A 4-star council Awarded top marks by the Audit Commission April 2008 PREMIER LEAGUEBEEFED UP GENERATION GAME Reading scheme backed 44 per cent meat Win £100 for your by Rovers’ star increase in school meals parenting tips Page 11 Page 3 Page 7 County’s shining example IS THIS THE LANCASHIRE County Council has been awarded the coveted Beacon Council status for its work on “improving accessibility”. The council is one of only five authorities nationally to be chosen LAST POST? as a shining example by inspectors. The award recognises the council’s Move to close post offices will see ‘slow commitment to ensuring that all the county’s resi- dents are able to get access to the jobs and death of rural communities’ services that they need. The highly competi- tive national Beacon COUNTY councillors from across the scheme identifies excel- political spectrum have united to fight lence and innovation in possible post office closures in local government. Lancashire. Beacon authorities are If government approval is given, the current also expected to share information and expert- proposals would lead to the closure of one in five ise with others councils of Lancashire’s post offices. to raise standards. A move to close 56 post offices across the county The government was has been condemned as a significant threat to com- particularly impressed munity life. Councillors have vowed to continue lob- with the county council’s bying post office officials and the government for a actions to improve fairer deal. access to healthcare and The council’s official response to the post office con- employment. sultation claims how Lancashire has been unfairly County council work targeted. More than a quarter of the county’s post with the health sector offices have closed since 2003 - only London has had was praised, in particu- more closures. lar work with East Councillors have written to local MPs to make the Lancashire Hospitals’ case for keeping the post offices open. Petitions Trust for a clinical serv- against the closures were also placed in county ices review and the libraries. Lancashire Mental County Councillor Doreen Pollitt, deputy Labour Health Trust in choosing leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “These appropriate locations for plans will remove an important part of our neigh- their new in-patient bourhoods. The county council is working closely units. with district councils to improve our local areas and County Councillor develop sustainable communities. Hazel Harding, leader of “These plans would go against that work and be Lancashire County seriously damaging to our county. Council, said: “This is “The people who are taking these decisions need to tremendous news and be clear about the very serious impact of these clo- proof that we among the sures.” leading councils in the Although the county council has responded to the country and that our proposals and is awaiting the post office’s response, FIRST class: determined residents in Lytham where their post office is one of 56 under threat across Lancashire. (Left to right) Thomas Jeferries, Florence Kirrelly, Mark Bamforth, sub-postmaster, Cath Powell and Clem Camotto. residents benefit from councillors have pledged to continue their discus- the work we do with sions with local communities, the government and County Councillor Shelagh Derwent, speaking on estimate the negative impact this will have on our other organisations to other groups, to find ways to safeguard services and maximise opportunities. protect communities. behalf of the Conservative group, said: “Closing post communities, both urban and rural alike.” offices without proper consideration of all the conse- At the time of going to press, a public announce- “Improving accessibili- Councillor Pollitt added: “We’re currently looking ty is about breaking at county council services and post offices to see quences can result in the slow death of rural commu- ment from Post Offices Ltd regarding possible clo- nities.” sures in this area was due to be made on Tuesday down all the barriers whether we could work more closely together. There that prevent people from might be options for us to join up and maintain serv- County Councillor David Whipp, leader of the 1 April. Liberal Democrat group, said: “Lancashire has Read next month’s Vision for more details. taking advantage of ices in our communities.” opportunities.” Senior councillors from the other parties have also already had to bear the brunt of office closures and New county lifeline for Dolphinholme library criticised the government’s plan: we are now being targeted again. We cannot under- and post office - see page seven Cont p11
A cassette version of Vision is now available for visually impaired people from Galloway’s Society for the Blind by calling 01772 744148
The presence of promotional leaflets delivered inside Vision does not imply Lancashire County Council endorsement. YOUR LANCASHIRE: A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE MATTERS 2 April 2008 Providing • food safety • welfare advice www.lancashire.gov.uk
