Lancashire Now 117

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Issue. 117 - Mar - 2020 0115 6972677 | www.wilcopmedia.co.uk | sales@wilcopmedia.co.uk

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: WHAT’S ON - GETAWAYS - WEDDINGS - CARE - mother’s day - easter

Information event for people thinking about fostering Anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer is invited to an information event in Preston to find out more.

The event will be held on Wednesday 18 March at County Hall, on Fishergate Hill in Preston, from 6pm to 7.30pm.

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We're supporting the Great British Spring Clean. Are you?

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£17m budget pledge to address the Climate Emergency

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We're supporting the Great

British Spring Clean. Are you?

We’re encouraging residents to do their bit and take part in the Great British Spring Clean.

There is still plenty of time to sign up and get involved in the clean-up, which runs from March 20 until April 13.

The national campaign, organised by Keep Britain Tidy, has one simple aim - to bring together people from across our neighbourhoods to clear up the litter that sadly blights our districts, villages, and countryside.

We’re committed to keeping the borough clean and our work is seeing results – last year Keep Britain Tidy gave our streets four out of five for cleanliness, after we boosted the number of workers in our street cleaning team.

But it’s not just about picking up litter. It’s also about sending a clear message to those who drop litter and dump waste: it’s not acceptable and if we find evidence then we will take action. My Coldhurst and OL1 are two of the local groups which have signed up to take part in the spring clean. My Coldhurst was set up by residents to keep the area clean, tidy and sustainable for ‘current and future’ generations.

Volunteers carry out regular clean ups the last Saturday of every month. Saleh Uddin, from My Coldhurst, said: “We are proud to live in Coldhurst and that’s why we give up our own time to make the area look tidy. “It’s not easy at times but the effort is well

worth it when you see streets that are clean.” Councillor Ateeque Ur Rehman, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood, said: “It’s great that groups and individuals such as OL1, the Big Failsworth Clean Up team, the Ghazali Trust, My Coldhurst, Uppermill Community Action Network and Ruth Major are all regularly doing their bit and helping to clean up the borough. “It would be good if more people followed their lead and The Great British Spring Clean is a good way for people to get involved and help improve their neighbourhoods. “Cleaning up our communities costs residents and the council hundreds of thousands of pounds each year, so

initiatives like this not only help improve the area but also save money. “The vast majority of people do take pride in their communities and keep them clean and tidy – if more people followed their example then our steers would be even cleaner. “But, unfortunately, there is always a small minority who continue to think they can just dump waste and leave others to clear up the mess. “If every resident picked up just one piece of litter it would make a tremendous difference.” To find out more about any events in your area, information about the campaign or how to take part, go to www. greatbritishspringclean.org.uk and register today. The council will support any groups that have signed up to the initiative and you can contact us via environmentalservices@ oldham.gov.uk If you take part and take any photos don’t forget to tag in @OldhamCouncil and use the hashtag #GreatBritishSpringClean To find out more about the work My Coldhurst carry out visit https://www.facebook.com/ mycoldhurst/

Information event for people thinking about fostering Anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer is invited to an information event in Preston to find out more.

The event will be held on Wednesday 18 March at County Hall, on Fishergate Hill in Preston, from 6pm to 7.30pm.

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

The county council has increased the allowances payable to new foster

carers, so now they can expect to receive between £241 and £300 per week for each child they care for.

People who have considered fostering before, but weren’t sure they could afford it, are advised to come along to an information evening and find out if it could now be a viable option. County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, said: “I’d like to encourage people to think about a change they could make, not just to their own life, but to that of a Lancashire child.“Becoming a foster carer is a big decision, and we don’t suggest anyone

takes it lightly. But if anyone is wondering whether it might be for them, they can come along to an information event to have a chat with our friendly staff without feeling pressurised or obligated in any way.

“With around 20 new Lancashire children needing homes each week, we need to recruit new foster carers.

“We have increased our allowances to foster carers in recognition of their valuable role in providing loving homes for the children in our care. There is also a rising demand for placements with more children and young people coming into the care

of the local authority each week.

“We are looking for people who can foster all ages of children, particularly siblings who need to stay together, and teenagers.

No formal experience or qualifications are needed, all we ask is that you have a spare room available and a desire to make a positive difference to a local child’s life.”

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

If you’re unable to come along to the event, call the fostering recruitment team on 0300 123 6723 or visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/ fostering.

There is no need to book for the fostering information evening - you can just turn up, but please arrive early to avoid disappointment.

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University of Bolton professor

directs Beckett’s Happy Days

One of the UK's leading theatre directors, David Thacker, is to stage Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days at Bolton town centre’s Library Theatre next month.

Former Artistic Director of Bolton’s Octagon Theatre, David leads the BA (Hons) Theatre and Performance Degree at the University of Bolton.

He will direct one of the UK’s leading actresses, Margot

Leicester, in an extremely challenging role.

Happy Days tells the story of a couple who have been together for about 40 years and how their relationship has changed like many marriages.

It will be performed from March 19 to April 4 at the Library Theatre in Bolton Museum, Le Mans Crescent.

David said “It is a very human play. A play about relationships.

About

marriage. About the struggle to find meaning and purpose in our lives. A play about courage and endurance. “And it’s a very funny, moving, compassionate play. A play for the 2020s.” The Library Theatre was created 12 months ago in close consultation with Bolton Council’s Library and Museum Services.

David was looking for an alternative venue to stage Arthur Miller’s The Last

Yankee due to the temporary closure of the Octagon Theatre for a major refurbishment.

David said: “As a result of The Last Yankee the Octagon decided to present three productions here, Beryl, Seagulls and Shirley Valentine.”

Happy Days has a cast of two – Margot plays the role of Winnie and spends the majority of the play’s almost two-hour running time talking to her largely silent husband Willie, played by John Branwell.

Margot is currently playing in the critically-acclaimed production of Albion at London’s prestigious Almeida Theatre.

The production will be staged by a professional quality

Residents warned to beware of doorstep scammers Lancashire residents are being warned about multiple cold call incidents that have been taking place over the last few weeks.

High pressure doorstep sales tactics are being used on home owners to try and persuade people to pay for poor goods or services.

Static caravan owners are advised to beware of rogue traders selling floor insulation.

One resident in Fylde paid £4,000 before realising the work had not been carried out.

Also in the Fylde area, information has been received that doorstep callers are selling household goods, claiming to be on a 'pre-release' scheme from Kirkham Prison and trying to 'turn their lives around'.

The prison has no affiliation to such a scheme and this is false.

Trading standards advice is to say no to cold callers at all times and to search around for the best deal without being pressured into making a decision on the doorstep.

People can use the Lancashire Safe Trader scheme to find a reputable tradesperson to do work.

County Councillor Albert Atkinson, cabinet member for technical services, rural affairs and waste management, said: "Everyone should be aware of cold callers and we advise that the public always say no to them.

"They use tactics like persistent phone calls or visits, which pressure vulnerable people into paying for work that is carried out to a poor standard or does not get completed.

"There are still plenty of reputable firms out there that can be used instead of accepting the services of cold callers."

Lancashire County Council is also advising people to avoid maintenance contracts on previously installed solar panels. This follows a report from a retired lady with memory difficulties who paid £20,000 for one of these contracts.

Other phone and online alerts include scam Amazon calls. In one variation, the caller claims the householders Amazon account has been renewed and asks for their bank details where they claim a refund will be issued.

In addition, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service is asking people to stay vigilant against fraudsters posing as enforcement officers and bailiffs.

The scammers phone members of the public and claim they owe the caller money. Consumers are also advised to be wary after a number of complaints by people who responded to online

adverts for companies offering to supply carpets on easy payment terms.

This is actually likely to cost more for customers and in some cases the carpets have not been fitted until weeks after the payments have begun, with a range of reasons provided.

Any refunds on deposits are being made difficult for customers to get back.

County Councillor Atkinson added: "People need to be extremely wary of these schemes.

Card details should never be given out over the phone.

"The court service may contact you by phone to discuss a warrant of control and may take debit or credit card payments, however, they will never telephone you to ask for your bank details. "Always contact trading standards for advice if you're unsure about anything."

Contact our Trading Standards service via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline, 03454 04 05 06. To find a trader in your area go to www.safetrader.org.uk or call 0303 333 1111.

You can report a scam to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

theatre ‘company’ assembled by David, which will also give University students the unique opportunity to be involved in creating a play from start to finish.

Tickets are available from Bolton Library after 6pm or by contacting Quaytickets.

Telephone 0333 320 2894, or online at quaytickets.com.

