The Challenge January 2019

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Issue: 379 January 2019

Knowsley Council secures future of Prescot Cables Football Club

PRESCOT CABLES SECURE FUTURE Left to right: Peter Kneale, director Prescot Cables FC, Doug Lace chairman of Prescot Cables Football Club, Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council, Cllr Denise Allen and Cllr Steff O’Keeffe, Prescot South Ward members.

An agreement has been signed by Knowsley Council to secure the future of Prescot Cables Football Club.

The council has completed the freehold purchase of Volair Park, the club’s home ground, and a new 99 year lease has been granted for the club.

Knowsley Council has been in discussions with the club since it became apparent that the current landlord was not prepared to grant the club a further lease over the ground.

Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council said: “Prescot Cables Football Club has been a huge part of the town since 1884 and it would have been a terrible blow if the club had to close its doors.

“As soon as we knew the club was experiencing difficulties over the lease, we have been in discussions with them to help find a solution.

“By securing the purchase of the ground and putting this lease agreement in place, the council has been able to help the club stay open and to remain in the heart of the Prescot community.

“This agreement will also give the club the opportunity to explore options to raise

more revenue and to secure grant funding.

“For the council, it made absolute sense to get involved. By investing in the club we will be supporting a valuable local asset and importantly we will also recoup all of our investment, through an annual rental payment from the club.

“Knowsley Council is currently delivering on our ambitious plans to transform Prescot into a thriving and attractive cultural, leisure and independent led retail destination and Prescot Cables plays an important part of this.

“I am pleased to have been able to secure the future of this much loved and valuable community asset for Prescot, Knowsley and indeed the wider region.”

Doug Lace, chairman of Prescot Cables Football Club said: “The board of directors are delighted that we have been able to sign this new lease agreement which will secure the long term future of Prescot Cables Football club here in Prescot.

“We have been playing at the ground since 1906 but we have never before had the security of a 99 year lease.

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“We would We have been like to extend playing at the our thanks to Knowsley ground since Council for 1906 their support and their commitment to helping us to remain in the heart of the community and to continue to support local residents and the rest of the town.”

Prescot Cables Football Club is the most senior football club in Knowsley and as a Community Interest Company, membership is open to all and supporters can buy shares in the club for £5 per year.

The club is engaged with improving the wellbeing of the local community in a number of ways through sporting activities. As a member of the Northern Premier League, the club promotes Prescot and Knowsley throughout the North West and the ground hosts charity matches and local junior club finals.

Prescot Cables also fields eight Youth teams from the ages of 6 – 18 years recruiting locally in the Knowsley area.

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NEW YEAR HONOUR FOR HENRY A British Empire Medal (BEM) has been awarded to Henry Birch for his services to the church and the community of Halewood Village.

Henry, who is 87-years-old has served as a member of Halewood Town Council, including a year as Town Mayor. He has worshiped at St Mary’s Church Halewood for 50 years.

He has been a steward for 40 years and is still a communion steward and helps lead worship on a regular basis.

Henry enjoys singing and is part of the church choir, often giving up his time to sing at weddings and funerals that take place in the parish.

He is still involved in running the local youth club at church every week and also helps to run a holiday club during the school holidays. He is also part of the pastoral care team and regularly visits those who are sick.

On a Sunday morning, he also takes parishioners who are unable to walk, to and from church.

He is also on the local day care centre committee, serving the elderly in Halewood. Henry has supported summer fayres both at Halewood and at Wavertree CoE School by running the hot dog stand, creates a grotto and plays Father Christmas at Wavertree School every Christmas.

He is on the Friends of the School Committee at Wavertree CoE Schools and also supports the school by arranging fund raising events and by helping on school trips.

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2 January 2019

Officers investigating stabbing on Huyton Lane Police officers were called to Huyton Lane on Thursday 3 January following reports that a man had been stabbed.

The incident is reported to have happened just after 1pm when the victim, a man in his 40s was stabbed in the back by an unknown offender, who is then believed to have made off down a nearby alley.

The offender is described as male, in his early teens/twenties, wearing all black with his face covered. He is also believed to be riding a motorcycle.

The victim has been taken to hospital where his condition is described as stable.

Officers remain at the scene carrying out further forensic and CCTV investigations to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact @MerPolCC quoting crime ref: 19100003289 so we can find those responsible and bring them to justice.

BUTTERFLY SANTA SLEIGH A SUCCESS The Owens Butterfly Santa Sleigh has proved a huge success again this year after its tour of Huyton and Roby.

Organiser, Carl Davies said “We would like to thank all the volunteers and residents along the route, with their help and support, without them we could not of run the sleigh.

“We managed to raise £1615.48 which will be distributed to local and worthy causes, including; The Iron Duke Sea Cadets, Willowbrook Hospice, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, St

NUMBER OF PARISH/TOWN COUNCILLORS TO BE REDUCED Proposals to reduce the number of parish/town councillors given the go ahead.

The Local Government Boundary Commission has approved the recommendations of a Community Governance Review of Parish and Town Councils.

Three consultations have been carried out, starting in October 2017 and concluding in August 2018, seeking the views of residents and businesses in the borough on the electoral arrangements of the parish and town councils in the borough – Cronton, Halewood, Knowsley, Prescot and Whiston.

The final consultation specifically asked if residents and the business community supported the proposal to reduce the number of parish/town

Annes Rovers Girls JFC and Whiston Juniors Barca U14s JFC.

Name of Parish/Town Council

KNOWSLEY VILLAGE ART GROUP

Cronton Parish Council Halewood Town Council

Knowsley Village Art Group (Adults) are running weekly sessions every Monday from 9:30am – 12:30pm at Knowsley Village Hall, School Lane, Knowsley Village, L34 9EN. The art group for adults is run by excellent an teacher.

For further information please contact: John Newton on 0151 546 4769.

Name of Parish Ward

Number of Councillors

Agreed Change to Number of Councillors

Unwarded

8

Reduce from 10

Halewood North

6

No change

Halewood South Knowsley Town Council

6 Knowsley Park

Stockbridge Prescot Town Council

3

Overall reduction from 16 to 12

9 Prescot North

Prescot South Whiston Town Council

councillors and 83% of respondents agreed with the proposal.

The recommendation to reduce the number of parish/town councillors in Cronton Parish Council, Knowsley Town Council, Prescot Town Council and Whiston Town Council have now been approved by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Once implemented, it will still mean ‘business as usual’ with parish/town councils able to continue to operate at the same level as they have done previously.

The changes (outlined below) will apply to the election of councillors from 2019.

7

Overall reduction from 17 to 12

5 Whiston North

4

Overall reduction from 14 to 12

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION FOLLOWING BURGLARY AND CRIMINAL DAMAGE IN CRONTON

LINSKILLS SOLICITORS Benefit Fraud Specialists You may be entitled to free advice and assistance from a Legal Advisor if you are required to attend a DWP interview under caution and could be charged with a serious criminal offence.

Do not talk yourself into a criminal charge Contact our team of specialists on

0151 236 2224 For immediate assistance

Detectives are appealing for information following burglary and criminal damage at function rooms in Knowsley recently.

At some point between midnight and 8.15am on Monday 3 December, unknown offenders forced entry to Parklands Club in Parklands, Cronton, close to the border with Cheshire.

Cash was stolen and considerable damage caused to the premises, including fruit machines, internal doors and electrical equipment.

Forensic, CCTV and witness enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is urged to come forward.

Detective Constable Roy Waller said: “As the picture shows, the devastation caused to this local business will be massive. Not only have they lost money, but the criminal damage will incur further inconvenience, distress and repair costs.

“Burglars have no regard for the many hardworking people in our communities, so I would urge anyone who saw or heard anything, or anyone behaving suspiciously close to the location in recent weeks to come forward.

“Likewise, if you have seen any unfamiliar vehicles parked in the vicinity, or have recorded anything you think is untoward on home CCTV, or dashcam, let us know. I want to reassure our local businesses that we will act on all information provided to bring those responsible to justice”.

Anyone with information is asked to contact @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference 18400054150,

or you can provide information anonymously to @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.

January 2019 3

FIGHT AGAINST KNIFE CRIME GETS PARTNERSHIP BOOST Merseyside Police’s continuing fight against knife crime has been given a boost thanks to a new partnership set up with the region’s five local authorities.

Colleagues from Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley and St Helens were asked to pledge their time, expertise and influence to help Merseyside Police capture and develop important information about the causes, impact, cost and solutions to the problem of knife crime throughout the whole of Merseyside.

Representatives from each geographical area have been tasked with a different focus ranging from information gathering and improving community confidence to exploring how to reduce knife related injuries and the number of people found in possession of knives.

It is hoped that through the sharing of vital information, raising awareness, improving communication and targeted messaging together with community focused interventions

such as ‘designing out crime’ in key areas, stop-searches and the development of suitable programmes and education-based initiatives, the issue can be tackled more effectively.

Superintendent Louise Harrison said: “We know that knife related incidents are something that concern our communities but we also know that this is not something we can tackle alone and that means working closely with our partners in the local authorities and other agencies such as the prisons service and youth offending service.

“The idea is that we all put our heads together and share our knowledge and experience to come up with a workable solution to the problem and how best to implement it on Merseyside.

“In the past different local authorities and partner groups, including ourselves, have launched campaigns, initiatives and programmes to tackle the issue independently.

“This is about bringing all that expertise and wealth of experience

together in one place”.

Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “It is of utmost importance that we work together to tackle this type of crime, which causes so much suffering for victims and their families.

“The causes of knife crime are complex and there isn’t one single fix for this problem – it requires innovation and a range of different interventions and actions.

“By pooling our resources across the Liverpool City Region we can identify those strategies which really work, and I’m confident that this approach is the key to reducing knife crime in our region”.

Pictured right: The Knife Angel sculpture which is made up of more than 100,000 weapons confiscated from 43 police forces across the country arrived at Liverpool Cathedral recently and is a national monument against violence and aggression and aims to show the impact knife crime has on people’s lives.

Monthly book group starts in Halewood If you are a retired reader and love discussing new books then you are welcome to join the Halewood U3A group.

They meet once a month at the Arncliffe Centre, off Mackets Lane, and all read the same book (which is supplied).

Chairperson, Liz Owen said: “We all share our thoughts on what we have read and give the books a ‘score’.

“We find that this is an excellent way to try out new books you would never choose yourself and to enjoy what other readers have to say. We are a small group and we would welcome new members”.

For further details contact Liz on 486 6547 or at https://u3asites.org.uk/halewood/home

4 January 2019

A CHERRY ON TOP FOR CROXTETH PARK

An avenue of beautiful trees will welcome visitors to Liverpool’s Croxteth Hall and Country Park as a planting project got underway recently.

Youngsters from Emmaus Primary School joined members of the Croxteth Park Volunteer Group (CPVG) to plant 18 Wild Cherry trees, which will provide a stunning pink blossom gateway along the driveway leading to the green space in the spring.

The tree-lined route will stretch from Muirhead Avenue Gates to the park, and has been made possible thanks to the dedication of the CPVG and funding from The Mersey Forest and the Community Forest Trust.

This is the first phase of a large-scale project in the park, which will see around 400 trees planted by local school children over the forthcoming months.

Chris Beyga from the CPVG said: “It is vital to have a project like this and we are very proud to have been the lead partner in bringing everyone together to achieve this.

“We hope this project will be one of many legacies of the group. It’s been a clear objective of ours to work closely with local children to engender a sense of pride and ownership in them as future citizens and custodians of the wonderful park that was gifted to the people of Liverpool by the late Earl of Sefton.”

Steph Hepworth, from the The Mersey Forest team, said: “We are proud to support the work of the CPVG in their tree planting projects within Croxteth Park.

