United Utilities update on Martholme to Ramsgreave pipeline

Following a meeting with United Utilities Wednesday May 19th, a number of facts and dates have now been confirmed.

The pipeline works are due to start around the end of June at the Martholme treatment works, progressing towards Warwick Avenue by around the 22nd July. This first section of pipeline is away from the road networks and as such should not adversely affect the local traffic, however there are likely to be increased movements of HGVs bringing in materials etc.

The majority of disruption will be in the Sparth / Whalley Road areas of Clayton-le-Moors but as requested the bulk of the necessary road closures and diversionary routes will take place during the local school holidays to minimise the impact on local residents and through traffic.

The following information is subject to ratification by LCC Highways Department at a meeting to be held early next week and may be subject to minor alterations. As the work does not involve tying into local services it is anticipated that the work will be carried out on a rolling program to be completed as work progresses to minimise the effect on residents. United Utilities have said that where possible the road closures will be confined to short stretches with traffic management (traffic light controls and stop/go boards) where full closure is required this will be kept to an absolute minimum in terms of distance and duration.

Bearing the above in mind United Utilities have given assurances that:

• UU will be carrying out a letter drop to inform local residents (along the route of the pipeline) that there will be a mobile unit located in Mercer Park on the 12th of June where additional information of road closures and the route details will be made available and United Utilities staff will be on hand to answer questions.

• The pipeline will not be going through Mercer Park, but will be under the carriageway of Rishton Road from the Forts Arms roundabout, through to the fields beyond Rishton Road.

• The works (weather permitting) through the built up areas of Clayton-le-Moors from Warwick Avenue to the end of Rishton Road should be completed by the 15th August.

• All residents directly affected by road closures (outside their properties) will be notified in advance of works commencing on their stretch of road by letter drop.

• All works along Rishton Road affecting those properties on Charles St, the estate beyond, and vehicle access to Mercer Park (where there is no alternative access) will be carried out in short sections with traffic controls to maintain access at all times.

United utilities have provided a hard copy of the proposed road closures which affect the roads in Clayton-le-Moors, however these are provisional, and dependent on LCC highways approval. The traffic management information provided does not give a time frame for the works other than previously indicated (works to start at Altham late June/early July and all of the works in Clayton-le-Moors to be completed by mid August).

Profile: Councillor Ciaran Wells

Cllr Ciaran Wells is one of the two representatives for Netherton in Great Harwood and has been on HBC for just over three years. Formerly a County Councillor until stepping down in 2013, Ciaran currently serves on the following committees at Hyndburn Council:

• Cabinet  -  Portfolio Holder for Education, Leisure and Arts 
• Great Harwood Area Council 

He also sits on several outside bodies which are unaffiliated with HBC:

• Barnfield and Hyndburn Limited Board 
• Globe Enterprises Limited Board 
• Great Harwood (Bank Mill House) Management Committee 
• Hyndburn Children's Trust Board 
• Hyndburn Youth Council 
• Lancashire Playing Fields Association 
• Leisure in Hyndburn Board (Voting Representative) 
• North West Sports Board 

Cllr Wells said, "I have been a Borough Councillor since 2010 and I'm portfolio holder for Education, Leisure and Arts this includes allotments and cemeteries. We face a number of challenges as a Council and I see my role as ensuring we provide a high quality service that is sustainable and that we can be proud of our Borough."

Anyone wishing to contact Ciaran can phone 07917011188 or email ciaran.wells@hyndburnbc.gov.uk

Profile: Councillor Clare Pritchard

Cllr Clare Pritchard is one of the two representatives for Milnshaw ward and also County Councillor for Accrington North. First elected to the Council in 2006, Clare has worked on various committees and became Deputy Leader of HBC before winning the County Council seat in 2013. She currently sits on the following committees at HBC:

• Accrington Town Team (Chair) 
• Cabinet  -  Deputy Leader of the Council (Housing and Regeneration) 
• Leader's Policy Development Board  
• Learning and Development Panel    
• Management Review Committee 
• Regeneration and Housing Panel (Chair)

In addition to those duties, Clare is on the following outside bodies:

• Lancashire Leaders and Chief Executives Group (Substitute) 
• Local Government Association General Assembly (Substitute) 
• Local Government Association Urban Commission 
• North West Employers, Manchester (Substitute) 
• Pennine Lancashire Local Authority (PLACE) Joint Committee (Substitute) 
• Regenerate Pennine Lancashire Company Governing Body (Substitute) 
• William Blythe (Church Works) Liaison Group (Portfolio for Regeneration)

Cllr Pritchard said, "I'm delighted to have remained on the same committees as last year. We're making real progress on environmental blight and our regeneration project in Woodnook is groundbreaking. It will continue to be a busy year but I'm thrilled with the progress we are making."

