding with a over them, or for them. lamp post. Their partner may appear The driver, a man aged 21 controlling or regularly from Burnley, is in intensive belittle the victim. care having suffered serious Self blame head and spinal injuries. May take the blame for A female passenger, aged anything that happens, 23 and also from Burnley, whether it’s at work, with the has also sustained serious kids or with friends. They injuries. Both are being may blame themselves for the treated at Royal Preston abuse. Hospital. Lack of money We would now like to speak Never seems to have any to anybody who witnessed money because their partner the accident, or who may is withholding money to have seen the Mercedes control them. travelling along Burnley Stops socialising Road in the moments before Makes excuses for not going
Honour Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation are harmful practices which we know affects not just the most vulnerable people of society but also those who we would ordinarily believe to be empowered enough to come forward and seek help but unfortunately don’t. The concept of dishonour exists in all walks of minority communities including Asian, African, Middle Eastern and European societies. The victim can be male or female made further vulnerable because they are a child. Other vulnerabilities can be mental health, learning difficulties or physical disabilities that the globe of perpetrators can exploit. A victim may be a UK citizen, a foreign national or a probationary spouse unable to speak English. Report it Call us on 101, or, if it's an emergency, if you think someone's life is in danger, call 999. You can also call the Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0161 636 75 25.
Appeal after car collision in Clayton-le-Moors
Anybody with information should contact us on 101, quoting log number 106 of January 14th. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be reached anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org
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A man has been jailed after an employee
fell to his death whilst at work in Rochdale. (Tuesday 14 January 2020), Mark Francis Bray (17/05/1971) of Louisiana Drive, Warrington has been sentenced at Manchester Crown Square Crown Court to two years in prison after pleading guilty to a matter of failing to take reasonable care of other persons, pursuant to section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, contrary to section 33(1) (a). He also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. On Thursday 24 September 2015, 54-year-old Kenneth Drake – affectionately known by his loved ones as Ken – fell through a fragile roof on which he was working, to the floor below. As a result of the fall he sustained severe head injuries and sadly died. Ken was working as a roofer at the time, employed by a company called Roofing Consultants Ltd and Bray was the contracts manager at this company and responsible for the safety of his employees. The circumstances surrounding Ken’s death were subsequently investigated
by both Greater Manchester Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Based on the evidence gathered during the course of the investigation, it was the case of the prosecution that there had been fundamental breaches of duty on the part of those who organised the work to the roof – being Ken’s employers, Roofing Consultants Limited and a second company who were also involved in the work, High Ridge Roofing Solutions. Practicable steps that could and should have been taken to ensure the safety of Ken, as well as colleagues who were working on the same site, had not been taken. Those breaches of duty meant that the workforce was exposed to risks to which they should never have been exposed and which led directly to Ken’s death. These practical steps include providing netting, which Bray insisted was not needed. Experts in the field assessed the site after Ken’s fall and advised that netting was necessary. Another
expert in the field stated that it was not difficult to net and if it had been installed, would have caught Ken. Experts told investigators that netting would have costed approximately £1250 to safely install. During the investigation, GMP examined Bray’s computer and found that he had altered the records in order to mislead the investigation. He presented a risk assessment document containing Ken’s forged signature in order to mislead and attempt to justify his actions. Roofing Consultants Limited have been fined £100 000 and were also ordered to pay £30 000 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to Section 2(1) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. High Ridge Roofing Solutions Limited have been fined £12 000 and were also ordered to pay £33 000 in prosecution costs after being found guilty of Regulation 15(2) Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 following a trial. Speaking after the case,
Three people have been arrested in dawn raids as
part of an operation to tackle gun crime in Manchester Dawn raids saw three people arrested as part of an operation to tackle gun crime and urban street gangs across Manchester This morning (Wednesday 15 January 2020) a team of officers executed warrants at three addresses in Moss side and Beswick. The warrants were executed as part of Operation Pallas, an investigation set up by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) and supported by Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Challenger into an organised crime group believed to be operating in Rusholme and other areas of central Manchester. As part of the operation police have seized four firearms; a Brocock Revolver, a Smith and Wesson Magnum, a Ruger 22 Revolver, a Walther P22 Self Loading Pistol and a large quantity of ammunition. Four stolen
vehicles, cloned registration plates, drugs and bladed weapons were also recovered last year between April and August 2019. Three men were arrested for conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life, a further four are also in custody for related offences. Superintendent Mark Dexter of the city of Manchester district said: “I would like to thank staff from GMP and NWROCU who were involved in making these
arrests today. “We now have a total of seven people in custody due to the strenuous work of our officers and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit. “I hope these arrests will reassure residents in Rusholme that we are fully committed to making the streets of Manchester a safer place by disrupting organised crime groups and any child criminal exploitation.
