27/04/08

The Parish Council in Tarleton has today launched their new web site www.tarletonpc.co.uk

The Chairman of Tarleton Parish Council, Dave Rydings said "Tarleton Parish Council has had a website for many years but it was discontinued due to a regime change in the Council. A new one has now been launched and it is hoped to provide the residents of Tarleton with as much information as possible about the Parish and in particular the Local Council. In common with most other websites it also provides links to other sources of local and national information. If a resident has an issue that concerns them that they think a Parish Councilor can help them with, they can make contact by sending an e-mail via the website to the clerk - it’s as simple as that. Broken kerbs, street lights not working, fly tipping, potholes in the road are just some of the examples that you can report to ask for the council’s help”.

He continued “Young people especially are turned off by politics and it is a fact that they use the internet for their news and information. Having a parish website is a way of reaching out to them on local issues and with the “contact us” section we can listen to their views on what concerns them”.

All the planning applications submitted in Tarleton are available for viewing on the website as well as dates and minutes of Parish Council meetings. News items that involve the Parish Council are covered as well as local environmental issues. Leisure and recreation as well as local information are in the process of being developed so the website becomes a living document.

Dave concluded, “Tarleton is a great village and, via the website, we hope to engage more with the residents who elected us”.

Local parish council websites:
Tarleton Parish Council | Hesketh-with-Becconsall Parish Council | North Meols Parish Council

26/04/08

Nasar Aslam and David Borrow MP

David Borrow MP for South Ribble recently visited Hesketh Bank Pharmacy to discuss the 'Medicines Matter’ promotion which focuses on the Minor Ailment Scheme and Medicines Use Reviews which have been launched to help patients with their healthcare issues.

05/04/08

With no other nominations for the WLDC Hesketh-with-Becconsall Ward, celebrations can begin early for Martin Forshaw who will be duly elected without contest at the 1st May Local Elections.

However, it will not be as easy for prospective Hesketh-with-Becconsall Parish Councillors with 13 people seeking election to the 11 available positions. The Parish Council has recently come under criticism on the Letters Page for failing to offer any justification for having the highest Council Tax precept in West Lancashire.

The 1st May vote will also see Tarleton residents selecting their WLDC councillor from the two nominees who are standing for election to the Tarleton Ward.

As always, this website offers a free service to ALL candidates to convey their electoral message to the local community. See 2008 Local elections for more details.

26/03/08

Eggcellent Eggstravaganza proves Hesketh Bank’s Got Talent

Hesketh Bank’s Easter Eggstravaganza was eggcellent, that’s the verdict from villagers that attended the first event of its kind on Saturday night.

Billed as an evening of entertainment and family fun, the night went according to plan and the organisers, Hesketh Bank Community Facilities Action Group (CFAG), were “Very pleased.” Spokesperson for the group, Maureen Baldwin, said “We wanted villagers to come along and enjoy each others company, so we picked Easter Saturday because it is when families have a little bit more time together.” She went on to explain: “In 2007 we conducted a survey of Hesketh Bank residents for a Parish Plan. The results of which showed that a high percentage of the respondents wanted a wide variety of community facilities available to them in the village. With this in mind CFAG was set up with five local residents. To date the group has compiled a list of events taking place in the village up to April for the Parish newsletter, to highlight what is already going on, and put together a calendar for the rest of the year, which we launched at the Easter Eggstravaganza.”

The event drew in local talent, all of whom gave their time for free to make the evening a success. Starting with Colin Barnes, who warmed the crowd up making balloon models, then progressed to his juggling, guitar and singing act. “I took up juggling 8 years ago to relieve stress from work when I moved to Hesketh Bank,” he explained. “Now I find myself getting booked for church fayres and children’s parties, which is great, and I was cast as Muggles in the Hesketh Bank panto this year!”

Andrew Sephton and Susan Iddon gave a ballroom dancing demonstration for the audience, including Susan’s sister and brother-in-law who came along to support her. Andrew has lived in Hesketh Bank since 1982 and has been dancing since his teens, starting with Rock ‘n’ Roll, and ballroom for the last 15 years. He teamed up with Susan 3 years ago and now hosts monthly ballroom dancing evenings at the Hesketh Bank church hall with a loyal following. Susan has lived in Hesketh Bank for 27 years and has been dancing for just 3, but she and Andrew gave a professional demonstration. Susan, also a pianist of 7 years, plays the organ and keyboard for weddings and played five pieces on the village hall piano on Saturday night.

Singer songwriter, Krystina Dodd, 21, has been singing all her life and now travels Lancashire performing, but was delighted to support the event along with her mum and boyfriend. She came fresh from an audition for The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and if the reception her set received on Saturday was anything to go by, we will be hearing more from her in the future.

