Busy Ormskirk junction made safer

I WAS recently contacted by residents concerned at the lack of visible junction markings where Small Lane meets Brook Lane and Chapel Street.

Residents told me how there had been some ‘near misses’ because the road markings were very faint, so I contacted Lancs County Council to request action.

I am pleased to see that, following representations from myself on behalf of residents, new lines have now been laid by the highways authority, which was resurfaced recently following a request from myself due to the large amount of potholes.

In addition, markings have also been refreshed on Brook Lane which will also hopefully improve highway safety.

Labour dismiss Derby Ward residents’ concerns over Edge Hill

LAST week the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Local Plan, a pretty weighty document which sets out planning policy for the Borough over a 15 year period.

At the meeting, I – as a member of the Committee – suggested we make a number of constructive comments to Cabinet in relation to Edge Hill, not least the impact on traffic and parking, as well as querying why Edge Hill won’t expand into Skelmersdale.

They already have a campus in Chorley and many residents, both in Ormskirk and Skelmersdale, believe that it would help regenerate the town whilst taking some pressure off Ormskirk.

All fairly straightforward stuff I would have thought, but Labour saw it differently and voted against making these comments to Cabinet.

I was disappointed Labour councillors ignored the genuine concerns and views of local residents I was speaking on behalf of.

It was clear that, while Labour made all the right noises during the debate, when it came to the crunch they were not interested in listening to people’s very real concerns about Edge Hill. By dismissing them, it proved just how out of touch Labour is.

However, I’m pleased to report that thanks to support from my Conservative colleagues, my call was voted through.

Parking concerns thwart Ravenscroft Avenue home extension plans

I’ve this week welcomed a decision to refuse two extension plans for homes on Ravenscroft Avenue, Ormskirk, following concerns about parking.

I wrote to West Lancashire Borough Council raising concerns after applications were recently submitted to the Borough Council for a first floor extension to the rear of 18 Ravenscroft Avenue and a two storey extension to the rear of 24 Ravenscroft Avenue.

Both of these properties were considered by Borough Council officers to be Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

As soon as I was made aware of these applications I wrote to the Planning Department expressing concerns regarding the potential impact on parking — an issue I have been working hard on alongside families in Ravenscroft Avenue since before I was elected.

I have now been informed that, following my representations and comments from the local highways authority, both planning applications have been rejected.

Both Ravenscroft Avenue and Brook Lane suffer from parking problems due to them being so close to both the town centre and Edge Hill. That’s why I endorse the comments in the officer report that these plans, if granted, ‘would exacerbate the existing parking problem to the point where it would have a detrimental affect on the amenity of the locality and reduce the level of highway safety in the area’.

On the issue of HMOs, it has now been confirmed that as of next month, planning permission will be needed to change the use of a property from a traditional family home to an HMO in Ormskirk and Westhead, as well as Aughton, as the council is bringing in what is known as an Article 4 Direction.

The expansion in the number of HMOs in Derby Ward over the past few years has caused a great deal of concern.

It has also put a lot of pressure on the first time buyer market with traditional family homes being snapped up by landlords. The Article 4 Direction aims to provide more balanced communities and that is to be welcomed.

Weeding out weeds problem in Furness Ave/Bridge Street alleyway

Whilst in Furness Avenue recently, I noticed a number of weeds in the alleyway leading to Bridge Street.

I reported this to West Lancashire Borough Council’s Street Scene department, requesting action, and am delighted to say the work has now been completed.

My thanks to all concerned for the speedy response.

Westhead Village Street Surgery – potholes, speeding, and leaves

Over the past few weeks the Derby Ward Conservative Team has been holding street surgeries in Westhead Village. The reception has been excellent and many people have taken the time to raise a number of issues with us.

Whilst in the area, a number of residents asked us about the state of the road surfaces on both School Lane and Holly Close, as well as the issue of speeding in the area.

Regarding the road surface, we have been pressing the County Council for some time on this issue and are pleased to say that, following our lobbying, both roads will be considered for inclusion in a future Capital Maintenance Programme. At present, the highways authority informs us that it expects works for School Lane and Holly Close to fall into the programme of works for the 2013/14 financial year. Its final position will depend on a number of issues, such as the severity of this winter plus any unexpected issues which may occur on other parts of the county’s road network.

In relation to another issue residents were concerned about – speeding – the County Council’s policy is to implement 20mph zones near local schools so we are advised that School Lane will have such a zone near Westhead Lathon St James Primary School with enhanced signage although as yet no firm date has been set.

Another issue which was raised with us was a seasonal one; the heavy leaf fall on School Lane, particularly on the part of the lane where it has completely covered the path.

We have now written to the Borough Council’s Street Scene department asking them to take appropriate action to clear the walkway. This morning I was advised that this will be done by the end of the week.

However, the Street Surgeries haven’t just been for residents to raise issues with us, it’s also been a good opportunity to pick up issues ourselves and get action for residents.

Whilst conducting one recent Street Surgery, I noticed a number of potholes close to the old railway bridge on Castle Lane.

I reported this to Lancashire County Council, requesting they undertake repairs as soon as possible, and I am now pleased to see this work has been completed, as has work to remove graffiti on the BT cabinet at the junction of Wigan Road and Castle Lane. See this earlier post for more details.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi in West Lancs

YESTERDAY I joined fellow councillors to welcome Conservative Party Co-Chairman Baroness Sayeeda Warsi to West Lancashire.

