A bag for life

Matthew Tomlinson, South Ribble Borough Councillor for Leyland's Golden Hill Ward and Lancashire County Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment has been giving away 'eco' bags -re-usable cotton bags- in a bid to reduce the number of environmentally damaging plastic bags used and thrown away in the area.

Last year 17.5 BILLION carrier bags were given away in the UK. That's one per person per day!

The bag can be washed for further use...

You can get someone strong to carry it for you...

...but we had to make do with this young man instead.

Using bags like these you can still go shopping and be a little bit kinder and cleaner with the environment.

Lancashire County Council Cabinet grilled ...with buffet after

On Thursday October 25th, Lancashire County Council's 'Cabinet Question Time' came to South Ribble.

Members of Lancashire County Council's cabinet formed the panel for the event which draws on the familiar Question Time format.

BBC television's local news presenter Dave Guest kept the audience and panel in order in his usual fair and humorous manner.

Questions from the audience included issues such as transport, roads & traffic-calming measures, crime and social care for vulnerable adults. The panel addressed the questions put to them courteously and one member of the audience expressed thanks to the cabinet members for the hard work they do in delivering services to the people of Lancashire.

Matthew Tomlinson who is Lancashire County Council's Cabinet Member for Planning & Environment (as well as South Ribble Borough councillor for Leyland's Golden Hill Ward) brought each member of the audience an 'eco' bag -a re-usable cotton bag- and vowed to help reduce the use of environmentally damaging plastic bags in the area. Last year 17.5 BILLION carrier bags were given away in the UK. That's one per person per day.

Afterwards there was a yummy buffet and an opportunity to talk to councillors and staff.

These events have proved a very successful and popular way for local people to express their views. It is open to everyone so watch out for further news on the next event.

The Members on the panel were:
County Councillor Anne Brown - Cabinet Member for Resources & Performance
County Councillor Chris Cheetham - Cabinet Member for Adult & Community Services
County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson - Cabinet Member for Planning & Environment
County Councillor Hazel Harding - Leader of the County Council
County Councillor Doreen Pollitt - Deputy Leader of the Council

Leyland does YouTube

Leyland, now on YouTube.

Do you recognise these places ? ...and do you remember this tune?

Save Your Energy

National Energy Saving Week sounds quite delicious doesn't it .....put your feet up, have a cup of tea/coffee/beverage of choice and expend very little energy.

While its actual intent -saving the planet- does sound rather more energetic. It doesn't have to be. It must have been quite a feeling for this man when he became the first Londoner to sell energy back to the national grid which was generated from his solar panels. After this success he is now installing a wind turbine at his home.

Though not everyone can go this far, taking a range of simple energy reduction measures such as boiling the kettle with a little less water in it can make a big contribution. So you can still relax, have a cup of tea and help save the planet all at the same time. But remember not to leave the tap running when you brush your teeth afterwards. You might not be able to sell your energy back but forking out less on energy bills is certainly a warm and comforting thought so you won't miss turning down the thermostat by 1°c.

The Energy Saving Trust, the organisation behind National Energy Saving Week would like to see everyone adopting a range of energy saving measures to help reduce 20% of our energy consumption.

The cheap and simple, Top 10 and efficient driving energy saving tips can all be found at their website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

In a separate initiative, Farington County Primary School in Leyland will be setting a shining energy saving example as they are set to receive solar panels worth more than £20,000 paid for by the Co-operative Group's £1m Green Energy for Schools scheme and match-funded by the government.

Headteacher Joanne Ramsbottom told the Lancashire Evening Post: "To be one of the first schools in the country to receive free solar panels through the scheme is fantastic. All the children, especially the Eco-School committee members, are very excited."

The school is one of the first, and one of only 100 nationally to benefit from the scheme. Read the rest of the story here.

So unplug those mobile phone chargers when not in use, (fully) load up that washing machine and then put your feet up and have an energy saving cup of tea. Every little helps and every little put together means alot. Saving the planet is all in a day's work.

Question Time comes to South Ribble ...well sort of

On Thursday October 25th, Lancashire County Council's 'Cabinet Question Time' is your chance to quiz or compliment senior Lancashire County Council members on the services they deliver.

Members of Lancashire County Council's cabinet will form the panel for the event which draws on the familiar Question Time format.