Ken’s wife Ingrid paid tribute to her husband: “Ken was an amazing husband and stepfather. He was a loving, caring man who made everyone laugh. We shared so many memories and its heart breaking to know we can’t share any more. It’s sad to know he’s missed out on such magical moments in our lives, like watching our daughter get married. He’s truly missed by everyone and always will be. We love you very much. “I would like to thank everyone that has worked on Ken’s case. I know they have worked hard to bring about this prosecution.” Detective Chief Inspector Richard Eales, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “First and foremost all of our thoughts are with Ken’s loving family, who have been left absolutely devastated by his death. I hope today they are provided with a measure of comfort at the end of what has been a very long and difficult road. “Today’s result should serve as a stark reminder to those who employ people and have a responsibility to look after them in the workplace - cutting corners in this way is dangerous and can ultimately rip families apart, because it was these actions that had absolutely cataclysmic consequences
and led to Ken’s unnecessary and preventable death. “The fact that Bray went onto forge Ken’s signature demonstrates than rather than thinking about Ken and his loved ones in the aftermath of his death, Bray’s sole thought was to cover his tracks and prevent the investigation from establishing what had occurred. “This has been a thorough and meticulous investigation, led by a dedicated team of detectives from our Major Incident Team, as well as professionals from the Health and Safety executive, and following today’s result I would like to publically thank them for their commitment. “My final words are reserved for Ken and I hope this
sentence – and the fact Bray will have to serve a prison sentence – serves as justice for him and his family.” HSE principal inspector, Laura Royales said: “This was an entirely foreseeable and preventable incident which resulted in a tragic and needless loss of life. Falls from height remain the biggest cause of workplace fatalities in the UK construction industry. “It is vital that those involved in planning, managing and carrying out work at height understand the risks and identify and implement suitable control measures to prevent injury. Had such steps been taken in this case, this incident would not have occurred.”
Statement from Chief Constable Ian Hopkins On behalf of Greater Manchester Police, I want to apologise to all those vulnerable children who were let down in 2004 by police not thoroughly investigating the offences that had been committed against them. I want to say that I am personally disgusted that these children were not cared for and by the awful abuse that they suffered. I am committed to doing all we can to ensure that they receive the justice today that they were denied 15 years ago. Since the Mayor of Greater Manchester launched his review looking into the abuse of vulnerable children in care and the involvement of Greater Manchester Police, I have been personally involved
and committed to sharing all of the information that the review team required. In August 2018, it became clear that the Operation Augusta investigation was not to the standard that I would expect. I immediately commissioned a review to ensure that any risks posed by potential perpetrators would be addressed. I also wanted to ensure that any victims were provided with the appropriate support from specialist agencies. Following our internal review, a multi-agency team was established under Operation Green Jacket. This included an SIO led Major Incident Team who were prepared to follow any potential lines of enquiry which could be pursued and seek to bring any potential perpetrators to justice. To
date Operation Green Jacket has identified 53 potential victims. 48 of these children were in looked after care in 2004/05. Of the 53 identified, we have so far identified viable lines of enquiry in relation to 38 victims. This includes the horrific abuse of Victoria Agoglia. In September 2019, one man was arrested and another interviewed under caution. Both men have been released under investigation and our enquiries remain ongoing. We will continue to do all that we can to safeguard children within our communities. Greater Manchester Police will investigate any report of child exploitation that is made.
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MasterChef winner to create dishes from Cumbrian produce at 2020 Lakes Hospitality Show
The winner of MasterChef 2019 has been confirmed as a special guest at the forthcoming Lakes Hospitality Show on 25 & 26 March 2020, where she will be creating special dishes made from nationally and internationally renowned local Cumbrian produce. Irini Tzortzoglou hasn’t been wasting any time, having already highlighted local products including Kin Vodka, Hawkshead Relish, beverages from the Lakes Distillery, Claire’s Handmade and even Windermere Artisan ice cream as potential ingredients for her creations. One of the region’s biggest trade events of 2020, the Lakes Hospitality Show is Cumbria’s longest-running show of its kind and is organised by The Lakes Hospitality Association (LHA) alongside Cumbria Tourism. Irini, who impressed MasterChef judges in early 2019 thanks to her ambitious cooking methods, says, “Coming from Crete, which is acknowledged by many as the European seat of eagerness to show hospitality – as well as a foodie island, I feel that I fit right in in Cumbria. It is a wonderful county which welcomes millions of visitors every year and its tourism industry has such a strong culinary focus. “I have always considered myself extremely fortunate to have homes in two very different places, Cumbria and