This winter we are planting 400 saplings within the park’s woodland along with an avenue of cherry trees leading to the main car park; this is the main route that visitors take when visiting the park so it will make a real impact to Croxteth Park’s visitor’s first impressions especially when the blossom is on the trees in spring.

“This project is part of the Trees for Learning initiative which has been funded by Defra as part of their aim to plant one million trees with primary school children by 2020.The children involved will learn about the trees they are planting and why it is so vitally important to plant more trees, they’ll also be leaving a lasting legacy for their community and visitors to this popular green space.”

Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member responsible for the environment, Councillor James Noakes, said: “Many people in the city still don’t realise what a gem Croxteth Park is and I’m delighted that with planting initiatives like this, we can raise the awareness of this beautiful green space which is on our doorstep.

“In the spring, the ornamental flowers will provide an eyecatching entrance to the park and hopefully will attract more people to come and discover the area.

“We are committed to encouraging people to get out and about in our parks and I was thrilled that children from Emmaus Primary School joined volunteers at the planting sessions. We want to engage youngsters in enhancing and really valuing our green spaces, and as a result, make sure future generations are invested in spending time in our parks and gardens.”

Pictures Claire Beyga

Members of the Croxteth Park Volunteer Group (CPVG)

Youngsters from Emmaus Primary School joined members of the Croxteth Park Volunteer Group

Merseyside cycling and walking routes get £8.3m funding The first phase of a wider 373mile walking and cycling route across the Liverpool City Region is set to go ahead after securing £8.3m of funding.

The proposed network is focussed on upgrades to 31 key routes across the region; these link Liverpool city centre to Speke; Prescot with Runcorn; Seaforth to Southport; and Leasowe to Seacombe Ferry Terminal.

The Liverpool Loop Line, linking Broadgreen and Rice Line Stations as well as linking housing estates at Norris Green to employment sites including Alder Hey Hospital, is also to be improved.

These routes add up to around 34 miles of walking and cycling routes and improvements are set to complete in 2020, with each local

authority responsible for the works in their area.

The £8.3m of funding to support the delivery was signed off by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and has been provided by the ERDF Sustainable Urban Development funding.

This money will also help support a pilot project by Liverpool John Moores University to look at methods of collecting cycling and walking trip data to develop a cycling app and journey planner for the city region.

Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “We are at a pivotal stage in transforming provision for cycling and walking. Getting the infrastructure right to make it a real choice for more people means less congestion, cleaner air and better health.

“There are also wider benefits to the economy. Safe, pleasant cycling and walking areas, linking well to public transport and key locations, help create those places where people want to live, work and invest.

And if you are walking or cycling, you are not sitting in traffic clocking up lost working hours– something that benefits employees and employers.

“We want people across the city region to work with us to develop ideas to get more people cycling and walking more, so the network we develop is built for them.

“We can’t transform the situation overnight, but devolution gives us the powers to plan strategically to improve facilities for walking and cycling across the city region, putting our investment in the right places so we can make a difference”.

January 2019 5

FUNDING SUCCESS FOR VETERANS PROJECT Help to shape the future of Huyton Village Centre Caring Connections has been successful in being awarded £9,950 by the National Lotteries Awards for All fund to further develop The John Paul Project.

The John Paul Project was set up in memorial to Huyton veteran John Paul Finnegan who tragically lost his life to suicide in 2018 through a long battle with PTSD after leaving the army.

The aim of the project is to increase the availability of counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy support available to veterans in the Liverpool city region.

This funding enables the project to further develop increasing the amount of sessions per week available to local

veterans.

Paul Growney CEO said: “This is amazing news for the project, we have been overwhelmed with all the current need and this will really help in to continue to expand the much”.

Veterans are able to self-refer to programme and will be supported in one to one sessions with number of sessions personalised to their specific needs in venues in Knowsley, Liverpool and Wirral.

The programme also offers support to veterans families who may also be in emotional distress.

If you are in need please phone 0151 289 2761 or email admin@caringconnections.org.uk

Knowsley Council, working alongside public and private sector partners, has great ambitions for Huyton Village Centre.

The council is seeking the views of people who visit Huyton Village Centre. You can have your say by completing the online survey on the council website and your views will then be used to help shape a brighter and better Huyton Village Centre for residents and visitors alike. The closing date for feedback is Friday, 11 January 2019.

Huyton Village has an enviable strategic location, with well-established road, rail and bus connections to both Liverpool and Manchester. Alongside the 50,000 local residents who choose Huyton as their home, an extra 2,500 people come into Huyton Village every day to work in the various public, voluntary and private sector organisations based in the village.

The council has recently committed £1.75m to make general improvements to the public space in the village centre. This includes improvements to street lighting in the Village Centre as well as improvements to the shop fronts on Derby Road. The planning phase of this work is well underway and work is scheduled to start over the coming months.

In addition, work on the installation of state-of-the-art CCTV in Huyton Village Centre has been completed. There are also lots of retail and leisure opportunities in the town centre with a number of sites available for development.

6 January 2019

ELF EXCITEMENT HAS FATHER CHRISTMAS VISITS EATON STREET PARK

The Friends of Eaton Street Park in Prescot recently held their famous Christmas grotto and it has been declared a resounding success with children of all ages delighted by the interactive experience.

Event co-ordinator Joanne Burke said: “Our philosophy is to make magical experiences accessible to all regardless of income and so admission is priced to suit all pockets.

“Our army of over fifty volunteers needed to run the event are an absolute credit to our community and I feel so proud of how we have grown over the past eight years”.

Children were booked a specific time to see Santa to prevent boredom and meltdowns and part of the weekend was specifically targeted at meeting the needs of children with autism and special needs in terms of lighting, volume and speed with all volunteers having undertaken autism awareness training.

During the day the visitors to the grotto visited a route that contained eight ‘stops’ of the Grotto which included: Stop 1: Meeting the elf in training who set a task of finding all of the reindeers names to earn an elf guide and the special password that permitted entrance to the grotto.

Stop 2: Meeting Santa and his helper elf and receiving a Christmas stocking with a gift inside and having a photograph taken.

Stop 3: Meeting lovely Mrs Christmas and her helper elf and settling down for storytime in her living room. After storytime Mrs Clause checked if children were on the naughty or nice list and were given a certificate from Santa.

Stop 4: Children then took their seats for a performance of the fantastical magician Pat Cook and her elf assistant that amazed them.

Stop 5: Then a Christmas memory was created with their Elf’s in the craft gazebo.

Stop 6: Then it was time to get comfy for their Christmas cartoon in the Micro Cinema and enjoy popcorn and a drink.

Step 7: Next children paid Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter, the Ice Princess a visit. As they sat on their thrones the children had to entertain them with a joke, a dance, a riddle, magic trick or a song. They were then rewarded with an icicle token to spend in the Pavilion.

Finally, step 8: Then children met the naughty elves who were very naughty throwing snowballs all over the grotto and who had a fun game to play with the grown- ups dressing as a snowman. After this they filled up a pouch with reindeer food to take home for Christmas Eve. Then to finish off, families were encouraged to take photos on the life size sleigh at the park.

The money that the event generated will be invested in more seating in Eaton Street Park early in 2019 for all of the community to enjoy in this beautiful green space.

Elf Guides chair of FOESP Mark Burke and Prescot Cables Football Club director Geoff Conway

January 2019 7

HOSPICE OPENS PAVILION A fabulous team of over thirty volunteers from Sainsbury’s Argos visited Woodlands Hospice recently to bring their gardens and surrounding paths back to their former glory following the recent pavilion building works.

The hospice put the final touches to the new pavilion for its grand opening in December when the facility was handed over to the family support team who will work with the young people who access the hospice bereavement services in bringing their dream to life!

The volunteers spent many hours cleaning, tidying, pruning, and planting to ensure the environment around the facility was fully restored and ready for access.

Woodlands chief executive, Rose Milnes, speaking over the lunch period said: “I was delighted that so many volunteers from the Liverpool and North Wales Region Sainsbury’s Argos stores had chosen Woodlands as their charity to support and how much of a difference this facility and the surrounding gardens and space would make to the young people.

“I would like to thank the whole volunteer team for working so hard and sharing this project with Woodlands giving particular thanks to Anne Woodward, from the Argos

regional administration centre for coordinating this voluntary project.

“The hospice was also delighted to have

received over £750 towards the project raised from RAC – Retail Admin Centre fundraising efforts.

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“Woodlands relies heavily on the contribution from so many volunteers and wishes to record its thanks to them all”.

8 January 2019

I CARE IN KNOWSLEY UNLEASH THEIR INNER ELF FOR ALZHEIMER’S Staff at I Care Knowsley donned green suits and pointy ears to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society this December.

They are among a number of local organisations out to show there’s snow better way to help end dementia than signing up for Elf Day. The ‘official’ day took place on Friday 7 December, but participants can unleash their inner elf at any time throughout the month.

They can fundraise in a variety of ways, from dressing up and making a donation, to organising festive bake sales or movie nights and charging for refreshments.

Lindsey O’Reilly, care manager for I Care said: “I Care held their fundraiser at the Fairways Community Centre on Sherbourne Avenue in Halewood.

“We invited our service users and staff to attend the event and sold hot drinks and cakes, holding a raffle, tombola and other activities.

“All proceeds from the event will go to Alzheimer’s Society which is a cause close to all our hearts as we are a main provider of domiciliary care in Knowsley and we provide care in Huyton, Halewood and Cronton.”

Alzheimer’s Society hopes more organisations follow I Cares’ example by joining in the fun to help improve the lives

of people with dementia today, and to fund research for tomorrow.

There are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, including 1,719 in Knowsley. The national figure is set to rise to one million by 2021. Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes.

Tracey Crich, community fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society in Merseyside said: “By joining us on future Elf Days you’ll be raising vital funds in the fight against dementia.

“As the UK’s leading dementia charity, we work tirelessly to challenge perceptions, fund research, and improve and provide care and support. However, too many are facing the condition alone without adequate support.

“We urgently need to find a cure and offer help and understanding to people affected.

“Elf Day is a great way to get people together to celebrate the festive season, and it’s so easy to take part. You can dress up as much or as little as you like.

You could keep it simple in red and green, or jingle all the way with pointy ears and curly shoes. And if fancy dress isn’t your thing, you might opt instead to bake and sell some treats or organise a festive get-together.”

KNOWSLEY OPEN ART EXHIBITION 2019

Knowsley’s Open Art Exhibition is an annual showcase of visual art created by the talented people of Knowsley.

The exhibition is open to anyone who lives, works, volunteers, or studies in Knowsley, and the Young Artists Open which is part of the exhibition, is for under 18s and shows off local young talent.

The exhibition is a great way for emerging creatives to see their hard work on display. Entrants are given great creative freedom, with there being no restrictions other than that the art must be 2D and mirror-plated.

The visiting public will be voting for their favourite art piece, giving artists the chance to be awarded prizes and be recognised for their great contribution to the exhibition.

Artists showcasing their artwork in the exhibition may wish to enter it in the Open Affordable Art Auction which raises money for Friends of Kirkby Gallery and Prescot Museum. The money raised goes towards the works and activities at the venues, running free courses and events, and working with local schools.

Love art and want to see your work showcased at Knowsley’s Open Art Exhibition? The last day to enter is Friday 11 January 2019.

Just want to visit? See what talent Knowsley has to offer at the exhibition in Kirkby Gallery, running from Monday 11 February to Saturday 4 May 2019.

The Open Art Affordable Auction will take place on Thursday 9 May 2019 from 5pm to 8pm at Kirkby Gallery. Adam Partridge, known to most as being from day-time television favourites such as Bargain Hunt and Cash in the Attic, will be the auctioneer. Come and take home a bargain while supporting a great organisation.

