• Option 1: We become part of a massive Lancashire County Council "Unitary Authority"
• Option 2: We become part of a new "Sefton and West Lancashire"
• Option 3: We become part of a new "Sefton and West Lancashire"

• A mechanism that is fitted into the door which allows an identity card to be passed from the caller to the householder without the door being opened.
• An intercom system that allows the householder to control the contact with a caller through a viewcom.
• Upgrading of front and back door locks to 5 lever mortice systems, if not already fitted.
• Fitting of window locks to all ground floor windows and those accessible from flat roofs.
• A bar system that allows the door to be left open for ventilation or to view a caller without fear of intrusion.
• A smoke alarm.

Linear Parks are intended to provide for informal countryside recreation opportunities, including horseriding where possible, as well as important cycling and pedestrian links between communities for leisure, travel to school, employment and shopping. Two new "Linear Parks" have been proposed for West Lancashire; one down the Canal and River Douglas Corridor and the other along the Ormskirk-Skemersdale Railway Line. The following text has been adapted from the Draft West Lancashire Replacement Local Plan - A Development Framework 2001 - 2016.(The complete original document can be accessed on the WLDC website by clicking here) Linear Park - The Canal and River Douglas Corridor in Tarleton and Hesketh Bank. The use of the river and canal is beginning to increase since the creation of the Ribble Link, which is a new canal linking the Lancaster Canal via the Ribble Estuary and Tarleton Lock to the Rufford Branch. There is scope to develop this area as a linear park containing footpaths and cycleways. There is also a proposal to develop a Regional Park based upon the River Ribble, and this proposal fits in with this concept.

Click here for larger image

The early consultation on the Local Plan revealed strong support for the improvement of the area alongside the Rufford Branch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and the River Douglas in Tarleton and Hesketh Bank. The route also contains the former track bed of a branchline down to Tarleton off the former Southport-Preston rail line.

The creation of a cycle route through the linear park accords with the District Council’s Cycling Strategy, and will provide links to the main secondary school in Tarleton, as well as between the main centres of Tarleton and Hesketh Bank, avoiding the busy main road. A route along the river will also link in with the creation of the Southport-Preston section of the National Cycle
Network, which is currently being developed by Lancashire County Council. This may involve a new river crossing in the vicinity of Alty’s Brickworks.

Most of the land is in private ownership and further consultation and feasibility work is required before a detailed scheme can be drawn up. It is expected, however, that there are several potential sources of funding which can be used to develop this proposal further.

In terms of the Alty’s Brickworks site, this is considered to form a pivotal role in the development of the park. This could form the interchange of the cycle and pedestrian route to the south and the National Cycle Network and Coastal Footpath which may cross the River Douglas at this point. The former brickworks site already contains the West Lancashire Light Railway and a large area of water, as well as small scale employment uses. These could potentially be developed further to create a more focussed tourist attraction which would complement the linear park and the wider Ribble Regional Park. Any development here, would however, need to ensure that that there are no detrimental effects upon neighbouring residential property, or that traffic generation does not adversely affect the local highway network.

There is still some feasibility work which needs to be done on bringing together this linear park proposal, and the District and County Councils are currently liaising on these matters. Discussions will also need to take place with private landowners who own parts of the line. Potential sources of funding include the Local Transport Plan, derelict land monies and landfill tax monies.

West Lancashire District Council have approved the change of use of 93, Church Road, Tarleton to a dry cleaning shop which will include an ironing & seamstress service.

Eight letters of objection were received from neighbours and people employed locally about the change of use proposed for the music school but, after a site visit, the Planning Committee granted the application submitted by Stuart Sinclair.

The proposals include the use of the site initially as a dry cleaning agency only, but with a longer term view to install dry cleaning machinery and washers/dryers within the building. In addition, sewing machines and steam-presses would also be installed.

The Council Planning Committe were assured that the dry cleaning machinery proposed will not give off any nuisance noise or toxic smells (all chemicals would be recycled within the machine and thus requiring no external ventilation/extraction or flues) and it was accepted that although the drying machines would require exhaust flues, the output from the flues would be of a non-noxious nature.

