Rishton: Labour Candidate 2018

The Rishton Labour Party have re-selected Cllr Ken Moss to stand as their candidate in the 2018 elections. He joined the Council in 2010 alongside former Councillor Harry Grayson and has served two four-year terms. 

Ken said, "I was only intending to stand for two terms but I have been asked repeatedly by my colleagues at HBC to carry on. Ultimately, it has been a rather humbling number of members of the public asking me not to stand down which swung it for me and so I am delighted to throw my hat in the ring again."

Cllr Moss became Cabinet member for Education, Leisure and the Arts in 2014 and has overseen several major Rishton developments in recent years, including the lease of Norden Playing Fields to Rishton Utd, construction of the first ever Rishton cemetery and securing over £30,000 of money for future Rishton play equipment.

Local elections will take place across the borough on May 3rd 2018.

Rishton: Former Albert Mill planning application submitted

A planning application for 43 new houses on the site of the former Albert Mill in Rishton has been submitted to Hyndburn Borough Council.

Discussions with the three Rishton Councillors and County Cllr Miles Parkinson have been ongoing for several years but now the plans have been formally submitted and the case file can be viewed here:

11/17/0401 - Albert Mill, Rishton

However, several points remain outstanding and the Councillors have met with both the developers and representatives from Lancashire County Council regarding highways issues.

Cllr Ken Moss said, "We wholeheartedly welcome this development but it has to be right for the surrounding residents too. The main issue is connecting up the road between Walmsley Avenue and Walmsley Street which has been requested for over 25 years. We have requested that new highways must to be up to adoption standards and the junction with Mary Street is realigned. HBC is willing to work with the developer to ensure that these issues can be resolved without excessive costs. I am pleased to say that LCC supports us on these points."

New highways are expected to be built to adoption standards, which means that they meet certain criteria in order for LCC to then take on the maintenance liabilities. A stretch of Walmsley Street is currently intended to be left cobbled which the Councillors are not in favour of.

The plans are likely to be debated at the HBC Planning Committee in either December or January.

Baxenden: Fencing to be installed at Recreation Ground

 

Cllr Ken Moss, Cabinet Member for Leisure, announced today that fencing is set to be installed at Baxenden Recreation ground, to deter unauthorised vehicle access after a number of recent incidents.

Cllr Moss said; “Baxenden Recreation ground has recently been subject to unauthorised vehicle access, which not only caused damage to the field, but also meant it couldn’t be used by local residents.”

Cllr Moss added; “Grant funding for fencing is very difficult to come by, however, the Council has been able to find some funding internally at the end of the financial year which we can use to install suitable hit and miss barrier fencing to prevent further unauthorised vehicular access onto the Recreation ground.”

The fences are set to be installed later in the Summer.

Fantastic evening at the 2nd Hyndburn Business Awards

LCC: Grass cutting money to be re-assessed

Over the past few years, Hyndburn Borough Council has experienced severe cuts to the public realm budget allocated by Lancashire County Council. This had led to a reduced service and an increased number of emails from the public expressing dissatisfaction.

'Public realm' is the term given to areas which borough Councils do not own but maintain on behalf of other organisations for an annual fee, such as roadside verges, trees and certain grassed areas.

Cabinet member for Parks and Open Spaces, Cllr Ken Moss, has contacted the new Leader of LCC, Cllr Geoff Driver, to see if this decision can be reversed.

Cllr Moss said, "We simply don't have the money to cut certain areas as much as we would like and quite understandably this has led to complaints from residents. I contacted Cllr Driver to point out the knock-on effects such as unsightly areas, increased flytipping and pet fouling and was delighted to find that he agreed with me. He has assured me that he will reinstate the public realm budget as soon as possible and I would like to thank him for his support." 
 

Vote Graham Jones on June 8th 2017

Polls open at 7.00am on Thursday June 8th in a General Election to decide who will be the Member of Parliament for Hyndburn.

The incumbent MP is Graham Jones who has been the Labour representative in the borough since 2010. He lives in Hyndburn and has both grown up and worked in the borough his whole life.

The Hyndburn Labour Group wholeheartedly support Graham and would urge the public to vote him in for a third term as our local representative.

Baxenden: HBC issues legal notices to travellers

A traveller encampment on Baxenden recreation ground has generated many complaints from residents and Hyndburn Borough Council have issued enforcement notices.

Hyndburn MP and Baxenden resident Graham Jones said, "I've been to Baxenden Rec and the travellers have arrived. It's an illegal encampment and I've reported it to the Chief Executive of the Council by phone and asked for swift action. Last time they were removed within a week."
 
Notice of Direction to Leave land was served on Monday 15th May requiring the travellers (3 caravans) to leave as soon as practicable. The travellers have not complied with the notice so they will be summonsed to attend court at which time HBC intend to apply for an Order requiring them to leave the land.

The earliest available court date is next Wednesday, 31 May 2017.