Full details about entering and visiting the exhibition and auction can be found on the council’s website.

Outdoors with The Hairy Gardener Hello again Gardeners, Obviously at this time of year colds, flu and sniffles are with most of us, but do you know that you have a natural medicine cabinet growing in your garden or even a window box.

If you haven’t then stay with me and I’ll give you hints on the plants to grow. First of all I believe colds and flu allergies can’t be cured we just have to ride them out, but the plants we can grow can help to relieve the symptoms.

Rosemary and Sage have been used for millennia in the treatment of colds and sore throats. Both these herbs are known for their anti microbial and antiviral properties.

Rosemary is believed to stimulate the circulatory system which can encourage blood flow to the brain giving headache relief. A steam inhalation of a handful of bruised Rosemary stems can unblock your sinuses.

Sage is good the first sign of a sore throat, it is known to soothe irritated tissues and help kill bacteria. Make a strong tasting tea with the leaves and if you have to make it more palatable and a small amount of honey. Sage can also be combined with Thyme which is a good expectorant.

Lemon Balm is another herb used in cold relief, it helps sweat out a fever and has mild antiviral properties and a very mild flavour improving the taste of other herbs. You can also add the leaves of the wildflowers Ribwort and Broadleaf Plantain to these tea.

The secret to all of these is to brew a good cup of tea, you want roughly one teaspoon of dried herb or one tablespoon of freshly chopped in a cup of boiling water or better still in a teapot so as not to lose precious volatile oils. If you are pregnant or vulnerable please check with your GP before using these herbs.

Until next time good gardening

January 2019 9

W

illowbrook Hospice’s Living Well building recently played host to two festive tea parties, raising more than £5,000 for the Prescot based hospice The tea parties organised by local fundraising group The Non-Stoppers saw over 150 guests enjoying sandwiches, cakes and scones over a brew or two.

The Non-Stoppers was formed in 2001 by Sheila Jones from Rainhill to help raise funds for Willowbrook, which cared for her husband Eric who died in August 2000 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

In addition to the festive tea parties, Sheila and The NonStoppers organise Willowbrook’s Christmas Grotto as well as produce a beautiful range of handcrafted home accessories which they sell at local fetes, fayres and craft events throughout the year.

Sheila said: “This year’s festive tea parties raised over £5,000 for the hospice and were a complete sell-out for weeks in advance. There was a lovely festive atmosphere in the room and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves”.

Festive tea parties raise over £5,000 for hospice

10 January 2019

DONATE YOUR UNWANTED WOODEN FURNITURE If you’re having a festive furniture clear out, a Stockbridge upcycling project may be able to help.

Organisers of an upcycling project run

by Knowsley Council’s Adult Disability Service Day Centre in Stockbridge Village are appealing for donations of unwanted wooden furniture to be given a new lease of life.

Day centre service users are developing valuable upcycling skills refurbishing unwanted furniture and other household goods, but they need more items to work on.

They are on the lookout for any wooden items – none with a manmade plastic finish – including chairs, tables, and cabinets, with or without drawers. They are unable to take large items such as beds or sofas. Centre staff can arrange collection of items.

Please ring Mike Brown on 0151 443 2760 to arrange a pick up appointment, usually between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.

BELLWAY HOMES DESIGNS AND DELIVERS COMMUNITY LANDSCAPING PROJECT Bellway Homes has helped the local community in Roby by designing and delivering a green space that incorporates a small pond and suitable drainage at the Age UK Mid Mersey Roby Hub on Merton Crescent.

The award-winning housebuilder has transformed the outdoor area at the Roby Hub, which was often waterlogged due to poor drainage and unused by visitors to the centre.

Working with Roby Hub, the housebuilder designed an outdoor area that would serve local residents as well as wildlife, donated all the materials required to deliver the project and undertook all of the work.

With the project now complete and officially open, Jenny Bell, sales director at Bellway Homes, said: “We are always pleased to be part of innovative and inspiring campaigns in the local community and were delighted to assist Roby Hub with this particular landscaping project. We are really proud of the results.”

Marina McTigue from the Roby Hub said: “The garden looks great now. It’s just what we needed so we can sit and enjoy a cuppa outside.

Thank you Bellway.”

THE EARL OF DERBY VISITS FORMER WAR HOSPITAL

(left to right) John Heritage - Trust’s chief operating officer, Helen Bellairs, Trust’s chairman and Lord Derby next to memorabilia from World War One.

The Earl or Derby recently paid a visit to North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Hollins Park Hospital, the site of which was named after his great grandfather, the 17th Earl of Derby during World War One. The 17th Earl of Derby served as British Minister of War during World War One it was then that Hollins Park was changed to the Lord Derby War Hospital treating more than 56,000 injured and shellshocked war casualties between 1915 and 1920.

The Earl of Derby spent the afternoon at Hollins Park in Warrington to find out more about the site and the history of the Lord Derby War Hospital.

During his visit the Earl of Derby viewed a display of poetry and artwork as part of a World War One creative project, young service users from the Trust’s Fairhaven Unit in Warrington had made to mark Armistice Day. The Earl of Derby also visited the plaques that are on display at Hollins Park which list staff who lost their lives during

World War One 1914-1918 and during World War Two 1939–1945.

The Earl of Derby’s afternoon concluded with a visit to the Trust’s memorial garden at Hollins Park where wreaths made by service users from the hospital’s inpatient units were laid at a short remembrance service that was held in November 2018.

The Earl of Derby said: “It’s been fascinating to visit the trust, it’s extraordinary to think of how many soldiers spent their time at the Lord Derby War Hospital and it’s great to see how homage is paid to them at the trust 100 years on”.

John Heritage, chief operating officer at the trust, said: “I was delighted when Lord Derby accepted my invitation to visit Hollins Park as part of our celebrations to mark the end of World War One. “It was a real pleasure to welcome Lord Derby, along with our chairman Helen Bellairs to the Trust and to show him around the site that was named for his Great Grandfather when it was the Lord Derby War Hospital”.

January 2019 11

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12 January 2019

PUPILS FROM PRESCOT PRIMARY VISIT DEVELOPMENT Pupils from Prescot Primary School on Maryville Road enjoyed a taste of life on a busy construction site when they visited Anwyl Homes’ Carr’s Rise development on Prescot Park recently.

Accompanied by their teachers, the student council from the local school benefitted from an informative and educational visit to the award-winning site that included an overview of the residential development taking place, an introduction to careers in construction and an important health and safety briefing.

The mixed group of 15, seven to 11 year-olds received a warm welcome from project manager Tony Diprose and sales manager Matthew Gould. Together they provided a thorough overview of the timescales and work involved in the build of the three, four and five bedroom homes that are currently under construction and the different job roles and pieces of machinery that make it happen.

RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE WITH WILLOWBROOK After a hugely successful Christmas tree collection in 2018, the Willowbrook Hospice Christmas Tree Recycling Scheme is back for January 2019.

Their last Christmas tree collection in Knowsley and St Helens raised just over £1715 through collecting and recycling almost 100 trees.

All you need to do to register for your real tree to be collected is donate a minimum of £5 and call the Willowbrook fundraising team on 01744 453798, email events@willowbrookhospice.org.uk or go online at: https://willowbrookhospice.charitychecko ut.co.uk/christmastreerecycling/ They are collecting from Monday 7 January to Friday 11 January 2019 and are able to collect from postcodes: L14, L28, L34, L35, L36, WA9. WA10, WA11, WA12 and WN5. Unfortunately, they are unable to collect from other postcodes.

You don’t need to be in on the day!

Simply leave your tree outside your house and you can even specify where.

Wearing high visibility jackets, the children were then invited to walk to the edge of the construction site to see the diggers, forklift trucks and different tradespeople in action before heading back to the development’s show home to look at the finished product and ask any questions.

Deputy headteacher at Prescot Primary School, Lisa Seddon, said: “With Anwyl’s Carr’s Rise development taking place so close to our school, we were delighted to be invited to site to see the construction taking place close-up.

“It was a great experience for the children and fitted perfectly with our current focus on careers in action.”

Sales manager at Anwyl Homes Lancashire, Matthew Gould, said: “It was our pleasure to welcome the student council from Prescot Primary to Carr’s Rise. They were extremely keen and had lots of questions, and it was great to be able to facilitate their learning journey with a topical visit that should give them plenty to talk about back in school.”

Tony Diprose with pupils Millie Campion, Alexis Ungi, Abbie Carroll, Jak Chao, Ruby Furlong, Harriet Kilshaw and Ryan Macklin.

SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER WITH FESTIVE FOOD

FINISHED FULL TIME WORK AND CARING? If you are looking to try new interests/hobbies or hear interesting speakers and want to make new friends then join the U3A. They are open to all who live in Halewood and the surrounding areas.

They meet monthly in the Arncliffe Centre, off Mackets Lane on the last Friday of every month at 2.30pm to hear a range of speakers and talks.

They also have a variety of small interest groups that you might want to join, ranging from a book group, eating out group, walking group, cinema group and a lively discussion group. Contact Liz on 0151 486 6547 for further information.

A team of Christmas helpers are packing and delivering a host of festive hampers for customers across Knowsley.

Local housing provider, Knowsley Housing Trust, in conjunction with FareShare, the UK’s largest charity fighting hunger and food waste, is spreading cheer to 30 customers, by gifting

Christmas hampers, made up of donated festive food, treats and surplus fresh fruit and vegetables.

16 apprentices from across the First Ark Group packed all 30 hampers for their most inneed customers and delivered them by hand in Knowsley Housing Trust vans.

Leann Hearne, group chief executive of Knowsley

Housing Trust, said: “We’re here to support our valued customers and spread some festive joy. Our Christmas hampers will make a real difference to families most at need - they are packed full of items donated by staff at the Trust, including Christmas puddings, tinned goods and toiletries”.

Lindsay Boswell, chief

executive at FareShare, said: “We partnered with Knowsley Housing Trust on this Christmas project to help the hundreds of families in Knowsley scraping by without food. Currently, 1 in 8 people in the UK regularly go hungry.

“Our charity works with the local community to provide fresh, nutritious food to create healthy meals”.

January 2019 13

“ MY A

fter a change in personal circumstance meant she could no longer own a home, Heather searched for a rental property and local area that was suitable for her and her children.

“

HEATHER SANDERS

SIMPLE LIFE STORY

“For me it’s the ideal area”, Heather explained. “It’s close to school for my children and near the train station, so we can get everywhere pretty easily. The area is quiet and peaceful, which suits us well, and living in a cul-de-sac means my children can play outside and I don’t need to worry!”

RENTING WITHOUT WORRY Simple Life is committed to changing the way the rental market is perceived, offering peace of mind through long-term, secure tenancies and giving families and young professionals a flexible place to call home.

Heather said: “Because I’m not renting from a private landlord, I feel safe in the knowledge that the house isn’t going to be sold from

underneath me without warning, which would leave me and my children in a situation we never want to be in. It’s great to know I can stay for as long as I want to, on agreed terms.

“AS SOON AS I FOUND THE HOME I KNEW IT WAS PERFECT FOR US. THE MOVE WAS VERY SMOOTH, AND THE SIMPLE LIFE TEAM WAS HELPFUL DURING THE WHOLE PROCESS. THEY MADE IT SO EASY” “I’d definitely recommend a Simple Life home to anyone. It’s tastefully decorated and finished to a very high standard, with great appliances included. I’ve got a dishwasher now, which I never had when I owned properties in the past.

Everyone who has visited me has said they love my home. But most importantly, me and my children do too!”

SEARCHING FOR A SUITABLE FAMILY HOME “It was no longer an option for me to own a home as I had done in the past. Renting now suited my situation, but the quality of rental homes I was looking at was quite poor. For me and my two children, it was important that we found a high-quality house located in a good area”, Heather explained.