Proposed new facilities for Hesketh Bank AFC

West Lancashire Planning Committee looked favourably on the outline planning application by Hesketh Bank Football Club for sports facilities including a floodlit all weather sports surface, changing facilities and a club house with fitness rooms and recreation hall.

HB AFC Chairman, Peter Leigh, said today "This is possibly one of the biggest steps forward Hesketh Bank AFC has made since it's formation in 1922. The proposed facilities will provide a much needed focus for the Football Club as well as providing the essential training facilities that the Club needs to develop football for the youth of Hesketh Bank and also achieve FA Charter Status. The sports facilities proposed will be a great asset to the village and will fully compliment the other sports initiatives underway in neighbouring Tarleton"

Hesketh Bank Football Club is one the the largest and most successful football clubs in Lancashire. This season the club boasts 233 registered football players, and fields a total of 14 teams ranging from under 8's through to 'veterans'. Over 50% of Hesketh Bank's players are under 18. For more information visit www.heskethbankafc.com

• A "Linked Shopping" footpath 2.5 meters wide will now be included down the side of Country Larder
• A one way system will operate in the car park. The car park will cater for 104 places, will be free and will be a shoppers car park with any abuse (parking all day etc) will be 'dealt with'.
• A recycling centre will be sited on the car park
• HB Computers are to move to the old off licence. The Chemist Shop is still "in negotiations"
• The mini roundabout has moved slightly up the hill in order to accommodate the Linked Shopping footpath
• Two pedestrian crossing points are now promised; one outside Bargain Booze and one opposite No. 11 Station Rd.
• Lowering of the bridge crown was investigated but considered impractical owing to the adverse impact on the Top Shop
• The bus shelter (recently demolished by Safeways) would not be replaced and a Lay-by created similar to that outside Nevins in Tarleton. A bus stop sign would be placed outside No 11 Station Rd. Additionally the bus stop near the HSBC would moved up the hill and a "top of the range" bus shelter placed to cater for both directions of bus services.

FOLLOW THE PARISH COUNCIL CODE AND ENSURE
YOU HAVE A SAFE NOVEMBER PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
This is a public service announcement brought to you by HeskethBank.com

Descriptions of two offenders seen are males early 20's one of whom had red hair and spoke with a stammer. He was wearing a white anorak. Do not let persons into your home without seeing proper authority or them having made a written appointment.

A second problem concerns telephone calls to elderly residents, saying that the Environment Agency wishes to make an appointment to call. Their reason is to give advice on Crime Prevention, mentioning security alarms in the conversation. These calls do not have any connection to any Professional body.

Please do not let anyone into your home without first checking their identity. If you require information on Security alarms please contact the Crime prevention officers at your local Police station. If you wish to contact the Police please ring 0845 1 25 35 45 or in an emergency dial 999.

If you wish to pass on information anonymously about this or any other incident and then you can contact Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Tarleton Sports Committee have announced a successful bid for lottery funding to upgrade the sports facilities at Carr Lane with a Grant Offer of £176,036 from The Football Foundation. The funding boost will allow the Tarleton Sports Committee to provide a new pavilion at the Carr Lane ground, housing eight changing rooms for male and female players and match officials alongside social areas and spectator facilities. In keeping with Foundation policy all facilities will be fully accessible for disabled fans and players.

The money will also allow the organisation to install a new drainage system for nine junior and senior pitches. With the new facilities the club hope to expand opportunities to local players of all ages and abilities and expect over 15 new teams to be established, particularly from amongst local junior players and girls.

The Football Foundation is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities throughout the country. Funded by the FA Premier League, The Football Association and the Government, the Football Foundation is the nation’s largest sports charity with £83m already invested into the heart of football.

Foundation Chief Executive, Peter Lee, welcomed this latest funding boost for Lancashire: “Over £3m has already been invested in Lancashire alone, funding over 40 projects. This latest grant will ensure that football in and around Tarleton will continue to flourish and that everyone will now have the opportunity to play our national game. Our sincere congratulations go to the Tarleton Sports Committee for this superb initiative.”