Paul Sylvester, award winning member of the Magic Circle, is well known at Chester Cathedral as the Naked Magician, which he has been doing for 12 years. He has worked with Cannon & Ball, Tony Hadley and Russell Watson but on Saturday was just as happy supporting his local community. “It’s very rewarding to do something in my own village for a change,” he said after he closed his half hour set to rapturous applause. Paul’s glamorous assistants: Joanne Iddon, Diane Riley, Alison Jackson, Andrew Livsey and Gemma Turner, were picked from the audience and proved they were game for a laugh.

Then the karaoke, gave Amy Evans, 16, an opportunity to sing Edelweiss. She told us that she won a Tarleton High School talent contest with her angelic voice and, once she has completed her A levels at Runshaw College, she would like to pursue a singing career.

Tony Earles, who was the DJ and MC for the evening, moved to Hesketh Bank from Manchester three years ago, and was also part of the organising group. “It was good to help out and see the community come together for this event, as we had hoped, especially when everyone came up to thank us at the end of the evening. Fingers crossed they will all return for our follow up event a ‘Trick or Treat’ evening to celebrate Hallowe’en on Friday 31st October 2008.”

21/03/08

Tarleton High School is celebrating after winning their district final of the 2008 Lancashire Mathematics Challenge.

The community technical college beat off tough competition from Glenburn Sports College in Skelmersdale and Ormskirk School to take first place.

Sponsored by Lancashire County Developments Limited (LCDL), Lancashire Council's economic development department, the competition involves all of Lancashire's 84 secondary schools and culminates in the grand final to be held in June at the Woodlands Centre in Chorley.

This district final was held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School in Skelmersdale, the district winners in 2007. A packed audience of parents, teachers and supporters looked on as teams from seven local secondary schools worked their way through a number of mathematical challenges, both in teams and individually, to identify this year's district winner.

Liz Cheetham, Mathematics teacher at the winning school, said: ''Our students have had a fantastic time and are delighted to have won this. It certainly rewards all the hard work that they have put into it. I hope that their success continues at the final in June.''

County Councillor Niki Penney, Chair of LCDL, said: '' This district final was a close fought fight this year. They call it the Lancashire Mathematics Challenge and it certainly is that!

'' The county council is keen to encourage young people to strive for excellence in maths and have fun at the same time. This Mathematics Challenge is one way that we can achieve our aims of making Lancashire a place where people can learn and develop''

The results of the West Lancashire heat were:

1. Tarleton High School: A Community Technical College
2. Glenburn Sports College, Skelmersdale
3. Ormskirk School

20/03/08

TARLETON AND HESKETH BANK NEWSLETTER

To the householder
The Police wish to notify residents in the Tarleton and the Hesketh Bank area of some of the crime and incidents that have occurred throughout the month of February together with the Police response.

For the month of February there has been a total of 130 incidents that have been reported to the Police. These have ranged from vehicle crime, burglaries, damage offences, road traffic offences and anti social behaviour. Breaking this down into categories of crime class.

BURGLARIES
In this area there were a total of 14 reported crimes of burglary. These have been predominantly burglaries in garages and sheds. The times have been mostly overnight with the items that have been taken including electrical items, various items of personal property, computers, motor bikes and cars. The basic method has been to break the locks on these premises using some form of bladed article or tool. On other occasions burglars have found an insecure door or patio door or just used bodily force to gain entry. Unfortunately for the vast majority of these cases there was nothing seen or heard.

The Police response to this has been:

However, residents can help by:

VEHICLE CRIME
For the month of February there was a total of 5 incidents of car crime in the areas. These have ranged form cars being broken into and items being taken to one car being taken, Again it is important not to leave items on display and if possible to detach your radio when your are not in your car if possible.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE
There were four incidents of criminal damage in and around the area. Of these two were detection with offenders being dealt with. There was no particular pattern to this. In fact based on last years figures for the number of incidents recorded for damage, there was a 25 % reduction. Very much linked to criminal damage are the number of incidents involving anti social behaviour. In February there were a total of 12 incidents of anti social behaviour incidents recorded for the period of February.

There was no real pattern that developed for this. To tackle this the Police will try and put officers out at the peak times and locations to try and deter this activity. There are dedicated patrols for this which use a mixture of plain vehicles and high visibility patrols. In areas were this has been used there has been a significant reduction in the number of recorded incidents.

If you wish to discuss any of these issues or any concerns with a local officer please dial 0845- 125- 35-45 and ask to speak to the neighbourhood team in the area who are-

PS 101 Craig Appleton,
PC 980 Phil Corrigan,
PCSO 7124 Andy Curry.

18/03/08

Tarleton Parish Councillors have voted to contribute £50k towards the £2m Green Lane Link Road.