Heather found a home at Baytree Lane, Simple Life’s rental development in Middleton, close to plenty of green space.

The three-bedroom property ticked all the boxes for her family.

Heather added: “As soon as I found the home I knew it was perfect for us. The move was very smooth, and the Simple Life team was helpful during the whole process. They made it so easy” THE IDEAL LOCATION Heather’s Simple Life home is a detached property with two bathrooms, a separate kitchen and living room and a private garden.

Baytree Lane benefits from its proximity to highly-rated schools and excellent amenities.

SIMPLE LIFE HAS NEW HOMES FOR RENT ACROSS MERSEYSIDE VISIT WWW.SIMPLELIFEHOMES.CO.UK OR CALL 0345 319 2160.

14 January 2019

Education News SCHOOL CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT CONSTRUCTION CARMEL’S FREE EVENT PLANS FOR SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE Children from St Leo’s and Southmead primary school were treated to a surprise visit from Kier Construction mascot Kieron during a special assembly.

Kier is the preferred construction partner for the new Shakespeare North Playhouse to be built in Prescot town centre.

The playhouse will be home to an iconic new theatre, education centre, outdoor performance area and garden and exhibition space and will attract visitors from across the UK and internationally to the area.

The assembly was delivered by Natalie McGuckin, assistant design manager at Kier,

who is supporting the Shakespeare North project and told the children about the new Playhouse.

And in an unexpected visit the Kier mascot Kieron, joined the assembly to meet the children.

Kier has previously worked with the school to deliver their aspirations day where the children were introduced into the world of construction.

Mrs Tambourini, headteacher at St Leo’s and Southmead said: “We’re all really excited about the new Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot and Shakespeare is already a big part of our curriculum.

“We intend to take

part in the annual Shakespeare Festival next year, so this was a fantastic link for us. Our children were very excited to meet Kieron, it is a fabulous way for the children to remember such an important safety

message.

“It was great to have Kier deliver this assembly which was very informative and also enjoyable for the children.”

Sheryl Moore, corporate social responsibility manager

at Kier, said: “We were delighted to attend the school assembly with Kieran to tell the children about our project at Shakespeare North and also to encourage them to think about health and safety.”

Carmel College will be holding a FREE Creative Careers Event on Saturday 26 January, 11am-2pm. It’s open to everyone and promises to be a really exciting and inspirational event for students and their parents.

Visitors can take part in workshops and speak to professionals from a wide range of creative jobs from tv and film, advertising and design, fashion and beauty, animation and illustration to name but a few. High profile speakers are also attending the event including leading celebrity and make-up artist, Lisa Eldridge and CEO of MY Beauty Brand, Robin Derrick.

Several former Carmel students who have successful careers in the creative sectors will also be there to talk about their journeys and to offer advice and inspiration including Jamie Stockley – BAFTA winning art director, Liam Keating – product designer at Volvo Group, Sweden, James Owen – illustrator, John Farrell – architect and Georgina Anderton – Hollyoaks If you’re dreaming of a career in the creative sectors, this event is not to be missed! Find out more at www.carmel.ac.uk

Rainhill’s Real Advent Calendars

This year, the children from St Bartholomew’s School, Rainhill, made advent calendars with a difference: instead of the usual chocolate ‘receiving’ calendars, they made real ‘giving’ calendars.

Each class organised their own calendar which was made up of their own donations with each child bringing in one item so that at the end of Advent, their Calendar was full of gifts ranging from toiletries, small games and non-perishable food to household items. The calendars were taken to ‘Our Warm Welcome’ a charity which supports refugees and migrants, and shared with those in need.

Pupil, Tavimba said: “They’re a good idea to help people who don’t have things and who don’t have family to go to because they’re far away”, with another pupil, Freya adding: “I think about the other people who don’t have any food or shelter, or much food when they’re travelling”.

January 2019 15

16 January 2019

Education News KIDS GET COOKING WITH ADOPT A SCHOOL INITIATIVE Professional chefs and restaurant managers from Liverpool’s Hotel Indigo, recently visited Our Lady and St Swithin’s Catholic Primary School in Croxteth to help educate children about food and inspire them to consider a career in hospitality.

The visit was part of hotel management company Valor Hospitality Europe’s, Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Adopt a School initiative.

As part of the scheme, chefs and restaurant managers from each of Valor’s 17 hotels across the UK are now visiting or planning visits to their local ‘adopted’ primary schools to provide classes on all things food, to children aged eight and nine.

As well as teaching a range of cooking skills, the lessons also aim to help children understand the link between food, health, nutrition, social skills and the environment, whilst also offering an insight into the hospitality sector. In addition, the children will be taught the art of service; learning about how to correctly lay tables and waiting on skills and there is an optional fourth session on bread making.

Before visiting Our Lady and St

Swithin's Catholic Primary School, Hotel Indigo’s professional chefs and restaurant managers attended specialist training sessions with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, where they learned how best to deliver the classes to the pupils, all of which has been funded by Valor.

Edward Cross, general manager at the Doubletree by Hilton Chester, who is leading the scheme on behalf of Valor, said: “Working with our talented team of chefs on the Adopt a School initiative, it’s been fantastic to see how eager they are

to get out into their local communities and inspire the next generation to cook.

“With fast food and a lack of real food education continuing to be a problem, we’re putting all of our efforts into ensuring that more young people understand that nutrition and making healthy, home-cooked food can be easy to do, fun and delicious.”

Moira Laird, human resources director at Valor Hospitality Europe, said: "Like many sectors, hospitality is facing a skills shortage, so it's extremely important that

we, and more businesses like ours, get involved in schemes like Adopt a School, which get children to think more about careers within the industry.

“Whilst the programme is ultimately providing children with valuable life skills centred around cooking and health, it’s also getting pupils excited about food and healthy living too, which is great.”

January 2019 17

RAINFORD SIXTH FORM STUDENTS IN ‘POLE POSITION’ Eight students from Rainford Sixth Form are feeling inspired after a recent visit to McLaren Group’s headquarters in Woking.

Year 12 students from the sixth form’s dedicated magazine ‘Informed’ and the publication’s organiser, Harrison F Carter, founder of Creativity in Mind, visited the impressive site to interview the operations director and learn more about careers in the automotive industry, in order to promote STEM opportunities to the magazine’s young readers.

The team were given VIP treatment as they looked around the state-of-the-art facility which took them behind the scenes of cutting edge car manufacturing and technology.

Following a tour of McLaren’s F1 legacy, the students were given privileged access to the production centre and the wind tunnel facility where the engineering of these powerful vehicles is fine-tuned and developed.

Students were also able to experience the staff gym which houses an Olympic sized swimming pool and F1 trainers at their disposal. The on-site Michelin star staff restaurant even provided a wonderful selection of food for them to enjoy.

Finally, the budding journalists had the chance to pose their burning questions to Alan Foster, the operations director at McLaren, who originally hails from Liverpool. They found out about his route into this career and offered a wealth of advice for students keen to enter this industry.

Concluding the memorable day, students and staff even had the opportunity to sit in the latest McLaren 720S and were given parting gifts to remember the day.

One student, Jess Loftus, described the trip as: “Outstanding and almost surreal!”

Catherine Benbow, director of Sixth Form, said: “We are so grateful to Harrison F Carter at Creativity in Mind and Alan Foster at McLaren for making this happen.

“We appreciate that not many young people get to experience such an insight into this industry; we hope that it inspires the readers of ‘Informed’ as much as it inspired all of us who saw it first-hand.

“What a remarkable experience!”

Rainford Sixth Form students visited McLaren Group’s

Students got the chance to interview Alan Foster, the operations director at McLaren

18 January 2019

LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN CLEAN UP BRYER ROAD Pupils from St Mary and St Paul’s RC Primary School in Prescot have taken part in a litter pick around Bryer Road with equipment and support from Knowsley Council’s environmental education officer, Paul Costello.

The cleaning team was made up of pupils from Year 4 and the school’s Eco Warriors – a team of pupils working together to make the school more environmentally friendly.

Twenty eight children spent an hour in the local area picking up litter around the school, local shops and the surrounding

fields. Louis from Year 4 said: “We even found a trolley that was dumped.”

Iain Parks, the school’s headteacher said: “As a school we are looking at the role we play within our community. We feel very strongly about teaching our children the importance and contributing to their own environment, ensuring our area is a clean and pleasant place to be.

Paul Costello said: “This is a great start to making the area around St Mary and St Paul’s a better place to live and work.

Hopefully, raising the children’s awareness of litter and fly tipping”.

SCHOOL RAISES FUNDS FOR MARINA DALGLISH APPEAL

Staff and pupils from Broughton Hall Catholic High School recently welcomed Lauren and Marina Dalglish from The Marina Dalglish Appeal.

They were visited the school to accept a cheque from staff and pupils for the charity, the money was raised through their Breast Cancer Awareness Day in school.

Sixth form pupils met with Lauren and Marina who explained how the money will go towards the well being of local women going through cancer treatment, and funding state of the art equipment. Both pupils and staff enjoyed their visit and hope this is the first of many.

January 2019 19

ST JOHN BOSCO PULLS OFF THE GREATEST SHOW! St John Bosco Arts College has wowed audiences with its 2018 school production, The Greatest Show.

More than 240 of students from Years 7 to 13 were cast in the production, inspired by last year’s blockbuster hit The Greatest Showman.

Students spent months rehearsing for the all-singing, all-dancing show, which is inspired by the circus and the lives of its star attractions.

With an exceptionally talented cast it is difficult to highlight all the noteworthy performances. Emily played the charismatic ringmaster Barnum and left the audience completely captivated through her faultless performance.

Molly and Megan were fantastic in their portrayal of the star crossed lovers, producing a duet that melted had We’ve back every heart. ul feed d f r e d n an wo Student Aiva delivered a arents from p s about mesmerising stoic performance, ee attend ear’s with a vocal that could rival those this y we find in the West End. Also tion produc Harley, who could compete with the Stars of Strictly Come Dancing, was sensational.

The production was put together by the school’s drama, dance and music departments, led by Craig Gaffney.

The production included over 240 students from Years 7-13 A matinee for the school’s feeder primary schools saw students take centre stage for the first time, with a further two stand-out performances taking place across two days to packed audiences.

Craig Gaffney said: “We’ve had wonderful feedback from parents and attendees about this year’s production, The Greatest Show.

“It’s been a real team effort, from those acting and singing centre stage to all those students helping behind the scenes with lighting and costumes. Our girls have really pulled off the Greatest Show!”

“

”

Emily played the charismatic ringmaster Barnum

20 January 2019

Lifestyle

ONtrend 2019

HEALTHY EATING Chorizo and butterbean stew with baked potatoes Preparation time less than 30 mins Cooking time 30 mins to 1 hour

Leopard Print Don’t be surprised to see leopard print all over again for spring 2019. Animal print is still a spring/summer 19 trend.

It has gone up 50 per cent since spring/ summer 2018 1

Serves Serves 4 Ingredients 4 baking potatoes (200g/7oz each) 200g/7oz cooking chorizo, sliced 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes with onion and garlic 2 x 400g tins butter beans, drained 50g/1¾oz fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped salt and freshly ground black pepper

Colour of the year 2019 According to colour specialists Pantone the colour for 2019 is Living Coral. Pantone say that Living Coral is a warm, peachy orange with a life-affirming golden undertone.

Method Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.

Prick the potatoes all over with a fork and microwave on a high heat for 5–6 minutes. Season well with salt. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until tender. (If you don’t have a microwave, bake for 1 hour at 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7).

Meanwhile, dry-fry the chorizo in a large saucepan over a medium heat for 4–5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and beans and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 12–15 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring often. Season and stir in the basil.