A full job description of all vacancies is available on our website www.lancashire.gov.uk/vacancies
ASK THE EXPERT Ged returns Questions answered by your friend in the know to his roots
Price of Council’s new boss aims to happiness My partner and I are planning on getting boost residents’ life chances married some time next year at the register office LANCASHIRE County in Burnley. Please can Council has appointed a new you tell me how I go about starting the chief executive. Ged Fitzgerald has been named as process off and how the new head of the fourth largest local much a ceremony would authority in the country. He is current- cost? Miss A Holden, Padiham ly chief executive at four-star rated Sunderland City Council. Marriages and Civil County Councillor Hazel Harding, Partnerships in leader of Lancashire County Council, Lancashire can be said: “I am sure that Ged will build on booked, at the earliest, the solid foundations laid by Chris 12 months to the day in Trinick, the current chief executive, advance of the wedding and prove an excellent chief executive. date. A register office “He is an experienced chief executive NEW boss Ged Fitzgerald. ceremony currently with a proven track record of achieve- costs £43.50 during the ment particularly in cultural change, still to be done.” week and on Saturday A GOOD start (see Price of Happiness). After graduating from London mornings, and a University, Mr Fitzgerald started his Lancashire County Saturday afternoon cer- Parking help Lancashire is on an local government career at Sefton Council Student emony costs £153.50. I am a blue badge hold- Council. He then worked for several Services. Student exciting journey Prices are subject to er and have sent off my Merseyside authorities before some Services’ main aim is to change on 1 April each renewal forms, along major appointments at Liverpool City advise and staff give year. However you will with the photographs customer focus, regeneration and part- Council. guidance to young peo- be advised of the new and other information ‘nership working - all of which are at Senior positions followed at ple and adults, on the charges by the cere- that was requested by the top of our agenda.” Calderdale Council, Rotherham financial assistance monies officer. the blue badge depart- Mr Fitzgerald (46) said: “Lancashire’ Council and currently as chief execu- available for further In order to make a pro- ment. I did this three has great potential and the county tive at Sunderland City Council. higher education. To visional booking you weeks ago, but I still council is in an excellent position to Originally from the North West, find out more, or to will need to ring haven’t received my new improve the quality of life and the Liverpool-born Ged is married and has speak to Student Don’t know who to Lancashire County badge, or had heard opportunities available to residents an eight-year-old daughter. Services, call 0800 contact when you Council’s Registrars’ anything since. and its communities. The job is a return to the county for 0530000. need help? Helpline on 0845 I am getting worried “Helping to lead the county on the Ged, who has gained a postgraduate 0530021. because my current next stages of its journey is an exciting Diploma in Management Studies from Baffled by Tidy trees badge is due to expire in opportunity. the University of Central Lancashire. bureaucracy? My husband and I are two weeks. “I hope to build on the achievements Chris Trinick, Lancashire’s current Financial elderly pensioners who Mr N, Leyland and improvements already made, chief executive is to retire from the Ring Shirley on advice are both very proud of whilst recognizing that there is much county council on 31 May 2008, after 0845 0530000 or email I am starting university the road that we have There is nothing to six years in charge. Shirley on enquiries@ in September and I have lived on for 30 years. I worry about as this is css.lancscc.gov.uk no idea on how I go am very pleased to say the normal procedure about getting my stu- that over the years all for renewing a blue Tudor tower leads tourism charge Write to: dent loan sorted! I the residents, including badge. Ask Shirley would greatly appreciate ourselves, have kept the You will be informed only if any additional Customer Service Centre it if you could advise me maintenance of the on how I do this. street to a very high evidence is needed. Your The Red Rose Hub new badge is sent out 5- Bluebell Way Mr G, Morecambe standard. Unfortunately we have a 7 working days before Preston Advice on new and the current badge is due PR2 5PZ problem with trees and existing student loans bushes hanging over to expire irrespective of can be found into our garden which when you posted it. by call- looks rather untidy. We If you have any further ing were wondering if you questions please contact do any kind of pruning Lancashire County service? Council s blue badge Mrs H Denton, Earby team on 0845 0530049.