A motion that Tarleton Parish Council agree to set aside £50,000 on the Budget for 2009/2010 to help finance the Green Lane Link was tabled by Malcolm Barron and accepted by the Parish Council. The proposed loan of £50,000 would cost approx £4,500 per year over a period of 25 years.

Lancashire County Council has promised to raise money for the project from a variety of different sources but had tasked Cllr Barron to also raise some of the money locally. Cllr Barron will also be seeking contributions from local businesses including local growers and hauliers.

It is anticipated that the much discussed Green Lane Link would dramatically reduce HGV's travelling through Hesketh Bank and Tarleton villages by providing a more direct route to the major Packhouses and farms. The proposal also includes a new roundabout at the junction of Blackgate Lane and the A565 which is claimed will also reduce the number of accidents occuring with vehicles joining the main road.

18/03/08

Two high-flyers in the north-west Green Party are appearing together at a meeting in Ormskirk next week.

16/03/08

Confirmed acts for Saturday’s Easter Eggstravaganza at Hesketh Bank’s village hall are:

All of whom will be taking advantage of the open mic session to prove that ‘Hesketh Bank’s Got Talent’.

The event, featuring disco, karaoke, party games and the open mic session is a family evening organised by the Hesketh Bank Community Facilities Action Group (CFAG). Spokesperson for the group, Maureen Baldwin, said “We want villagers to come along and enjoy each others company.”

The Hesketh Bank ‘Easter Eggstravaganza’ takes place on Saturday 22nd March,
7-11pm, tickets are £2 for adults and £1 for children available from Hesketh Bank’s Top Shop newsagent, and bring your own picnic! Click here for more local Events

13/03/08

Hesketh Bank AFC are joining forces with Championship club Preston North End to hold a series of Saturday morning coaching sessions for Juniors on the Centenary Sports ground at Station Road Hesketh Bank.

The sessions will begin on Saturday 3rd May 2008 and continue to the beginning of the school holidays around the 2nd week in July 2008, commencing at 9.30am – 10.30am for 5 to 9 year old boys and girls and 10.45am -11.45am for 10 to 15 year olds at a charge of £3 per child.

Preston North End will provide fully qualified professional coaching staff to oversee these sessions.

Numbers may have to be restricted so If you wish to register your child in advance please call Shirley Iddon on 01772 816328.

Hesketh Bank AFC Website

26/02/08

Police run joint operation with VOSA and Tesco’s to target unroadworthy cars

Police in Leyland ran an operation last week to target unroadworthy vehicles and those vehicles causing a nuisance in the area.

Working with partners, VOSA (the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) and Tesco’s, police targeted anti-social behaviour and car nuisance within Leyland’s hotspots. A check site was set on Tesco’s car park and police directed vehicles to the site to be checked by VOSA who looked for illegal enhancements that owners had made to vehicles.

The results were as follows:-

25/02/08

A picture of Trevor Wilson parting with money

The Mere Brow Giant Pumpkins have once again helped to keep the North West Air Ambulance flying. On Saturday Trevor Wilson handed over a cheque for £1311.50 which was raised at the October 2007 Giant Pumkin "Weigh In" competition. Jackie Northover received the cheque on behalf of the Air Ambulance. Click here for details of the 2008 Mere Brow Giant Pumpkin Competition.

24/02/08

Residents of Hesketh Bank are in for a family fun time on Saturday 22nd March with an ‘Easter Eggstravaganza’ at the village hall. The evening of disco, karaoke and party games will also feature entertainment by local acts in an open mic session called ‘Hesketh Bank’s Got Talent’.

Organised by the Hesketh Bank Community Facilities Action Group (CFAG), this is the first of two events planned for the year to help bring a community spirit to the village. "We want villagers to come along and enjoy each others company,” said Maureen Baldwin spokesperson for the group. She went on to explain: “In 2007 we conducted a survey of Hesketh Bank residents for a Parish Plan. The results of which showed that a high percentage of the respondents wanted a wide variety of community facilities available to them in the village. With this in mind CFAG was set up with five local residents. To date the group has compiled a list of events taking place in the village up to April for the Parish newsletter, to highlight what is already going on, and is putting together a calendar for the rest of the year.

The Hesketh Bank ‘Easter Eggstravaganza’ takes place on Saturday 22nd March, 7-11pm. Tickets are £2 for adults and £1 for children available from Hesketh Bank’s Top Shop newsagent.

For more local events and details of how you can get your own event publicised see the EVENTS page.

12/02/08

A SIGN OF THE TIMES - Recruitment agency targets Polish workers at Tarleton traffic lights.

07/02/08

The police appeal to help trace the male identified in the CCTV photo (see 2008 news archive 27th January) has successfully led to an arrest.

