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Lancashire News

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

Young people in Manchester are set to benefit from increased access to free swimming at Manchester swimming pools all year round thanks to an extension of the current swimming offer citywide. Manchester’s under 17s will be able to swim for free every weekend bolstering the current swimming offer which allows them to swim for free during the school holidays.

This new provision for young people will now complement the all year round access to free swimming enjoyed annually by more than 60,000 under 17 and over 60 Manchester residents already.

And it is the latest development in Manchester’s swimming provision which has seen numerous changes during the last ten years when the Council committed to significantly improving the swimming offer across the city. In that time there has been an increase in free swimming provision, an overhaul of the school swimming service, increased swimming lesson provision and changes to the way in which club and competitive swimming is supported by the city. Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to extend our free swimming offer for young Mancunians to all year round as it offers increased access and opportunities to take part in healthy good fun activities which contributes to improving their physical and mental health and wellbeing too. It is another welcome positive addition to the changing face of swimming in Manchester and one which I hope lots of young people will take advantage of.”

The weekend free swimming sessions will be available citywide at selected times throughout the year at each swimming pool – subject to individual pool timetables, so it is advisable to check beforehand.

For details of participating pools, sessions and how to register, visit: https://mcractive.com/free-swimming
Participating facilities:
Abraham Moss Leisure Centre, Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre, East Manchester Leisure Centre, Hough End Leisure Centre, Manchester Aquatics Centre, Moss Side Leisure Centre, North City Family & Fitness Centre, Wythenshawe Forum.

Lancashire News

More electric car chargers have been introduced across Council car parks in the borough. People with electric or hybrid vehicles can now charge up in five different car parks in Blackburn and Darwen. New EV (electric vehicle) charging points have been installed in Brown Street Car Park in Blackburn, Varley Street Car Park in Darwen and Weir Street Car Park in Blackburn.

This is part of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s efforts to combat climate change, and earlier this month it passed a motion to declare a climate emergency at a Council Forum meeting. This committed the Council to a target of making Blackburn with Darwen carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions. The Council also has an electric van in its fleet of vehicles, used in the environmental crime team, and hope to add to this in the future. All the car parks have two EV 22kWh fast sockets each, making it easy for people who have switched to the eco-friendly mode of transport.

They join the existing 22kWh EV charging points at Feilden Street Car Park and Darwen Market Rooftop Car Park, supporting the growing population of plug-in cars in the area. There are currently over 100 in the borough and over 1,000 in surrounding areas.

To get a charging card please go to the Swarcoeconnect card at https://www.swarcoeconnect.org/

Further EV chargers will also be available at the Reel Cinema development on the site of the former Waves Centre when it is completed in 2020.
Parking continues to be free for electric and hybrid vehicle drivers while charging at Council car parks.

Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development, said: All Council-run car parks now have electric vehicle chargers which is a great move forward for a greener and more environmentally-friendly future. Electric car use is growing across the borough and this shows that Blackburn with Darwen welcomes electric and hybrid car users and they can now visit the borough knowing they can charge up wherever they go.”
Stuart Scott, former Council employee, who has an electric car, said:
I’ve had an electric car for just over two years, and chargers like this make it even easier to come into Blackburn and Darwen, knowing I can charge up at all these car parks.

This easy way of charging is an added bonus to the environmental aspects, and helps me do my bit in a small way to add to the green benefits.”

Lancashire News, Lancs Health & Care

Work has started to build more new homes for older residents and residents with dementia in Wigan Borough. Two new developments, in Leigh and Bryn, will offer 32 affordable homes which have been specially designed to suit the needs of residents to help them stay independent in their own home for longer.

The investments are mainly funded through the council’s capital programme with grant funding through Homes England. It’s all part of the local authority’s approach to create specialised housing for residents to meet their needs. Councillor Keith Cunliffe, deputy leader of the council, said: “We know having the right home has a direct impact on someone’s health and wellbeing and their quality of life.

“Ultimately having the right home which meets your needs means you can live a longer, happier and healthier life. “Through The Deal we are committed to building a high standard of accommodation that is well designed, attractive, and affordable for residents.

“We want to keep people independent in their own homes but also connect them into a local community which is why these schemes are brilliant and they can help to tackle social isolation.” The scheme at Etherstone Street in Leigh will be home to 12 apartments for residents living with dementia and is expected to be completed in April 2020.