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£17m budget pledge to address the Climate Emergency

Bury Council has announced an ambitious multi-million pound set of proposals to help address the Climate Emergency.

The Climate Emergency, which the council declared last summer, committed Bury to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

Under plans passed at last night’s (Wed 26 Feb) budget council meeting, the council

will allocate significant funds for a range of measures aimed at reducing the council’s and the borough’s carbon emissions, improving air quality and empowering the community to take action themselves.

The main proposals are: • £500,000 to fund a 2-year tree planting programme, to enable the planting of 5,000 semi-mature trees and 10,000

tree whips across the borough.

• £600,000 to create a Community Climate Capital Fund. This will provide local community groups the muchneeded one off funding for projects linked with carbon neutrality, renewable energy and biodiversity.

• £240,000 to support the new “Green Township Forums” that were proposed in the Climate Emergency motion.

These forums will provide the space, and now the resource, for residents, elected members, community groups, schools and businesses to work together on local green initiatives.

The council will also fund a “Citizens Assembly” on Climate Change.

• A £5.5 million investment in an LED streetlight rollout.

Not only will this save the council money on energy costs, it will contribute to reducing the council’s carbon footprint even further than they already have, down by over 40% in the last 10 years.

• £10 million on replacing the council’s fleet of vehicles with clean air compliant technology.

• An additional £200,000 for a Climate Change Resilience Fund to combat local flooding issues.

Other plans include funding for more electric vehicle charging points; a new electric vehicle trial programme aimed at local businesses; money to buy a glyphosate alternative in tackling weeds; and dedicated staff to boost cycling and walking and green spaces.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, cabinet member for finance and housing, said: “This is the single biggest investment the council has made in protecting and promoting our environment.

It is absolutely necessary that we take this action now; the Climate Emergency means we cannot wait any longer.

“More still needs to be done, and we hope to use our Citizens Assembly to help draw this out, but we want to send a very clear message that we are prepared to act.

“A lot of this money will be spent on proposals where we work in partnership with environmentally focused organisations, our residents and the wider community.

In an emergency, we are far better all working together.”

Cllr O’Brien said that ten years of austerity had cut the council’s budget by £102 million since 2010, while Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was facing a £40 million funding gap in the coming years.

“This has left some of our poorest residents facing increasingly difficult circumstances,” he said.

“We’re going to invest in the following options to protect the most vulnerable members of our society from continued austerity: • £100,000 to create a new Care Leaver Fund, helping to remove the range of barriers that many of these young people face in their daily lives.

• £100,000 to help raise awareness of the health impacts of loneliness and fund projects to combat it.

• £150,000 to expand the reach of the borough’s children and community centres.

• £50,000 to run a trial aimed at helping those in areas of highest deprivation who are struggling to manage with benefit reforms and often do not claim their benefit entitlements.

Extra money has also been announced for ongoing regeneration projects and other priorities.

• A further £170,000 for a 3G football pitch in Radcliffe and improved changing facilities, taking the total to £400,000.

• An additional £300,000, on top of an already committed £200,000, to help fund the Radcliffe Strategic

Cherry Pie returns to Preston Markets

Cherry Pie will re-open at Preston Markets in the coming weeks, following a complete renovation and extension of the cafe.

Alongside the delicious cakes and coffees they previously sold, they will be adding new items to their menu including a variety of ice cream and jacket potatoes. All food and drink options will be available to both sit in and take away from the new extended counter. Councillor Robert Boswell, Cabinet Member for Environment and

Community Safety at Preston City Council said: "It is great to see Cherry Pie reopening in the Market Hall.

It has always been a popular café and I look forward to exploring their extended menu. The renovation of the unit is looking great and the expansive seating area will welcome their regular and new customers to Cherry Pie. As always I encourage everyone to shop local and support independent businesses to benefit from the great value, local produce on offer." Dan Kynaston, Owner

of Cherry Pie said: "I can't wait to re-open at Preston Markets. The new look Cherry Pie will be launching in a few weeks and I look forward to welcoming back my customers. I have added the new take away counter to allow customers to easily pick up their lunch without entering the cafe, while not to disturb the customers relaxing within the seating area. There will be great offers on every day and I will announce the opening date shortly, keep your eyes peeled."

Sales E: sales@wilcopmedia.co.uk | T: 0115 6972677 Regeneration Framework.

• £200,000 on more measures to tackle fly-tipping hotspots and litter and enforcement.

• £670,000 to promote the council’s Physical Activity Strategy, including improving the borough’s outdoor facilities, parks and green spaces.

• Further funding for a Ramsbottom Town Plan – taking the total to £500,000, to address key issues in the town.

• £120,000 extra to support the “Town of Culture” year that Bury was awarded at the beginning of 2020. This new funding will focus on creating a longer-term legacy of the year in every part of the borough.

• Two new posts will be created to address housing issues: one to help further reduce the amount of empty properties in the borough and one to create an “ethical lettings agency” in collaboration with Six Town Housing.

Council also agreed that people who volunteer as Special Constables in Bury will have a 50% reduction in their Council Tax bills.

Council leader David Jones, himself a former police inspector, said:

“Where better than Bury – home of Robert Peel, the founder of the modern-day police service – to do this?

Our Special Constables are a vital part of the police service in Bury and across the country, and they do it for no pay.

This is why we want to show our gratitude and offer them this token of our appreciation.”

Cllr Jones said this was a budget which would have long-lasting effects, and have the Bury 2030 vision at its heart.

This aims to reduce deprivation and improve life chances for all Bury’s residents, through inclusive economic growth which benefits everyone.

“We will develop a different relationship with our residents,” he said, “as we want Bury to be a place which is led by our communities, giving people much greater control of their lives, in a borough that is well developed economically and prioritises sustainability.

“This budget achieves a balance between investment in services and making savings, and reminds us of the need to make significant

changes to deliver quality services now and in the future and by offering value for money for our citizens.”

Other budget key points: • The council voted to increase the council tax by 1.94% for general services, plus 2% in adult social care precept.

Note: all of this increase will be spent on funding social care for children and adults.

• Levies added by the Greater Manchester Mayor, police and fire services take the total bill increase to 4.66%.

More than half of the 84,000 houses in Bury fall into the bottom two bands (A and B), so the increase for them equates to £1.09 a week for a Band A house and £1.27 for a Band B house.

• Council house rents will increase by 2.7%, following four successive years of 1% rent reductions. Money raised from this can only be spent on social housing.

• There will be budget cuts of £5 million, but this will be found through greater efficiencies rather than cuts to frontline services.

• An extra £10 million will be put into the council’s reserves, given the ongoing financial uncertainty around council funding in the coming years.

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Genr8 Developments teams up with Rochdale Food & Drink Festival

The developers behind Rochdale Riverside, the borough's major new retail and leisure destination, have teamed up with Rochdale Food & Drink Festival.

Genr8's flagship Rochdale town centre scheme, adjacent to the Metrolink and transport interchange, opens next month and comprises retail units, restaurants, a 6-screen cinema, indoor mini golf and outdoor public spaces. Genr8 Developments will be an official partner of the festival when it is staged at the town hall on Saturday, 4 April 2020.

With the scheme due to launch the following week with an event scheduled for Friday, 10 April 2020, the festival is the perfect partnership said Mike Smith, partner at Genr8 Developments: "The countdown is well underway

to our launch next month, but with Rochdale Food & Drink Festival happening the weekend before, we thought it was a perfect event to get involved with. We are proud to sponsor such a popular festival which brings the town centre alive and families together. This partnership also gives us a chance to tell people a little more about Rochdale Riverside and remind everyone about our opening on Good Friday when you are all invited to explore the site and enjoy the fun."

Full details of the opening day at Rochdale Riverside are still to be revealed, but already confirmed is lots of FREE family entertainment and a stage show hosted by television and radio star Gemma Atkinson and Wes Butters from Hits Radio UK.

Brands such as Marks & Spencer, Next, H&M, River Island, Boots, JD Sports, Heavenly Desserts, Superdrug and Nandos will all open stores within the new retail and leisure scheme. The development will also boast a 6-screen REEL cinema as well as Puttstars, a new concept by Hollywood Bowl featuring 3 9-hole mini golf courses. The scheme also includes a 520-space car park.

Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture at Rochdale Borough Council visited the site this week to see progress and said: “Rochdale town centre has been completely transformed in recent years and this latest development represents another huge step forward. I was very impressed

to see how well everything is coming together, the quality of the work and I’m sure I speak for many when I say I’m excited that it will soon be open. Without the sponsorship and support of businesses, we wouldn’t be able to host the festival so a big thank you to Genr8.