If you wish to contact Clare, her email address is clare.pritchard@hyndburnbc.gov.uk or you can speak to her on 01254 381394.

Profile: Councillor Gareth Molineux

Cllr Gareth Molineux was elected in 2011 and is a member for Overton which is one of the two wards which make up Great Harwood. Following the Labour group AGM he has been appointed to the following committees:

• Great Harwood Area Council 
• Judicial Committee (Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing)   
• Licensing Committee 
• Licensing Sub-Committee 
• Planning Committee

He also sits on the following outside bodies:

• Great Harwood (Bank Mill House) Management Committee 
• Hyndburn Community Safety Partnership Steering Group (Non-Voting Representative) 
• Local Government Association Rural Commission (Non-Voting Representative) 

Cllr Molineux said, "I am happy the the Leader has seen fit for me to continue sitting on the Planning and Judicial committees. Over the last 2 years we have had to make some significant decisions that impact on all the people of Hyndburn and help with the growth of our townships."

Anyone wishing to contact Gareth can do so by phoning 07814 370117 or emailing gareth.molineux@hyndburnbc.gov.uk 

Community clean up in Woodnook

This morning saw a group of community volunteers, working with Hyndburn Borough Council, tackle the rubbish problem around Woodnook. Local Councillors June Harrison and Bernard Dawson are joined by new Hyndburn Council portfolio holder for Enviromental Services Paul Cox in working to improve this area. Cllr Harrison said "we have  residents along with the local Army Cadet Force helping today to clean this area of Accrington, all have been fantastic and really shows how we are working together as a vibrant community. 

The clean up was funded through the local area council, with money going towards providing two skips on both Nuttall Street and Clement Street. The big Woodnook spring clean also gave representatives from the waste services department a chance to help advise the community on recycling and removal of bulky goods. Community volunteer Joyce Plummer stated that it was great to see local Councillors getting hands on and tackling issues head on. She also went on to thank all those that attended and was proud of all the work they have done. 

Cllr Paul Cox added  "these skip amnestys are an ideal way to sort out waste that has accumulated in people's back yards, it also allows the community to get involved and improve the area they live" he added "PlaceFirst and Hyndburn Council are working hard to bring a large chunk of housing stock back into use, but days like this bring home the need to work in cooperation with the entire community to achieve any real results. The local labour team are working hard to make that a reality" 

Residents are urged to contact 01254388111 if they require any bulky waste removal or to report any fly tipping. 

Hyndburn Benefit Cheats targeted

Benefit cheats in Hyndburn have again been targeted by the Council’s Fraud Investigations Team, who were very successful last year, uncovering £264,204 of Housing and Council tax Benefit Fraud in the Borough, with a 100% success rate in court prosecutions.

From April 2012 to March 2013 the team officially cautioned 70 benefit cheats and prosecuted another 26. Some of the cases also had national benefits involved including Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance, bringing the total amount of fraud uncovered to £627,102.

The highest single case had a combined value of £99,149 and resulted in the claimant being sent to prison for 6 months.

Cllr Joan Smith, Cabinet Member for Finances at the Council said; “This has been another outstanding year for our hardworking and dedicated fraud team, who have unearthed a staggering combined amount of over £627k’s worth of fraud, with a 100% success rate in court prosecutions. The message is clear to would be benefit cheats in the borough; we won’t tolerate benefit fraud, it steals from the public purse and the vast majority of honest Council Tax Payers in the borough. We will pursue you and you could end up in court, and you will always have to repay the debt in full.”

To report fraud call the Fraud Hotline 01254 380240.

Labour form LCC coalition with Liberal Democrats

An agreement has been reached by negotiators from the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups on Lancashire County Council under which the Liberal Democrats will support the Labour Party in a minority administration. The agreement was put to meetings of the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups before being ratified at the Annual Meeting of Full Council on Thursday 23rd May 2013.