BBC television news presenter Dave Guest hosts the evening and there is a light buffet after the discussion to give an opportunity to meet councillors and staff.

These events have proved a very successful and popular way for local people to express their views. It is open to everyone, just turn up and let your elected representatives know what is going well, what you think about any of the county council's plans and services, and where things could be improved.

Members on the panel for this event are:
County Councillor Anne Brown - Cabinet Member for Resources & Performance
County Councillor Chris Cheetham - Cabinet Member for Adult & Community Services
County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson - Cabinet Member for Planning & Environment
County Councillor Hazel Harding - Leader of the County Council.

Date & Time: Thursday, 25 October 2007 (19:15 - 21:45)
Location: Our Lady & St Gerard's Parochial Centre, Brownedge Road, Lostock Hall
Contact: Paul Moran (01772 531064)

Taking Care

New Progress are to canvass every one of their residents on Broadfield Estate about the introduction of an Estate Caretaker. The scheme involves tenants paying a weekly supplement of about £1 to pay for a 'man with a van' dedicated to working on the estate. The scheme has been a great success on Wade Hall and your local Labour councillors will be supporting its introduction.

Please support these events

SATURDAY OCTOBER 20TH AT 10AM
Leyland Committee for Cancer Research are holding a coffee morning at Wrights Fold Community Centre, Bent Lane, Leyland.

SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER AT 7.30PM
Rotary Club of Leyland presents
BANDS OF GOLD
Join the Leyland Band with special guest vocalist Joanne Duckworth, for a concert of ‘Songs from the Shows’. This wonderful musical evening is hosted by the ever-popular Norman Prince and also features the first lady of jazz, Debbie Wilson.

In aid of the North West Air Ambulance, Derian House Children’s Hospice and White Coppice School.

Venue: GUILD HALL

Tickets: £10, £12

Contact 01772 433588 for details.

Conservative Party donor "insane and delusional" judge found

There has been much hilarity around the blogosphere this week at the news that a high court judge ruled on Monday that an £8 million pound donation to the Conservative Party was made because Branislav Kostic was 'not of sound mind' and must be handed back.

Indeed, he had described Margaret Thatcher as "the greatest leader of the free world in history"...

Branislav Kostic made the donation in his will but his son Zoran contested it as his father had been diagnosed with paranoia and was tormented by delusions. Following the judgement Zoran Kostic said he was relieved that the case was over but that he was "disappointed that the Conservative Party Association made it necessary for my family to come to court and to give evidence on private matters that we found deeply distressing".

Clare Montgomery QC, representing Mr Kostic's son, said the Conservatives "only benefited because the testator became mentally ill". And the judge agreed.

Mr Justice Henderson, said Mr Kostic would not have left the money to the Tories if he had been "of sound mind".

Now it is true that the story of the Conservative Party appealing to a man described as 'insane and delusional' invites many jokes but mental illness is certainly no laughing matter.

Lucky then that the Health Secretary Alan Johnson has just announced £170 million pounds a year by 2010 for improving access to psychological therapies providing for 900,000 more people to be helped to receive the treatment they need.

The new money has been broadly welcomed:

Marjorie Wallace, of the charity SANE, said: "CBT and other therapies can transform people's lives and enable those for whom they are effective to see their future as half full rather than half empty.

We would be concerned, however, if they were seen as a quick fix panacea for everyone.

It must not be forgotten that there are many people with depression and anxiety who will need far longer term and more intensive treatment and help."

Angela Greatley, of the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, said: "There are millions of people across the country whose quality of life could be improved vastly by timely access to good quality psychological therapy."

Now that is something to smile about.

Fox Lane Planning Application

Many residents are concerned about a planning application which has been submitted showing proposals to develop the site of the OLD SCHOOL on FOX LANE.

There are issues around the conservation of the character of the area...


...and of additional parking problems..
For your convenience, if you are concerned you can download a letter of objection by clicking here. All you have to do is add your address, the date, print it off, sign it and send it to:
The Planning Department
South Ribble Borough Council
Civic Centre
West Paddock
Leyland
PR25 1DH

You can also speak to your local councillors about your concerns:
Councillor Matthew Tomlinson cllr.mtomlinson@southribble.gov.uk
Councillor Fred Heyworth 01772 435492
Councillor Tony Kelly 01772 498525
County Councillor Anne Brown O1772 424281
Anne.Brown@cc.lancscc.gov.uk

Lord Moneybags

Yesterday the Lancashire Evening Post featured this report on Lord Michael Ashcroft a multi-millionaire who has been sloshing cash around marginal constituencies to try to win seats for the Conservatives.

