A council magazine for the residents of Halewood, Huyton, Kirkby, Prescot, Whiston and surrounding areas Issue 8 Winter 2006 Knowsleywww.knowsley.gov.uk NEWS in this issue CRACKING CRIME FOUR-PAGE SPECIAL STUB OUT COOK SMOKING SAFE THIS CHRISTMAS 12 TIPS FROM OUR EXPERT EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH WILLY RUSSELL where there’s a Will there’s a play A DREAM JOB WITH JADE welcome has again recognised that the council in the knowledge that our parks delivers fi rst-class services and is run and open spaces, library services in an open and accountable way. and leisure centres have all Knowsley was one of only seven retained national awards for authorities in the country to be top quality provision. awarded top marks for its services And people who use our benefi ts to children and young people. service can be sure of a fast and It highlights our continued effi cient service after it achieved improvement in educational ‘excellent’ status. Hello and welcome to the winter attainment at both Key Stage 2 and This all demonstrates the hard work issue of Knowsley News. Key Stage 4 and also our road safety and dedication of Knowsley Council May I fi rst of all wish you and education programmes, which have and its partners to provide real your family a Merry Christmas signifi cantly reduced accidents. benefi ts to you and your community. and a Happy New Year – all the best! Knowsley is also leading the way But as ever we won’t be resting on I’d like to assure you Knowsley by increasing investment in primary our laurels and will continue to strive Council staff will be working hard schools meals. We are the only to make Knowsley an even better to make sure essential services authority on Merseyside to make a place to live, work and visit. run smoothly throughout the commitment to give all our 58 primary Once again, enjoy yourself over festive period. schools their own kitchens and cooks. the festive period! In this issue you can fi nd information The borough was also recognised about bin and recycling collections over this year as the top business enterprise Christmas and New Year. area in the North West, underlining Looking back on 2006, it is has been our commitment to providing jobs and a really good year. skills training for local people. Cllr Ron Round The Government Audit Commission You can also enjoy leisure activities Leader of Knowsley Council contents One great magazine, four great sections what’s hot 4in focus lifestyle the guide 3-8 All the latest 10 A partnership 20 Work, rest news from for parents and plays around Knowsley 12 Full of 21 A dream job enterprise with Jade 22 Breaking the crime addiction 24 Ask the special expert pages 15-18 25 Sport 28 What’s on listings 31 Shelf life Knowsley News is produced by Knowsley Council four times a year and distributed to all households in the borough. The next edition will be published in March. If you have any comments or feedback – or would like to write a letter for publication – please contact the editor, Gareth Roberts, at: EE1078110781 KKnowsleynowsley vv2.indd2.indd 2 11/12/06/12/06 22:58:21:58:21 ppmm All the latest what’s hot news How James Bond-style methods are catching criminals, why Knowsley is hot at beating the cold, and where a walking bus scheme has become a school favourite. FFundingunding bboostoost fforor pprimaryrimary sschoolschools GREENGATES primary in Knowsley is to benefi t from a multimillion-pound new school building thanks to funding announced by the DfES. By GEMMA MELLING The Halewood school get an idea of how all – created last year after primary schools may the mergers of New look in the future. Hutte and Roseheath Cllr Ron Round, schools – is one of Leader of Knowsley a handful to receive Council, said: “This funding as part of the latest funding, which Government’s pilot will enable a rebuild of Pathfi nder scheme. Greengates school in The money - £6.5m Halewood, is great news – will be used to create for Knowsley and is key a primary school fi t to our plan to create for the future, offering learning environments not only state of the art fi t for the future for all design and technology, our schoolchildren. but also serving as “Having already a hub for the local been chosen as one of community. Headteacher, Anne Johnson with pupils Jacklyn the fi rst authorities to Knowsley is the only Mousley, Amy Halliday, Dean Owens and Tony See rebuild all its secondary authority in Merseyside from New Hutte and Roseheath. schools as part of the to have been chosen Building Schools for the to receive this funding, Future programme, we which is part of a It comes after money was Together with the Greengates are delighted that we £150m nationwide investment