Serve the stew with the baked potatoes.

CALENDAR CELEBRATION FIREWORKS

THE CHALLENGE WORDSEARCH FIRST HOGMANAY HOLIDAY

HOUNOURS JANUARY MIDNIGHT

Veganism and Vegetarianism Veganism and vegetarianism are also expected to grow further as the debate about the consumption of animal products widens. 2019 is also predicting that we will also see the rising of great vegan restaurants.

NEW START NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

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Gadgets for 2019 Doggy Day Care - Suspicious your dog is mucking around while you’re out?

It’s time to find out as the Furbo dog camera launches in the UK – just download the app, tune in and watch your pooch. You can even get it to toss out a treat!

Music trends Vinyl will continue to grow. When vinyl records first made their return, many assumed the comeback was a fad. Years later, the bubble shows no sign of bursting. Vinyl has been outselling CDs for two years now.

January 2019 21

Sarah’s worth her weight in gold, says TV host

Slimming World manager Sarah Stringfellow meets singer and presenter Rylan Clark-Neal

As Slimming World enters its 50th year Sarah Stringfellow, who manages Slimming World groups in Knowsley, is celebrating half a century of success for the organisation by meeting TV personality and presenter Rylan Clark-Neal.

Rylan, who shot to fame after appearing on hit show The X-Factor, cohosted the annual Slimming World Awards with the organisation’s founder and chair Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE. Margaret opened her first Slimming World group in 1969 and over the last 50 years the business has grown to become the UK’s leading group-based weightmanagement organisation, today supporting nearly one million slimmers.

Sarah was delighted to get a chance to meet Rylan and said meeting the TV host was a wonderful way to round off a great year for the Knowsley Slimming World groups, as well as a brilliant way to lead into 2019 - Slimming World’s Golden Year: “I couldn’t be more proud of the members of the Knowsley groups. Not only have they lost fantastic amounts of weight throughout 2018 – with many of them hitting their target weights – they’ve also improved their health, boosted their confidence and are heading into 2019

with new healthy habits that will help them stay slim for life.

“Watching people change before my eyes and start being able to do things that they didn’t think possible before losing weight absolutely amazes me.

“Every week I feel privileged to play even a small part in supporting consultants to help people towards these achievements and to celebrate with them, so I felt especially honoured to represent Knowsley at the Slimming World Awards.

“Rylan was blown away by the difference Slimming World makes to people’s lives too.”

Rylan, who is now a seasoned presenter having appeared on This Morning and Channel 5’s Big Brother’s Little Brother, said he was thrilled to meet Sarah at the event, which was held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre. He said: “I met so many people who had lost incredible amounts of weight and made a huge difference to their lives.

“While the stories I heard were obviously very personal, the one thing they all had in common was how much support they received from their ‘Slimming World family’ and how so many of them were achieving their dreams.

“Every one of them spoke passionately

Monday CROXTETH Porchfield Community Centre Porchfield Close, Off Storrington Avenue 5PM & 7PM Julie 07843 008686 Tuesday ECCLESTON St James Church Hall St Helens Road 9.00am, 11.00am, 4.30pm & 6.30pm Lynn 07739 167051 NETHERLEY Woodlands Community Centre, Wood Lane 9.30am, 4.30pm and 6.30pm Helen 07779 266870 LIVERPOOL The Liverpool public house 14 James Street (Next door to James Street Station) 12pm Linda 0151 256 1681 Wednesday DOVECOT The Holy Spirit Community Hall East Prescot Road L14 2EH 9.30am 4pm and 6pm Julie 07779 538790

about how they couldn’t have made those changes to eat more healthily and become more active without support week in week out, so people like Sarah who run and manage Slimming World groups are clearly worth their weight in gold.”

Sarah said: “2018 has been a brilliant year for Slimming World. We’ve launched our Slim for Life plan to give even more support to our target members and won awards for both our magazine and food range. We’re hoping our golden year will be even more successful and we have a string of exciting activities planned to celebrate our 50th birthday in style, including the launch of brand-new websites and apps, golden events and special publications.

“So, this New Year I truly believe that joining a local Slimming World group is the best way for people to lose weight, learn new habits and make long-term healthy changes. Thanks to our eating plan they’ll see big results on the scales without ever having to feel hungry or deprived, and at group they’ll discover a whole world of support and advice that’s sure to help them achieve their targets – and have a lot of fun along the way too!

“I’d love for anyone in Knowsley who wants to make a change to join us, I promise they won’t look back!”

KIRKBY (NORTHWOOD) Quarry Green Club, Daleside Road Northwood, Kirkby L35 8XS 4.30pm & 6.30pm Susan 07546 148204 PRESCOT St Pauls Parish Church Bryer Road 4.30pm & 6.30pm Lisa 07720 979915 CROXTETH Porchfield Community Centre Off Storrington Avenue 5.30pm Shenley 07803 524716

NETHERLEY Netherley Youth & Community Initiative St Gregory’s Church Damson Road, Netherley L27 8XR 6.30pm Helen 07779 266870 Friday DOVECOT The Holy Spirit Community Hall East Prescot Road L14 2EH 7.30am and 9.30am Julie 07779 538790 Saturday

Thursday KIRKBY (WESTVALE) The Railway Pub (Upstairs function room) Glovers Brow Liverpool L32 2AD 4pm & 6pm Susan 07546 148204 CROXTETH PARK St Cuthberts Church (portacabin) Langley Close Croxteth Park 5.00pm & 7.00pm Dawn Tel: 07732 845118

PRESCOT Prescot Town Hall Warrington Road 8.00am & 10.00am Lynn 07739 167051 NORRIS GREEN St Christophers Church Hall Lorenzo Drive 8.30am Debbie 07774 699694 BELLE VALE Gateacre Comprehensive School Hedgefield Road, Belle Vale 9.00am Graeme 07775 918576

days and times subject to change over the festive e Group season so contact consultant to confirm

22 January 2019

Health and Wellbeing HEALTHY KNOWSLEY with Councillor Sean Donnelly, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care

MATERNITY STAFF HELD A SPECIAL DELIVERY FOR FAMILIES IN NEED THIS CHRISTMAS

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I’m sure you are now a number of days into your new year’s resolutions, many of which I’m sure will relate to your own health and wellbeing - lose weight, drink less, stop smoking, do more exercise.

If your new year’s resolution links to boosting your own health and wellbeing, then our Healthy Knowsley Service can support you to make those changes. You can get free, confidential support (available on a one-to-one basis or through group sessions) with a wellbeing coach who can also refer you on to more specialist support services if required. Visit www.healthyknowsley.co.uk to find out more or telephone 0800 0731 202.

If drinking less is a priority for you, have you signed up for Dry January? A 31 day challenge to give up alcohol. Drinking less may help you to lose weight, save money and sleep better.

Giving your body a break from booze for a month is great, but you’ll get lots more benefits if you cut down long-term. Drinking too often and more than the Government’s lower risk guidelines of 2-3 units per day and no more than 14 units per week (spread over 3 days or more) increases your risk of developing serious health problems such as cancer, liver disease, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure which can lead to other serious conditions.

For more information about the recommended guidelines and help on cutting down, visit www.healthyknowsley.co.uk Dry January is free to sign up to and you’ll receive regular support emails with tips and information from experts to make your month easier and more fun. To find out more and sign up, visit www.dryjanuary.org.uk

Maternity staff at Whiston Hospital are used to special deliveries, but this Christmas they decided to go one step further to help families in their local community.

Staff at the unit created their very own ‘reverse advent calendar’ which meant that rather than receiving a gift a day for themselves, they instead donated an item of food or a household product each day during November.

With hundreds of goods

donated by staff, the team have been able to make their special delivery to food banks in Knowsley and St Helens just in time for Christmas.

Staff donated everything from baked beans and spaghetti, to nappies, washing powder and of course a few selection boxes and chocolates for the kids too.

Matron, Jacqui Kourellias said: “Our staff have been fantastic and really got behind the food bank advent calendar.

“We are happy to help our local

community in any way we can and hope that our donations reached some of the families that we care for.”

Ann Marr, chief executive, said: “I am very proud of our maternity team for their kindness in supporting our community in this way.

“They see and care for local families every day, and it is such a heart-warming gesture to help those who may need a little bit of extra help, especially during the festive period.”

FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR FREE NHS HEALTH CHECK If you’re aged between 40 and 74 then it’s time to find out about your free NHS Health Check.

The NHS Health Check is a health check-up provided by GPs for adults aged 40-74 which is designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia.

As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing one of these conditions, so an NHS Health Check helps find ways to lower this risk.

If you’re in the 40-74 age group without a preexisting condition e.g. diabetes or high blood pressure, you can expect to receive an invite from your GP for a free NHS Health Check every five years, or you can contact your GP to find out more.

During the check, which takes about 20 – 30 minutes, you’ll be asked some simple questions about your family history and choices which may put your health at risk. Your height, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels will also be checked.

Based on your results, you’ll be given personalised advice about how to make small changes to your lifestyle which can have a big impact on your health and wellbeing, or the need for further tests or treatment will be identified.

The NHS health check interactive website

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/ provides information about what happens at the health check, when and how to get one, and how to lower your risk.

Mobile breast screening in Kirkby If you’re a woman aged 50 to 70 you may receive an invitation to attend an appointment in the mobile breast screening unit located in Kirkby.

Attending your appointment is important as breast screening saves lives by finding cancers at an early stage, when they are too small to see or feel.

The mobile breast screening unit will be located outside Kirkby Walk-in Centre, St Chad’s Centre, St Chad’s Drive, Kirkby, L32 8RE until March 2019.

Women aged 50 to 70 are invited to have breast cancer screening every three years. Some women aged 47 to 49 and over 70 are also being invited, as part of a study of screening older and younger women.

If you are unable to attend please call the breast screening unit on 0151 282 6920 or 6921 and you will be offered an alternative appointment.

January 2019 23

STAYING WELL IN KNOWSLEY THIS WINTER The ‘Staying Well in Knowsley’ guide, giving vital information about a range of community-based health and social care services, is now available from a number of locations across the borough.

At this time of year, more people suffer from a range of illnesses, such as colds and flu that result in unnecessary visits to hospital.

There are now a range of community based help and support services available to residents in Knowsley to support them safely at home and following discharge from hospital.

The ‘Staying Well in Knowsley’ guide is available from a number of public buildings, including libraries, council onestop shops, GP surgeries and walk-in centres.

It outlines the range of services on offer, as well as offering helpful advice about staying well during the winter period, and lists everything from information about walk-in centres in Knowsley, to the Falls and Wellbeing Service, Knowsley Urgent Response Team and the Urgent Care GP appointment service.

There’s also information about

Community Navigators who help people access local activities and services to promote health and wellbeing, and useful contacts for the team who provide aids and equipment to help people stay safe and independent at home.

Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for health and social care Cllr Sean Donnelly said: “There’s a lot of community-based support available in Knowsley for people facing health and social care issues over the winter period. This is particularly the case for more vulnerable residents who often have a number of health conditions that, with the right support at or near to home, could avoid a visit or admission to hospital.

“This guide is a really useful one-stopshop of the support services available to those who might need some help staying well and independent at home.”

To read the guide visit: www.knowsleynews.co.uk search ‘Staying Well in Knowsley’

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Walk-in centres celebrate 15 year anniversary Knowsley walk-in centres have been celebrating 15 years of operation in December, with the number of people using the service rising all the time.

The walk-in centres are delivered by North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and are located in Halewood, Huyton and Kirkby. They diagnose and treat over 72,000 patients every year from all age groups, providing consultations, advice and treatment for minor injuries and illnesses.

