Wheelie Clean

A local resident has set up a business offering a cleaning service to wheelie bin users.

Visit the Wheelie Clean Bins website and find out about their domestic and commercial services.

Everyone agrees that we cannot simply send more and more waste to landfill. There wouldn't be enough holes in the ground and the ones we have are rapidly filling up. As the waste in them breaks down, gases contributing to climate change are released.

There is also the problem of chemicals leaching into the ground and water resources. Continually burying and burning rubbish is no environmentally sound solution to the waste we produce.

Also the earth and its natural resources are a finite resource. Recycling ensures maximum use of the resources we do extract from the environment while also reducing the amount of environmentally damaging emissions produced.

South Ribble residents have expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the waste and recycling collection we introduced. We would like to thank all residents for their co-operation and hard work in helping to make South Ribble an environmentally responsible place to live.

Bus U-turn

As mentioned in an earlier post here Tory councils in Lancashire took the opportunity of the introduction of the government's national free travel scheme for over 65s and disabled people to scupper the scheme by withdrawing their own funding for peak-time travel leaving people wanting to travel at these times stranded or out of pocket.

After pressure from Labour MP for West Lancashire Rosie Cooper, the Conservatives on West Lancashire District Council voted to reinstate the 50p flat rate less than a month after they abolished it.

Rosie said:

“The council’s willingness to axe the 50p scheme in the first place meant that disabled people who had to go to work or pensioners with early hospital appointments were being hit in the pocket."

“It was an absolute disgrace but they now appear to have seen sense."

“I’m now demanding they allow people in West Lancashire to have free bus and rail travel, unlike the current situation where they are only allowed to have one or the other."

“That was another one of the Tories’ bright ideas which has led to many West Lancashire people wondering why they are being treated like second-class citizens compared to those living in neighbouring authorities."

“But the Tories are slowly waking up to the fact that their barmy decisions are having a negative impact on people’s lives, so I look forward to them doing even more U-turns in the future.”

The Labour Group at South Ribble have been and will continue to call to account the Conservatives locally on travel opportunities for those eligible for concessionary fares.

So far their response questions their commitment to people on lower incomes and those who wish to use public transport.

Centre of Excellence

Staff, parents and children at a Leyland Children's Centre are proud to have received a 'Learning Excellence Award', more usually given to schools. It is the first such centre in Lancashire to receive the award.

The award, given to the Wade Hall Children's Centre on Royal Avenue, was presented by County Councillor Anne Brown in recognition of the centre's imaginitive and successful work in supporting families.

Councillor Brown praised the centre's achievement

"I'm very proud that the centre has gained this award which is a tribute to the high standard of work done at Wade Hall -work that helps children enter school as confident learners."

Starting school is an important time and it can be unnerving for young children, so anything that gets them off to a good start can only reap benefits later."

Local parent Ruth Halstead who uses the centre said:

"Its such a good place -my children have got so much out of coming to the centre. My daughter sailed into nursery and is now enjoying full time school -and my youngest daughter is about to follow her.

I've made new friends and learned new skills at the centre. I am now chairman of the advisory board."

The day care facility is now operating and they have a small waiting list. The centre offers all sorts of activities and lots of support. It has a dedicated band of volunteers as well as the professionals.

There is Bounce and Rhyme and Breastfeeding groups as well as more targeted work.

The team at the Royal Avenue centre will be increased to take care of new centres at Wellfield Business and Enterprise College in the centre of Leyland and at Bamber Bridge.

County Councillor Fred Heyworth said:

"I am delighted to be on the advisory committee, this centre makes a real difference to the young families who use it."

Feel safe at home

Local labour Councillors Fred Heyworth and Anne Brown have been working with local residents to campaign for an area of sheltered accommodation to be identified as a ‘No cold calling zone’.

If you feel that you receive too many strangers knocking on the door , or if you receive suspicious calls then you local Labour team will be happy to take up the matter.