Yes there is a pruning service. Lancashire County Council does keep the maintenance of trees and other plants DON’T under their responsibili- ty. This includes prun- FORGET GREAT time: Brittany Rossall (8) and Lewis Gannon (9) of Hayhouse CE Primary School. ing them and making sure that they are not TURTON Tower held a special in woodlands on the edge of the West causing a hazard to the You county councillor event last month to mark the Pennine Moors and hosts rooms dis- public and residents. will be keen to help. second annual British Tourism playing a magnificent collection of A request can be put Contact details are decorative woodwork, paintings and available on Week to promote the importance furniture, including items loaned from forward to Lancashire of tourism to Lancashire and the County Council, for the 0845 0530000 or at: the Victoria and Albert Museum. trees to be pruned by www.lancashire.gov.uk UK economy. Built in 1420, Turton Tower is calling the highways Visitors including pupils from Listed and is a popular tourist attrac- department on 0845 You can also try your Hayhouse CE Primary School in St tion for local and national visitors. For 0530011 whereby a area’s County Information Annes met the Tower’s historic Tudor more information about Turton Tower member of the team will Centre where staff are Lord of the Manor William Orrell and and Lancashire Museums visit online be happy to help. trained to help the public his steward Alexander. at www.lancsmuseums.gov.uk or The 15th-century Tudor tower is set contact 01204 852203. www.lancashire.gov.uk Providing • adult education • libraries April 2008 3 Catch the direct bus - to court
FIRST there was the Trojan By Martin Crabtree horse and now there’s the Trojan bus! were detained by the officers acting as A special vehicle has been touring passengers, taken home and Youth parts of the county in the guise of a Referral Notices issued. normal public transport service. But, Rick said: “People have the choice to MAKE trouble if you dare: law enforcers are ready to make arrests on Lancashire’s “Trojan bus”. Troublemakers can be hiding inside, is a crack team of crime leave the bus to travel round its route caught red-handed in a bid to boost public confidence. prevention officers ready to swoop on in peace, sadly there are some that anti-social individuals. have to learn the hard way that we will Trouble-makers in Skelmersdale take action.” Sign up for were amongst the first in the county to The Trojan bus started off in West get caught out when they fired at it Lancashire but now plans are being Much more meat for knowledge with an airgun and launched an attack made to launch another in Preston and when it “broke down”. more could spring up in other parts of THE real St George, cre- Officers responded immediately and the county if needed. no more money ative writing, composer a large group of teenagers was Vernon Roby, general manager at Puccini, the Celtic king- detained. One had the rifle in his pos- Arriva, said: “Following successful doms of north Britain session and was arrested. Trojan Bus operations in the SCHOOL dinners are should not rise due to a “The extra cash means and birdlife will all be Rick Wilson from the county coun- Merseyside area, the result of the to be better than ever mix of extra Whitehall we can boost the menu the subject of a series of cil’s Safer Travel Unit explains: “It Skelmersdale operation was certainly with 44 per cent more cash and a forecast in a way that youngsters day schools at Lancaster seems incredible that someone would a major triumph. increase in pupil will enjoy. meat. University. attack a bus, or any vehicle for that “Arriva’s commitment to this part- demand. “We have spent six Experts from across The extra helpings of matter, but it happens. nership approach underlines just how County school meal months rejigging the Britain will teach mem- “Bus operators know very well that much we value public and staff safety. goodness will be added chief Roger Eakhurst menu in a way that will bers of the publicat the there are some hot-spots on some of “I would like to express my thanks to school meals from this said: “There will be more benefit everyone.” schools. Lessons start at their routes and they are now getting for the support given by West month (April) in a bid to iron and zinc to guaran- The meals redesign 10am and end at 4pm on the support to sort the problems out.” Lancashire Police and can assure the boost the health of tee healthy development also aims to encourage various days in April. Later, at a staged “breakdown”, a public that further Trojan Buses are Lancashire’s children. – and less fat and sugar pupils to eat more fruit Further details on group of youths attacked the bus and planned.” Prices, however, in meals. and vegetables. 01524 592623/4. 