The county council held its elections on 2nd May 2013 at which point no party had gained the 43 seats necessary to take control of the council. The full results were:

Labour 39
Conservatives 35
Liberal Democrats 6
Independent 3
Green Party 1

Labour group leader Jenny Mein becomes the new Leader of LCC (photograph taken from the Lancashire Evening Post) and a story has been run in the Lancashire Telegraph regarding the meeting:

Lib_Dems_back_Labour_in_Lancashire_County_Council_power_shift/

West Accrington Housing Market Renewal moves forward

The final remaining buildings scheduled for demolition in the historical West Accrington HMR projects are in the process of being demolished after the completion of the new Astons Pharmacy building on Blackburn Road.

Cllr Clare Pritchard, Cabinet member for Housing and Regeneration, said, "It's great news that we can finally complete this project and am hopeful that, with the success Keepmoat are having with sales of the houses in the phase that is currently being completed, building will be taking place on this site in the near future"

Woodnook Regeneration progress in Booths Street and Royds Street

Clearance work is now finished in the Booth Street/Royd St blocks of the Woodnook regeneration project.

Cllr Clare Pritchard, Deputy Leader of the Council and portfolio holder for Housing and Regeneration said, "It's taken a while but we are really seeing a huge difference in the project now, if building work remains on schedule then we should see people back living in these properties by Christmas 2013."

Full Council AGM - 16th May 2013

The Annual General Meeting of Hyndburn Borough Council will take place at 7.00pm this evening at Accrington Town Hall. Matters at the AGM include the voting in of the new Mayor and various amendments to the Council constitution, the only meeting at which this can be done. The meeting will see the final appearance of Cllr John Broadley (member for Church ward) as Mayor of the Borough and members of the general public are welcome to come and view proceedings from the gallery.

The incoming Mayor is Cllr Judith Addison of Immanuel ward (pictured on the left) and she will be formally invested on Saturday 18th May at 10.30am, again in the Council chamber at Accrington Town Hall. The mayorality is a politically neutral role which bounces between the political parties each year, 2013-14 being the turn for the Conservative group. An amendment to the constitution will be read this evening to prevent party Leaders or Deputy Leaders from taking on any mayoral duties so as to protect the neutrality of the position.

Deputy Leader of HBC meets with Housing Minister

Deputy Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, Clare Pritchard, this week met with the Housing Minister, Mark Prisk, to highlight areas of concern regarding housing issues. Clare has been portfolio holder for Housing and Regeneration in the borough for several years and has met with various ministers to try and improve things within Hyndburn.

Cllr Pritchard said, "It was a very productive meeting in which I highlighted the need for authorities to receive specific housing funding and also highlighted ways that I believe the government could help local authorities have more tools at their disposal to deal with people who allow their buildings to fall into disrepair."

Great Harwood walkabout

Cllr Kerry Molineux (right) and Cllr Noordad Aziz have undertaken a walkabout in Great Harwood over the weekend (ably assisted by Carmel, left) to ask residents if they have any issues that they would like the Council to deal with.

Cards were posted the previous week through letterboxes so that residents were aware that their local representatives would be knocking over the next few days. This is a scheme that has already been successful in Peel by Cllrs Bernard Dawson and Wendy Dwyer, Barnfield by Cllr June Harrison and Rishton by Cllr Clare Cleary and will be rolled out by Labour Councillors in other wards too.

BBC Radio Lancashire - Dyke Nook Gardens

Several weeks ago, Cllr Paul Cox entered Dyke Nook Gardens on Whalley Road, Accrington into a competition being run by BBC Radio Lancashire, in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society. The entry was successful and generated £500 to spend on the project. Local residents now intend to install lots of new features including raised beds, edibles roses, fruit bushes, trees, a fernery and a painting. BBC Radio Lancashire will be broadcasting live from the Gardens on Sunday 26th May and Sunday 2nd June on the Stephen Lowe Outdoor programme broadcast on Sundays 11 – 2pm.

There is also an historic connection with the garden, with Gertrude Jeykll (1843-1932), an influential horticulturalist, garden designer, artist and writer who is also credited with creating the herbaceous border..  She created over 400 gardens in the UK, Europe and America; her influence on garden design has been pervasive to this day. Miss Jeykill  designed the garden of the original Dyke Nook house, which is no longer there. It is hoped to install a plaque on the current site to show the history.