Chairman of Tarleton Sports Committee and Tarleton Parish Council Cllr. John Hodson, outlines the total project: “ This is tremendous news! Tarleton Sports Committee is a partnership arrangement between Tarleton Corinthian Football Club, Tarleton Cricket Club and Tarleton Parish Council. We have been working towards this goal for the past 2 ½ Years and the result is a true endorsement of partnership working. The total Project amounts to £287,00.00 with contributions from the Sports Clubs and Tarleton Parish Council. I would like to personally thank all the ‘team’ who stuck with the job and achieved such a remarkable result in such a short space of time. We aim to start works early in the new year with the first phase starting with the new Pavillion and changing rooms. The second Phase will be the Pitch improvements. This project will provide up to date modern facilities not just for Football but also Cricket and Parish Council uses. With the sharp rise in population over the past few years this is the first true step in bringing facilities in line with that increase. This is a proud day for Tarleton!

As a result of inaccuracies in the "Fork Lift Kills Boy, 8" cover story on the front of today’s Southport Visiter, Karen and Mark Baybutt of Moss Lane and also Tarleton Holy Trinity Primary School have been bombarded with calls and enquiries from parents and the media.

Karen and Mark have asked us to convey a clear statement that their son, Tom Baybutt, is fit and well.

The Tom Baybutt who was tragically killed in North Wales and the subject of the report in the Southport Visiter, is however known and related to the local Baybutt family and so the extensive media intrusion has been an unwelcome burden to both of the families involved.

I am writing to apologise profusely for a mistake which appears on the front page of today's Southport Visiter (Friday, October 24).

Thomas Frank Baybutt, aged 8, who died on Wednesday, was a pupil at Kingswood College and was not Thomas Baybutt, aged 8, a pupil who attends Holy Trinity Primary School. I promise I will make this clear to our readers in the next edition of the newspaper.

The mistake was made when a Visiter reporter contacted Holy Trinity School on Thursday evening to enquire whether Thomas Baybutt, 8, was a pupil at their school and was told that he was, and that the school did not wish to comment further. The police refused to confirm any details other than Thomas' name, age and the fact he lived somewhere in the Southport area.

I never imagined Tarleton Holy Trinity may have had a pupil of the same name and age at their school, but understand this will not lessen any distress. I have just been out to deliver letters of apology to: Frank and Andrea Baybutt, the parents of the late Thomas Frank Baybutt, Mark and Karen Baybutt, the parents of Thomas Baybutt, Mrs Gray, headteacher at Tarleton Holy Trinity CE primary school, and Mr Barowski, headteacher at Kingswood College, separately.

Once again I wish to apologise wholeheartedly for my error, and the upset it undoubtedly will have caused.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Brown,
Assistant editor, Southport Visiter

A large public attendance (25) at tonight's Parish Council meeting really put the Parish Council on the spot with regards to the lack of youth facilities, the unsociable behavior of some youths and the lack of police action when things get out of hand. The message was clear: Enough talking - start doing! A skatepark being built on the parish council owned land on Shore Rd was proposed as a realistic example of what could be done. The suggestion was taken on board, with a feasibility study and rough estimates noted as actions. Watch this space!

All but four of the public had left the meeting before the almost inevitable personal abuse started in earnest. Fueled by the Chair "not providing a report" after a visit to the Standards Board, comments from Cllr Ball left him in breach of "Standing Order 28" and thus excluded from the rest of the meeting. Spying his chance, (as technically he was no longer present and so any further comments could not be minuted) Cllr Ball launched a tirade of expletives at the Chair. The fracas ended with a nose to nose "debate" and fisticuffs being threatened. Happening only moments after the Parish Council had discussed the merits of attending a £500 course in effective communication and conflict management, the irony seemed to pass most by.

Other PC news
The 6ft high concrete fence to required to replace the felled trees around the Station Rd pitch will cost £3,100.
The bus shelter opposite Alty's which was destroyed by a Safeway lorry (see news archive) will cost £1736 to replace. Hopefully this sum will be recovered through insurance although apparantly the driver 'forgot' to report the incident; an oversight which has made sorting out the claim even more difficult than usual. Not such a good advert for Safeways.