Crete, where nature is stunning, the people are warm and hospitable, and much time is taken by many to produce amazing culinary delights. This is my hope for this year’s LHA show where I will create dishes that I love using great, world-famous local produce. “I was honoured to be asked to participate at the LHA show this year and I will very much enjoy bringing together the abundance of wonderful Cumbrian produce made by passionate artisans and elements of my culinary heritage, demonstrating what is possible with only a small amount of effort and time, along with a lot of enthusiasm.” Cumbrian hotelier and Director of the Lakes Hospitality Trade, James Tasker, says, “We’re so pleased to announce Irini as one of our special guests, especially so soon after she brilliantly won such a prestigious TV cooking show. We’re delighted and have no doubt that Irini will come-up with some amazing ideas and we’re all very excited that she’s planning on using local produce to come up with what are sure to be extremely tasty creations!” The 2020 event will celebrate the show’s 45th anniversary, at the Junction 36 Rural Auction Centre. Just a one minute drive from the M6 motorway, the show is not only one of the biggest in the north of England, but one of the most easily accessible. More than 1,250 delegates from across Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and beyond were welcomed through the doors during last year’s two-day event, where the show hosted a recordbreaking 136 stands for a wide range of hospitality businesses including tourist attractions, food and drink suppliers and support services such as IT technology and catering equipment. For 2020, even more exhibition stands
have been made available, giving businesses from across Cumbria and the north of England the chance to showcase their products and services to hospitality industry businesses from all over Lancashire, Cheshire, Manchester, Liverpool and the North East. The 2020 Lakes Hospitality Trade Show will also include the introduction of ‘Level 1’; 17 new stands created for smaller or start-up businesses, for just £225+vat for both days. Also appearing at the Lakes Hospitality Show are wine expert Joe Wadsack, whose TV credentials include regular appearances on shows including Great Food Live, Saturday Kitchen, Ladette to Lady and Richard and Judy. A columnist for The Sunday Express, Joe also writes for magazines including ‘Waitrose Food Illustrated’, ‘Red’ and regular articles in the trade press. Joe also judges at various international wine competitions and acts as a consultant to numerous companies in the wine trade. Meanwhile, Andrew Coy will bring his tales of his 50+ years working in the hospitality trade to the event, putting a focus on how to deliver the very best customer service. Andrew is Proprietor at Simply Banqueting and undertakes consultancy contracts in Private Houses, Villas, Hotels and Venues. Andrew also manages VIP areas at major events, acts as a mentor for young managers, leads courses for those undertaking customer service training; and also trains and develops butlers in both private and corporate service. To find out more about exhibiting at the Lakes Hospitality Trade Show, visit: www. lakeshospitalitytradeshow.co.uk
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Nelson shop closed and boarded
following illicit tobacco seizures Felling at Healey Nab to
prevent spread of larch disease Thousands of trees at a Chorley countryside site are due to be felled to prevent the spread of disease. Work is due to start in February to remove around 2,500 larch trees covering 3.5 hectares at Healey Nab, which are affected by Phytophthora ramorum, an algae-like organism which causes Sudden Larch Death. Lancashire County Council which owns the site has been issued with a Statutory Plant Health Notice by the Forestry Commission requiring the trees to be cleared. This action is part of a national approach to managing the disease, and aims to stop the spores of the algae spreading and infecting other woodlands. After the trees are removed the site will naturally regenerate with native broadleaf species such as birch, beech, holly, mountain ash and oak, which are already present at Healey Nab. County Councillor Albert Atkinson, cabinet member for technical services, rural affairs and waste management, said: "This is sad news as the removal of these trees will have a dramatic impact on the landscape of Healey Nab. "However we have no choice but to comply with this legal notice, and accept that the overriding priority
must be to prevent the spread of disease. "While I share people's sorrow at the need to fell these trees, there will be some longer term benefits as the mixed native broadleaf species, along with undergrowth such as heather and bilberry, which will quickly begin to grow over the summer, will provide a better habitat for wildlife." The county council has agreed a contract for the trees' removal which will see them used as biofuel to generate energy. Any income generated from the sale of the wood will be used to invest in Healey Nab and other countyside sites. The work is being carried out in February to avoid any disturbance to birds during the forthcoming nesting season. Healey Nab is principally managed as a recreational woodland site, and is popular with walkers and mountain bikers. The recent history of the site has also seen the woodland managed to produce timber with periodical thinning of the trees taking place to promote their growth to full maturity. The county council has posted notices at the site about the tree felling, and is writing to a number of residents in the immediate vicinity of Healey Nab to inform them of the work.
