Great Harwood: New bungalow development at Water Street

Hyndburn Borough Council has announced that it’s working with the private sector on an important site in Great Harwood.

The site is located at the junction of Water St and Windsor Rd.

 Council Leader, Councillor Miles Parkinson, said, “The Council has a strong track record of working with the private sector to deliver regeneration in the Borough, and I’m looking forward to working with Andy to develop this site. While we will all need to look at the details of any scheme, my own thoughts are that it’s a great opportunity to build some more bungalows in Great Harwood. It’s a fantastic site with good access to the Town Centre, and it’s also close to the new Health Centre and Mercer Hall leisure facilities. I have spoken to the local Councillors for Great Harwood and I know that they are all keen to see this brownfield site developed into something that will enhance the Town. Great Harwood is a fantastic place to live with lots of character and community spirit, and I’m confident that the project will be a big success.”

 Andy Holt said; “It’s great to see the Council taking a proactive approach to development and I’m looking forward to working with them to see what we can do. When I bought the site my sole intention was to do something with it to enhance the Town, and I think that the ideas we’re talking about will do just that.”

Great Harwood: GH Rovers FC Move to new site

Members of Great Harwood Rovers Football Club are looking forward to playing matches at their new ground just off Harwood Lane in January, after plans for 217 new houses were approved for their previous home, Lyndon Playing Fields.

Council Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said; “This is a superb new sports facility for Great Harwood. As part of the planning gain from the new Lyndon Park housing development, Great Harwood Rovers Football Club have moved to new football pitches just off Harwood Lane, with over half a million pounds being invested in new facilities there. Phase one of the project, four new FA and Sport England standard pitches and a car parking area is already complete, with Phase two, new changing facilities, set to be constructed later this year.”

Andy Counsell, Great Harwood Football Club Trustee, said; “We’ve been waiting a long time for this. The pitches will be a lot better than what we play on at the moment so it should mean we get more games on them.”

Great Harwood: Councillors out cleaning bus shelters

The Great Harwood Labour Councillors have been out cleaning bus shelters around the ward to improve the general appearance of neglected stops.

Cllr Jenny Nedwell said, "We are undertaking the work which people will notice and improve the look of Great Harwood. Plenty of buses went past with waves from passengers who seemed to appreciate what we are doing."

The Councillors are planning more sessions to clean road signs which have grown dirty.

Great Harwood: Councillor walks 23 miles on Walk Of Peace

Hyndburn Labour Councillor Noordad Aziz complete 23-mile Walk of Peace in honour of genocide victims

Great Harwood Councillor Noordad Aziz joined other walkers in Remembering Srebrenica as they completed a 23-mile Walk of Peace from Blackburn Cathedral to Manchester Cathedral on 17th July.
The route took walkers between the two Cathedrals and stopped at places of worship and council premises along the way. This walk came at the end of Srebrenica Memorial Week and was one of nearly 200 events across the country to honour the 8,372 victims of Srebrenica who were killed in July 1995. Walking in solidarity with the survivors of the genocide, the walked mirrored the peace walk which takes place annually in Srebrenica.

Councillor Noordad Aziz was joined by Julie Ward MEP at the start and end of the walk, as well as Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Bury Council Cabinet Member for Communities & Safer Neighbourhoods who welcomed them for refreshments at Castle Leisure Centre. The walk also stopped at Saint James Church in Edgworth and North Manchester Jamia Mosque.

Councillor Noordad Aziz said: “We felt it was important to take this message of peace out to the people and despite the heat, the blisters and aching muscles we all feel that we did that. At a time when there is so much to be concerned about with rising hate crime, we were able to spread a positive message of peace.”

Remembering Srebrenica Chairman Dr Waqar Azmi OBE explained: “21 years after the genocide, we are determined not only to remember the victims of Srebrenica, but to honour their memories by taking positive action to build better communities. Srebrenica teaches us that prejudice and hatred left unchecked can have catastrophic consequences, not only for the generation that suffers the violence, but for the following generations whose futures are also irreversibly altered.

“The parallels between the rhetoric in the Balkans in the 1990s and in the UK today are striking. Hate crime in the UK, particularly religious hate crime, has risen significantly. We must heed the deadly warning of Srebrenica and take action to challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that feed hatred. We must not allow those who spread divisive messages to succeed in their efforts to breed hatred and intolerance.

Netherton 2016: Labour hold

The results of the Netherton local election are as follows:

• Noordad Aziz (Labour) - 698
• Liz McGinley (Conservative) - 381
• Tom Linklater (UKIP) - 273

Netherton: Great Harwood Rovers FC ground one step closer to becoming reality

Great Harwood Rovers F.C are one step closer to their dream of having quality facilities delivered.

The erection of an information sign on the corner of their new ground has taken place, giving residents and visitors to The Great Harwood Show the opportunity to see the new layout.