Newly promoted to Section Two, Hesketh Bank Band came away with a third prize from the North West Counties Brass Band Championships which were held at Fleetwood yesterday. An excellent performance for the first contest in the higher division.

The Band played a piece called Resurgam by Eric Ball. The adjudicator, Mr. Richard Evans said, “This was a very brave performance with some fine musical directing.” Well done to MD Stuart Pullin.

The Band also received a trophy for last season’s achievements, a lovely piece of glassware with 2002-2003 Third Section NorthWest Champions written on it. Here’s to the next prize hopefully not long off!

DECISIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD ON THURSDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2003
8/2003/0275 Gilbert Johnson Esq
Land at Smith Avenue, Tarleton.
Use of land for stationing of 5 static caravans for occupation by seasonal agricultural workers during the months of March through to October.
DECISION - APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS

All farms and Neighbourhood Watch members are asked to be on the lookout for the following vehicle:- A white Transit Van reg. no. S817 SRJ.

This vehicle was seen in suspicious circumstances in Bickerstaffe at around 3:30 on Wednesday afternoon. It is thought they may have been attempting to steal a caravan but when challenged the driver( who spoke with an Irish accent) said they were cutting hedges and then made off towards Rainford. About 2 hours later a shed was reported broken into when lawnmowers and other property were stolen. Please be on the look-out for this vehicle and report any sightings to the Police immediately. To repeat:- A white Transit van reg.no. S817 SRJ.

There is a lack of places available to paying school children on the buses running to Tarleton High School. After two years of being able to catch the 724 service which runs down Chapel road in Hesketh Bank to the High School, my Son (aged 13) has now been told he can't get on because there's no room this year as the number of children with school passes has exceeded the buses capacity (if this is the case, then the bus is unlawfully carrying more people than it should. I think the current bus has a capacity of 73, and there's 76 passes been issued).

Because of local Council funding, Chapel Road is not gritted during winter, there's usually a few accidents, and plenty of near misses to watch on freezing mornings, the thoughts of my Son walking to the High School, or trying to get another bus from the junction of Chapel Road and Station Road (741 service) isn't appealing. Especially when the 741 arrives at 7:56am and leaves the child at the school around 8:15am. That's a long wait for lessons to start.

My Son is not alone, there are few other children who are now having to either get parents to add to the traffic problems by providing lifts, or risking themselves on bikes, or walking. There are even pupils from Crossens who pay and are now also having difficulty getting to and from school.

I spoke to the School Travel help line on 01772 849111 and they were very good in trying to find alternative bus routes. They were also good enough to fill a form in over the phone to pass on to the Council regarding the bus situation. The main argument being the dangers during winter for children on foot.

For anything to be achieved it's going to take all the parents impacted by this problem to fill in the form.

Thanks,
Graham Lawton

107 Chapel Road
Hesketh Bank

Hesketh Bank Band's "Last night at the Proms" at All Saints Hall was a roaring success. The Band, under the direction of MD Stuart Pullin, played a wonderful programme, encompassing a huge range of music, from the traditional Florentine March to start the evenings entertainment, through the theme music from Batman The Movie, Nimrod from The Enigma Variations, Montagues and Capulets from Romeo & Juliet, Time To Say Goodbye made famous by Andrea Berccelli & Sara Brightman, Famous British Marches and not forgetting the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky.

The evening was made complete by our two returning heroes, our guest soloists Paul Turner & Dean Wright. Both of these fine musicians used to play for Hesketh Bank before moving to bigger things. (BBC Phil. & Welsh Nat.Opera Orchestra.) Both of them brought the house down. Paul playing on the whole range of percussion with the band and soloing with Drummers Delight and piece featuring the Glockenspiel, Forgotten Dreams. He then encored by playing the kit alla Paul Turner on The Theme From The A Team. Dean Played the very famous Nessun Dorma and Rule Britannia with variations. All the were played to perfection. It was an honour and a privilege to have them both back "home" on the All Saints stage.