“And of course, with Rochdale Food & Drink Festival and Dippy the Dinosaur in town, April is shaping up nicely.

At the festival we’ll have something for everyone – amazing cuisine from all over the world, a feast of live music, lots of family fun, top local chefs plus national names Chris Bavin and Stefan Gates. We’re also welcoming some new traders this year.”

“Popular festival” Television presenter Chris Bavin will be hosting the festival,

introducing local favourite Andrew Nutter, Tom McNeeney from The Oxford, Adolfus Lewis from The Hare on the Hill in Littleborough and Noo Meenan from Rochdale’s Thai food experts Issan Friends. The Festival Kitchen will be located inside Rochdale town hall along with stalls and activities. There’ll be an outside food and drink village, an indoor seating area to watch chef demonstrations on screen plus a live music stage and other activities.

On the Family Stage, TV presenter and Gastronaut Stefan Gates will be performing his shows – promising hilarious, mindblowing edible adventures with food and science stunts including food rockets, edible chemical reactions, magical colour-changing cocktails

and more. There’ll also be lots on offer at nearby local pubs, bars and restaurants, including children’s pizza making workshops at The Mannerist, gin tasting, cookie decorating and a sausage eating competition at the Medicine Tap, plus a wine, cheese and cider workshop at The Baum.

• Find out more about Rochdale Riverside • Visit the Rochdale Food & Drink Festival website to book chef demos, family show, workshops and activity tickets or find out more.

• Like the festival on Facebook • Connect on Twitter @ RochFoodFest Rochdale Food & Drink Festival is on Saturday 4 April 2020, open from 11am to 6pm. Entry is FREE.

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Changes announced for Rochdale Feel Good Festival Entry fee introduced and plans for big new free family event revealed.

Rochdale Feel Good Festival is back on Saturday, 22 August 2020 for another day of entertainment, food and music.

This year there will be a small entry fee for the council organised event, with £6 tickets going on sale soon.

Although there will still be some entertainment for younger visitors at Rochdale Feel Good Festival, most activities for children and families will move to a brand new free event to be held in Broadfield Park on Saturday, 25 July 2020. The Feel Good Family Picnic will be a huge day of fun activities and shows for children taking over

the historic town centre park.

Councillor Janet Emsley, the council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture, said: “Improving the range of entertainment and activities for families with children is something we have done over the last couple of years, but moving this element of the festival into a park setting in July will create a much bigger, better and more welcoming event. The Feel Good Family Picnic is going to be a really magical day out in a beautiful setting.”

Rochdale Feel Good Festival will include live music across indoor venues, a main stage sponsored by The Flying Horse Hotel near the town hall, a food and drink village

and other entertainment.

“Looking forward to another fabulous year” Councillor Emsley said that after 12 years it is important to secure the future of the event by further reducing the festival’s reliance on public funding: “Since 2008 the council has invested well over a million pounds into Rochdale Feel Good Festival, but severe cuts in public spending during that time have resulted in budgets being squeezed and many council services cut.

The festival has lost 25% of its public funding in the last 3 years and we would like to see it continue to be less reliant on council support.

“We are still the event’s biggest supporter, contributing

£75,000 shared between the feel good festival and our new family event this year, but we may be forced to reduce this further in the future, so from this year we want festival goers to contribute in the form of a modest entry fee. We will ensure visitors get value for money and I am looking forward to another fabulous year.”

Tickets will be available online and at Touchstones Rochdale, Heywood Civic Centre and Middleton Arena for £6 for 5 months before the event. The festival site will open at 12noon and run until 11pm and subject to availability, on the day tickets may be available, priced at £10. The festival is organised

by Rochdale Borough Council, with sponsorship from local businesses.

As in previous years, another local band will get chance to play the main stage in front of a crowd of thousands.

Last year, Rochdale country rock 4-piece Between The Vines won the coveted Battle of the Bands. The competition will be launched in April 2020 with local acts encouraged to apply to win the prized slot.

• If you or

your business would like to get involved with the festival, email events@rochdale.gov. uk.

• For festival updates, follow the festival on Facebook or connect on Twitter @ FeelGoodFest.

• Full details about the 2020 Rochdale Feel Good Festival

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Bowlee Car Boot

Sale dates announced

Bowlee Car Boot Sale & Market – one of the biggest and most popular in Greater Manchester will be back from Sunday, 5 April 2020.

The 2019 season was one of the busiest years on record, helped by the summer weather. The events attracted over 40,000 buyers and 3,600 sellers over the season.

Organised by Rochdale Borough Council, the 2020 season at Bowlee Community Park in Middleton begins on Sunday, 5 April 2020 and then runs on Sundays until midAugust. On Bank Holiday

up access. Discounted 10week car parking passes are also being introduced to save money for regular buyers.

Once again there will be no last minute cancellations – if poor weather is forecast a decision will be announced by 6pm the day before the sale.

‘Bargain hunters’ For the 2nd year prices have been frozen, so for sellers it’s still £15 for cars, £20 for small vans, people carriers and 4X4s. It’s £25 for large vans and above. For buyers, there are spaces for over

“I am pleased to see the dates announced and look forward to this very popular event returning to Bowlee Community Park for its 11th year.

The crowds were amongst the biggest ever last year and as we all become more aware of the environment and our impact on it, more and more people are choosing to buy pre-loved goods.

Browsers and bargain hunters can sniff out great deals and one-off items - things you’d never find in a chain or department store – and of

weekends the event will be held on both Sunday and Monday (excluding Sunday, 3 May 2020). As always there's no need to book, just turn up.

The events run from 7am 1.30pm, opening at 6am for sellers.

Improvements for the 2020 season include increased onsite signage and a new drop off/pick up point for buyers near the entrance to speed

1,200 cars in Bowlee Park at £2.50 per vehicle.

The event takes a break on Sunday, 3 May 2020 to make way for Tour de Manc - the Greater Manchester cycle sportive that sets off from Bowlee Park, with the choice of a 100 kilometre, 200 kilometre or 110 mile ride.

Councillor Neil Emmott, cabinet member for environment, said:

course you can sell your own things too.”

• View the new dates and more details about the event • Follow @BowleeCarBoot on Facebook • Search #BowleeCarBoot on Twitter Bowlee Community Park is just off Heywood Old Road (A6045), Middleton, M24 4SB with easy access from the M60 (junction 19)

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£2m will kick start transformation of Piccadilly Gardens The Council’s Executive will be asked to approve almost £2m for the first phase of the transformation of the Piccadilly Gardens area when it meets on Wednesday 11 March. The £1.8m capital funding will fund a number of early improvements to improve the area’s appearance and people’s experience of it - including the demolition of the free-standing part of the concrete wall.

This money will also cover costs associated with the development of the scheme including concept design, survey and other preparatory work and gauging public feedback on outline plans.

The budget for the resulting scheme will be finalised once a design has been agreed but it will be considerably higher.

The council will be working with principal property owners and other interested parties to develop a joint fund to enable the scheme to be brought forwards. This will include a significant further council contribution.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader

of Manchester City Council, said: “This is a key step in the transformation of Piccadilly Gardens. We have been listening to people’s views about the area and we are determined, working with principal landlords, businesses, residents and property owners in the nearby area, to support changes to make it a thriving and welcoming place. “We know we have got to start investing in the area now to deliver a space which meets the aspirations of Manchester people. The fact that we are planning to commit so much funding to the first phase of the scheme alone hopefully underlines the extent of our commitment.”

Landscape architect LDA Design (Manchester) has been appointed to produce concept designs for improvements

in Piccadilly Gardens and its surrounds. Manchester residents and businesses will be invited in the spring to give their feedback on a number of designs. A final design will then be produced incorporating the priorities identified in this feedback exercise. The Council want to make a vibrant and welcoming space with a family-friendly feel which will be adaptable for multiple uses such as play days, markets and cultural events. The scheme also intends to address the issue of the Pavilion’s unpopular concrete wall. What form improvements might take is to be determined.

The plans will take in a wide area including the section of Piccadilly to the north of the Piccadilly Gardens, Parker Street to the south and Mosley Street to the west.

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Happy Festival New Faces talent development programme launches

Could you be the next Victoria Wood, Danny Boyle or Guy Garvey? Then now’s your chance!

The Happy Festival, inspired by the legacy of Bury’s own Victoria Wood, is launching New Faces to find and develop talent in Bury.

Named after the ITV show that made Victoria’s name in the 1970s, New Faces is open to people of all ages. All you need is the desire to improve your skills, try something new or make that dream come true!