Great Harwood Rovers have been trying to realise their dream for over 15 years but unfortunately a number of possible opportunities failed to materialise. The closest they came was in 2011 when planning permission was granted for approximately 35 houses on the Old Show Ground including the former Monroes site. This included section 106 money that was to be matched funded by the Football Assosiation and a grant from Hyndburn Borough Council with a 25 year lease for the Lyndon playing fields.

However due to difficulties encountered by the land owners the houses were never built and the Football Assosiation subsequently pulled the matched funding. This left Great Harwood Rovers with no real prospect of getting the facilities the children of the town deserve.

Currently children have to get changed in cars or in a metal cargo container. It is only right that the club's volunteers, coaches, referees and players want proper changing rooms and proper parking to eliminate congestion on Harwood Lane on match days.

Fortunately due to partnership working Hyndburn Borough Council, The Great Harwood Agricultural Society and Riley’s Developments alongside Great Harwood Rovers F.C this is now becoming a reality. Work is due to start on the new playing surfaces a few hundred yards away shortly after this year's Great Harwood Show.

These pitches will be made to Sport England specification with modern drainage installed eliminating and realistic chance of flooding. A 64-space car park will be built to ensure that congestion on Harwood Lane stops, floodlights will be installed and finally the erection of changing facilities. The Great Harwood Labour Councillors are proud to have played our part in making this dream come true

Cllr Noordad Aziz for Netherton ward in Great Harwood said, “I am delighted that work is due to start on the playing surfaces and that children have quality safe sports facilities and that we have protected the town's green belt in the process. It was important to do that. We have seen what happens in the Ribble Valley when central government get involved in local planning decisions and this why we supported Lyndon playing fields being developed.”

Cllr Gareth Molineux said, "There is currently literature being pushed through residents' doors by the Conservative party candidates Patrick McGinley and Liz McGinley suggesting that if elected they will put a stop to the development but the consequences of doing this will be dire for Great Harwood. Without a shadow of a doubt if this happens green belt will be developed on and our countryside will very quickly erode."

He added, "The leaflets also make reference to “predators” and road safety issues. These types of comments really concern me and I am not sure what he is suggesting. The area will be secure (with a designated public open space) and will be floodlit, unlike the current facilities which are dark and completely open to public access and within a few metres of one of the busiest roads in the town.
I think that it is important to deliver facts not speculation I also feel that has elected members we also have a duty to take into account the long term vision for the town.

"If Patrick McGinley and Liz McGinley don’t want to build houses then I suggest they lobby their Prime Minister who relaxed planning laws to allow developers to build in green belt if local Councils refused to allow them to build within the urban boundary."

The Labour Councilors wish Great Harwood Rovers the best of luck for the future.

HBC: Come and have your say on the budget

Councillor Noordad Aziz, Chair of the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, invites the residents of Hyndburn to take part in the Council’s budget consultation meeting.

The meeting takes place at Scaitcliffe House Accrington on Tuesday, 16th February 2016, starting at 2pm.

Councillor Noordad Aziz said; “This is an opportunity for our residents and businesses to hear about the Council’s budget issues and to quiz us about the budget for next year.”

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Miles Parkinson, will attend the meeting to answer questions about the budget. He urged people to come along, saying; “Your comments and views are important to the Council and we take them into account when reaching a final decision about what you will pay in Council Tax. This meeting will give residents the opportunity to hear about the proposals for Hyndburn’s portion of the Council Tax for 2016/17, and to tell us how you would like your Council Tax to be spent.”

Budget papers will be available from 4th February on the Council’s website, at www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk. If you would like to speak at the Scrutiny meeting, please contact the Scrutiny Officer on (01254) 380128 or email scrutiny@hyndburnbc.gov.uk no later than 5pm on the 10th February.

Hyndburn Labour announce candidates for 2016

The Hyndburn Labour group have formally selected candidates for all 12 wards up for election in May 2016.

Group Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said, "I am pleased to announce that we have had a really excellent range of people coming forward wishing to stand, from a long-standing teacher to an experienced member of staff at Calderstones. All are standing on a Labour ticket and no deals have been done with any other political group to engineer a result. We will be fighting this election on the back of years of hard work from our 25 Labour Councillors and we hope the public continue to trust us to look after Hyndburn in 2016."

 St Oswalds - Glen Harrison

 Overton - Stephanie Haworth

 Altham - Steve Button

 Rishton - Jeff Scales

 Spring Hill - Munsif Dad

 Church - Jean Battle

 Barnfield - Jodie Travis

 Peel - Patrick Short

Central - Abdul Khan

 St Andrews - Stewart Eaves

 Baxenden - David Hartley

Netherton - Noordad Aziz

Netherton: Parking issues on St Cecilia Street

Netherton Councillors Bernadette Parkinson and Noordad Aziz have been talking to residents regarding parking issues on St Cecilia Street in Great Harwood.

They spent several hours discussing the matter with residents and getting signatures to fund minor highway improvements which could increase parking on the street.

Netherton: Former St John's Church site regeneration

The site of the former St John's Church in Netherton is currently undergoing regeneration following the demolition of the church several years ago.