Such cash can help to fund slick marketing campaigns and glossy leaflets.

It is believed that his money was crucial in influencing the result of the local election in South Ribble earlier this year.

The Conservatives have been exploiting a loophole which allows unlimited funds to be lavished on their candidates between elections. Once an election is called there is a cap on what can be spent in order to make the process fair and democratic.

David Borrow MP for South Ribble said:

"There is resentment that multi-millionaires with no association with a particular constituency can fund a political campaign and influence the result".

These Conservative tactics were heavily criticised in parliament yesterday and have been characterised as a throwback to the era of 'rotten boroughs'.

Was this, perchance, the same mysterious Mr Moneybags who donated £40,000 to RAWS, the campaign group against the waste plant at Farington Moss?

The donation, brokered by the Conservative Party, got them out of a spot of bother as they had made a questionable pledge of money to RAWS if they were elected to run South Ribble Council.

The question as to whether the donation would have been illegal has never been answered nor the legal advice they received made public.

'No Cold Calling' Zone for Leyland?

Do 'cold callers' leave you feeling cold?

Councillor Fred Heyworth and County Councillor Anne Brown have been very impressed with the 'No Cold Calling' Zones that have been introduced in some areas in Lancashire.

These are groups of homes where people agree that they do not wish to be approached on their door step by people selling things. This can give confidence and peace of mind to the vulnerable and people living alone.

There is an area in the vicinity of Fox Lane and Welsby Road where it is believed that such a zone could prove useful. A meeting is to be organized to try to get one set up.

Further details to follow.

Also see this article in the Lancashire Evening Post which refers to the operation of such areas in locations in other parts of Lancashire.

Fox Lane Development

A message from your local Labour councillors

Labour councillors in Leyland have been approached by a number of residents about the planning application that has been submitted showing proposals to develop the site of the OLD SCHOOL on FOX LANE.

This does not refer to the nursery, the old St. Andrews School, but to the garden that is fronted by the old school wall, between the two sections of terrace.

We have looked at the plans at the council offices and find that the proposals show 5 good sized, terraced houses, in keeping with the existing terraces.

However there is no provision for parking and this will undoubtedly make a bad situation worse.

Your local Labour councillors intend to call on all nearby residents to hear your thoughts on the proposal but if we miss you, please let us know what you think. We would be pleased to work on your behalf.

We can be contacted as follows:

Councillor Fred Heyworth 01772 435492
Councillor Tony Kelly 01772 498525
County Councillor Anne Brown O1772 424281
Anne.Brown@cc.lancscc.gov.uk

You can also get in touch via leylandlabour@gmail.com

Revamped pub opens its doors

The Railway pub on Preston Road has reopened after a dramatic revamp. The old 'boozer' atmosphere has been banished in favour of a smart décor, an extensive menu and a good selection of wines.

Councillor Matthew Tomlinson who has visited the refurbished pub with his family said "We ate there on the first weekend and are happy to recommend it. Good luck to Danny and Alison and all their staff."

Parking controls for Worden Estate

Following lots of complaints about student parking the Worden Estate is to be made a no parking zone. At a packed meeting of the South Ribble 'Lancashire Local' County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson backed residents call for action.

The estate also has two Conservative local Councillors. One attended the meeting and said he couldn't speak, the other one didn't turn up!

Expect yellow lines to go down anytime soon.

Full Council Meeting, Wednesday 3rd October

So fun-packed, here is a brief account of what happened (more details to follow):

Not in attendance
The Conservatives so desperately wanted your votes at the local elections that they promised money to RAWS if they got voted in and yet now it is difficult to see how they can effectively represent local people when 14 Conservative councillors didn't show up to the meeting of the Full Council and 4 left early. Was there something good on the telly?

There were 22 members of the public in attendance who almost outnumbered the Conservative councillors who actually made it.

Military Service
Bamber Bridge Councillor Paul Foster was presented with a Veteran's Medal. However, the microphone was not switched on and members of the public could not hear as the Mayor Kath Beattie mumbled through his military CV.

Well behaved children
There were 4 very well behaved children from a local primary school present. They were members of their school council and asked the Mayor why she decided to be a mayor and what qualifications were needed. They did their school great credit.