The Happy Festival runs from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 May with performances at Bury Art Museum, The Met and at sites across Bury town centre.

There will also be a special outdoor summer celebration the Happy Proms on Sunday 12 July at Burrs Country Park. The full programme for the Happy Festival will be announced soon. The festival

is a major part of celebrations to mark Bury’s status as the first Greater Manchester Town of Culture, which will foster and promote local artistic talent this year and well beyond.

New Faces offers the chance to work with professionals – the best in their field – to write and perform for the Happy Festival in May or the Happy Proms in July. There will be four genres of work, based on those Victoria was best known for: comedy, music, songwriting and TV scriptwriting.

A musician starting out on your career? Take up the opportunity to work with and be mentored by Victoria Wood’s musical director David Firman, and Bury-based songwriter and musician Joe Nelson, to produce a new piece of music to be performed at the Happy Festival. If this sounds like you, please email info@ happyfestival.org by March 20 saying why you’d like to be a part of the programme.

There is also an exciting series of six-week courses in TV scriptwriting, songwriting,

comedy writing and comedy performance starting in March. All the courses are hosted by professionals in their field and, again, you’ll get a chance to show off your work at the Happy Festival!

Check out our Facebook page HappyFestBury for more details and to book. Courses are only £30 for the six weeks, but spaces are limited.

The Festival is grateful for the funding and support of the Victoria Wood Foundation, Bury Council, the GMCA and Arts Council England.

Councillor David Jones, leader of Bury Council, said: “We’re delighted to be chosen as the very first Greater Manchester Town of Culture, and to support the Happy Festival which is inspired by the legacy of Bury’s most famous daughter.

“This year will be inspiring – it will allow our residents to explore new things and have new experiences, whether in the fields of music, performing art, writing, comedy or sport.

And we will look to build on this and put culture at the heart of our policies for years to come.” More information

Chipping Steam Fair The May bank holiday weekend is fast approaching and the weather is starting to improve which can mean only one thing....

CHIPPING STEAM FAIR 2020 is coming to a showfield near you (well PR3 2TQ actually)!!! This is our 22nd show and the three-day event will be packed to the rafters with a cornucopia of unique sights, sounds and smells. We have all the usual attractions from donkey rides to the digger play pen, tea and scones to burger and chips, funfair to food hall, beer tent and live music (until late Sat & Sun), gift and crafts fair, competitions and static displays, working machinery and demonstrations, awards, trophy’s and presentations, not to mention the hundreds of vintage vehicles and exhibits. Plus a schedule full of entertainment and activities for every age group there is something at CSF to excite, inspire or amuse. We also have some amazing arena entertainment booked this year. On Saturday you’ll be toe tapping along to Samba Espirito, our Samba Drumming Band. On Sunday the breath taking 3SIXTY, Bicycle Stunt Team, will wow you with their hair-raising bike skills. On Monday the “piece de resistance” is Dangerous Steve, our stunt man extreme will be doing, yes you guessed it, lots of dangerous things… juggling chainsaws, crazy balancing and a thrilling fiery finale.

Set up by Mary Harrison in 1998 who is

still at the helm supported by her tenacious team of enthusiastic volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year to put on the best show possible for their thousands of regular visitors, with all proceeds going to local charities and good causes. Check us out online www.chippingsteamfair.com or on social media #chippingsteamfair

about the Town of Culture year in Bury is available at http:// www.visitbury.com/ Do you have any thoughts about what could be taking place during our Town of Culture Year, or how you can get involved?

Please email townofculture@ bury.gov.uk For more Happy press information please contact m a n d y @ mandymartinez. co.uk

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The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Easter break Put some ‘Spring’ into your step this Easter by taking a break in the fresh air and beautiful scenery of Snowdonia! The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways make a great day out as part of your holiday. Sit back and watch the scenery go by – the carriages are modern in comfort with heating, double glazing and a refreshment service too. Some products are locally sourced so you can enjoy a bottle of local ale or spring water with a bag of Jones crisps or some Anglesey shortbread. The Welsh Highland trains even have fresh hot snacks direct from their kitchens. Explore with the kids – you don’t have to do the full journey, there are shorter options available which is good news

if you have small children.

Take a Ffestiniog train to Tan-y-Bwlch; it is ideal for families with its friendly tearoom, outdoor playground and woodland nature trail.

Visit Beddgelert village by Welsh Highland train and spend some time exploring the village. You can also start your journey here. There are little shops and cafes and a

popular ice cream parlour.

You can take a walk by the river and visit the grave of Gelert the famous hound after whom legend says the village is named. Take a walk. Bring the dog. There are countless ways of enjoying the railways. Visit our website for more ideas. We look forward to seeing you here this Easter. www.festrail.co.uk

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300 year-old historic boundary stone uncovered by council workers

A historic boundary stone that predates the formation of St Helens as a town has been unearthed by St Helens Council’s Grounds Maintenance officers. The

team made the discovery, dating between 1700-1750, while clearing foliage and undergrowth at the Blackbrook Wharf of Sankey Valley.

Pete Morris, the council’s Greenspace Inspector contacted local expert Dr Barrie Pennington of the Milestone Society to ask if he would investigate. Dr Pennington consulted an 1895 Ordnance Survey map and confirmed that it was a boundary stone marking the parishes of Blackbrook and Haydock. Three other original boundary stones are positioned at the wharf placed there in recent years

by St Helens Council to mark the original length of the wharf where coal was

loaded onto barges. Though highly weathered the word ‘Blackbrook’ can just be made out on one of these stones.

From 1757, this part of the Sankey Canal was a hive of activity providing coal for Liverpool merchants and Cheshire salt mines.

The new find is unique in that it is in its original position untouched and forgotten for decades. Boundary stones did not have to meet any legal requirement as to size and were generally made from local stone, which in the case of Blackbrook and Haydock was sandstone. Dr Pennington said: “Though it is speculative to comment without further research it does appear that the ‘navvies’ – labourers who built this part of the canal – worked around the boundary stone, probably out of respect.

“Parishes have a long history of fierce independence with loyalty to either a local lord of the manor or church. Some boundary stones had parish crests or emblems at the centre made from cast iron.

This new discovery appears to have a hole at the centre for such a crest which has long since rusted away.”

Text is still partially visible on the area’s other boundary stones, but the new find is heavily eroded. Barrie added: “The fact that it has been in the undergrowth for so long has not helped. It is possible – but speculative – that the canal water was quite

corrosive nearby at the time and could have contributed to the stone’s weathered appearance.

“Indeed, Hey Lock in Newtonle-Willows had to be largely rebuilt in 1868 because of the corrosive nature of the canal water.

The water was tested in 1813 and it contained 2.3 per cent arsenic, meaning it was poisonous even in small amounts. That was the Industrial Revolution.”

Pete Morris said: “In my line of work as greenspace inspector I’m always delighted to come across these historic finds that make a small contribution towards the borough’s heritage.

“We’re fortunate to have such a great working relationship with Dr Pennington. He’s a font of knowledge on this fascinating part of our industrial past and is always willing to share his time and wisdom with us.”

The stone will be cleaned and left in its original position, and the council could consider installing information signs about the boundary stones for residents and visitors to view.

Dr Pennington has placed the new boundary stone on the Milestone Society and Ordnance Survey databases for posterity crediting St Helens Council with the find.

Further information on the subject provided by Dr Pennington: The rough-cut

nature of the Blackbrook stones places them between 1700-1750, certainly before the building of the Sankey Canal in 1755-57. Haydock has by far the greater claim to historical provenance having had its own Lord of the Manor and coat of arms. Blackbrook however is simply named after a geographical feature - the Black Brook that runs through it. We can only imagine the local feuds that existed as Blackbrook sought to assert its independence from the bigger Haydock. Here’s a small story taken from the Parish Clerk’s website that amply demonstrates the strong loyalty felt by parishioners: “The boundaries of each parish were customarily marked by stones and every year, ‘Beating the Bounds’ took place. This is an ancient custom which is still observed by many English parishes; the roots go back to medieval times when parishes reaffirmed their boundaries by processing round them at Rogationtide, stopping to beat each boundary mark with sticks and to pray for protection and blessings.

“The ceremony was also important so as to prevent encroachment by neighbours and to instil a folk memory of the time as to the area of the parish. It is however no longer the tradition to bump the choirboys heads against the marks.”

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St Helens Council sets it budget for 2020/21 Finding new ways to generate income and transforming services by making them more efficient are key to St Helens Council’s budget.

Councillors approved the financial plan at Council on Wednesday evening as the council looks to balance the books for 2020/21.

