Thursday, 30 May 2013

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).

Wednesday, 29 May 2013

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

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

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.

Monday, 27 May 2013

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 

Saturday, 25 May 2013

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.

Friday, 24 May 2013

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/

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