A Nelson shop has been closed and boarded up following a series of seizures of illicit tobacco with a street value of over £100,000. The Closure Order for Faisal Food Store, 76 Manchester Road, was granted at Burnley Magistrates Court on 5 December 2019. Closure Orders are a way to address criminality and issues of public safety where other means have failed. Councillor David Whipp, Chair of Pendle Community Safety Partnership, said: “We’ve been working with Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards team to close Faisal Food Store. “This is not just a criminal case. We have concerns for public health and also fire safety because of the way these illegal cigarettes have been made. "EU rules limit the amount of tar and carbon monoxide produced by cigarettes. However, many parts of the world do not have legal limits. “In addition, genuine cigarettes have fire controls in their paper covers so they should not continue burning for long if dropped in bed or on a sofa. “Counterfeit or illegal cigarettes do not have these controls, so will continue to burn. “Since many house fires are caused by cigarettes, these reduced ignition requirements are of vital importance to public safety.” The two owners and the limited company behind Faisal Food Store pleaded guilty to breaches relating to many thousands of packs of illicit tobacco products
seized between July 2018 and December 2019. The offences relate to incorrect packaging and health warnings on the seized products. Sentencing for these offences is expected to take place at Burnley Crown Court in February. This prosecution follows a number of previous actions by Trading Standards relating to the supply of illicit products at the Store, with problems going back to 2013. County Councillor Albert Atkinson, Cabinet Member for Technical Services, Rural Affairs and Waste Management, which includes Trading Standards, said: “Illicit tobacco has a negative
impact on local communities. “It makes it easier for children and young people to start smoking and harder for smokers to quit. Illegal traders also have a devastating impact on legitimate businesses in the area.” Councillor Whipp added: “I would like to make it clear that the owner of the building - who is not the owner of the business – has had no involvement in the criminal activity. “He is co-operating with Pendle Council and Lancashire County Council to make sure that when the business re-opens with a new owner there will not be a repeat of this criminal activity.” County Councillor
Albert Atkinson from Trading Standards stressed: “Illegal tobacco sellers in Lancashire need to think twice. “We will use all the weapons in our armoury to make life harder for criminals to thrive on our high streets. “We frequently work with local councils like Pendle and with Lancashire Police to review licences, close illegal traders down and prosecute them.” Anyone who thinks that a Pendle business is trading illegally should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06. All information regarding criminal activities will be passed on to the relevant local Trading Standards Service.
Making small changes to improve your health and wellbeing is the perfect way to begin the New Decade! Starting this new decade with New Year resolutions that support a healthier lifestyle can go a long way to improving your personal health. This could be quitting smoking, reducing your level of alcohol intake, changing your diet, or doing more exercise. Making small changes can reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes
and cancer. Dr David White, Clinical Lead for Urgent Care at NHS East Lancashire and NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: “Whatever your age, there's strong scientific evidence that being physically active can help you lead a healthier and happier life. “People are less active these days and this is partly because technology has made our lives easier. We drive cars
or take public transport. Machines wash our clothes. “Regular exercise doesn’t have to mean joining a gym, there are plenty of free ways to exercise, such as going for a brisk walk or jog. Doing regular exercise and eating a healthy balanced diet could dramatically improve your health. “Giving up smoking is another resolution you can make to improve your health and there are a range
of NHS support services on your doorstep to help you achieve this.” Christmas and New Year are now behind us, which is a perfect time to join the Dry January challenge and stay alcohol free for the rest of the month. Not only will you feel better by ditching the hangover, saving the pennies and reducing the waistline there is an opportunity to support others through being sponsored. More information
is available at: http://www. dryjanuary.org.uk/ “We know change doesn’t happen overnight and it can take a while to kick the bad habits. However, if you start to swap healthy habits for unhealthy ones, you will soon start to see the benefits such as more stamina, better sleep and possible weight loss. “Making small changes this New Year and new decade will lead to better health and
wellbeing in 2020.” Local stop smoking services can be contacted on: • East Lancashire Stop Smoking Service Quit Squad can be contacted on 01254 283370 / 0800 328 6297 • Blackburn with Darwen Tel: 01254 682037 Email: wellbeing@blackburn.gov. uk • Smokefree National Helpline: 0300 123 1044
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Course on Management of Chronic Lancashire County Council Liverpool Pain: “A Practical Approach” 2nd -3rd July 2020
campaign to recruit carers to foster local children People who could change a local child's life and foster with Lancashire County council are being urged to come forward. With around 20 new Lancashire children coming into care each week and needing urgent foster care placements, the campaign is aimed at people who can help ensure children stay in their communities. County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, said: "We always try to place children with our own foster carers, but the high demand for places does make this challenging to achieve. "While some children will always need to be placed away from the county for safeguarding reasons, or can be looked after by family, we want to ensure others get the
opportunity to stay local." The campaign, launched on Monday 13 January, is being promoted in many ways including on billboards, and on social media channels. It highlights the need for more foster carers and the incredible impact they can make on a child or young person at a time when it is really needed, whilst also enriching their own lives. The latest statistics available from March 2019 show that 76.7% of children in care were placed within the authority area, compared to the national 58%. County Councillor Williamson added: "It can make all the difference if children can stay locally. When children cannot stay with their own families, being in foster care in their local area can offer some children the best possible chance of a happy and secure future.