Measures include more than one third of the £5m in savings to be made coming from income generation by increasing the council’s commercial activity, alongside a transformational plan to change the way the council works to make it more efficient. A further £5m budget gap will be filled by using one off reserves.

By growing our local economy through encouraging new businesses and supporting existing ones to grow over the past year we will see an extra £2.1m in business rates.

The pressures of adult social care and children’s services continues to grow and 71 per

cent of the council’s budget goes directly to these vital services that support our most vulnerable people.

The Government is allowing councils to use a two per cent precept on council tax that goes specifically to fund social care which St Helens Council will introduce along with a 1.99 per cent council tax rise, which will also go towards supporting the most in need in St Helens Borough.

These increases will bring in an extra £3m which will help us make sure our budget is robust and balanced.

Councillor Martin Bond, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “This year has been the most challenging for local authority finance since austerity began. The last three years had funding certainty which allowed longer term planning. This year, after 10 long years of Central Government grant reduction the settlement was delayed by Brexit and

the General Election. A one year settlement, announced late in the day, doesn’t assist planning the budget in the medium to long term which in turn benefits strategic approaches to delivery of services.

“We are doing all we can to increase our income generation and we’re showing

our commitment by creating a new post to look at how we can maximise our opportunities to raise money. Transforming the way we work as a council will also help us not only be more efficient but work better with our partners to provide residents the right kind of support. “We cannot do this alone though and we

understand that it is a great ask of residents to pay more in Council Tax but we hope they understand that the vast majority of the additional money will be going directly to the vital work that adult social care and children’s services do for those who need it in our borough.

“Our Council Tax will still be

the lowest on Merseyside and the increase will equate to less than £1 a week for more than 85 per cent of households.

We believe we should do the right thing for those most in need and we will continue to find ways to support them such as extending council tax support to our care leavers to the age of 25.”

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Mother’s Day Cream Tea & Sunday Running Experience our charming, traditional Cream Tea, served in the elegant ambience of our lovingly restored vintage carriages.

Enjoy the rumble of a steam train whilst the city skyline passes you by.

Relax with a cup of tea, a glass of fizz and clotted cream and jam scones.

Simply delicious.

Cream Tea Special: (with Prosecco): £16 Traditional (without Prosecco): £12.50 Your Ticket includes unlimited train rides and access to our museum and workshop and other site facilities.

Seats are limited for each event. We wish to ensure we offer you and your guests

a unique Ribble Steam Experience.

To book please get in touch with our Manager Maisy

Davies (01772) 728800 (Answer phone out of hours) Email: enquiries@ ribblesteam.co.uk

Lancaster canal.

Sunday 22nd March at 2pm, departing from our mooring next to Olde Duncombe House and opposite the Roebuck pub in Bilsborrow.

The postcode is PR3 0RE and car parking facilities are available. Approx 1hr sail.

Refreshments available on board, we have a cash bar with all normal bar drinks, tea, coffee and biscuits.

Tickets £5 per person For more information or to book your tickets please call us on 01995640833 or email info@lccruises.co.uk

Mothers Day cruise Hosted

by Lancaster Canal Cruises

Come and join us for a leisurely Mothers Day cruise, enjoy an afternoon out with all the family. Children will get to have a go at sailing the boat with the Captain and receive a certificate. Feed the ducks, enjoy the wildlife and beautiful views on the

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How to get an upgrade on your honeymoon!

Getting married isn’t just about going on honeymoon, but it sure is an exciting plus to the whole shebang! But how do you go about milking the special occasion for all its worth?

Everyone loves an upgrade and if you can’t get one when you’re going on your honeymoon then when

can you? It’s the perfect opportunity to be pampered and spoiled, especially after all the stress of the wedding planning is over. Calling first class!

There are so many moments where you might be able to wangle an upgrade when you go on honeymoon. The first is the flight. This is a lot easier

to accomplish if you haven’t booked a package deal through a high street travel agency. If you’ve booked flights and accommodation separately then turning up at the airport in your finest clobber, rather than like a scruff bag (albeit a very comfy one), is a great way to find yourself boosted up to First or Business class.

This is an important fact to consider as the area you want to be moved into is usually full of very well-heeled people. The next step is to arrive at the airport early. This gives you the best opportunity of nabbing any last-minute upgrades. Don’t forget to check again when you reach the gate in case an upgrade

has become available since you checked-in.

Another hot tip for making it more likely to receive an upgrade is to fly on a Saturday as this is when business travellers are usually at home, meaning you have less competition.

Tell the world you’re here for your honeymoon. Once you’ve made it to your honeymoon destination the next step towards getting an upgrade is to tell everyone that you’re on your honeymoon!

It’s important to do this at the right time though. Telling businesses that you’re going on your honeymoon when you make the booking tends to hike the prices up. So, you’re better off waiting until you hit the runway to mention that you’re newly-weds on honeymoon.

If you’re staying in a hotel then mention at check-in that you’re on your honeymoon and ask if there are any honeymoon suites available for you to upgrade to or if there is anything they can do

for you to help make your honeymoon more memorable.

Then as you go about making your precious memories whilst you are away, you need to keep speaking up.

Tell everyone you meet that you’re there on your honeymoon. You never know, it might lead to a couple of free glasses of champagne over dinner at any of the restaurants you might visit!

The same can be said for any activities, excursions or day trips that you intend to do whilst you’re away. Live like an A-lister.

Of course, before you even get to this stage you need to decide on where to go!

If you’re at a loss for ideas, other than knowing that you want the A-list treatment, then take a leaf out of @ RocknRollBride’s book. She says that ‘If you’re looking to really go all out on your honeymoon, to have a once in a lifetime experience and to truly live it up like a rock star, then the Maldives has to be top of your list.’

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Meet your photographer Jon Harrison

My name is Jon Harrison, I am a photographer, Image retoucher and designer based within Leigh, Lancashire.

My background has predominantly been within the Art and design sectors as I have always had a creative flare from a young age in

primary school all the way through to University.

For my higher education, I attended The University of Salford between 20052008, which I did a degree within Visual Arts. After my graduation, I worked within retail until I did extra work within the image retouching sectors and finally obtained a job within a reprographics company in 2012. After 3 years within the reprographics company I soon realized I needed to spread my wings and do what I enjoyed which was photography.

Inspired by Guernsey

Photographer Karl Taylor, Essex Photographer Alex Wightman and Glyn Davis I took the risk and left my job to pursue a career within Photography within the fitness and fashion sectors.

This was a huge risk as I was working self employed for over 12 months, however with risk comes success and I was able to get recognition from social media and online clients.

2016 I was asked to do my first wedding as I never advertised to do weddings as the market is so saturated with wedding photographers I felt there

wasn't a need for another.

However with my experience and dedication I did my first wedding within Wales and it was a huge success and I absolutely loved weddings since then onwards.

I look forward to hearing from anyone who contacts myself and please feel free to get connected.

Relaxed, Unobtrusive, Fun & Fantastic I am really happy to have ​ in my life photography as a job, capturing those special moments, memories and being apart of couple's wedding. My passion for photography is so rewarding as I get to shoot amazing weddings with some fantastic couples at some of the best venues around. What's even better is making new friends for life after the wedding.

Relaxed & Creative Wedding Photographer ​During your wedding day my goal is to capture all those special moments you will miss through your big day.

These moments can be fun, traditional, compositional, natural & relaxed moments.

As an artist I like to be ​

creative and take amazing images that will not only look amazing but make you say WOW. The idea behind every wedding is to make yours unique, something special and a standout from the crowd. I am extremely experimental and look for locations to get the best shots for you.

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BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS ANNOUNCES EXCITING COLLABORATION FOR NEW INSTALLATION

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

One of the UK’s top universities is joining forces with an innovative young designer to create a spectacular light installation for this year’s world-famous Blackpool Illuminations.

Jack Irving, known for his amazing costume designs for Lady Gaga, will collaborate with a team of computer scientists from Lancaster University after the two were named as winners of a £100k competition to deliver the new attraction in the 2020 display.

Jack and the university team, led by Professor Joe Finney,

were among numerous entrants from all over the world vying for the unique opportunity to be part of Blackpool Illuminations.

A panel of judges, chaired

by Blackpool Illuminations creative curator, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, decided to award the prize to joint winners, with Jack providing the creative content and Professor Finney’s team providing the technical expertise. Their concept will incorporate deep sea creatures brought to life in a high-tech, interactive projection show

on the Promenade close to The Blackpool Tower.

