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Lancashire News

Mayor of Preston, Councillor Javed Iqbal, has announced a Covid Thank You parade to take place in Preston this autumn. He is now looking for essential businesses, organisations and groups who have worked throughout the pandemic to support the people and communities in Preston to participate.

The torchlight parade, designed as a tribute to keyworkers, will form part of the finale of Lancashire Encounter and take place early evening 2 October in Preston City Centre. Expected to have a mixture of vehicles and walking participants, with a mix of proud Prestonians alongside astonishing acts from further afield, the procession will have the theme of “light.” This event will provide the opportunity for a city celebration and appreciation for all who have sacrificed and worked hard to support Preston through the pandemic.

Mayor of Preston, Cllr Javed Iqbal said, “It is with great pleasure I announce this parade as a way for the city to thank the many residents, businesses, organisations and groups who have worked so hard to support Preston through the pandemic. I was honoured to receive so many nominations for the Coronavirus Community Hero Awards and this event is an opportunity for the city to safely come together to honour and celebrate the many who sacrificed so much during this time.

I strongly encourage any essential business, organisation, or group to participate – we want to include not only the NHS and emergency services, but also the essential retail workers, refuse collectors, postal workers, and transport sector, to name a few. It will be my privilege to welcome participants on the night and stand with Preston residents and visitors as a spectator to this magical event.”

Further details
• Preston City Council will be working with the Director of Public Health to ensure this event follows all relevant Covid safe protocols. All participants will be asked to take a Lateral Flow Test before arrival, and no one with symptoms is expected to participate.
• For more information about Lancashire Encounter please visit Lancashire Encounter
• Please note participation in this parade is for essential businesses, organisations, and groups only – individuals are encouraged to attend as spectators.
• Spectator information will be released closer to the date.
• Any business, organisation or group interested in participating can find out more information and register at Mayor of Preston Covid Thank You Torchlight Parade

Lancashire News

The 60-metre footbridge, which features a stunning parabolic arch, officially opened in January 2012 and is named after St Helens R.F.C. legend, Steve Prescott MBE, who passed away in 2013 after battling a rare form of abdomen cancer. With a bridge inspection approaching, the council will carry out overnight cleaning, starting Tuesday 7 September, to remove dirt that has formed over the years caused by the weather. While the work is carried out, the bridge will be closed to pedestrians and both carriageways on Linkway East will be closed to traffic, with clear diversions in place for motorists.

St Helens Borough Council Leader David Baines said: “The Steve Prescott Bridge is used by thousands of people a year, whether it’s crossing on the way to cheer on the mighty Saints or used as a meeting point to mark a certain anniversary or awareness day – so it’s only right that it looks its best in memory of a great man and ambassador for our borough.” Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport, said: “The council continues to do all it can to make sure our road network is maintained to a high standard, and that includes the maintenance of infrastructure like the iconic Steve Prescott Bridge which has established itself as fine borough landmark.

“We know how much the bridge is loved by the people who use it – that’s why it’s so important that it stays in the best possible condition.” Martin Blondel from the Steve Prescott Foundation said: “The Steve Prescott Bridge is a beacon of light and hope for everyone who has come through adversity. We are contacted on a daily basis from people all over the world for the bridge to be turned into an iconic landmark of positivity.

“Thanks to all at St Helens Borough Council for giving the Steve Prescott Bridge a clean and help to continue the great man’s legacy.” Work is initially scheduled to take place from 7-9 September between the hours of 7:00pm-6:30am, although a further date could be required to complete the works if required.

Lancashire News

Vandals have struck again damaging tennis courts and Bury’d Treasure signs in community parks and green spaces. Community tennis courts, recently refurbished across the borough, have had their fences damaged, locks broken and access gate electrical connections destroyed. Bury’d Treasure, a self-led orienteering activity aimed at families being more active together, has had its way markers targeted by regular theft or damage.

The council has repeatedly fixed or replaced damaged property to ensure that local people can continue to enjoy the facilities and activities as part of a healthy lifestyle. Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “Thousands of people are enjoying outdoor sport and leisure with their families thanks to the investment the council has put in.

“Sadly, a minority of complete and utter morons seem determined to spoil it for them. We’ve put a lot of work in to get these facilities in our parks so why these morons destroy our public facilities is literally criminal. We’ve had new trees destroyed, public water fountains vandalised, and now this. “If anyone has any information about who carried this vandalism, please call the council on 0161 253 5353.”