The evening drew to its finale by the traditional playing and singing of Jerusalem and Land of Hope And Glory complete with flag waving, party poppers and streamers. The hall was decorated in Union and St.George's flags and bunting, which all combined made it a very special night for Hesketh Bank. Sadly some people had to be turned away because they had no tickets and the hall was full to capacity and some. We can only say sorry. Next year make sure you have tickets.

Here's to next year's Last Night At The Proms!

After the successful launch of the Tarleton Village Plan at the Cock & Bottle on Monday night you can now download a copy of the excellent document and browse at your leisure the Village Vision, and hopefully get involved - you can really help with the activities that will turn the Action Plan into reality. Download a copy by clicking the link below. You will need adobe acrobat to read it - click the link to get a free copy of the software from adobe.

Download Tarleton Village Plan

Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Have Your Say

Click Here

Hesketh-with-Becconsall Parish Council tonight decided to return the £50,000 loan taken from the Public Works Loan Board earlier this year. The controversial loan (see news archive) was for the supposed purchase of land in Hesketh Bank for sports and public recreational use. In a letter clarifying the options open to the Parish Council, the PWLB confirmed that returning the money would not jeopardize any later application but this very brief encounter with the world of high finance will cost the Hesketh-with-Becconsall ratepayers a £567.20 in interest charges with nothing at all to show for it.

Other Parish Council news
The proposed car park at Booths will be an amenity for the village and not just for Booths shoppers (but watch out for any parking "constraints" which may creep in at the detailed planning stage).

A £190 advert has apparently delivered seven applicants for the Clerk position which means there are at least six people who will have cause for celebration when the interview panel makes its selection.

The position on the Parish Council vacated by Cllr Birkby will go to a by-election in October so now is the time to get your application in! If you want to stand and would like to send in your mugshot and your "election speech" we will set up a page especially for the candidates.

Alty's took umbrage at "the tone" of the letter from the Parish Council regarding the request to reconsider the newly introduced razor wire now topping sections of their perimeter fence (see news archive) and wrote back to the Parish Council telling them as much, explained how they took legal advice before erecting the razor wire and in any case, possibly only did it because the Fly Fishing Club had asked them to. Rumours that the fence will now also be electrified and a minefield laid are clearly not true.

All Saints Church Hall was packed last night with around 140 local residents, shopkeepers and traders from Tarleton and Hesketh Bank attending the Public Meeting called by Hesketh-with-Becconsall Parish Council to gather views on the proposed development of a Booths Supermarket on land to be sold by Alty's.

Predictably, no one from Alty's or Booths attended the meeting (at least in an official capacity) but, to the anger and frustration of many at the meeting, no one from West Lancashire planning was in attendance; the invitation declined with the department claiming that in order to retain a "neutral" outlook they could not attend. How listening to the pros and cons as seen from the perspective of local residents rather than the developer detracts from this ideal was not explained.

The speakers at the meeting were evenly divided in their views but a straw poll at the end of the meeting determined a majority in favour of the development in principle.

One issue crossed the divide; the potential adverse impact of the development on traffic in the village(s). It was a clear wish that the conclusions of an independent traffic assessment be made public and serious consideration be given to improving the proposed road layout in the area of the development in advance of detailed planning permission.

• Layer the hawthorn hedge such that it can regenerate and, in the long term, hide the...
• 2m high concrete panel wall to be installed along the Station Rd end of the pitch and join up with that proposed to be installed behind the Village Hall
• Erect temporary netting behind the Station Rd end goal and
• Plant a small row of conifers to the rear of the goal as both a memorial and as a longer term solution to the temporary netting.

Following our story yesterday we had a full inbox this morning with many of you commenting on the "job creation scheme" surrounding the administration of the new access policy to the Recycling Centres and the detrimental impact this will have on recycling initiatives.

Clearly many householders are annoyed by the introduction of this policy, the lack of communication with regard to it's necessity and purpose and also the knock on impact to the environment (fly tipping) and recycling (large volumes of green waste diverted to landfill that would have otherwise have been composted).

We believe that the situation has already been raised with our County Councilor, Robert Hodge and we warmly extend a right of reply to all parties involved.

The Village Visitor Today

Yet again the antics of Parish Councilors make the news.

For information on the expected standards of behavior and how to make a complaint go to the Standards Board Website