The project will now move from concept to manufacture stage with the two teams working together to create the installation which will be unveiled in time for the switch on of this year’s Blackpool Illuminations on September 4. Jack, 26, born and raised just a couple of miles down the coast from Blackpool, said: “It’s been a childhood dream of mine to design part of Blackpool Illuminations and so excited that this competition has made my

dreams come true.

“Being brought up next to the sea, my fascination with the eye-catching creatures and organisms that live there, has been my inspiration for the design.

“It’s a little appreciated fact that most of the animals in our ocean make light.

This phenomenon is called bioluminescence. I have used this as my inspiration for my Illuminations design” Professor Finney, from Lancaster University’s School of Computing and Communications, added: “Lancaster University is committed to local, regional and international public engagement, and we are really excited about this opportunity to create a unique and engaging visitor experience for this year’s Blackpool Illuminations.

“This project provides a great example of the creative and collaborative nature of modern Computer Science, and how it can transform our daily lives.”

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council said: “The whole purpose of the Blackpool Illuminations competition was to bring exciting design and technological expertise to the table.

“It has done exactly that with some incredible concepts submitted from designers and artists across the world.

“When it is completed, this project will add a completely new dimension to the 2020 Blackpool Illuminations display.”

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen added: “Judging by the sheer number of extraordinarily exciting entries, there’s no doubt in my mind that our Illuminations X-factor style competition h a s captured the imagination of the creative world. Young

and old, professionals and amateurs, From Fylde to Australia we’ve had some truly illuminating ideas.”

Other short-listed entrants included The Guild Hall School of Music and Drama and Lisa Ashcroft, an artist born in Preston, but now working in Australia.

The new light installation will be revealed during the Blackpool Illuminations season which runs from September 4 to November 8 this year and will be located on the Tower Festival Headland.

For further information, please go to visitblackpool. com/illuminations.

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Kingfisher Caravan Park

wins top award for seventh year East Lindsey District Council's Kingfisher Caravan Park has once again secured the Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award, marking the seventh consecutive year the Park has achieved the accolade.

The David Bellamy Conservation Award is one of the longest running green tourism awards in the UK and champions holiday parks that are working to protect and enhance Britain's natural environment.

The Park, which is located on Sea Lane, Ingoldmells, has been assessed by the scheme's team of local wildlife experts and has been scored in across a range of criteria in three key areas: Good Neighbourliness, Sustainability and Ecological Management.

The Park team were praised for their work in each area, with the assessor specifically commending the excellent links between the Park and the local community, the recruitment of a Park Development Manager and the Park's longer term plans.

The scheme also awards Parks a number of badges for work on specific

areas and this year Kingfisher successfully secured three of those badges: Woodland Habitat, Wildflower Habitat and Hedgerow Habitat.

Kingfisher Park Development Manager, Mickey Reeson, said: "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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Path improvements mean it’s

easier than ever to explore Ullswater

Improvement works have recently been completed at either end of the Ullswater Valley to make these paths more accessible than ever.

The path from the car park at Pooley Bridge to the lake shore has recently been improved to even out the surface and widen it in places to make it easier for people with assisted wheelchairs and prams to be able to access the water’s edge.

Lake District National Park Authority Project Ranger, Val Edmondson said: “This part of the Ullswater Way has suffered storm damage and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to make sure it remains one of our accessible ‘Miles without Stiles’ routes. It’s ideal as the car park is so handy and there are bus stops close by and this path allows easy access down to the water to enjoy the spectacular views. Families

with young children and people with limited mobility will undoubtedly benefit from the work we’ve done here.”

And, at the opposite end of the lake, the popular path from Cow Bridge car park along the lake shore at Brothers Water to Hartsop Hall has also recently been enhanced. This path suffered from weather damage which destroyed the drainage ditches and meant the path washed out in places and damaged the surface. This has now been repaired. The improvements have been welcomed locally. Sam Bunting, local resident and Parish Councillor commented: “The Miles without Stiles initiative is brilliant!

As a disabled mother with active young children, it’s wonderful that there are accessible, short walks on our doorstep that we can enjoy together as a family.” The improvement works have been carried out by local firm Siba Contracts working closely with National Park Rangers and Volunteers, and the routes are now open and ready for use.

There are 48 Miles without Stiles routes throughout the Lake District National Park, all of which are routes suitable for people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, and the visually impaired. See all our Miles without Stiles routes to plan a walk as part of our #NewViewNewYou.

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Put your community on the map for Tour de Yorkshire There’s still time to sign up for information roadshows which are touring North Yorkshire and find out how to create a piece of land art or put your business on the map for the Tour de Yorkshire.

The race takes place in the county from April 30 to May 3 and will take in some of the county’s most iconic scenery, including the Yorkshire Dales and the coast.

Information roadshows are being held by Welcome to Yorkshire, North Yorkshire

County Council and other partners for businesses, residents and community groups to find out how to make the most of the internationally-followed race.

As well as advice on making the most of the sporting event, the sessions will include information on the new route, how to become a tour maker, community celebrations and how to take part in the land art and ‘best dressed’ town and village contests.

The next roadshows will take place at; F i l e y , Monday, March 9, at the Filey Evron Centre from 6pm to 8pm R e e t h , Monday, March 9, at Reeth

Community Primary School from 6pm to 8pm.

Settle, Wednesday, March 11, at Settle Victoria Hall on Kirkgate from 6pm to 8pm Leyburn, Monday, March 23 at The Garden Rooms at Tennants from 6pm to 8pm.

Pateley Bridge, Tuesday, March 24, at the Memorial Hall on Park Road from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

North Yorkshire County Council leader, Cllr Carl Les said: “Anyone who would like to see their community to make the most of this event and get involved in the celebrations is invited to attend the roadshows and find out all the different ways they can do this.

“Last year the race attracted a record-breaking television audience of 28 million – well up on the 12.5m who watched in 2018. For all businesses this presents a fantastic

opportunity, particularly for those areas recently affected by flooding who want to let everyone know they are well and truly open for business.”

The first day of the race, on Thursday, April 30, will involve a dramatic sweep of the coast, taking in historical highlights including Staithes and Runswick Bay; where two artists colonies were once based, Filey Brigg, where a Roman signal station stood in the 4th century and Hackness, where, according to St Bede, a monastery or nunnery once stood.

Day two of the event will see the men and women’s

races travelling through some of the stunning Yorkshire Dales, making its way from Skipton to Leyburn, passing through Reeth and other parts of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. It will pass historical and cultural sites including the Ribblehead Viaduct, built by a workforce of 2,300 men who lived in shanty towns near its base, and Buttertubs Pass, believed to derive its name from the fact farmers would rest there on the way to market and lower their butter into the potholes to keep it cool during hot weather.

The final day of the Men’s

Race, on May 3, will see cyclists return to the Yorkshire Dales for part of the route, as they cycle from Halifax to Leeds, taking in Skipton, Pateley Bridge and Masham.

In total the race will visit 160 villages, towns and cities in Yorkshire.

Information on the route is provided, along with details of the, ambassadors’ tour, amateur sportive and the Land Art and Best Dressed contests.

Registration for the roadshows is not compulsory, but people are asked to book a place if they can, to give the organisers an idea of numbers.

Meet Northern writers at

libraries in Read Regional campaign Authors of ‘must-read’ titles for the upcoming year will be visiting North Yorkshire libraries this spring for Read Regional 2020.

The campaign will see ten Northern authors take part in 70 events at libraries and festivals throughout the North of England, including Easingwold, Skipton and Newby and Scalby.

The ten chosen titles are made up of children’s, fiction, memoir and poetry. They will all remain available in the libraries after the campaign.

Reading guides for each book can be downloaded at Read Regional.

The North Yorkshire events are as follows: • Oliver Harris, author of A Shadow Intelligence, at Easingwold library on Thursday 5 March at 7pm; • Horatio Clare, author of Icebreaker, at Newby and Scalby library on Thursday 7 May at 7pm; and

• Clara Barley, author of The Moss House, at Skipton library on Friday 15 May at 7pm.

For more information and to buy tickets, contact the relevant library.

Founded by New Writing North in 2008, the campaign is funded by Arts Council England and is produced in partnership by New Writing North, North Yorkshire County Council and 21 other library authorities.

“Read Regional is a brilliant campaign which is always well-supported in libraries across North Yorkshire,” said County Councillor Greg White, Executive Member for Libraries. “The North is bursting with talent so there is something for everyone. I would encourage everybody to visit their local library, borrow the must-read titles and meet some very talented authors.” Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New

Writing North, added: “If you don’t usually attend author events, why not try one for the first time in your local library – you’ll find a warm welcome and the chance to chat to writers in a relaxed setting.