also secured to create new scheme, these three building are going to be able to enjoy a unveiled by Schools Minister primary schools in Northwood, projects will help Knowsley similar transformation in some Jim Knight. Kirkby, and in North Huyton. Council and the Government to of our primaries.” www.knowsley.gov.uk 3 what’s hot Cash rewards for environmental projects YOU CAN EMAIL THE hunt is on for the best community groups in Knowsley. YOUR STORIES, Groups who are helping to improve their local LETTERS AND environment can enter the 2007 Community Environmental Challenge, with a top prize of £1,000 COMMENTS TO and runner-up prizes of £500 and £300. THE EDITOR: Previous winners included projects on recycling knowsleynews@ and energy conservation, litter and graffi ti control knowsley.gov.uk and support for community environmental days. For further information, or to apply, contact Tom Eccles on 443 2419. Pat Holden: Live and let dye an excellent teacher A JAMES Bond-style crime-fi ghting technique is helping police in Knowsley to catch burglars. Smart Water is a permanent non- them undeniably to the scene of a toxic liquid, which is invisible to the crime. naked eye but glows when exposed Knowsley’s custody suite has to ultraviolet light. been installed with ultraviolet lighting Property can be marked with the to link offenders to crime scenes. water and every batch has a unique Councillor Jackie Harris, cabinet code that is stored on a national member for Community Safety database, so stolen items can be and Social Inclusion said: “The quickly returned. introduction of Smart Water The Knowsley Partnership has technology throughout Knowsley is teamed up with the makers of Smart a positive and proactive response to Water in a bid to encourage home targeting criminals operating across and business owners to mark their the borough. property and catch out thieves. “Smart Water will hopefully Every school in Knowsley has become a deterrent to thieves as the already been protected with a device substance stays on clothing and skin which when triggered sprays the for months. Our message is clear – offender with Smart Water linking if they steal, they will be marked.” Criminals are caught red Pat’s the way to do it handed with Smart Water A KNOWSLEY teacher has been named top of the class for her unique lessons. Pat Holden was named an ‘Excellent Teacher’ (ET) by a new Government scheme. She was one of just 20 teachers in England and Wales to receive the honour and the fi rst in Merseyside. Pat said: “The Excellent Teacher scheme is the perfect way to develop my career. I was inspired to apply as I believe in helping teachers to develop themselves and support each other.” Pat has been teaching English, Maths and Science for over 33 years to children from nursery age to year six at Prescot Primary School. She also teaches French and is a champion of ICT, using Apple Mac technology to improve computer skills. “I genuinely feel I could not have achieved the status without the support of the head teacher, Cath Carson, and all of the staff at the school. The children love the idea that an ET has landed in their classroom!” 4 www.knowsley.gov.uk what’s hot Budding fundraisers CHILDREN at a Knowsley junior school showed they had pots of care to spare by taking part in a blooming great fundraiser for a cancer charity. Youngsters at St Margaret Mary’s RC in Pilch Lane, Huyton got their hands dirty planting daffodils for Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Pots of Care Campaign. The fl owers will blossom in spring, in time for the launch of the charity’s national Great Daffodil Appeal which helps fund nursing for cancer patients and care and support for their families. Hot deals to save Britain’s best neighbour GRAN Lily Muscat from Fincham Square, Huyton, energy and cash has been crowned Britain’s Best Neighbour by the National Housing Federation, which represents KNOWSLEY residents can slash their heating bills by up to £200 a housing associations across the UK. year by taking advantage of the council’s Heatstreets grant scheme. Lily, 60, has lived in the area for 33 years. Despite ill health, Lily continues to lead the Fincham Square More than 7,000 homes in Knowsley Merseyside Energy Effi ciency Advice Residents’ Committee and has inspired friends and have had loft and cavity wall insulation Centre (MEEAC) on 0800 512 012. They neighbours to make huge changes to the area. fi tted in the last three years. This has will arrange for a free surveyor visit. She has organised tidy up days, fundraising for day helped the borough become the most Residents over 60 or those on trips and even arranged for a paving company to energy effi cient in the country.