Of the original team of five clinicians that helped to open the first walk-in centre in Huyton, three still remain to this day: Louise Johnston, now head of service ambulatory and urgent care; Tanya McGlynn, assistant practitioner; and Cheryl Arkwright, clinical lead nurse.

Louise said: “I’m so incredibly proud to have been part of the walk-in centre journey in Knowsley, which has adapted to the service needs of local patients, whilst always delivering the highest quality care. It’s a pleasure to work alongside colleagues who are so dedicated and committed to their jobs.

The ethos of the whole team is to put the patient at the centre of everything we do.”

Tanya said: “I remember how nervous I felt on my first day back in December 2003, when I joined as a healthcare assistant. Since then, with the support of my colleagues, I have qualified as an assistant practitioner.

“We have worked so hard to develop the

walk-in centre service to what it is today, which has made a considerable difference to the people of Knowsley.

Cheryl added: “It was an exciting but daunting time to open the first of three walk-in centres in Knowsley, which just had three consultation rooms, an office and five members of staff.

“Some people thought they wouldn’t last, but it’s fantastic to see how all three sites have evolved. By making healthcare more accessible, we provide reassurance and treatments to people when they need it most.”

If you're not sure if a walk-in centre is the best option for you, you can contact NHS 111 for advice.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for any medical help which is needed fast, but is not a 999 emergency.

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24 January 2019

Brownies spread festive spirit Christmas carol singing Brownies put on a festive performance for elderly residents at their Knowsley care home.

The St Bartholomew’s Church Brownies visited Aaron Grange Care Home on Blacklow Brow, Huyton, to sing a range of classic carols.

They also delivered handmade Christmas cards, each personalised to a resident at the home.

Karen Jenkinson, the daughter of resident Dotty Jenkinson, arranged the visit for her mother and others living at the home.

Dotty, a former Brown Owl, said: “I was so happy that they came to visit the home and felt very overwhelmed by the children and how well presented they all were.”

Clare Richards, home manager at Aaron Grange Care Home, said: “Our residents were so grateful and overwhelmed that the children had thought of them and made each and every one of them a personalised Christmas card.

“None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for our resident Dotty Jenkinson’s daughter, Karen, who organised this lovely visit.

“Thanks again Karen and thanks to the Brownies for their visit.”

Pictured left: Members of the St Bartholomew’s Church Brownies visited Aaron Grange Care Home to sing carols and deliver handmade Christmas cards to residents, including former Brown Owl Dotty Jenkinson (centre).

COUNCIL BACK LILAC CENTRE TO BECOME CANCER CARE HUB Political leaders from Knowsley Council have backed a specialist centre based at St Helens Hospital to be chosen as a future ‘Hub’ for cancer care in the region.

Knowsley Council leader Graham Morgan and deputy leader/cabinet member for health and social care Cllr Sean Donnelly showed their support during a visit to the prestigious Lilac Centre for Cancer Care, which provides high quality services and support to the borough’s residents who have been diagnosed with cancer.

The Lilac Centre has achieved the MacMillan Cancer Support Quality Environment Mark Award in 2010, 2014 and 2017 – the first chemotherapy unit nationally to receive this prestigious award aiming to improve the wellbeing of people living with cancer.

Their last Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating was outstanding, recognising the high-quality services, management and support offered at the centre and the Trust was named the best acute trust in the NHS in the Patient Led Assessments on the Care Environment in 2017 and 2018.

Cancer care in the region is currently undergoing a review, led by the local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups.

The provision of cancer care in Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington (known as the Eastern Sector) is part of the review. Residents in these areas have access to the Clatterbridge Centre (ranked as one of the best in the country), based in Wirral with a satellite radiotherapy treatment centre in Aintree.

Proposals in the review include a new state-of-the-art cancer centre being built in Liverpool which will be open in 2020 for inpatient care.

Outpatient care will be delivered in local hubs and it is proposed that four local hubs will service the region (one in the north, south, central and eastern

L-R: Cllr Sean Donnelly, Cllr Graham Morgan , Dianne Johnson (fourth left – chief officer, Knowsley CCG), Rob Cooper (back row director of operations and performance) and Pat Gillis (far right - cancer services manager) meet with staff at the Lilac Centre.

sectors).

The location for the eastern hub is still to be determined, but it is likely to be either the facility based at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust or Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Proposals are currently being developed and will then be subject to a public consultation commencing in the spring 2019.

Councillor Sean Donnelly said: “We are delighted to have such renowned and valued facilities on our doorstep, accessible to our residents.

“As well as providing medical treatment, the Lilac Centre also offers counselling services and complementary therapies and it was a pleasure to meet with some of our residents who are receiving these fantastic services today.

“It is abundantly clear that the services

provided here are not only first class but also very much valued by patients and their families.”

Last year, the centre celebrated its 25 year anniversary and over the years, the number of people receiving their help and support has increased from between 25-30 per week in 1992 to over 250 today.

“Survival rates are also increasing too, doubling in the last 40 years with around half of patients now surviving the disease for more than ten years. It’s even more prevalent that the right support is in place locally to help those to live well following a cancer diagnosis.

During the visit, Rob Cooper, director of operations, explained to Councillor Morgan and Councillor Donnelly the diverse services offered, number of patients who pass through the centre,

how effective early diagnosis and treatment can be, as well as opportunities to meet with staff and patients.

Councillor Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council, said: “It has been extremely interesting to visit the fantastic facilities and services at the Lilac Centre and I hope that the services here can continue to be delivered for the benefit of our residents.

“I will be pledging my support for this facility to be the ‘eastern hub’ in the forthcoming consultation on cancer care in the area and I would encourage you to take part too and ensure that your views are captured and this amazing facility remains local and accessible for the benefit of our residents.”

If you’d like to find out more about the cancer care review, please email cancercare@participate.uk.com

January 2019 25

COMMUNITY PROJECT GETS CREATIVE WITH RECYCLING “ It’s a case of ‘so far, sew good’ for a community scheme in Northwood, Kirkby, that is using creative arts and crafts to help encourage recycling.

The Northwood CommuniTree 4aRts project is working across the Northwood area in a bid to engage local residents and get them to think about reducing waste and boosting re-use and recycling.

The project is being delivered by Faiths4Change – a not-for-profit organisation which uses arts, health and wellbeing activities to engage with communities on environmental matters – in partnership with Northwood Community Centre.

Faiths4Change has received over £7000 of funding for the project, which comes from the Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority and Veolia Community Fund 2018/19.

The Fund was set up to help support waste prevention, re-use and recycling projects locally.

Northwood in Kirkby has traditionally low levels of recycling. By working with the Community Fund and Knowsley Council, Faiths4Change hope to create clear and consistent behavioural change messages through arts and crafts

There is a

activities to wonderful help the local community community turn these spirit here statistics around.

The project will conclude with the Northwood ‘CommuniTree’ Resources exhibition featuring items created by local people at the workshops, a 3D CommuniTree sculpture made of recycled plastic bottles and a canopy made from recycled materials such as textiles.

Liz Atherton, arts & wellbeing project co-ordinator at Faiths4Change, said: “By bringing together old and young, groups, schools, and organisations from across Northwood we can all create a really positive environmental noise about, with and for the area.

“There is a wonderful community spirit here and you see it every day at the community centre.

“Ultimately the project is about helping to build community spirit, break down barriers and provide educational benefits to enable all to improve the environment for future generations in Northwood.”

By the end of the project in March 2019,

”

Marlene Robinson, Lisa Cover, Liz Atherton and Julia Adlington stitch the Northwood CommuniTree.

Faiths4Change expect that they will have: • Re-used or recycled 6.7 tonnes of materials (including textiles, plastics and bulky family items such as cots and prams) • Held six Swap Shops for textiles, bulky items and toys • Held 12 clothing repair clinics • Hosted 64 sewing and craft workshops to create ‘textile tree banners’ • Delivered recycling guides directly to 500 households • Engaged with eight schools for Bags2School clothing collections Twelve volunteering opportunities have also been created in partnership with Northwood Community Centre.

Faiths4Change are hoping that local

volunteers, with the right support, will encourage engagement amongst family, peers and neighbours.

Lou Smith is one local resident for whom the scheme has made a difference. Lou said: “I’ve been getting involved in the sewing classes, the pop up boutiques and making art work for the centre.

“There’s a really nice, friendly atmosphere and it’s been great to dust off the sewing skills I haven’t used for a few years. You just hope that it does have an effect and people in the area will start recycling more – I’m sure they will.

It’s a great community and people just need the right information to help them do what they need to do.”

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26 January 2019

New Year, New You? T

he New Year is a time for reflecting on the previous twelve months and thinking about how life might unfold in the future. It is a time of good intentions, with earnest promises made to eat healthily, lose a little weight, get fitter, crack down on the Christmas credit card bill or just to be a little kinder to oneself and others.

This practice of making resolutions for self improvement is not an entirely modern one: parallels can be found in ancient cultures.

The Babylonians performed a ceremony of affirmation and renewal at the beginning of the New Moon after the Spring Equinox. During the Akitu rite, the King, as representative of the people, would plead for forgiveness for any wrong doing and give assurances that he had done his best to provide for the community and serve the god, Marduk.

Having promised to fulfil his duty, the King would be humbled before the gods and stripped of his regalia: the High Priest would slap him hard across the face. Marduk would be duly satisfied by the King’s tears and allow the King’s rule to continue for another year.

Roman culture also featured turn-of-year traditions, with people making promises to Janus, the god of door and gate, beginnings and endings. Janus is usually depicted with two faces, gazing simultaneously forward and backward in contemplation.

Looking back into British seasonal traditions, we find that medieval knights renewed their commitment to chivalry at the end of the Christmas period by declaring the Peacock Vow, described in Charles Dickens’ journal, ‘All The Year Round’ as ‘The most celebrated of all the vows of chivalry’(All The Year Round, Vol. V, p, 279).

During the ceremony, the knights would renew their vows to the peacock, which in its full plumage was considered a symbol of the majesty of kings.

If inspiration for a resolution is needed, there is plenty to be found in Knowsley’s Archive.

What about making new friends by joining a club – or an amateur dramatic society?

Immediately before the Second World War, when Kirkby was still a rural village set in the Earl of Sefton’s farmlands, an active ‘amdram’ society was flourishing.

The Archive holds a wonderful collection of photograph

A tense scene from Murder at the Bugginses, KADS, 1938

“

Drama is a theme which runs through several archive collections

of the site and students activities, containing photographs of students, the buildings and grounds, college prospectuses, copies of ‘The Motto’ college magazine and an impressive, full size COLCHE flag!

Dramatic productions were a strong social element of life at the Kirkby Malayan Teachers’ Training College from 1952-1962, with students organising exquisitely costumed plays and musical performances which reflected the blend of western and South East Asian cultures which came together at the College.

Prescot Grammar School also had its own Dramatic Society: a wonderful scrap book contains photographs and programmes from performances by the boys between1930-1975. Some of the programmes have been autographed by the young thespians.

The company performed plays by many of the greats, including Shakespeare, Sheridan, George Bernard Shaw, Galsworthy and Goldsmith and the sets and costumes were sumptuous, sponsored in part by local companies such as the B.I.C.C. However, if actually joining a dramatic society doesn’t appeal, perhaps this year could be the year to catch up on old school or college friends and reminisce about the best days of our lives?

After the excesses of the rich food and drink enjoyed over the Christmas celebrations, a fitter, healthier lifestyle may be the aim for 2019, whether that be eating healthily or getting physically active and hitting the gym.

The Archive holds many examples of sporting endeavour, with cricket featuring in several collections, including the detailed records that document Huyton Cricket Club and photographs of the Liverpool and District versus Australians match, captured at Aigburth Cricket ground on 28 August 1899 by Mr Clark of Huyton and preserved in a beautiful photograph album.