If you’re already a regular attender, Read Regional is a great way to discover new books to discuss with other readers and to make the most of the precious resource that is your local public library.”

The other books on the 2020 list are: • A Witch Come True by James Nicol • Remembered by Yvonne Battle-Felton • The Blame Game by C. J. Cooke • The Last Thing She Told Me

by Linda Green • Supper Club by Lara Williams • The Celox and the Clot by Hafsah Aneela Bashir • Baldwin’s Catholic Geese

by Keith Hutson

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HITTING THE BEACH? If you love beaches – then you’ll love North Wales.

With 250 miles of coastline, beaches aren't hard to come by. You'll discover a fantastic variety of diverse beaches in North Wales, with something to suit everyone.

North Wales’ coastal resorts were made famous by their fabulous beaches. Colwyn Bay beach, for example, has a longer coastline than Rio’s world famous Copacabana beach – that’s a lot of beach!

It’s a consistent feature among the coastal resort beaches – long beaches which provide plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves peacefully.

For a day beside the beach with the family, the everpopular seaside resorts of Rhyl and Llandudno continue to please. With long beaches there’s plenty of room to enjoy activities whilst the promenades provide plenty of entertainment. If you’re planning a beach break to

North Wales, a visit to one of the Llyn’s beaches is an absolute must. Hidden away, the Llyn’s secluded beaches provide the perfect location for a peaceful getaway.

Popular resorts like Abersoch provide a much livelier day at the beach, with plenty of things to do including a world-class water sports programme.

The Llyn is even home to one of the best beach bars in the world. Nefyn’s Ty Coch Inn has been voted by users of TripAdvisor as one of top ten beach bars in the world.

Being an island certainly has its advantages. You’re never

too far away from a beach when visiting Anglesey.

Scattered along the coast, you’ll discover a great array of beaches, from secluded to historic, Anglesey’s beaches are sure to delight and surprise. If you’re a fan of history, then Anglesey’s beaches and coastline will be for you. Anglesey has a rich maritime history, which is partly thanks to areas of water having a high copper content, which would help clean the boats before an excursion.

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

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New coastal access

path on Walney Island opens

New legislation has led to improved access to the coast line on Walney Island.

Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act, Natural England has been tasked by the government to create a new National Trail around the coast of England, the ‘England Coast Path.’

The section of path around Walney has now been established by Cumbria County Council’s countryside access section, and was opened to the public on Wednesday 12 February.

Cllr Helen Wall, member for Old Barrow, who was

present at the opening said: “I am delighted to see this new section in Walney opened up for the public to enjoy.

The England Coast Path is a fantastic initiative and will enable people to enjoy our wonderful coastlines and scenery in ways they haven’t been able to before. It’s also wonderful for the people of Walney, who are rightly very proud of their beautiful island.” Charles Ecroyd, Chairman of the Cumbria and Lakes Joint Access Forum, said: “The new path will help to make people more aware of what we have in this

part of the county - fantastic views, fantastic scenery and a tremendous population of people that are very welcoming.”

The works that have taken place to complete the path have been funded by a Natural England grant received by Cumbria County Council.

Works on a new route between Whitehaven and Silecroft are also underway, with this section expected to be open in the summer. Further sections, close to the Scottish Border in the north and around Morecambe Bay further south are currently still under

development. Once completed, this will form part of the longest continuous coastal path in the world.

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Care home hits dental hygiene heights

Care homes across the borough of Rochdale have received oral hygiene ratings as part of an innovative rating scheme.

5 star ratings have been awarded to 25 care homes so far, with others encouraged to strive for the achievement.

The ratings reflect

the homes' dedication to looking after their residents' oral hygiene and the services they have in place.

The scheme was created by RIS Healthcare, who deliver the oral health for the elderly programme, training and support across the borough of Rochdale. The programme enables care homes to look after residents' oral hygiene by improving staff knowledge and skills. Oral hygiene can be a major contributor to serious ill health in older people and the cause of multiple emergency hospital admissions that could be avoided. Jamie Lee Aughey, deputy manager at Stansfield Hall care home, says the benefits of the scheme have exceeded expectations: "We have not had a chest infection in the home for the last 8 months. This used to be a common occurrence and in a way has become non-existent.

"Since the training each

member of our team has really taken the time to focus on oral hygiene with our residents and the health benefits from this have been fascinating."

Dr Aggy York, clinical lead for primary care at Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG), said: "There are numerous studies linking poor oral hygiene to aspiration pneumonia.

Cleaning the teeth, mouth, tongue and palate, not only reduces harmful bacteria and it also helps produce saliva and improve swallowing which makes inhalation of bacteria much less likely."

The rating scheme considers staff training, effective identification of problems, and oral care plans for residents.

Councillor Sara Rowbotham, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "Oral hygiene is so important

in older age, it can impact people's ability to eat, drink and talk so it's great to see homes treating oral hygiene as a vital area of care.

"Congratulations to the care homes and well done to the RIS team for implementing such an innovative scheme in our borough."

Training of staff in care homes across the borough has been taking place since December 2018. There are 41 care homes for older people in the borough with a total of 1,433 residents.

All care homes have oral hygiene champions who ensure that new staff are shown how to clean the mouths of residents.

The focus on oral hygiene in care homes is the 1st of its kind in Greater Manchester.

Further stages of the training programme have trained nurses and supported staff at Springhill Hospice and Rochdale Infirmary.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) COVID-19 is a new illness called coronavirus. information for health What’s the risk of coronavirus that can affect your lungs and These pages are for the professionals on the NHS in the UK? airways. It's caused by a virus public. There is coronavirus England website.

The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the public from low to moderate.

Health professionals are working to contact anyone who has been in close contact with people who have coronavirus.

What’s the risk of coronavirus for travellers?

There are some countries and areas where there’s a higher chance of coming into contact with someone with coronavirus.

Symptoms of coronavirus The symptoms of coronavirus are: • a cough • a high temperature • shortness of breath But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.

The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.

How coronavirus is spread Because it’s a new illness, we do not know exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person.

Similar viruses are spread in cough droplets. It’s very unlikely it can be spread through things like packages or food. Do I need to avoid public places?

Most people can continue to go to work, school and other public places.

You only need to stay away from public places (selfisolate) if advised to by the 111 online coronavirus service or a medical professional.

How to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus Do wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds always wash your hands when you get home or into work use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell Don’t do not touch your eyes, nose

or mouth if your hands are not clean. How to self-isolate if you’re asked to If there’s a chance you could have coronavirus, you may be asked to stay away from other people (self-isolate).

This means you should: • stay at home • not go to work, school or public places • not use public transport or taxis • ask friends, family members or delivery services to do errands for you try to avoid visitors to your home – it’s OK for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food You may need to do this for up to 14 days to help reduce the possible spread of infection.

Treatment for coronavirus There is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus.

Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work against viruses.

Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms while your body fights the illness.

You’ll need to stay in isolation away from other people until you’ve recovered.

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Careers in Lancashire Police Policing Lancashire is no easy task. It takes a huge number of people from all sorts of different backgrounds with a wide range of skills and experience. Do you have what it takes to be one of them?

Lancashire Police are

planning to open Police Officer applications in Spring 2020.

In the meantime, if you would like to receive confirmation of the opening date for Police Officer applications and useful information about

becoming a Police Officer, you can register your interest at www.lancashire.police.uk/ JoinUs What's Life Like as a Police Constable?

All new Police Constables at Lancashire Police spend

FIRE UP YOUR CAREER WITH AN APPRENTICESHIP Waterside Training is a successful and specialist provider of apprenticeships and technical training in Engineering and Manufacturing.

Waterside recruits, manages and trains apprentices on behalf of leading multinational companies in the North West.

We are based at the STEM Technology Campus in the centre of St Helens focussing on excellence in Engineering, Manufacturing and Technical skills for industry, working with a diverse range of companies

like AB World Foods, NSG Pilkington, Essity, Diageo, Stateside Foods and Tremco Illbruck to name a few…

Our Apprenticeship programmes focus on developing and inspiring apprentices to reach their best potential via academic qualifications, foundation training in Electrical and Mechanical techniques with site based training to the Apprenticeship Level 3 Standards helping develop the next generation of engineers and process technicians.

An apprenticeship is a great alternative to university in starting a career specialising

in either Engineering or Manufacturing offering exciting opportunities providing real life practical experience working alongside industry professionals.