4 April 2008 Providing • bridge maintenance • paths www.lancashire.gov.uk NEWS Easy-to-use ‘Oyster card’ bus BRIEFS A cleaner county scheme may come to county THOUSANDS of Lancashire County A PILOT scheme to test out technology Council staff are being that could banish the fumble for bus encouraged to ditch their Work underway on Nelson’s interchange cars and cycle to work. fares forever has been underway in the Council bosses esti- county for the last few weeks. mate the Cycle to Work The county council has been carrying out a month- OUR picture shows the initiative could see 1,800 long trial of smart-card technology - a similar scheme progress on the multi- workers make the switch has been a huge hit in London - on Fishwick’s and million pound bus and to cycling by giving them rail interchange in the chance to save on the Stagecoach buses in Preston and South Ribble. cost of buying a bike with The initiative is part of the CIVITAS initiative Nelson. Contractors are cur- a special tax scheme. which is bringing a wide range of innovative trans- Combating climate change port schemes to the city. rently hard at work and road congestion are Bus projects officer Dianne Taylor explained: assembling the main key aims for Lancashire “Our trials involved staff from the council and the structure of what will be County Council - everyone bus companies boarding buses and swiping their one of Lancashire’s best will benefit from less con- cards to see how the technology works and to identi- public transport facilities. gestion. fy potential problems. The £4.8m project will “If the system works it could help bus journey provide a state-of-the-art Library friends times improve, bring to an end problems with bus station linked directly change, and take us some way towards a ‘cashless’ to the existing railway LIBRARIES across station and, it is hoped, Lancashire may soon system like ones that operate in places like London.” have their own Friends Depending on the outcome of the trials the next will welcome its first pas- sengers in October. of the Library group. step will be to roll the scheme out to the public, It is hoped that the potentially aiming it at the 16-23 year old age group. Funding for the new proposed groups will Dianne said: “Ultimately we are looking towards a building has come from provide the public with a system which would allow people to ‘charge up’ their Lancashire County say in deciding what travel cards with cash and purchase things like sea- Council and the Pendle services each library will son tickets or weekly passes electronically.” Partnership. offer. New boss for child services Know your rights on cil’s services for chil- HIGH-flying private-sector exec- utive Helen Denton has been dren and young peo- appointed as the county council’s ple, including educa- new executive director for tion. free nationwide travel Helen started her Children and Young People. career as a secondary Blackpool-born Helen will join the teacher in Manchester OVER 250,000 concessionary England. Friday and all day on Saturdays, council from Serco, one of the leading before a spell as head travelcards English National In readiness the NoWcard Sundays and bank holidays. private-sector partners in the educa- of home economics in a Concession Bus Passes will team, based in Lancashire, has Anyone who is entitled will be tion and children’s services sector. Hong Kong School. been busily producing and send- receiving full details direct by As operations director, Helen has On returning to the Helen Denton. have been issued to residents ing out cards to over quarter of a mail direct from the NoWcard been responsible for Serco’s education in Lancashire and Cumbria UK, Helen did a million people. It is hoped that by team. Additional local concessions and children’s services contracts for Masters degree, worked for the by the time Vision reaches 1 April ALL residents currently may be available and details will authorities in the Midlands and West Department for Education and Science you. registered for the entitlement will be published in the local press and Yorkshire. then built a career in local government On 1 April new rules mean that have their cards. the NoWcard website www.now- Here in Lancashire, Helen will be with senior roles in several authorities, the over-60s and eligible disabled NoWcard English National card.org . responsible for all of the county coun- including Leeds and Sefton. people will be entitled to free Concession card holders will be More information on the transport on buses throughout the able to travel for free on local bus scheme is available by visiting UK, and to travel free on off-peak services available after 9.30am www.nowcard.org or by tele- local bus services throughout and before 11pm Monday to phoning 0845 0581096. WIN a day trip to Edinburgh