"By maintaining local links, the child can still go to the same school and keep routines with friends and hobbies. Ideally, we want to keep them close to home in secure placements, supporting them to return to their families when appropriate. "Children are only placed outside of our area if it is in their best interests, for example to live with extended family members, because they need a specialist placement or because there is a foster placement well matched to their needs. New foster carers can expect to receive between £244 and £421 per week for each child they care for. For more information about becoming a foster carer or to find out more about the campaign, call the fostering recruitment team on 0300 123 6723 or visit www.lancashire. gov.uk/fostering
Event Timeline Date: July 2, 2020. Time: 08:20 to 17:15 Place: Clinical Science Centre, Aintree University Hospital, Lower Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL An advanced practical and interactive course in clinical pain management for Pain
Professionals and trainees who are aiming to develop their skills of assessing and treating complex chronic pain patients. The course will offer those who attend, the opportunity to develop an evidence based approach to assessment, examination
and formulation of diagnosis, and how to design a comprehensive management plan. The course will be held at the Pain Relief Foundation (Clinical Sciences Centre) and the Pain Clinic (Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery).
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Award winning local crime Queen author to visit Blackburn Library Award winning local crime author Stephen Booth will be visiting Blackburn Library to give a reading of his latest book, talk about his writing and answer any questions. The event takes place on Monday 3 February at 7pm. Tickets cost just £3 and are available to buy from Blackburn Library or Darwen Library. Stephen will also be signing
books at the event, and a selection of his books will be on sale on the night. Stephen Booth was born in Burnley and brought up in Blackpool. He’s published over 20 bestselling novels in the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand. His most popular books are the ‘Cooper & Fry’ series which focus on Derbyshire
police detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry who uncover crimes set in the Peak District. Blackburn with Darwen’s libraries have an extensive collection of Stephen Booth’s books and audiobooks and several of his titles are also available on Borrowbox. For further details, call 01254 661221 or email library@ blackburn.gov.uk
Elizabeth’s Grammar School
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School is delighted to share that following a recent Ofsted inspection, the school has been awarded the rating of ‘Good’. In addition, the school has been judged as ‘Outstanding’ in two areas; Personal Development and Early Years Provision. The report commends the ‘stunning range of opportunities to enhance pupils’ personal development’ and the ‘exceptional range of opportunities beyond the formal curriculum’ that help ‘pupils to grow as human beings and ensure that pupils leave the school with fond memories’. QEGS’ curriculum is also highlighted in the report, in which it is described as ‘exceptionally broad and ambitious’, with the
personal, social, health and economic (PHSE) curriculum as ‘exemplary’. The school is also commended for creating a ‘positive safeguarding culture’ in which pupils ‘feel safe and appreciate the support given by staff’. The Head, Mrs C Gammon, explained: “We are delighted to receive this positive feedback from Ofsted which celebrates the great work that happens in school every day, thanks to our dedicated staff team and committed pupils and students. We are incredibly proud of our academic success across the school and it is also fantastic to see our commitment to going further than the taught curriculum being celebrated, as we work hard to develop all of our pupils and students beyond their studies.” Personal Development and Early Years Provision were highlighted by
inspectors as areas with ‘Outstanding’ ratings, including comments that in the Early Years Provision, children ‘settle quickly into the nurturing environment’. Inspectors also highlighted their findings when observing Sixth Form, commenting that students are ‘articulate, well-mannered and mature’, benefitting from a ‘well-planned range of opportunities beyond their academic studies.’ To understand more about QEGS’ outstanding personal development ethos and how a commitment to academic excellence is delivered in our Sixth Form, prospective students are invited to our Sixth Form Open Evening on February 13th 2020, 5-7pm.
Mrs CY Gammon. Head
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Council pledges to tackle dog fouling problems Burnley Council has pledged to make tackling dog fouling in the borough a top priority in 2020. A cross-party working group, set up by the new council administration to investigate the issue and find ways of reducing the problem that residents consistently highlight as among their top priorities, has reported its recommendations back to the full council. One of the working group’s first recommendations has already been adopted by the council. From January 2020 the fine for irresponsible dog owners caught failing to pick up after their pets will rise from £75 to £100. This brings Burnley into line with most other Lancashire authorities. Other recommendations include setting up a telephone “hotline” for people to report dog fouling “hot spots” so that enforcement work can
be more effectively targeted, increased enforcement patrols, more signage and information posters, and an education campaign in schools to inspire children to spread the “clean it up” message and encourage their parents to pick up after their dog. Councillor Cosima Towneley, chairman of the working group, said: “We’ve decided to increase the fine for dog fouling to serve as an greater deterrent and to demonstrate the council’s determination to take a robust approach on an issue that is a key area of public concern. “We recognise most dog owners are responsible and do the right thing. They make sure they have enough poop bags with them when they go out on walks to pick up after their pets and help keep our neighbourhoods clean and tidy. “Unfortunately
enough of us have trodden in dog dirt, trailed it into the house on the bottom of your shoes or the wheels of a pushchair, or just seen piles of the stuff lying around to know that there is a minority out there that simply don’t care about others and fail to clean up after their dogs. “We’re determined to make catching more of those responsible for not cleaning it up a top priority for the new year. “We’ll work with those residents that want to see this problem sorted out and catch and fine those that can’t be bothered to do the right thing and take responsibility for what their pet leaves behind while its out and about in our communities. “You don’t want to see piles of dog poo lying around and neither do we.”