With all the benefits an apprenticeship offers; a salary, qualifications up to HNC Level 4, training and personal development, whilst working with a leading employer within the North West, it’s an ideal way to get your career started! Applications now available, visit www. waterside-training.co.uk for more information.

their first 2 years working on emergency response.

You'll find yourself: • Providing a police presence in town centres on a Friday night • Responding to domestic violence incidents • Helping people who are going through a mental health crisis.

It's a 24/7 service.

That means you'll be providing support around the clock including weekends and during the holidays.

It's fast paced.

Lots of Police Officers thrive off the fast paced business of responding to emergencies and stay in 'response' for many years.

Others find a different area that interests them and go on to specialise.

This could be: • Supporting victims of abuse • Solving serious crimes • Working in counter terrorism • Preventing cyber crime.

It's supported.

Whatever you choose,

you’ll have a full training programme to get you started. We also offer defined pathways to help you to meet your career goals.

It's diverse.

Here in Lancashire we are working towards a workforce that better represents the communities we serve.

This will ensure we are better able to respond to and meet the needs of our local communities and better understand all cultures and lifestyles.

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Want to advertise here? call: 0115 6972677

Want to advertise here? call: 0115 6972677

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Report: Derby County 3-0 Rovers It was a bad day at the office for Rovers, whose five-game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Derby County at Pride Park.

Two first half goals from Louie Sibley and Martyn Waghorn put the Rams ahead going into the interval in the East Midlands.

Rovers improved after the break, but couldn't find a route back into the encounter before Chris Martin made it 3-0 from the spot in the final five minutes. It would go from bad to worse for Rovers in added time when substitute John Buckley was shown a straight red card for a foul on Curtis Davies, in a game that the visitors will look to learn from and improve on ahead of next week's home battle with Bristol City. The boss made one change to his starting XI, with Ben Brereton coming into the side in place of Dominic Samuel, who dropped to the bench.

For the hosts, Phillip Cocu left Wayne Rooney out of the squad, whilst ex-Rovers loanee Tom Lawrence hadn't recovered from an injury picked up in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United just a few days earlier.

Rovers worked an opportunity inside the opening minute of the game at Pride Park, but Tosin Adarabioyo could only head over from Stewart Downing's outswinging corner kick. Another of Downing's set pieces caused confusion again soon after, with the ball dropping to the returning Brereton, who could only swips narrowly over the upright.

At the other end, Christian Walton was forced to beat away Martin's swirling attempt from range as the Rams looked to force an opener themselves.That deadlock was broken just before the half hour mark when Sibley marked his first start for his side with a scorching strike from 25 yards that flew past Walton and into the top left-hand corner of the net to hand the hosts the advantage. Rovers were indebted to Walton 10 minutes later when the 'keeper kept himself big to block Waghorn's close range attempt after the frontman was put through on goal. The lead was doubled five minutes before the interval through Waghorn, who was in the right place at the right time to slot home the rebound after Walton pushed Graeme Shinnie's drive into his path.

Waghorn could and should have scored his second and his team's third just three minutes later, but after being slipped in and rounding Walton, he could only hit the post before the danger was cleared. That meant Rovers had plenty of work to do in the second half, and Walton ensured the visitors remained in the contest when he tipped Waghorn's pinpoint free kick around the post just four minutes after the interval. Walton was again on hand soon after to hold onto Sibley's attempt as Cocu's men looked for a goal that would surely have clinched all three points. Amari'i Bell went close to getting Rovers on the scoresheet just after the hour mark, but his deflected shot was scooped away from danger by Ben Hamer in the home goal. A double switch with 18 minutes remaining saw Mowbray make a double change, with Buckley and Danny

Graham entering the action in place of Sam Gallagher and Brereton as the boss made his final substitutions. The game was wrapped up with five minutes remaining when Martin stroked home from the penalty spot after Bennett tangled with Jason Knight in the box.

Things would get worse for Mowbray's men late on when Buckley was shown red to simply compound the misery ahead of the trip back to East Lancashire.

Rovers: Walton, Bennett (c), Nyambe, Adarabioyo, Bell, Travis (Johnson, 59), Downing, Rothwell, Brereton (Buckley, 72), Gallagher (Graham, 72), Armstrong.

Unused substitutes: Leutwiler, Samuel, Davenport, Rankin-Costello.

Booked: Travis, 25, Rothwell, 45, Bennett, 84 Derby County: Hamer, Wisdom (c), Forsyth, Shinnie, Waghorn (Davies, 76), Clarke, Martin, Bogle (Whittaker, 88), Knight, Sibley (Marriott, 76), Bird.

Unused substitutes: Roos, Evans, Lowe, Malone.

Goals: Sibley, 27, Waghorn, 41, Martin pen, 85.

Booked: Sibley, 75 Referee: John Brooks.

Attendance: 26,590.

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Preston North End 1, Queens Park Rangers 3

Queens Park Rangers came from one-nil down to Daniel Johnson’s penalty to take the points at Deepdale.

The visitors, who finished the game with ten men after the sending off of Geoff Cameron took the win with second half strikes from Grant Hall, Ryan Manning and Ebere Eze. Johnson had converted from 12 yards after Darnell Fisher had been upended in the box in an opening period that the Lilywhites dominated, but after two half-time changes

by Mark Warburton, the Rs scored from the only three shots they had on goal in the game.

PNE manager Alex Neil had made two changes, with David Nugent and the injured Brad Potts replaced by the returning Paul Gallagher and Josh Harrop.

But it was Sean Maguire who almost got the game off to a flyer as Johnson sent him down the right with a ball over the top, the Irishman driving into the penalty area and drilling a low shot past Liam Kelly, but it came off the left-hand post and was cleared to safety.

But they deservedly took the lead just before the 20-minute mark. A superb 50-yard crossfield ball from Gallagher released Tom Barkhuizen – who was a constant threat in the opening period – and he fed Fisher’s overlap into the box, who was brought down

by Marc Pugh, giving referee Dean Whitestone an easy decision.

Johnson stepped up after quite a long delay and coolly squeezed his left-footed penalty into the bottom right

hand corner, just past the fingertips of Kelly, who had chosen the right direction to dive.

They continued to press, looking for a second, dominating possession, but without creating any clear-cut opportunities, going into halftime.

But at the break the visitors made two changes that affected the game, Pugh and Dominic Ball replaced by Ilias Chair and Luke Amos and QPR had more possession in the middle of the park.

And they got back on level terms in the 61st minute.

Ben Davies was adjudged to have brought down former team-mate Jordan Hugill on the right and Eze delivered a free kick to the back post when Hall managed to get in front of his man poke into the

bottom left corner.

But within 90 seconds a key moment in the game that could have changed it in North End’s favour. A Fisher free kick on half-way was drilled over the top of the Rangers defence to where Maguire had made a superb run, and lofted a header over Kelly, which dropped agonisingly against the bar. The Irishman had then followed it in, but the bounce back off the crossbar was just too high and he was unable to control and nudge it into the goal.

At the half’s mid-point Warburton’s side went down to ten men when Cameron received a second yellow card – which in all honesty could have been a red on its own – for a tackle, above the ankle, on Fisher. The Rs went in front for the first time with

11 minutes to go as Manning picked up a ball on the left corner of the penalty area and curled a left-footed shot that went over everyone and came off the underside of the bar and into the top right corner.

Just before he was replaced, Josh Harrop stung the hands of Kelly with a shot from the left corner of the penalty area at the other end after a knock down from earlier substitute Jayden Stockley.

The frontman was then controversially involved in what led to the London side’s third goal. A ball in from another change, Ryan Ledson, was towards Stockley, who was charged through in the area for what looked like a stonewall second penalty of the game for PNE, but the match officials saw nothing and QPR boke.

They charged up field via Bright Osayi-Samuel, who then fed Eze down the left, who checked back inside and curled a right-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the penalty area to complete the win.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Fisher, Hughes, Browne, Bauer, Davies, Barkhuizen (Sinclair, 81), Gallagher (c) (Stockley, 73), Maguire, Johnson, Harrop (Ledson, 81). Subs not used: Ripley, Rafferty, Huntington, Nugent.

QPR line-up: Kelly, Hall (c), Cameron, Pugh (Chair, 46), Hugill, Eze, Ball (Amos, 46), Manning, Osayi-Samuel, Rangel, Barbet. Subs not used: Lumley, Kane, Shodipo, Oteh, Clarke.

Attendance: 12,378 (613 QPR fans) Referee: Mr D Whitestone

Each Edition of the Lancashire Now has an estimated readership of 42,500 from print and online. Published by Wilcop Media Ltd, 92L Rolleston Dr, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 7JP.