Lancashire News

Lancashire Encounter is a festival to discover, experience and be immersed in a bold and imaginative spectacle of performance, music, street theatre and art. Join us at sites across Preston city centre from Friday 17 September up to the Mayor’s Covid Thank You torchlight parade finale on Saturday 2 October.

Lancashire Encounter will be back this September with an extended event which welcomes all your favourite activities, including an illuminated giant called Jabberwocky, comedy, puppet shows, music, dance and virtual reality. We’re also inviting everyone to our Family Picnic in Winckley Square Gardens on Sunday 19 September. But it’s not just about watching – Lancashire Encounter lets you get involved too! Why not join a community choir or a Salsa dance workshop? We’re putting the final touches to the festival programme that has all the details you need.

Hosting many of the Lancashire Encounter events, as well as an exciting programme soon to be announced, is a new and unique venue space called the MET – Mobile Event Tent. It’s a fresh, dynamic venue celebrating Preston’s art and culture scene. The MET will pop up around Preston city centre, mainly in the Harris Quarter by Preston Markets, and host events such as exhibitions, workshops, gigs, and a variety of performances not to be missed. What better way to come back to the city centre and support local talent and businesses?

Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet member for arts at culture at Preston City Council, said: “It feels fantastic to be able to bring Lancashire Encounter back to the city – a festival that has been such a success in the past and we don’t want you to miss a thing. “The programme is extremely diverse with a very exciting line-up of local, regional and national artists and groups, making Lancashire Encounter festival a truly worthy legacy of the Preston Guild.

“The Mayor of Preston’s torchlight parade, acting as the festival’s finale, on Saturday 2 October will be a sight for sore eyes after such a difficult time for everyone and we’ll be celebrating the resilience of our communities and key workers with fun, music and an almighty fire-breathing dragon!”

More information:
Find more information on the Lancashire Encounter festival website
Find out more about the Mayor of Preston’s parade finale on 2 October and if your business or employer was an essential retail, transport or community organisation throughout the pandemic how you can get involved and take part
The events are free to attend but some workshops or indoor events will be ticketed due to limited capacity
More information about the MET – Mobile Event Tent – can be found on the Visit Preston website
Follow the social media channels for Lancashire Encounter updates: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Lancashire News

New electronic signs are being deployed on Lancashire’s highest-casualty roads to make drivers think twice before doing anything to put themselves or others at risk. The ‘Variable Messaging Signs’ can be programmed remotely to deliver information to passing traffic, making them a useful tool in the campaign to make the county’s roads safer.
Lancashire County Council recently invested in four of the mobile trailers, adding to two already purchased by the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership and deployed by Lancashire Constabulary staff. The county council and the police are now working together to coordinate deployment of the signs along roads with historically high rates of casualties, and in locations where communities have raised concerns about safety.

County Councillor Charlie Edwards, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We’re always working to make our roads safer, whether by investing in safety schemes where there is a record of incidents, or with other members of the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership to carry out programmes of education and enforcement. “People will be used to seeing these electronic signs being used to deliver a variety of useful messages to drivers, often about roadworks or other issues on the road network. ”The VMS units are mobile and versatile, and with the ability to instantly change the messages via a remote system, they are proving to be a useful tool for promoting road safety and educating road users.

“We will also consider using them as part of our response where communities have raised concerns about speeding and further assessment confirms that intervention is needed to bring down high speeds. They will also potentially prove useful if there is an emergency such as flooding which means we need to quickly inform road users of an issue ahead.”

Lara Jones, safer roads unit manager for Lancashire Constabulary, said: “We have been deploying these units around the county for just under 3 years and they have been invaluable on routes where concerns around excess speed have been raised by local residents or where our traffic managers believe a safety message will have a positive influence on driver behaviour. “When used to remind motorists of the speed limit we routinely experience significant reductions in vehicles exceeding the limit, so they clearly work.

“We are progressing a joint deployment programme with Lancashire County Council to ensure the units are located in areas where they will have the most impact.”