The Bryn development, on the former Walkden House site on Priory Road, will be 20 apartments for older people and will be complete in July 2020.
It will be similar to a previous council scheme at Little Lane which opened last year, with a communal lounge and hosts regular activities for residents.
The homes are being built by Seddon and will be let on affordable rents.
Duncan Williams, regional director at Seddon, said: “Our priority is to build the highest quality homes with exceptional facilities, allowing residents to maintain their independence for as long as possible.

“These developments will be assets to the communities of Leigh and Bryn, and most importantly will be affordable to those who need them most. We look forward to handing the projects over in 2020 and seeing the positive impact made on local lives”.

Susan Mackie, Specialist in the Home Ownership and Supply team, at Homes England, said: “We are really pleased to be playing an integral role in funding the building of affordable and bespoke specialist homes in Wigan.

“This joint venture with the council has enabled us to recognise the ambitions of the council in providing good quality specialist housing, and maximise our joint funding, resources and capabilities in delivering more homes faster.”

Lancashire News

Four colourful new planters have been unveiled in Oswaldtwistle and Knuzden.

Two planters have been installed at Rhyddings Street in Oswaldtwistle with another two on Windsor Road, Knuzden, after Oswaldtwistle Councillors, Cllr Glen Harrison and Cllr Stewart Eaves worked with community representatives from Oswaldtwistle Civic and Oswaldtwistle in Bloom on a successful bid for £1,800 from the Prospects Foundation’s Windfall Fund to buy and fill the planters with blooms.

Cllr Glen Harrison, who led the project, said; “It’s great to see the planters installed now, they look wonderful and represent the culmination of a lot of hard work, working with multiple agencies over several months on the successful bid for £1,800. I want to thank all the community groups involved, including volunteers from Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre and Oswaldtwistle in Bloom, also the Parks Team at Hyndburn Council and staff from Lancashire County Council who also helped with the bid. It’s been a real community project with lots of people giving their time and energy to make it happen. A huge thanks to them all.”

Gayle Knight of Oswaldtwistle Civic said; “We were very happy to be part of this project to brighten up these areas in Oswaldtwistle.”
Sarah Barton of Oswaldtwistle in Bloom added;

“It’s lovely for the Oswaldtwistle In Bloom team to help bring some extra colour throughout other areas of Oswaldtwistle. The flowers at Jubilee Gardens last year totally transformed a bland area into a lovely place to sit and walk through. Volunteers to help make a difference are always welcome, visit our Oswaldtwistle in Bloom Facebook page or contact anyone you recognise in the photos and they will point you in the right direction.”

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

A new play area is now open in Milnshaw Park, Accrington ready for the long summer school break.

The £120,000 playground includes an aerial runway, basket swing, large rotator, swings and a ‘skynet’. The ‘skynet’, the first of its kind in Hyndburn, is the centre piece of the play area where children can climb to the top of the large pyramid shaped net before they are rewarded with a slide back down to the ground. For the younger children there is a colourful climbing structure in the shape of a train, with a slide at one end. Councillor Paul Cox, Cabinet Member for Parks and Open Spaces, said;

“Milnshaw Park has been a big priority of mine since I was first elected in 2011 and something I’m really proud to have helped achieve. The play area is already proving very popular, providing families and local children with a wonderful facility in their local park for the summer holidays.

The Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, working closely with Hyndburn Council have secured a grant from the Lancashire Environmental Fund for £30,000 and Hyndburn Council provided the remainder. Cath Holmes of the Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, said;

“It is nice to see a wonderful new play area in Milnshaw Park for the local community to enjoy. We are once again pleased to work with Hyndburn Council to help improve the parks and open spaces in Hyndburn and thank you to the Lancashire Environmental Fund for their support locally.”

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

Eight Pendle parks were awarded the international Green Flag for being welcoming places with eco- friendly environments including great natural habitats for wildlife.

“The announcement, during Love Parks Week, is a credit to hard working staff, park friend groups and people who help out on volunteering days,” explained Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council.
The parks which have retained the prestigious Green Flag status are Alkincoats Park in Colne, Ball Grove Park in Trawden, Barrowford Park, Heyhead Park in Brierfield. Marsden, Victoria and Walverden Parks in Nelson and Valley Gardens in Barnoldswick.

Councillor Iqbal added: “Pendle is very lucky to have so many wonderful parks and they have great facilities such as playgrounds, cafes, picnic areas, free tennis and bowling.