Cllr Cox met with various residents on the site including Jean Sommerville (Laneside Residents Association), Cath Holmes and Yvonne Heap (Hyndburn Green Spaces forum), Katie Farnell (Incredible Edibles), Ian Hodgson (Hyndburn Prospects) along with Craig Haraben and Mark Gardner from the HBC Parks Department to discuss how an easily-maintained community space could be created. Hyndburn Homes have also confirmed they wish to come along and help in any way they can.

If you would like to support for this local community project then please come along on either of the broadcast dates and get hands on! Cllr Cox can be contacted using the details on the Your Councillors tab on the homepage of this blog.

Dorothy McGregor - Funeral details

The funeral of Sister Dorothy McGregor, founder of the Maundy Relief charity to help those in need, will take place at 11.00 am on Monday 13th May 2013 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, Cobham Road, Accrington, BB5 2AD.  The Parish Priest is Father Simon Stamp who can be contacted on (01254) 232920.

Dorothy was not affiliated with any political party but had worked tirelessly for the benefit of Accrington for many years and was well-respected by all. News articles can be found here:

Accrington Observer - Charity Workers carry on in Dorothy's name

Lancashire Telegraph - Tributes to Accrington 'saint'

Former Councillor Brian Walmsley passes away

Former Councillor Brian Walmsley has passed away at the age of 74. Brian was Conservative member for St Andrews ward since 1998 until 2012, when he lost his seat to Cllr Bill Pinder. He continued to serve HBC as a co-optee on the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was made an Alderman of the Borough last year.

The Labour group would like to pass on their condolences to his friends and family. The funeral will take place on Wednesday 15th May at 1.45pm in St Paul's Church, Oswaldtwistle, followed by a service at 3pm at Accrington Crematorium.

A Lancashire Telegraph news article can be found here:

Tributes to former Oswaldtwistle councillor

Gatty park unveils new bowling shelter

Bowlers at Gatty Park are now set to benefit from the construction of a new bowling shelter. The shelter is the first in the history of the green and something the local bowling community have been requesting for several years. Church ward Councillor Joan Smith stated " the parks bowlers have been asking for some protection from the elements for many years, without much success, so it was really rewarding to find some funding and finally give the Church residents something they needed"

Cllr Smith added, "I do understand that this project has taken a little longer than we hoped but sometimes we are faced with unforeseen issues, however the shelter is now ready for use and will hopefully be a valued asset to the park"

The funding for the shelter was secured through Church & Milnshaw Community group, the former area council now placed in community ownership by the councils labour leaders, which looks to help local groups in the Church and Milnshaw areas. Fellow Church ward councillor, Mr John Broadley, added that this project was a great example of how a local community group, working in partnership with Hyndburn Borough Council, can listen to residents needs and act to achieve something good for the ward.

Church & Milnshaw Community Group (CMCG) has worked on several other projects in the area. This bowling shelter is just one of the achievements it has completed. The current chair of the group also stated "the group is happy to help projects such as this. We do offer a small amount of funding for local constituted groups".

If you wish to be considered for funding please feel free to contact either your local ward Councillors or email Church & Milnshaw community group direct at

cmcgroup@live.co.uk

Lancashire County Council - No Overall Control

When the county council went to the polls last Thursday, May 2, in its first election since 2009, candidates were competing for all 84 seats. However, the election count for seats on Lancashire County Council ended last Friday without any party securing a clear majority.

No party achieved the 43 seats required to take control of the council and the new political make-up is as follows:

* Labour 39 seats
* Conservative 35 seats
* Liberal Democrat 6 seats
* Independent 3 seats
* Green 1 seat

As no party has a clear majority, the main parties will now need to consider the options for the future political governance of the council. This will be taking place as a priority and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

The Leader of Lancashire County Council is due to be formally appointed at the next meeting of the full council, which takes place at County Hall on Thursday 23 May.

Newly-elected Labour County Councillors Miles Parkinson, Clare Pritchard, Munsif Dad, Gareth Molineux and Bernard Dawson will be in attendance to help decide with Labour County group Leader, Jenny Mein.

Accrington Town Centre and the Pals Centenary Townscape Heritage Initiative secures Heritage Lottery Fund support

Hyndburn Borough Council has received initial support¹ for a £1.5m Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI)² bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Accrington Town Centre and Pals Centenary project, it was announced today.  The project aims to transform the declining historic retail and commercial gateway into the town centre, along Blackburn Road, culminating in a public realm scheme outside Accrington Town Hall and Market Hall to commemorate the Accrington Pals and the Battle of the Somme.  The scheme will last for 5 years from 2014 and over the next 12 months the Council will be working with property owners along Blackburn Road to identify the improvements that will be undertaken and will be commissioning architects to design the public realm scheme.  The Council is investing an additional £500,000 into the scheme.