Lancashire News

Preston has joined with cities and towns across the UK, and further afield to open its doors to Afghan refugees as British and American troops withdraw from Afghanistan… In the coming days the city will welcome 50 Afghan refugees, a large percentage of whom are children, to provide safe and suitable accommodation. Preston City Council has been working with partners to make arrangements for these families as part of the government’s resettlement programme across the UK.

The city has a long and proud history of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers into our city and our communities. Over the years Preston City of Sanctuary has built a substantial network of volunteers, professionals, statutory, voluntary and faith organisations to support new citizens and multicultural communities with a two-way integration process.

Councillor Nweeda Khan, Cabinet member for communities and social justice at Preston City Council, said:
“I am pleased to say that the desire to support Afghan refugees was unanimously expressed in Council, and I am proud that we have been able to work quickly to find appropriate accommodation in Preston for these people who are fleeing oppression and persecution.

“Preston is a diverse and friendly city, and I know that these families will get the support they need to start the next chapter of their lives here. “Having worked closely with government and our colleagues at Lancashire County Council it is my great honour to welcome these families to Preston. It is my hope that they will soon find peace and feel safe and secure in their new home.”

Dawn Judd, Chair of Preston City of Sanctuary who have been working with refugees and asylum seekers in the city since 2017, said: “Few of us can imagine the difficulties that people fleeing Afghanistan have experienced in recent days. “We are working closely with a range of agencies and groups to support the new arrivals from Afghanistan and we are delighted with the support demonstrated by so many people in Preston.
“We extend a warm arm of friendship as they begin their new lives in Preston.”

Further information
City centre buildings will be lit orange on the evening of Monday 6 September as a symbol of welcoming the refugees to their new home in Preston. Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.

Lancashire News, Lancs Health & Care

The financial outlook at Lancashire County Council remains broadly positive despite continuing uncertainty about local government funding and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, councillors have been told. A ‘Money Matters’ report considered by the council’s cabinet updated on the authority’s current financial position, as well as a medium term forecast for the next three years. It outlined that the council’s finances remain in a strong position and, based on the current forecast, there are sufficient reserves to support the revenue budget gap through to and including 2024/25, the end of the council’s current Medium Term Financial Strategy. It did however highlight that there were still financial challenges ahead.

This includes carefully monitoring any increase in demand for adults and children’s social care as well as making planned savings of £42.727million, together with identifying further savings by 2024/25.

Members were also told there remains uncertainty about the next multi-year Government Spending Review and potential delays to the implementation of changes to the way local government is funded after the Prime Minister and Chancellor conducted a one year review at the end of 2020 because of the pandemic. County Councillor Alan Vincent, deputy leader of the council, said: “There has been careful management of the council’s finances over recent years which means we are in a good position to meet future challenges.

“Thanks to our healthy reserves the forecasts show that we will be able to balance our books for several years to come. “We cannot rely on reserves forever though, which is why we have a number of planned savings to ensure our strong financial footing continues, and we will also continue to monitor our financial position carefully. “In this way we can continue to invest in important council services for the benefit of people in Lancashire and deliver on our priority to protect the services our most vulnerable residents rely on.”

Lancashire News, Lancs Health & Care

World Suicide Prevention Day 2021 is on Friday (10 Sep), launching a Month of Hope which will run until World Mental Health Day on 10 October. The Month of Hope aims to raise awareness of suicide and encourage people to have open conversations about their mental health, while also sharing positive messages of hope.
The campaign urges residents to join organisations in sharing what gives them hope. Bury residents can do this with friends, family and on social media using the hashtag #MonthofHope. Keep an eye out on our social media for opportunities to join the conversation.
Councillor Andrea Simpson, Bury Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “In Bury we are proud to support such a worthy campaign. With the coronavirus outbreak, life has changed for all of us and it’s natural that as we try to get back to a new normal, this may cause people to feel worried or anxious. It’s important to still connect with people, make sure you talk about your worries and find time to do things you enjoy. “If you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to, there is lots of support available locally. Our Getting Help Line is available six days a week for people from Bury of all ages. If you feel you need some advice, guidance or support, get in touch and the team will help to connect you with the best local services to meet your needs. Whether you are a young person or an adult, support is also available online and by text.”