DC Joe Murphy has today said that as a result of the coverage given to this in the media and the response from the public, the male in the photo has now been identified and arrested and the matter is currently being dealt with. The laptop has also been returned to its rightful owner.

04/02/08

Lord Trimble boosts Lorraine's Campaign to become next MP for Tarleton & Hesketh Bank

Nobel Peace Prize Winner and former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Lord David Trimble was in Leyland last Thursday supporting the Conservative campaign to get Lorraine Fullbrook elected as the next MP for the South Ribble Constituency that includes Tarleton, Banks, Hesketh Bank and Rufford.

Lord Trimble spoke to over 100 local activists including a number of West Lancs Councillors at the Annual Chairman’s Dinner of the South Ribble Conservative Association held at the Wellington Park in Leyland. During his speech Lord Trimble explained that Mrs Fullbrook was someone he wanted to support, because having seen her in action he was convinced of the contribution she will make at Westminster. He also spoke at length about his experiences in Northern Ireland, and his new role as a Conservative member of the House of Lords.

Commenting after the dinner, Mrs Fullbrook the Conservative candidate for the South Ribble Parliamentary Constituency said.

“It was a great honour to have the support of Lord Trimble for my campaign – to have him here in Lancashire shows just how serious the Conservative Party is about winning back this seat at the next election.”

Lord Trimble and Lorraine Fullbrook are pictured with some of the Conservative activists who attended the dinner at which the Nobel Peace Prize Winner was the guest of honour.

23/01/08

Commenting on her plans, Lorraine said, “The Labour Government has closed over 3,800 Post Offices since 1999 now they want to close 2,500 more, five of which are in the new South Ribble Parliamentary Constituency (the five are Eccleston Bridge, 106 Towngate Eccleston, 63 Bent Lane Leyland, 167 Liverpool Rd Hutton, 27 Gravel Lane Mere Brow and Smithy Lane, Much Hoole) and I believe that enough is enough!

There is no denying that numerous Post Offices are making a financial loss, but I still believe that many people, especially the elderly, consider their Post Office to be a lifeline, relying on it as a one-stop shop to access cash and benefits, pay bills, get advice and information, and socialise. For that reason I am against these closures.

The Post Office says they will listen to what local people want. I intend to give local people the chance to have their say”.

17/01/08

West Lancs Police release CCTV image of suspected Burglar

Police in West Lancashire have released a CCTV image of a man they want to question in relation to a burglary. The burglary happened at approx 1am on the 15th December at Orme House in Ormskirk when the male gained entry to the premises and stole a Sony laptop. DC Joe Murphy at Ormskirk CID commented, ”We have a clear CCTV image of the offender and are confident that someone will know him. I would urge members of the Public who may know this person to come forward and contact the police.” Anyone with any information can contact Ormskirk CID on 01695 566442 or via Southern Communications Centre on 0845 1 25 35 45. Information can also be given about crime anonymously by telephoning Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

15/01/08

By PC 980 Phil Corrigan:
There has been appproximately 14 burglaries, on and around the vacinity of Church Road Tarleton in the early hours of Saturday the 12th of January 2008. Both domestic and business premesis were burgled, whereby small expensive electrical goods and cash was stolen, causing considerable damage.

Additional police resources were supplied to the area, such as a dog patrol and the force helicopter, and three males were arrested in the village and enquiries are now ongoing.

Before Christmas there was also a spate of burglaries around Tarleton and Hesketh Bank. As a result of which there was a joint operation between local Police Officers and Traffic, which led to significant resources being deployed in the area (including plain clothes CID officers). This activity lead to the detention of four males who have been arrested and charged.

Were a crime pattern has emerged the Police have responded and the offenders for that particular trend have been arrested and the incidents have stopped. In order to prevent a reaccurance extra police patrols are planned in the area.

There is dedicated neighbourhood and geographical cover 24/7, and for the next 3 x months during weekend / evenings dedicated Anti Social Behavior cover.

07/01/08

Find out more about becoming a Special at event to be held at Skelmersdale Police Station.

Members of the public that live in West Lancashire will have the chance to find out more about the Special Constabulary next week.

An event has been organised at Skelmersdale Police Station on Monday 14th January from 5.30pm – 8pm. The event will give Members of the Public the opportunity to find out more about the Special Constabulary, the work these officers carry out and the training they receive.

You will also be able to speak on a one to one basis with Specials already doing the role and will be offered a behind the scenes insight into the work of Special Constables. You will also be able to register your full details and take home a full application pack.

Anyone interested in attending these events need to report to the enquiry desk on arrival and if they need any further information they can contact Laura Hesketh on 01772 412127.

01/01/08

Built in 1608, Bank Hall celebrates it's 400th anniversary year.
With a bold planning application imminent, will 2008 be the year that Bank Hall's fortunes change?
More on the history of Bank Hall