“You can find out more on Pendle Council’s website: www.pendle.gov.uk/parks “

Councillor Iqbal stressed that community involvement is an important criteria in winning a Keep Britain Tidy Green Flag award. “The judges were impressed with what’s being achieved here in Pendle despite the challenge of big reductions in our budgets over the last 10 years. “They recognise that more investment in time and money is needed and that many areas need more resources that we just don’t have at our disposal.

“This is why we are in a process of transferring some of our parks or aspects of local parks to be run by their local parish or town council.”
Thanks to friends groups and local volunteers a new community orchard has been planted at Walverden Park Nelson. And a new Pocket Park is being developed alongside Alkincoats Park, Colne including a green gym and vegetable plots.

Kieron Roberts, Pendle Council’s Green Spaces Manager, said: “We are indebted to people who volunteer in our local parks, helping with tree planting, tending flower beds , organising events and general weeding and litter picking.

“It’s thanks to our volunteers and excellent staff that we’ve been able to retain Green Flags in eight of our parks. “And we’d love more people to come forward and volunteer a little of their time to help us continue to provide these wonderful spaces.

“We care passionately about our parks which are important for the health and well-being of our local community and wildlife. “Anyone who’s interested can email us at: parks@pendle.gov.uk or ring me on 01282 661587.”

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd added. “It’s fantastic that we have more Green Flag Awards in the UK than ever before, joined this year by 131 International winners.”

“Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award”

Lancashire News

An operation to manufacture illegal tobacco in Burnley has been smashed with more than 700kg of raw tobacco being seized. The empty shop premises was being used as a factory to make and package cigarettes, and package rolling tobacco.

Lancashire Police investigating a complaint last week found a large amount of raw tobacco, branded packaging and materials to make cigarettes were being stored on the premises.

In total just under 700kg of raw tobacco was seized, enough tubular papers to make 650,000 individual cigarettes, packaging for Gold Virginia and Amber Leaf tobacco and L&M cigarettes, along with 1,700 pouches of tobacco and 200 packs of L&M cigarettes. If genuine, these illicit products would be worth in the region of £300,000.

The tobacco haul has been passed to Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service and enquiries are continuing. County Councillor Albert Atkinson, cabinet member with responsibility for Trading Standards, said: “This illegal factory demonstrates the value of the illegal tobacco trade, and the lengths that criminals will go to, in order to profit from illicit tobacco products and avoid paying duty. “Tobacco smoking remains the single greatest cause of preventable illness and early death in England, and cheap illicit tobacco makes it easier for young people to take up and continue smoking. Preventing these products from entering the market place protects legitimate businesses and our comm unities.”

PC Phil Ellis said “We will continue to work with our colleagues at Trading Standards to share information and disrupt criminals involved in this type of activity.”

Anyone with information about illegal tobacco sales can help by reporting it to the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline 03454 040506.

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

Organisers of Blackburn in Bloom are keeping their green fingers crossed that they have impressed judges enough to scoop a fourth gold in the Britain In Bloom horticultural competition.

The Blackburn In Bloom team gave the judges of the highly renowned competition a tour of the town centre on Thursday, taking in the sights and scents of the brightly coloured flowers, planters and hanging baskets adorning the streets.

Blackburn hopes it can retain its run of gold awards, after scooping the top prize in its category for the last three years. This year, the town has once again entered the ‘town centre’ and ‘BID’ categories.

The Royal Horticultural Society judges visited various locations including the Cathedral Gardens, Church Street, Northgate, Exchange Garden Urban Park and Fleming Square’s Italianate Garden, paying particular attention to three key criteria: community participation, environmental responsibility, and horticultural achievement.

The Council’s green team have been working tirelessly to look after the displays, ensuring that they are watered and fed during the growing season.
The scheme was supported financially by Blackburn Business Improvement District (BID) who have funded additional floral displays and their maintenance.

Catherine Price, Blackburn BID Manager, said:
We want to attract more people into the town centre and we are doing that by making sure it looks beautiful. One of the priorities for Blackburn BID is to create a greener, cleaner area. We are incredibly proud of what Blackburn In Bloom has achieved. It has been a real team effort between all the partner organisations and the Council’s dedicated gardeners.
It goes to show what can be achieved when we work together.
Clare Turner, Development Manager at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, submitted this year’s entry.

She added:
Footfall in town centres across the country is decreasing so we need to make Blackburn as beautiful as it can to help attract visitors. Creating this kind of environment is incalculable in terms of how people perceive the town and driving additional footfall.