Cllrs Bernadette Parkinson and Noordad Aziz are fully supportive of the new site which will provide affordable new housing for rent.

Netherton: New alley gates have reduced crime

Netherton Councillors Bernadette Parkinson and Noordad Aziz have been on one of their regular walkabouts through the ward and have been spaking to residents on Glebe Street regarding the newly-installed alley gates.

Glebe Street and the surrounding area has seen problems with antisocial behaviour on the back streets but alley gates were provided using remaining funds from the Area Council budget. Residents are really grateful to the Councillors for their hard work on this issue and feedback has been very positive regarding a reduction in crime.

HBC: Stops requested at Rishton and Huncoat on new Todmorden Curve route

A letter has been sent from Leader of the Council, Miles Parkinson, to the Secretary of State for Transport regarding rail links to Manchester Airport. A motion was passed at a Council meeting earlier this year to request additional stops at Rishton and Huncoat on the new Todmorden Curve route which goes direct to Manchester.

The motion from Netherton Councillor Noordad Aziz, was seconded by Rishton Councillor Clare Cleary.

HBC: Motion on Todmorden Curve rolling stock

The new Todmorden curve which directly links the Accrington railway line with Manchester was re-opened last year after being closed for decades. However, trains are not yet running on it due to a lack of provision by the government and old underground carriages are being brought up North for use on the new line.

Cllr Noordad Aziz put the motion to Council to request better rolling stock for Hyndburn and said, "The successful link of the direct train from East Lancashire to Manchester Airport will have a significant impact on Hyndburn’s Infrastructure and will provide an additional economic and social mobility injection into the area. We ask that steps are taken to review this matter, so that the area can benefit immediately on the opening of the Ordsall Curve."

Cllr Clare Cleary said, "This is a huge opportunity for the region but we need to come forward with strategic ideas rather than simply accepting government cuts to ticket offices and conductors. We have always been the poor second cousins in the North and now we are getting second-rate stock instead of encouraging local production of new carriages. Leasing old trains for the North costs a fortune and comes at the same time as billions are being spent on buying brand new stock for the South."

Cllr Harry Grayson added, "Whilst the connection is excellent news and will reduce travelling times considerably for people in Hyndburn, Rishton is not a stop on the new service and passengers will need to travel to Accrington station first. We are the largest single ward in the borough, it makes no sense not to be included."

The full motion to Council can be viewed here.

Netherton: Councillor walkabout

Netherton ward Councillors, Bernadette Parkinson and Noordad Aziz, undertook another of their regular walkabouts on 16th August in order to log any problems in their area of Great Harwood.

Cllr Parkinson said, "The response to these walkabouts is very positive. We want people to feel that their local representatives are keen to help if there is something that they want us to address."

Netherton: Community Cleanup is a success

A community cleanup day in Great Harwood has been hailed as a success by both residents and local Councillors as skips were provided for collected waste around the area.

Cllr Noordad Aziz said, "We had a great community clean up with 6 skips filled to the brim and over 200 residents got involved. At least 10 residents said it was exactly what was required and they were really pleased with it."

Cllr Noordad Aziz takes part in the first Ron Hill 10k Run

More than 1,000 people packed into Accrington to celebrate the first ever Ron Hill 10km race and Cllr Noordad Aziz (pictured here with HBC Leader Miles Parkinson) from the Hyndburn Labour group was among them.

Around 500 runners from across the country joined with the borough-born Olympic legend for the race which went from the town centre to Rising Bridge and back.

The Accrington Observer has run a story here:

Accrington Observer - thousands-join-accrington-ron-hill

Great Harwood: Community Clean Up

A community clean up event took place on Saturday 12th October and the Labour Councillors were out in force with HBC staff and residents, who were encouraged to dispose of their unwanted bulky items for free in a Council skip.

The event was well-attended, with people queuing up early and all residents are thanked for making use of this service.

Audit Committee - 23rd September 2013

The next meeting of the HBC Audit Committee will take place on Monday 23rd September at 4.00pm in the Queen Elizabeth Room at Scaitcliffe House in Accrington. The committee looks at Council spending and functions, with emphasis on accounting. The meeting is chaired by Netherton Councillor Noordad Aziz and a full set of papers and the agenda can be found here:

Audit Committee - 23rd September 2013

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.

Great Harwood Community Cleanup a success!

Hyndburn Borough Council along with Lancashire Police undertook a clean up of the Hambledon View Area of Great Harwood during March 2013. The day had been organised by Netherton Ward Councillor Noordad Aziz and from the Police PC Dave Render and PCSO Helena Saillie.

The clean up had been possible after a the Great Harwood Area Council approved a grant of £250. This funding was used to provide the Skips as well as well cleaning equipment

Even though it was a cold and wet morning, the response was fantastic with over 40 residents participating. A number of the resident went round the area litter picking in addition to get rid of the items that would previously been disposed off at the Great Harwood Recycling Centre

It was a success and The Area council will look at funding other communty clean up in different areas of the town

In the mean time, HBC offer free disposal of bulky waste by contacting them 01254 388111.