Dog training: it's bye-bye from Ingrid as Emma takes the lead! Ingrid Grayling, the North West's best-known dog trainer, is relocating to Devon after 25 happy and successful years in Penrith, helping dog owners enjoy a very special relationship with their pets. She extends a warm thankyou to all her clients for their fantastic support. But Ingrid's acclaimed skills and techniques will still be available to Cumbria dog owners. That's because she has trained Emma Bryer to deliver the same high standards of oneto-one learning from which hundreds of local dog owners have benefited. Ingrid has been based in Crosby Ravensworth for most of the last 25 years, and her reputation as "the dog whisperer" has drawn clients not just locally but also from across the UK. Her skill is being able to work with dogs of all types and temperaments, giving
their owners the confidence that their pet will be happy, well-behaved and obedient to their commands at all times. Emma, who has completed Ingrid’s ‘Train The Trainer’ dog training course will take the reins, and also being a registered nurse, as Ingrid was before becoming a dog trainer herself, her approach to training will be the same, totally professional with a natural empathy and understanding of both people and dog’s needs. Of Ingrid’s move to Devon, she says she intends to continue her training business where she will be closer to her daughter and her much-loved grandchild. Ingrid will also be putting the finishing touches to her Dog training book, which
will outline the techniques which she uses to ensure that any breed or age of dog can be "brought to heel" quickly and effectively. The book is due to launch in 2020. Emma's website is at www. gsgsgsg – or give her a call on 077763 876 465
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Designers appointed for Piccadilly Gardens transformation Landscape architects have been appointed to produce concept designs for improvements to Piccadilly Gardens and its surrounds. LDA Design (Manchester) will come up with a number of outline schemes which Manchester residents and businesses will then be consulted on in the spring. They were the landscape architects behind a previous scheme, produced by LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General), which attracted broad public support but was
discontinued when it became financially unviable. The Council would like to keep many of the core elements of that original scheme including new planting, improved lighting and design to help deter anti-social behaviour, raising grassed areas and re-laying paths to repair the damage areas. Critical to the proposals will be the creation of a more family-friendly area with an improved children’s play area and removing and/ or replacing existing street
furniture. There is also an aspiration to soften the appearance of the Pavilion’s concrete wall, transforming it into a green ‘living wall’ and by removing the free-standing part of the wall which, unlike the Pavilion itself, is owned by the Council. The plans will also take in a wider area than the previous scheme, expanding the area under consideration to include the section of Piccadilly to the north of the gardens, Parker Street to the south and Mosley Street to the west. Sir Richard
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Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We know that Piccadilly Gardens is a major issue for a lot of people which they have strong views about. We are committed
to funding and bringing forward a scheme which will both improve its appearance and help make it more of a welcoming, family-friendly space. “We look forward
to sharing further ideas and details with the public and having a conversation on how best to improve the gardens as soon as we are in a position to do so.”
People’s Jury to help form climate change recommendations Around 4,000 households across the Lancaster district will shortly be receiving an invitation asking for their help in developing a new action plan to tackle one of the biggest issues facing the world today. The establishment of a People’s Jury follows the council’s declaration of a climate change emergency last year. It is a form of deliberative democracy designed to involve a representative group of residents in the deliberations of the council. From those who express an interest in participating, 30 will form the People’s Jury. The group will reflect the make-up of the district in relation to gender, age, ethnicity, disability, geography, attitude to climate change and deprivation. No specific qualifications or skills are needed – all that’s
required is a willingness to share views and opinions and listen to those of other people. Councillor Dr Erica Lewis, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “Climate change is real. From the bushfires in Australia to local flooding, we are facing a climate emergency. The city council has committed to being net carbon zero by 2030, but to meet the climate emergency we need our whole district to act and that’s why we are supporting a People’s Jury. “A People’s Jury invites a representative group of residents to make their recommendations on what they think as individuals and organisations in the district should be doing. “The People’s Jury is one of several ways we are seeking to work with residents so they can influence what action the council will take to respond to
the climate emergency. “In deciding how we best address this enormous problem, it is essential that we hear directly from the residents across the district.” To support the work of the jury, experts will give presentations at each of the eight sessions, which start on February 3. The Jury will conclude its work by developing a set of recommendations for the council to consider. Those recommendations the city council has direct responsibility for will be progressed to decision. Those the city council doesn't have direct responsibility for will be presented to the appropriate organisation with a recommendation that they are considered. For more information on the People’s Jury, visit Lancaster. gov.uk/climate-emergency.