She was visiting Burscough to view the stunning Burscough Wharf development where she stopped and chatted with business owners and customers.

The general view was that while times are tough in the national economy, they are thriving locally with many people keen to visit the regenerated site.

Afterwards, we went with Baroness Warsi to visit The Hop Vine pub and microbrewery in the heart of the village. I must admit that, given the time of day (around 5.45pm), I expected the pub to be pretty quiet. How wrong could I be? As soon as we pulled back the doors, we were greeted by a buzzing bar, full of families and locals enjoying a bite to eat and a drink.

Since the Conservatives won control of West Lancashire Borough Council, the village has flourished, and has attracted multi-million pound investments including the new Tesco and the more recently completed Merlin Park on Burscough Industrial Estate.

All in all, it was a very positive visit and great to see how Burscough is flourishing even in these tough times.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the ones which will give us the growth we need. In Burscough – as in Derby Ward – people are very loyal to the local shops, and are keen to support them whenever they can.

Ormskirk Police Station to remain open to the public

IT has been confirmed that Ormskirk Police Station’s front counter will NOT close – despite being put under threat by Lancashire Constabulary.

The news was confirmed this morning and it is a great relief to residents and businesses in Ormskirk.

After months of campaigning on this issue, I for one am delighted the police have finally come to their senses and ditched their ill-thought out plans for Ormskirk.

The policing bill for West Lancs has more than tripled over the past 14 years and, against that background, it would have been criminal to demand inflation-busting increases from hard-pressed taxpayers with one hand, while pulling down the shutters on the front desk with the other.

The reasons for closing the front desk were very flimsy and did not bear the sort of intense scrutiny which myself, local residents and colleagues, put them under. By working together, we persuaded police chiefs to come to the only sensible conclusion; to keep the front counter open to the public.

They have made the correct decision and I welcome it.

Honouring the Fallen

THIS morning I joined the crowds around Ormskirk Clock Tower to observe the two minute silence, led by the Mayor of West Lancashire.

It is always a poignant occasion, especially when The Last Post plays.

This year however was a little bit different because afterwards, I along with the Mayor and representatives from Ormskirk & District Historical Society and the Borough Council, went to Victoria Park, on St Helens Road – which is part of Derby Ward – to observe the laying of a wreath and a two minute silence at the Boer War Memorial which is in the park, something which, to the knowledge of those present, has never been done certainly in recent memory.

In the 19th Century, those who fell in conflict were normally placed in mass unmarked graves. It was only at the time of the 2nd Boer War that local communities started to erect memorials to Fallen soldiers.

So the memorial in the park is doubly important. It bridges the gap between the set piece battles of old and modern warfare.

It was erected by our forebears to commemorate those local men who had fought and died for their country. They put their lives at risk and gave the ultimate sacrifice – and, as the Mayor said, they deserve the same respect as was demonstrated by those who came later. They are:

- Sgt John Wainwright of the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, killed at Spion Kop

- Corporal Richard James Martlew of the 2nd Battalion Prince of Wales Own West Yorkshire Battalion, killed at Bothwell

- Trooper Austin Herrity, 32nd Company Imperial Yeomanry, drowned near Bleisvlet

- Sgt James Ikin Nunnerley of the 17th Lancers. One of the 600 of the Charge of the Light Brigade. Attended the Duke of Wellington.

As a mark or respect, the Mayor placed a wreath – a latter day emblem of remembrance – on the memorial and then we observed a two minute silence.

Graffiti removed on Wigan Road, Westhead

My thanks to BT for their very swift action in removing graffiti on one of their green cabinets at the junction of Wigan Road and Castle Lane, Westhead.

I noticed it when I was in the village on Saturday with Adrian doing one of our regular Street Surgeries. So I rang up BT to report the matter and within 2 hours a BT worker was onsite removing the graffiti – talk about a quick service!

Breaking News: Olympic torch to travel through Ormskirk and Burscough

THE Olympic Torch will be carried through the streets of Ormskirk and Burscough on its way to the opening of the 2012 Games in London, it has been revealed.

Organisers today announced that West Lancashire will be among the 1,018 communities across Britain where people will be able to see the relay event.

It takes place on Friday, June 1, and will carry on to Southport, Ainsdale, Formby, Crosby, St Helens, Huyton, Knotty Ash, Old Swan, Liverpool and then over to Birkenhead. Details of the specific route will be made available nearer the time.

As an Ormskirk councillor, I think this is fantastic news for Ormskirk and comes hot on the heels of two brilliant events in the town this year, the Ormskirk Motorfest and the Borough Council’s bestowing of the Freedom of the Borough on the Duke of Lancaster Regiment just a few weeks ago.

This event will provide another great boost for the Borough and cements its place as a venue for top events, which can only be good news for residents and of course of our local businesses.

So make a date in your diary for June 1, 2012, – it promises to be another magnificent crowd puller!

For further details, visit http://www.london2012.com/games/olympic-torch-relay/where-is-the-olympic-flame-going/locations-by-region-and-date.php?location=North+West&x=23&y=17