Conservatives abandon RAWS (RAWS having served their purpose)
Earlier this year the Conservatives were saved by a mystery donor from an embarrassing and possibly illegal situation surrounding the promised gift of public money by a Conservative-led council to RAWS to fight a legal challenge against the siting of a waste recycling plant in their area. Last night the Conservatives officially abandoned the campaign group. The Conservative Leader Margaret Smith confirmed that no more cash would be pledged to any appeal RAWS may lodge against the Farington Waste Plant. It seems the group has served their purpose for the Conservatives in helping to get them elected. Read the background to this story here and here.

'Nothing to do with me' - Councillor Suthers
Conservative Cabinet Member in charge of leisure centres in South Ribble last night washed his hands of problems at the centres. A new booking system had caused chaos after it was introduced without staff being properly trained to use it and the requirement to pre-pay using debit cards threatens to exlcude those without access to one such as the young and unwaged. Additionally, the playscheme run by Leyland Leisure Centre (not to be confused with Leyland Playscheme which is excellent) received a damning Ofsted report which Councillor Suthers described as 'not that bad' even though the Ofsted inpsection revealed basic health and safety measures for children were not in place.

Councillor Suthers, when questioned about the problems, said that there wasn't much he could do about it.

He might well have stayed home and watched the telly!

Further Information

South Ribble prides itself on being an open and transparent council and there are many opportunities for the public to have their say on local issues.

Calendar of meetings

The public are able to attend meetings of the Full Council and are permitted to speak and ask questions on agenda items. Agendas here.

Each area of South Ribble has an Area Committee which the public are strongly encouraged to attend. More details here.

'Lancashire Locals' are designed to bring decision-making on services delivered by Lancashire County Council closer to local communities. South Ribble has its own Lancashire Local. Details can be found here.

Are women more democratic than men?

BBC2 & BBC Four starting Saturday, 6th October.

..Why bother to vote? What is wrong with democracy? What would make you start a revolution?

These are just some of the 10 questions put to authors, athletes, movie stars, musicians, politicians, thinkers, workers and dreamers as part of the Why Democracy? project.

You can see the questions, watch their answers and have your say here.

Why Democracy? is a documentary project using film to start a global conversation about democracy.

There are 10 documentaries from around the globe to be screened on BBC2 & 4 which look at democracy as it exists in the world today and exploring issues such as: Is any society in the world truly democractic? What does democracy mean if you live below the poverty line? Is capitalism good for democracy? Are dictators ever good? What kind of democracy can we build in the 21st Century? Is democracy good for everyone?

This is essential viewing for anyone concerned about democracy. Programme times and dates here.

See related articles in The Observer.
Why bother to vote?
Who rules the world?
Are women more democratic?
What would make you start a revolution?
Who would you vote for as president of the world?
Can politicians solve climate change?
Is God democratic?
Are dictators ever good?
Can terrorism destroy democracy?
Is democracy good for everyone?
The Observer panel

A taste of the continent

Shoppers in Leyland came out in force to sample the delights of continental Europe at a three day speciality market (27-29 September) hosted by South Ribble Borough Council as part of its Renewal 4 regeneration programme.

Walking down Hough Lane was like being back at school in French class.

There was Monsieur Bertrand with fromage de France - 3 for £5!

And what better to accompany the cheese but un pain or trois pains or perhaps un petit pains..

Then there was the schwenkgrill=swivelling grill. (Thanks to Google's 'translate this page' facility) - holzkohle=charcoal

..and beaucoup de bonbons! We had to buy some.

We smelled the sizzling scrumptiousness wafting from the Alternative Meats stall and had to buy some of that too. They offer meat products -burgers, sausages etc made from... -vegans, vegetarians and animal rights activists look away now- ...animals such as kangaroo, springbok and ostrich. We took home some wild boar and apple burgers which were delicious.

It was a pleasure to see Leyland so colourful, thriving and vibrant.

Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, who represents Golden Hill Ward and is Labour Group Leader at South Ribble Borough Council, spent time visiting the market during the event. He said:

"The market was very busy on the two days that I visited it. What was particularly pleasing was the number of families who were walking around the town, especially on the Saturday. The Council does need to look more closely at the movement of traffic when Hough Lane is closed. It is something that I will be raising with the relevant Council departments"