The Clark family enjoyed watching a number of sporting and countryside activities, as the album also contains photographs of a Mrs Blockley of Cheshire taking 1st place in the show jumping - riding side saddle - at the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society Show at Liverpool, 4th August 1899.

Some more quirky activities are evidenced in the Archive collections: what about a tug of war, or pace egging?

The latter is an old Lancastrian tradition, which involved painting hard boiled eggs and rolling them down a grassy slope at speed, the winner being the person who reached the bottom of the incline first in one piece.

Traditionally run at Easter time, pace egging derives its name from ‘Peace Eggs’ and is described in the research papers of Alex Grant, a noted local historian.

Perhaps making a fresh financial start is the target for 2019. There are several collections in the Archive which give a flavour of the socio-economic state of the Knowsley area throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. he Farmers' Rest Lodge, Tarbock branch of the Independent Order of Oddfellows documents the financial transactions of the Lodge, as well as the membership and social activity from 1835-1966, whilst the unique Whiston and District Cooperative Society collection (1876-1968) offers a complete record of the organisation, spanning two world wars and the birth of the Welfare State.

A resolution for the Archive will be to continue to tap the potential of these important collections, so that researchers can benefit from the depth of information at our fingertips.

”

Calling the toss Huyton Cricket Club, 1929

albums which chronicle the group’s activities over the three years from 1935-1938.

Members are photographed creating sets and costumes and performing scenes from wonderful titles such as ‘Acid Drops’, ‘Murder at the Bugginses’, ‘Between the Soup and the Savoury’ and the somewhat prophetic 1935 season production, ‘Sad About Europe’.

Drama is a theme which runs through several archive collections that coincidentally are connected to schools and colleges.

It was a taught subject at the City of Liverpool College of Higher Education Liverpool’s C.F. Mott Training College, on the site of what is now the King’s Business Park, Prescot.

The Archive holds a collection recalling the development

January 2019 27

KNOWSLEY ARK: BRINGING HISTORY ALIVE

Above: The Malayan Medley performance, MTTC, 1954.

Far left: CF Mott magazine cover, 1968 Left: Tug of War, Kirkby, 1950s

“

Some more quirky activities are evidenced in the Archive collections

”

You can visit the ARK at the Kirkby Centre, Norwich Way, Kirkby, L32 8XY. For more information about the ARK or to find out about the services on offer, call 0151 443 4365 or email infoheritage@knowsley.gov.uk Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and find Knowsley Archives on Flickr, Wordpress and Soundcloud

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28 January 2019

Haunted Merseyside with Tom Slemen

THE WITCH’S SNOWBALL T

he winter that shouted, but before he could stretched from say another word Jimmy December 1962 to retorted with a rhyming reply: March 1963 was one of the “You’re a monkey and I’m not!” coldest ones on record. The The three young men Mersey froze over and, standing around Jimmy according to a local legend, a members of his gang - the Huyton daredevil named Crew Cuts - burst out laughing Potter drove his Ford Anglia and imitated screeching from the Dingle’s Cast Iron monkeys as they looked at Len. Shore to Rock Ferry Ripples of laughter spread promenade via the river’s through the pub, but Len said seven-feet-thick ice crust. something which wiped the Other bizarre and strange smiles off most of the faces. To things happened during that the gang leader he said: “Hey severe winter. ugly mug, I’m friendly with that A trail of giant footprints in the witch at the back of St Chad’s, virgin mantle of snow - each so button your lip or I’ll get her measuring twelve feet from toe to curse you!” to heel - were found in many of “Witch? What witch?” asked a the city’s parks, from Walton to smirking Jimmy, and then he Aigburth, and also in the vicinity pointed to an old woman of Bowring Park and Halsnead drinking in a corner and asked, Park, but predictably, the “Is that her?” gargantuan imprints were said “Mrs Craith”, said an old man to have been caused by a named Jones at the bar, looking combination of the wind and Jimmy up and down, “she can the weird subzero weather strike you down with the evil conditions. eye, lad, turn your blood to ice.

Then there was another Keep well away from her. supernatural incident which ran “Even talking about her is concurrent to the unknown inviting death!” exclaimed the giant stroller - the case of the alleged Witch of “Witch? What the Mill Brook in Kirkby who exacted a very witch?”asked a unearthly and surreal smirking Jimmy, and revenge on a gang of youths who had then he pointed to persecuted her. an old woman The story unfolded one bitterly cold January drinking in a corner evening in 1963 at the Johnny Todd when a drunk we shall call Len - not his wife of old Mr Jones, and she real name started spouting urged him, “Touch your knee nonsense after his seventh pint and touch your chin and never of bitter. mention Craith again!” and Len stood on a chair, swaying Jones did what he was told. precariously as the locals Some present said the sniggered, and delivered a shadow of a woman flitted nonsensical speech. across the walls of the Johnny He told the packed pub: Todd at that point, and an “Ladies and jellyspoons, I stand uneasy silence fell on the pub. upon this speech to make a Jimmy asked for information platform! The train I arrived in about this so-called witch but has not yet come, so I took a no one would say a word bus and walked. I come before except a drunk named Jack, in you, to stand behind you, and return for a pint. tell you something I know He told Jimmy exactly where nothing about! to find the witch. He said her “Hear, hear!” shouted a young crooked little shack stood man named Jimmy, and then behind trees in a field near the he used some very coarse brook behind St Chads, but language to mock Len’s bandy Jimmy, for all his bravado, was legs. not brave enough to go looking Len gritted his teeth and for the witch at night, so he and addressed his young critic. the rest of the Crew Cuts went “Do you know what?” he in search of Mrs Craith on the

following morning at eleven.

The gang discovered that the ramshackle home of Craith could only be seen from a certain spot; it seemed to vanish into the white wintry wastes if you walked a few feet left or right.

The Crew Cuts had catapults with ball bearings, snowballs with stones in, an air rifle, and Jimmy had a can of paraffin to burn the witch’s house to the ground.

“Who goes there?” asked a trembling female voice in a Lancashire brogue, but no one could see her.

“Jimmy,” shouted the gang leader, “Jimmy Crew Cut!” and the other three started singing a parody of ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett: Born on a mountain top in old Kirkby, killed his Ma when he was only three, killed his Pa when he was only four, and now he’s looking for his brother-inlaw! Jimmy, Jimmy Crew Cut, king of the wild frontier!”

The rifle was fired at the shack, the catapults unleashed their bollies (ball-bearings), the snowballs with stones at their cores were thrown and Jimmy advanced with the paraffin and his trusty lighter, when one of the lads said, “Eh, what’s that?”

A giant, perfectly spherical snowball, about seven feet in height, came rolling across a field

at about 20 mph, and as the four young men looked on in disbelief, the ivory globe picked up speed!

It was heading straight for the Crew Cuts.

Jimmy threw down the paraffin can and ran but the snowball smashed into him, winding him, knocking him down, and his world turned over and over...

That snowball went after the other three, and their bodies became trapped in the ice and snow.

Jimmy conked out, and when he awoke the ball was smashing into a police car on Kirkby Row by the post office.

The injuries were life-changing, and the gang never bothered Mrs Craith again…

Charity group receive some big news A local charity group who meet each week as a group to promote creative art and craft activities have been successful in a bid for Big Lottery funding.

The Pingwood Art and Craft Group, based in Kirkby have just received some good news from the Big Lottery fund in that they have been successful in their bid for £10,000 for the group.

The grant will help the group maintain their support to our local hospitals (Alder Hey, Liverpool Women’s Charity) who they knit baby clothes for their local charities.

They also provide support to the Kind care by providing twiddle muff and sleeves for dementia patients.

With this funding they will be able to purchase equipment for craft and art that will allow them to be able to put on courses that will encourage people to meet and learn new skills.

Treasurer, Billy White said: “We cannot thank the people who without their support in playing week in week out this funding would not be available to local groups like ours. The group would like to thank the Big Lottery Fund and all the people who week in and week out support local charities by playing the National lottery.

January 2019 29

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PUBLIC NOTICE CALL PETER 07947 119 162 KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (MARKET PLACE AND PROSPERO PLACE, PRESCOT) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF VEHICLES) (EXCEPT FOR BUSES, TAXIS AND ACCESS TO SHAKESPEARE NORTH CONSTRUCTION SITE) AND (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF MOTOR VEHICLES) (EXCEPT FOR BUSES, TAXIS AND ACCESS TO SHAKESPEARE NORTH CONSTRUCTION SITE) ORDER 2018 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to facilitate development works relating to Shakespeare North Theatre, Prescot (“the Works”) and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council proposes than in not less than seven days from the date of this Notice to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Order”), The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles (except for buses, taxis and access to Shakespeare North Construction Site) on Market Place, Prescot, from its junction with Kemble Street to its junction with Church Street and; to temporarily prohibit motor vehicles (except for buses, taxis and access to Shakespeare North Construction Site) on Prospero Place, Prescot, from its southernmost junction with Eccleston Street to its northern junction with Church Street.

The existing Prohibition of Vehicles (Except for buses and taxis) and the existing Prohibition of Motor Vehicles (Except for buses and taxis) Traffic Regulation Orders shall be temporarily suspended throughout the duration that the temporary restrictions, referred to above, are in force A diversion route is not applicable on this occasion. It is anticipated that the construction works will commence from Thursday 31 January 2019 to Friday 31 July 2020.

The Order will come into force on Thursday 31 January 2019 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to properties or premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said work and for works vehicles, any vehicle used in connection with the police, fire or ambulance purposes and anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

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Business News FREE BUSINESS ADVICE SERVICE LAUNCHES IN KNOWSLEY GTDT a Liverpool based social enterprise who have been running a hugely successful business support service in South Liverpool under the Merseyside wide ‘Enterprise Hub’ program are now offering their expert down to earth, no nonsense business advice service to residents in Knowsley.

The service will offer business support and advice to anyone in Knowsley wanting to set up their own business and to those already running a business for less than three years.

The fully funded, free support service will offer all aspects of business related advice and support including developing ideas and business planning, marketing, pricing, finance, funding, business loans, legal issues and much more.

Darren Guy lead adviser at GTDT said: “I’m originally from Kirkby, so Knowsley is in my heart, so it’s great to come back and offer this service”.

Darren has been running businesses for over 30 years and working as an adviser for the past 15 years Dareen said: “I’m already getting referrals from people in Kirkby, Prescot and Halewood who have some great ideas, so I’m looking forward to working with a lot more people.

“I will be based at a number of locations across Knowsley and happy to hear from anyone, even if it’s just an idea they have.

“Starting a business can be both daunting and exciting for people who have never done it before, I know a lot of existing businesses may not have got their heads around the whole process, or struggling under the present climate.

“What I really love about my job is that people come to me when they have decided to change their life and I’m really happy to be there at that time and try and guide them through the process”.

You can contact Darren on 07396 325144 Or email him darren@catslyst-

A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CYBER SECURITY A workshop aimed at providing practical and insightful tactics and solutions, which will include: cyber security, the security of your business through staff and customers and brand protection will be held by Knowsley Chamber on Thursday 17 January from 8:00 - 10:30 at the Suites Hotel & Spa, Knowsley.

The event is aimed at small to medium sized businesses and is free to members and non-members.

KNOWSLEY BUSINESS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY AT CHRISTMAS Caring Connections is a local charity based in Kirkby which specialises in the provision of home care services to vulnerable groups.

This year the charity launched a Christmas Hamper appeal, aiming to provide their 60 service users/families with a Christmas food hamper. A call to action was made to local business to help with donations of food and other items which could fill the hampers.

Paul Growney CEO of Caring Connections said: “It was really inspiring to see all of the local business willing to help our campaign in which we managed to fill the full 60 hampers.