  • If you need support in Bury, contact Bury’s Getting Help Line for confidential support to all ages. Open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm, you can call 0161 464 3679. More information here: https://theburydirectory.co.uk/wellbeinghub
  • If someone needs help, Samaritan’s volunteers are always there, whatever you are going through, people can call for free on 116 123, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: https://www.samaritans.org/.
  • You can also text Shout on 85258 who are a free 24/7 mental health text support line, more information is on the website https://giveusashout.org/
  • In addition, the Greater Manchester ‘Shining A Light on Suicide’ campaign provides advice and resources for anyone feeling suicidal, support if you are concerned about someone and bereavement support. More information is on the website https://www.shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk/home/
  • If you’re bereaved by suicide, Greater Manchester Bereavement Service is available to support anyone bereaved or affected by suicide. It is a confidential information phone and email service. Visit the website for more information https://greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk/
Lancashire News, Lancs Sport

Accrington Stanley has applied to be in the second batch of the return of spectators to stadia pilot programme for Saturday’s EFL L1 game against Oxford United at the Wham Stadium (26th September).

The club has applied to the English Football League (EFL) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

If the application is successful, we will be able to allow up to 1000 supporters into the Wham Stadium.

We are currently at circa 950 season ticket holders, so everyone who has purchased a 2020/21 season ticket would be allowed to attend the game.
As soon as we have information as to whether we are successful, we will circulate via all the usual channels to let supporters know and make the necessary arrangements for the collection of season tickets leading up to the game.

Lancashire News

Businesses in St Helens Borough are invited to sign up to a free digital webinar next month to help get their business online. Run by Google’s not-for-profit online marketing training initiative, Google Garage, and supported by MP for St Helens North, Conor McGinn, as well as the St Helens Ambassador Network – established to attract growth to the borough – the programme will provide free digital skills training to individuals and businesses to help them adapt to the current coronavirus pandemic and grow their offer online.

Ronan Harris, Google’s UK & Ireland Managing Director, said: “Local businesses, like those in St Helens, are the lifeblood of our communities. Like millions up and down the country, we want to help small businesses both survive and thrive. Through this free Google Digital Garage training course, we hope to provide the tools and digital skills to help St Helens businesses adapt to operating in the current context. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, we want to show that having an online presence can have a transformative impact on all businesses.”

Conor McGinn, who instigated the event and will be among those in attendance on the day, said: “The importance of being confident and capable online in this digital age is integral to anyone wanting to develop their business, especially as we all learn to adapt to know ways of working due to Covid-19. I am pleased to have worked in partnership with Google Garage to create this opportunity for local businesses, community companies and individuals to attend this webinar.

“Digital skills are key to delivering the ambitious agenda for jobs and growth in St Helens North and across the borough and I encourage local firms to take up this training offer.” Commenting on the importance of having a strong online presence, local businessman, Chis O’Dea – managing director of award-winning retail empire, OD’s, and member of the St Helens Ambassadors scheme – said: “Having a website and social media has proved to be a huge lifeline for us this past six-months or so, allowing us to continue trading during national lockdown when some shops were forced to close to stop the spread the coronavirus.

“The way the world is going at the moment, we know that a high proportion of shoppers prefer to do their shopping online if it’s more convenient for them. Online trading has been a huge success for us and I hope it paves the way for more businesses to extend their offer to help their business grow.”
Showing her support to the programme, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Business, Councillor Kate Groucutt, said: “Given the challenges we currently face and the change in customer habits in certain sectors, particularly retail, it’s important more than ever that businesses have an online presence. “Businesses – no matter how big or small in size or turnover – are all of equal importance in our borough and we as a council want to see them flourish. That’s why I’d encourage any business that may benefit from this free webinar to sign up to pick up new skills and discover new ways of working.”

For businesses unable to attend, Google Digital Garage is also running a series of free live webinars, Monday to Friday, covering a selection of courses aimed at helping individuals and small businesses, including:
• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Build your Personal Brand Online
• Get Started with Digital Advertising
• Get your Business Visible on Google
• Writing for Social Media
• Safety First: Protect Yourself Online
Google Digital Garage will take place between 10:00am-11:30am on Friday 2 October.

To receive a registration link, email cathrynwhite@sthelens.gov.uk
For more Google Digital Garage webinars, visit https://events.withgoogle.com/digitalgaragewebinars/weekly-webinars/#content

For more information on the St Helens Ambassador Network visit www.investsthelens.co.uk or follow @investsthelens on Twitter.