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Average Golfer ups his game with Azalea
Specialist sports and tourism agency Azalea has snapped up social media sensation the Average Golfer in a deal that will see the company maximise his exposure and manage his commercial rights and partnerships. The increasing value of influencers in the changing media landscape, as golfers’ consumption habits continue to shift, has made video
content crucial in hitting the intended audience and achieving modern-day marketing goals. And, consequently, those content creators can benefit from experienced professional management, in the way other ‘entertainers’ have for decades. The Average Golfer, AKA Andy Sullivan, has quickly built a not-so ‘average’
following on his YouTube channel, with more than 25,000 subscribers and more than 6 million video views, as he regularly posts vlogs from golf courses across the world and shares his honest opinions, insight and reviews on various products, equipment and golfing topics. His impressive engagement figures average around 300,000 views per month and
15,500,000 video minutes watched in the last year. Sean Noble, Azalea’s managing director, said: “Andy’s approach, professionalism, passion and content quality has been something we’ve admired for a while. “Brands within the golf industry appreciate the value in digital media and it seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to team up with Andy as we continue to help companies expand their reach – and Andy’s influential personality and engagement levels show the importance of this type of media.” As well as managing and increasing Sullivan’s commercial partnerships, Azalea also has exciting plans to evolve and maximise his content in 2020 and help him continue the growth of his loyal following online. Sullivan added: “It’s got to the stage now where YouTube and social media has become
the most powerful marketing tool. “It’s amazing that so many golfers value and enjoy my content enough to constantly engage with it, so I’m excited to work with Azalea to bring it to a whole new level and use the platform in a way that will benefit more and more golfers.” Azalea continues to be a leading player in its field, representing a variety of
luxury resorts, flagship golf clubs and leading brands across the UK and Europe. Check out the Average Golfer’s YouTube channel h t t p s : / / w w w. y o u t u b e . com/channel/UCwfGbFXG66ZCRrS-VMc4oA and follow him on Twitter https:// twitter.com/AverageGolfer99 and Instagram https:// w w w. i n s t a g r a m . c o m / averagegolfer99/?hl=en.
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McNeil The Main Man Dwight McNeil is the Clarets’ Lovebet Player of the Month for December. The winger topped a supporters’ poll to win the award for the second time this season. McNeil landed the prize in October and was again the fans’ pick for his performances last month as he helped the Clarets win two of their six Premier League games. The 20-year-old has been an ever-present in the league so far this season and has continued to make his mark against the best in the business. And he is likely to be a key man again as the Clarets look for a first win in five games against Leicester City at Turf Moor next Sunday to pull clear of the scrap to avoid a place in the bottom three. “We have been down this road before, especially last year, and got ourselves out of it and I’m pretty sure we can do it again,” said McNeil.“Hopefully we can get that win we need next week and that will add to the belief going into the fixtures coming up. “There have been a few out ill but hopefully we will have a fully fit squad again and we have the team to hold us together through this little period.” McNeil will receive his award before the game against Leicester City from a supporter to be selected from those who chose him as their top man. “Thanks again to the supporters who voted for me,” he added. “It is an award that means a lot and we need the fans to get behind us again on Sunday.”
MORECAMBE 2-1 PORT VALE THE Shrimps picked up a vital three points as they sealed their fifth win of the season with a 2-1 win over Port vale. Two early goals gave Derek Adams’s side the perfect platform and despite a late Port Vale response they held on for a welcome win. Adams made one change from the side that drew with Colchester United on Saturday with George Tanner replacing Luke Conlan at left-back. And the Shrimps made the
perfect start with the opening goal on six minutes. Adam Phillips swung in a left-wing corner which was met by Steven Old whose header beat Scott Brown after a deflection off Luke Joyce. Six minutes later it was 2-0. Ryan Cooney played in Phillips down the righthand side and his low cross was met by the unmarked Cole Stockton who made no mistake from close range. With the wind behind them, the Shrimps tried their luck
from distance with Stockton and Ryan Coney both firing off target. The Shrimps were forced into a change at half time with Phillips replaced by John O’Sullivan and they started the half on the front foot. George Tanner’s curling shot was scooped behind by Brown for a corner and the Valiants’ keeper had to react sharply from the resulting corner to tip away a Carlos Mendes-Gomes shot. It was an hour until Port Vale had an effort of any note as Mark
Halstead saved easily from David Amoo’s header. But form there Port Vale stepped up the pace with former Shrimps’ loanee Richie Bennett linking up well with fellow sub, Mark Cullen. Bennett flashed a sweetly struck shot over before the visitors grabbed a goal back on 71 minutes James Gibbons curled an excellent shot over Halstead to give the visitors hope. Halstead made a superb save to keep the lead intact from Amoo’s close range
header before the same Port Vale player slashed a late effort horribly wide before a welcome final whistle. Morecambe: Halstead, Cooney, Lavelle, Old, Tanner, Phillips (rep O’Sullivan 46), Diagouraga, Kenyon, Mendes-Gomes, Stockton (rep Leitch-Smith 81), Slew (rep Brewitt 71). Subs not used: Da Silva Mendes, Conlan, Sutton. Port Vale: Brown, Gibbons, Legge, Smith, Montano, Joyce, Burgess (rep Bennett
51), Conlon, Amoo, Pope (rep Cullen 64), Worrall. Subs not used: Maddison, Atkinson, Browne, Evans, Brisley. Referee: Marc Edwards. Attendance: 1,639.