Keep calm in Disabled people often need Even when they do, the classes drivers and they must park are overcrowded and there is a and the chance to visit the royal yacht Britannia the car park somewhere! lack of basic materials such as SOME people really take the B SHARON exercise books, pencils and text- HERE is your chance to to enjoy a friendly staff as you travel at speed biscuit when it comes to Chorley books. We in Lancashire have great day out in Scotland by entering through beautiful countryside to offensiveness. been well provided for in schools, our latest competition. The prize is for Waverley station, Edinburgh’s main They assume that all blue- Mountain challenge but we should not forget that oth- two adults or a family with two children railway station. From there, the royal badge holders must be disabled. I WONDER ers are not so fortunate. between the ages of five to 15 years. yacht is a few minutes away by taxi or That is not the case. I want to raise at least £2,000 Included are First Class midweek bus. if any Vision for Childreach (registered charity In my case, my young son is readers can Virgin Train tickets with the chance to For a chance to win, answer the fol- autistic and, as so, is in danger of 1106400) and hope that readers visit the royal yacht. lowing and send your completed entry wandering into the road – among help me to can help with donations. You may stay longer than a day - to Edinburgh Comp, Vision, County a number of other perils he must help commu- Anyone kind enough to help providing you arrange your own Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ by Friday 18 face. It means the blue badge in nities in the can send donations to: Fox accommodation - recommended for April. my car is for his benefit. It is per- Kilimanjaro Clough Barn, Birchenlee Lane, the royal yacht option. You could save a stamp by entering fectly deserved and perfectly region of Colne LANCS BB8 8HL. Edinburgh offers you a choice electronically at: legitimate. SARAH PICKERING between the traditional and new. From www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/vision Tanzania. Colne Why then must I put up with a This sum- the magnificent castle to a world-class farrago of abuse each time I take selection of museums, walking tours Name Edinburgh’s main rail station. mer I will trav- him to the shops? People see me el to Tanzania Sarah Pickering. Cycling vision and unique visitor attractions, park the car and assume I am a and climb Scotland’s capital has something to The winner will be asked if he or fraud. WHAT a great idea to use former interest everyone. she wants to visit the royal yacht. Mount Kilimanjaro. It will be a railway tracks as cycle paths The language is bad. The black huge challenge to me – and will Shopping there is an experience For information about Virgin Trains, looks are even more wounding. (Vision, March). like no other. including online bookings, visit also give me the chance to spend Lancashire has any number of Such poor behaviour comes not time at some of the Childreach With more restaurants per head www.virgintrains.com or phone just from general members of the such tracks - all specially than any other UK city, dining out is 085457 222333 or any staffed railway International projects in the area. designed to link towns. public, but also from other blue- Childreach projects include fantastic whatever your budget. station or rail-appointed travel agent. badge holders who you might It is a shame to see them go to Your journey with Virgin Trains VisitScotland Edinburgh and finding suitable means of provid- waste, so let’s hope that more think would be more ing clean water, improving educa- starts in style and comfort from a Lothians can send accommodation sympathetic. money is made available to con- choice of stations on the West Coast details. Check out www.visitscot- tion and vocational training and vert them into safe cycling I understand people getting also working with, and helping line, including Preston and Lancaster. land.com or call 0845 2255121 for angry at parking cheats – but “motorways” for shoppers and Meals are served at your seat by information. street-children. children going to and from appeal to people to be more con- Not all children attend school. siderate in general. schools. The prize is as stated. Travel to and from mainline rail stations is not included. Lancashire County Council employees cannot enter. Usual competi- G DOUGLAS tion terms and conditions apply. www.lancashire.gov.uk Providing • information centres • hotlines April 2008 5 Programmes fit for a Prince
ROYALTY paid a visit to two job creating Burnley projects that are supported by Lancashire County Council. Prince Charles paid the visit to Burnley to see the regeneration work that is being carried out in the town. His visit saw him take in two projects that Lancashire County Developments Limited (LCDL) help to support - Lancashire Digital Technology Centre and the Weaver’s Triangle in Burnley. At the technology centre he was greeted by Steve Dean, LCDL managing director, who said: “It was very interesting to meet His Royal Highness and to see at first hand his commitment and support to the work that Lancashire County Council, LCDL and Burnley Council are doing in regenerating the town.”