The winners are expected to be announced in October

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure, Lancs Weddings

Dining out at The Villa has just got better, especially with our Afternoon Tea Offer! Until the end of July, we are offering a Luxury Afternoon Tea for the price of a Traditional! That is just £15.95 for a selection of sandwiches and savouries, cakes, scones, tea or coffee and a glass of sparkling Prosecco or non-alcoholic Elderflower Fizz.

If Afternoon Tea is not your thing then do not worry! We also serve delightful dishes from our Lounge Menu, Table D’Hote Menu, A La Carte Menu and Grill Menu. Not to mention our weekly offers…

Fish Friday

Every Friday between 12pm and 9.30pm we serve a beer-battered fish with hand-cut chips, mushy or garden peas and homemade tartare sauce for just £6.95. To go large just add £2.

Super Sundays

Sunday is the day of rest so allow us to do all of the cooking! Get two fabulous courses for £18.95 or three courses for just £22.95. Served from 12 noon until 8pm.

You can find us located in the quaint village of Wrea Green close to the towns of Lytham and St Annes. To book, call 01772 80 40 40.

Weddings at The Villa

For over a decade we have been making weddings dreams become reality. Our 4 Star Hotel with a 2 AA Rosetted Restaurant and magnificent grounds ensure that every wedding is unique and memorable. We have 31 luxurious en-suite bedrooms, all of which have been refurbished to a 5-star standard. Our newlyweds will receive a complementary bed and breakfast stay in one of the four staterooms of their choice on the night of their wedding.

We have several function rooms to choose from which all boast a certain charm. Our Hall is our popular Ceremony Room with its high, oak beamed ceiling, grand fireplace and sparkling chandeliers. The Pavilion is the ideal Wedding Breakfast room, able to hold over 300 people. Its white, draping, starlit canopy with fairy lights and mood lighting transforms the ambience to match the change from the day to the night-time celebrations.

There is no better time to book your wedding with us than now! Our Summertime Offer is only valid until the end of August, so if you would like to take advantage of securing your wedding day with just a £500 deposit, call 01772 80 40 40!

Lancashire News, Lancs Sport

Burnley-born Jay Rodriguez has returned home after the Clarets swooped to sign the striker from West Bromwich Albion.

The 29-year-old, who began his career within the Academy at Turf Moor, has signed a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee, with further one-year option.

The move completes the circle for Rodriguez, who left for Southampton in 2012 in a then record deal, having scored 41 goals in 129 appearances during his first spell with Burnley and earned England U21 recognition.

Rodriguez also earned a full England cap in 2013, when he appeared for the Three Lions against Chile at Wembley Stadium.

And after putting pen to paper on his new deal, bringing to an end his two-year spell with the Baggies, Sean Dyche’s second summer signing flew to Portugal on Monday evening to join fellow new boy Erik Pieters and the rest of the Clarets squad.

The Burnley fans’ love affair with ‘one of their own’ was instant, from the moment the rookie front-man graduated through the ranks to make the Burnley first team in 2007.

Following a loan spell with Stirling Albion in the second half of the season, he scored his first Burnley goal by grabbing the winner against Fulham in the League Cup in September, 2008.

The goals soon flowed, although Rodriguez was used sparingly during the Clarets’ first foray into the Premier League in 2009, following promotion via the play-off final at Wembley where Rodriguez appeared as a late substitution.

However, following relegation back to the Championship, Rodriguez spearheaded the Clarets attack, and scored 15 times in the 2010-11 campaign and landing both the Player and Players’ Player of the Year awards.

The following season, he scored 21 goals in total and won a place in the PFA Championship team of the year and made his England U21 debut against Italy.

By now, however, his goalscoring exploits had attracted a number of admirers and he became the Clarets then record sale when he was lured to newly-promoted Premier League side Southampton in the summer of 2012.

He scored 35 goals in five seasons on the south coast, where a serious knee injury ruled him out of a shot at the World Cup in 2014 and sidelined him for over a year.

In the summer of 2017, he was again on the move to WBA in a four-year deal, where his goalscoring exploits brought 33 goals in 84 appearances, including 22 goals in the 2018/19 season to help Albion make the Championship play-offs.

Now, Rodriguez is back where it all began, reigniting a love affair with his hometown club as Burnley gear up for a fourth successive season in the Premier League.