Great Harwood: Farmers Market - 1st December 2013

The final Great Harwood Farmers Market of 2013 takes place on Sunday December 1st from 8.00am until 2.00pm. All residents are invited to attend the market which is situated on Towngate and contains a wide variety of stalls.

Accrington Christmas Markets 2013

Come along to Accrington’s first ever Christmas Markets running from 5th December in front of Accrington’s historic Market Hall every Thursday and Saturday (including Monday 23rd) during December. On Thursdays and the Monday it will be open until 8pm so come along and get in the festive spirit to pick up some seasonal food, drink and goods.

Lancashire Day 2013 in Hyndburn

27th November, Lancashire Day, was celebrated in Hyndburn with two readings of the Lancashire Day Proclamation and a special Mayoral Lancashire Day Fund Raising event earlier in the month on 22nd November.

The Lancashire Day proclamation is read out by town criers throughout the county on 27th November and was read in Accrington outside the Town Hall at 10.00am and later outside Churchfield House in Great Harwood at 11.00am by Town Crier Rawden Kerr.

Mayor, Cllr Judith Addison, said; “As a proud Lancastrian and this year as Mayor of Hyndburn I'm looking forwarding to commemorating Lancashire Day by attending the two local proclamations on 27th November, so please come along if you can, everyone is more than welcome to help us celebrate.”

Cllr Addison added; “I’m was also pleased to support Lancashire Day with our special Lancashire Evening Charity Fundraising event which took place on Friday 22nd November, at Accrington Town Hall supporting local charities, including Finley’s Friends.

For more details about Lancashire Day, visit The Friends of Real Lancashire website at www.forl.co.uk.

Pennine Lancashire Question Time - 29th November 2013

Hyndburn Borough Council and Accrington & Rossendale College have teamed up yet again to host the annual Pennine Lancashire Question Time event.

The programme will be filmed and produced by media students from the college and has been arranged by the Council’s Democratic Services Department assisted by business and administration students.

Local residents are invited to attend the hour long production on Friday 29th November and arrive by 1.00pm in the Coppice Theatre at the college on Sandy Lane. A limited number of tickets are available on the day and these will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

The host of the programme will be 2BR radio presenter Helen Wakefield, and the panel will consist of the following people:

•         Councillor Clare Pritchard- Deputy Labour Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council
•         Councillor Alyson Barnes- Labour Leader of Rossendale Borough Council
•         Councillor Nick Collingridge- Leader of Independents in Hyndburn
•         Councillor Miles Parkinson- Labour Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council
•         Councillor Peter Britcliffe- Leader of Conservatives in Hyndburn
•         Councillor Marlene Haworth- Deputy Leader of Conservatives in Hyndburn

The audience will be made up of pupils from the college and every high school and 6th form centre across Hyndburn and the Rossendale Valley have been invited to send representatives to ask questions.

Local district and county Councillors will be supporting the event by attending and listening to the views of young people from across the East Lancashire area.

The partnership project has been arranged to promote Hyndburn Borough Council’s local democracy campaign and students are benefitting by using the event as part of their practical studies:
• Media students have built a Question Time set and will be filming the programme as a live television show.
• Beauty therapists are providing hair styling and make up to members of the panel.
• Those studying business and admin are assisting in the planning for the event and event managing the production in the theatre venue on the day of the event.

Council Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson said; “The event is all about engaging young people in local democracy and we look forward to a lively and interesting debate.”

LCC contract investigation update

An investigation into the tender contract with One Connect Ltd in order to save LCC money has revealed that it would have actually increased costs by £1.4m. The tender was agreed under the Conservative administration but subsequently revoked following a change of leadership to Labour in May 2013.

The Lancashire Evening Post have run a full story which can be read here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-24866009

HBC pledges support for White Ribbon campaign

Hyndburn Council is pledging its commitment to achieve the White Ribbon Campaign Award, which aims to involve men in anti-violence against women and girls, by encouraging them to promote a change of attitude, using their voice to make a stand and raise awareness.

The Council has a long history of helping address abuse and violence towards women and girls within our local community, but the White Ribbon Campaign takes a unique approach.  It encourages men to promote a change of attitude, using their voice to make a stand and raise awareness and campaign bosses will now work with the Council to develop an action plan showing how this commitment will be achieved.

Cllr Pam Barton, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said; “It gives me great pleasure to announce our intention to achieve the White Ribbon Award, especially today the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We have a long history of increasing awareness on this issue and supporting services aimed at reducing and supporting victims of domestic violence.  White Ribbon Towns aims to rally entire communities to end violence against women”.

Cllr Miles Parkinson, Council Leader, added; “By pledging to achieve the White Ribbon Award we are further demonstrating our resolve to do all we can to raise awareness about domestic violence, whilst supporting services to reduce its incidence and help victims.”

Altham Parish Council contact details

The email address for the new Altham Parish Council Clerk, Mrs. Denny Randall-Felix, is strongestpr@gmail.com

The telephone number for the Altham Parish Office is (01254) 306236