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Dates Confirmed For Burton and Doncaster Fixtures Wanderers’ outstanding Sky Bet League One fixtures against Burton Albion and Doncaster Rovers have been confirmed. The game against Burton at the Pirelli Stadium will now take place on Tuesday 10 March and kick off at 7:45pm. Doncaster Rovers will visit the University of Bolton Stadium on Tuesday 24 March (kick off 8pm). Ticket information for both fixtures will be announced in due course.
Warm up matches complete for Balderson The England under-19 captain led his side in both fixtures ahead of the ICC under-19 Cricket World Cup Lancashire all-rounder George Balderson is all set for the ICC under-19 Cricket World Cup after England completed their warmup schedule yesterday (14 January). Balderson took four wickets in fixtures against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, the squad's final outings before their opening match against West Indies on 20 January. He was the most impressive of England's bowlers against the former, taking 3/16 in four overs as they were bowled out for 116. An over into the reply, a huge storm cut short England's chase and the match was abandoned. In the Afghanistan match he again opened the bowling, taking 1/43 off seven overs as England shared their overs around eight players. He scored 17 batting at number nine but could not
prevent his side from a surprise 21-run defeat. Roses Match: Tickets on sale Grab your tickets now for the iconic Lancashire Lightning v Yorkshire Vikings Roses Match at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday 10 July. T h i s unmissable T20 fixture is the biggest game on the domestic calendar, with a record T20 crowd for the past
three years…and we expect 2020 to be even bigger and better. Don’t miss out on this fierce rivalry and book your tickets now, with adults from £20 and juniors from £5.
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University of Bolton Stadium To
Host Coral Challenge Cup Triple Header
The University of Bolton Stadium will hold a repeat of last year’s Coral Challenge Cup's triple header when it once again hosts the women’s final followed by the two men’s semi-finals. And the Rugby Football League and the BBC have
extended an agreement on broadcast coverage of the Coral Challenge Cup and the Coral Women’s Challenge Cup until 2021. The 2020 triple header will be played significantly earlier in the summer than last year, on Saturday June 6, as the
Coral Challenge Cup Final at Wembley has been brought forward from late August to Saturday July 18. All three games at Bolton will again be shown live by the BBC, with kick-off times and coverage details to be confirmed when tickets go on sale shortly.
The BBC first covered the Challenge Cup Final in 1948 and has shown rugby’s oldest national knockout competition every year since 1958. In 2020, BBC Sport will stream one fixture from each of the first five rounds of the Coral Challenge Cup, and televise
two games from the Sixth Round and the Quarter Finals, before both Semi Finals and the Final from Wembley Stadium. Coverage begins today (January 11) with the meeting of two powerhouses of the community game – Skirlaugh from east Hull, and Hunslet Club Parkside from south Leeds - which will be shown live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online and via Red Button at 12.30pm. The Second Round draw will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Leeds on Tuesday evening (January 14). The Coral Women's Challenge Cup begins in March, with coverage of all rounds leading up to the final on the RFL's Our League platform. Ralph Rimmer, the RFL’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be able to make these two really positive announcements ahead of the start of the 2020 Coral Challenge Cup
– especially with the men’s First Round, and the start of the BBC’s coverage, taking place this weekend. “The Challenge Cup remains one of the jewels in the crown of British sport and the BBC’s coverage, which crucially showcases the best of Rugby League to terrestrial viewers, is second to none. The BBC’s ongoing commitment to such a prestigious competition is a fantastic way for us to begin celebrating the 125th birthday of the sport of Rugby League.” With the University of Bolton Stadium also hosting the England v Australia Test Match on October 31 this year and two Rugby League World Cup fixtures in 2021, Bolton Wanderers Football Club is once again delighted to be staging another high profile Rugby League event. Tickets for the men’s Coral Challenge Cup Final are available now at eticketing. co.uk/rugbyleague
Forward Tyler Smith Joins On Loan From Sheffield United
Rochdale AFC are delighted to announce the signing of Tyler Smith from Premier League side Sheffield United. The 21-year-old highly regarded forward joins Dale on a loan deal until the end of the season. Smith has had two previous loan spells in League One, making over 30 league appearances during stints at Doncaster Rovers and Bristol Rovers. He began last season on loan at National League side Barrow AFC, where he scored 10 goals in 23 appearances playing alongside fellow Sheffield United loanee Rhys Norrington-Davies. In January last year, Smith joined Doncaster, scoring twice on his EFL debut as a half-time substitute. The Sheffield born youngster began this season on loan at Bristol Rovers, most recently notching in their 2-1 win at Ipswich Town last month. We’ll be catching up with Dale’s new signing, as well as getting the thoughts of Manager Brian Barry-Murphy, over the next few days. Welcome to the Club, Tyler!
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