Development funding of £25,000 has also been awarded to help the Council progress their plans and over the next 12 months the Council will be fine-tuning the proposals and undertaking initial surveys and estimates.

Accrington is a town with a strong and proud heritage and its fine legacy of mid to late nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings are key to its distinct identity.  Building repairs, shopfront restorations and the regeneration of vacant and underused floorspace will enhance the town's key shopping corridor, create a strong backbone of regeneration and support recent and planned investments in the town centre.  Together these works will improve the town centre's economic vitality and viability, complementing the development of Accrington Railway Station, the proposed bus station and the transformation of Accrington Market Hall.

David Welsby, Chief Executive of Hyndburn Borough Council, said: “The Council is committed to securing the future of Accrington Town Centre and this initiative will see the improvement of many attractive buildings along one of its arterial routes and the development of a public realm scheme that will commemorate the Accrington Pals.  Recognising that the square is in the heart of Accrington, the Council will be working with local people and a variety of organisations, including the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, to ensure that these works provide a fitting remembrance of those from the Pals that lost their lives during the First World War.”

As part of the initiative, the Council will be working with the local community to help raise awareness of the towns heritage assets.  There will be opportunities for students from Accrington and Rossendale College to learn from the repair and restoration of historic buildings and working with the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, a variety of community activities will be held to coincide with the recently announced programme of national commemorations of the First World War. 

Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said “Accrington is a typical Pennine Lancashire town and it would be a real loss if its distinctive character disappeared. By awarding our initial support and some immediate development funding, Hyndburn Borough Council will be able to start progressing plans to reinvigorate the area.  We particularly welcome the proposals around commemorating the Accrington Pals within the public square, leaving a lasting legacy from this vital chapter in the town’s history.” 

Hyndburn Labour Group take 5 of the 6 County Council seats

Counting of votes in the local elections is now complete and Labour have taken five of the six Hyndburn seats in the County Council election, unseating the Conservatives from control in County Hall. The elections results are as follows:

OSWALDTWISTLE

Colette McCormack (Labour) - 1126

Paul Thompson (UKIP) - 1076

Regrettably, Colette lost out to the Conservative candidate, who explicitly forbade that his party's participation in the election count was recorded by the Labour group.

ACCRINGTON WEST

Munsif Dad (Labour) - 2492

Bobby Anwar (UKIP) - 528

ACCRINGTON SOUTH

Bernard Dawson (Labour) - 1231

Alex Ross (Independent) - 63

Kasia Jewell (Green) - 57

Christopher Matthew (UKIP) - 579

ACCRINGTON NORTH

Clare Pritchard (Labour) - 1168

Malcolm Pritchard (Independent) - 925

RISHTON, ALTHAM & CLAYTON-LE-MOORS

Miles Parkinson (Labour) - 1866

Craig Ramplee (UKIP) - 650 

GREAT HARWOOD

Gareth Molineux (Labour) - 1279

Ian Robinson (Independent) - 889

Go To Vote!

Polling stations opened this morning at 7.00am and will remain open until 10.00pm for residents to cast their ballots in the Lancashire County Council elections. The County Councillors are one step up from District Councillors and oversee larger projects which affect the county as well as the borough.

You do not need your polling card to vote, just turn up to your nearest polling station and give your name and address. If you have a postal voting form but have not sent it off then you can take that to a polling station too.

All residents are urged to use their vote as only 23% of people actually take part in local elections and the Hyndburn Labour Group are trying to get this figure up and engage with local people. The count will take place at Hyndburn Sports Centre tomorrow morning and results should be known by lunchtime.

Cllr Colette McCormack - Oswaldtwistle

As the Hyndburn Labour group prepare for a final day of canvassing before polling booths open on Thursday, Cllr Colette McCormack will be out and about in Oswaldtwistle knocking on doors with her team to see any residents who she has missed.

Support for the Labour Party has increased dramatically in Oswaldtwistle over the course of the election campaign and a sizeable number of residents have indicated that they will be voting for Colette tomorrow. Very few people have indicated that they are supporting the Conservatives and main opposition would appear to come from UKIP.

If you would like to speak to Colette before polling day then please get in touch using the contact details of the Your Councillors tab on the homepage of this blog.