“I would like to say a special thank you to the teams at Tickle Hall Cross Solicitors and Needle Smart who really helped with their large donations.

“This campaign works to further the objectives of Caring Connections supporting people to reduce isolation and targeting loneliness in the Knowlsey region”.

SPECSAVERS ACADEMY INSPIRING ITS FUTURE FEMALE LEADERS CONFIRMS COMMITMENT

TO KIRKBY TOWN CENTRE

Pupils from Halewood Academy have been taking part in a new Future Female Leaders programme, designed to help raise the profile of women in leadership roles, and provide a platform for their female students to aspire to.

The programme has two strands, the first is to act as a mentor to other young females in the school and the second is to have access to a professional mentor.

Through the programme, students have the opportunity to meet women from the business world, share experiences, and receive advice and guidance.

The school have attracted a number of female mentors from a wide range of employment sectors, who have agreed to give an hour of their time to the programme every six weeks in order to support and encourage the participating pupils.

In October, six students from the programme attended Knowsley Chamber’s networking event at Knowsley Hall to celebrate 15 years of Women in Business.

Josie Gallagher, vice principal of Halewood Academy helped to create the programme, she said: “We felt that there were not enough opportunities for students to meet females in leadership roles who they can learn from and aspire to be like.

“The programme gives participants the opportunity to not only meet successful women in business but also understand the journey they’ve taken to get to them to where they are.

“The idea is it will also enable participants to explore the core Halewood Academy values in of collaboration, excellence, resilience, aspiration and respect.”

St Modwen has agreed a new deal with Specsavers to occupy a larger unit at Kirkby Town Centre.

The national opticians has occupied a unit in Kirkby for 13 years on St Chads Parade located next to travel agents, Thomas Cook and opposite Costa Coffee.

This new deal will see Specsavers expand its existing unit and create a larger 2,568 sq ft store.

Specsavers has signed a 10 year lease.

The expansion will enable Specsavers to operate a larger hearing provision instore whilst retaining all current amenities.

Andrew Day, asset manager at St Modwen, said: “We are really pleased to have secured this lease renewal with Specsavers as long standing tenants of Kirkby.

“The additional space will enable the full Specsavers offering and bring further amenity to the town centre which will be well received by the community.”

Tazveer Sahota, store director of Specsavers in Kirkby, said: “I am delighted to have secured a long term lease for an expanded Specsavers store here at Kirkby Town Centre.

“I hope the investment in providing an increased optical and hearcare proposition will be greatly received by the local community.

“Specsavers looks forward to continuing to be an integral part of the Kirkby Town Centre for many years.”

January 2019 31

Public Notice KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (PEX HILL, CRONTON) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF PEDESTRIANS) ORDER 2019 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to enable maintenance works at the Pex Hill Reservoir in Pex Hill, Cronton, (“the Works”) and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council proposes than in not less than seven days from the date of this Notice to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Order”), The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit pedestrians from proceeding along: (i) Pex Hill Footway, Cronton – The footpath running between Pex Hill access road and Norland’s Lane. (ii) Pex Hill, Footpath, Cronton – The footpath running along the west side of the Pex Hill access road, at a point 252 metres north of its junction with Cronton Road for a distance of 299 metres in a northerly direction.

The diversion route for the public affected by the temporary prohibition of pedestrians order on Pex Hill footpath will be via, Norland’s Lane, Cronton Lane, Pex Hill access road and vice versa.

The diversion route for the public affected by the temporary prohibition of pedestrians order on Pex Hill footpath running along the west side of Pex Hill access road will be via, the permissive footpath located at a point 252 metres north of Cronton Road in a westerly, then northwesterly, then easterly then northeasterly, then northerly, then easterly direction towards Leighton Observatory and vice versa. This route will be clearly signed for the duration of the works.

It is anticipated that works on Pex Hill will commence from Monday 21 January 2018 to Sunday 9 June 2019.

The Order will come into force on Monday 21 January 2019 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (POTTERY LANE, WHISTON AND CRONTON) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) (EXCEPT FOR ACCESS) ORDER 2019 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to enable essential carriageway resurfacing works on Pottery Lane, Whiston and Cronton (“the Works”) and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council proposes than in not less than seven days from the date of this Notice to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Order”), The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles (except emergency services) including pedal cycles from proceeding along: (i) Pottery Lane, Whiston and Cronton – from its junction with Pottery Lane to its junction with Greenes Road.

The diversion route for vehicular traffic affected by the road closure on Pottery Lane will be via Wood Lane, The Crescent, Longview Drive, Huyton Lane Liverpool Road, Derby Street, High Street, Warrington Road, Dragon Lane, Dragon Drive, Greenes Road and vice versa. It is anticipated that works will commence from Monday 28 January 2019 to Friday 8 February 2019 The Order will come into force on Monday 28 January 2019 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to properties, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said work and for works vehicles, any vehicle used in connection with the police, fire or ambulance purposes and anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

WANT TO ADVERTISE IN THE CHALLENGE PLEASE CALL 0151 709 7567 KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (NETHERLEY ROAD, TARBOCK GREEN) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) (EXCEPT FOR ACCESS) ORDER 2018 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to enable essential water apparatus maintenance works on Netherley Road, Tarbock Green (“the Works”) and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council made the above named Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Order”), The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles (except emergency services) including pedal cycles from proceeding along: (i) Netherley Road, Tarbock Green – from its junction with Whitefield Lane for a distance of 256 metres in a northwesterly direction.

The diversion route for vehicular traffic affected by the road closure on Netherley Road will be via Whitefield Lane, Cronton Road, Wheathill Road, Naylor’s Road, Childwall Valley Road, Netherley Road and vice versa. It is anticipated that works will commence from Monday 14 January 2019 to Monday 28 January 2019 The Order came into force on Thursday 27 December 2018 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months.

Exemptions are provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to properties, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said work and for works vehicles, any vehicle used in connection with the police, fire or ambulance purposes and anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to enable essential utility apparatus connection works and carriageway reinstating works to be undertaken on Atherton Street (“the Works”), and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough made the above named Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from driving along the length of roads set out in Schedule 1, to temporarily suspend the existing one way on the lengths of roads set out in Schedule 2, to temporarily suspend the existing no vehicles restriction on the lengths of roads set out in Schedule 3 and to temporarily suspend the existing taxis rank on the lengths of roads set out in Schedule 4:It is anticipated that the works will be undertaken from Saturday 5 January 2019 to Friday 11 January 2019. The Order came into force on Friday 28 December 2018 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months.

SCHEDULE 1 • Atherton Street, Prescot - From its junction High Street for a distance of 46 metres in a southeasterly direction.

SCHEDULE 2 • Atherton Street, Prescot – From its junction with High Street to its interface with Eccleston Street.

• Eccletson Street, Prescot – From its interface with Atherton Street to its junction with Chapel Street.

SCHEDULE 3 • (Chapel Street, Prescot)(Regulation of Traffic) Order 1988 on Chapel Street, Prescot – For its entire length.

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (NETHERLEY ROAD, HALEWOOD) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) (EXCEPT FOR ACCESS) ORDER 2018 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to enable essential water apparatus maintenance works on Netherley Road, Halewood (“the Works”) and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council proposes than in not less than seven days from the date of this Notice to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Order”), The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles (except emergency services) including pedal cycles from proceeding along: (i) Netherley Road, Halewood – from its junction with Whitefield Lane for a distance of 256 metres in a northwesterly direction.

The diversion route for vehicular traffic affected by the road closure on Netherley Road will be via Whitefield Lane, Cronton Road, Wheathill Road, Naylor’s Road, Childwall Valley Road, Netherley Road and vice versa. It is anticipated that works will commence from Monday 14 January 2019 to Monday 28 January 2019 The Order will come into force on Thursday 27 December 2018 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to properties, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said work and for works vehicles, any vehicle used in connection with the police, fire or ambulance purposes and anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 15(4) OR (5) OR ARTICLE 16 OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION Notice is hereby given that applications have been submitted to the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley.

Application No: 18/00730/FUL & 18/00731/LBC by Daniel Thwaites PLC at Clock Face Public House , 54 Derby Street, Prescot - PARTIAL CHANGE OF USE OF FIRST FLOOR TO HOTEL (USE CLASS C1), TOGETHER WITH INTERNAL ALTERATIONS TO GROUND AND FIRST FLOOR, AND ERECTION OF BOUNDARY TREATMENTS TO SIDE AND REAR. Application No: 18/00651/ADV by Miss Anita Allen at Harns, 11 Market Place, Prescot - RETENTION OF 1 NO. NON-ILLUMINATED FASCIA SIGN Application No: 18/00718/FUL by Mr J Langton at 3 Brewery Cottages, Netherley Road, Tarbock Green - DEMOLITION OF EXISTING REAR TWO STOREY EXTENSION AND CONSTRUCTION OF TWO STOREY SIDE EXTENSION, TOGETHER WITH A DETACHED GARAGE Application No: 18/00735/FUL by Merseyside Assured Homes PLC at Former Site Of Longview Social Club, Lyme Grove, Huyton - ERECTION OF 27NO DWELLINGS COMPRISING 7NO TWO BED HOUSES, AND 20NO ONE BED APARTMENTS, AND ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT Members of the public may inspect copies of the application, the plans and other documents submitted with it at One Stop Shop, Municipal Building, Archway Road, Huyton, between 9.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday or view the application online using Public Access at http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/residents/building-andplanning/planning.aspx .

Anyone who wishes to make representations about this application should write to the Council at Director of Place, Municipal Buildings, PO Box 26, Archway Road, Huyton, L36 9FB or online via the above website within 21 days of the date of this notice.

Should this application be heard at planning committee and you wish to speak at the meeting the procedure to follow can be found at: https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/residents/building-and-planning/make-aplanning-application/speaking-at-planning-committee Mike Harden Chief Executive DATE OF NOTICE: 07/01/2019

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (ATHERTON STREET, ECCLESTON STREET AND CHAPEL STREET, PRESCOT) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVE ORDER, TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF ONE WAY ORDER, TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF NO VEHICLES ORDER AND TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF TAXI RANK ORDER) 2018

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL (HALSNEAD AVENUE, WHISTON) (EXPERIMENTAL ONE WAY TRAFFIC) ORDER 2017 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council made the above-named order (“the Order”) on 19th December 2018 under Sections 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 19, 32, 35, 45, 46, 47 53 and 124 and Part IV of Schedule 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the 1984 Act”). When the Order comes into force on the 7th January 2019, the effect of the Order is to make permanent the provisions of the Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (Prohibition and Restriction of Waiting and Loading and Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement and Consolidation) Order 2017 (Experimental One Way Traffic) Halsnead Avenue, Whiston.

A copy of the Order, plan and a statement of the Council’s reasons for making the Order may be inspected during normal office hours at reception desks at KMBC One Stop shops at Norwich Way, Kirkby; Archway Road, Huyton: Aspinall Street, Prescot and Roseheath Drive, Halewood.

A copy of the Order and a statement of the Council's reasons for making the Order may also be viewed on the Council’s website; www.knowsley.gov.uk/consultations If you wish to question the validity of the Order or of any of its provisions contained within it, on the grounds that it or they are not within the powers conferred by the 1984 Act, or that any requirement of the 1984 Act or of any instrument made under the Act has not been complied with, you may, within 6 weeks from the date on which the Order was made, apply for that purpose to the High Court.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

SCHEDULE 4 • Eccleston Street, Prescot (Southside) - from a point 5 metres west of a point coincident of its junction with Chapel Street for a distance of 15 metres in a westerly direction.

Dated the 7 January 2018 Mike Harden Chief Executive

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (CARR LANE, PRESCOT) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) (EXCEPT FOR ACCESS) ORDER 2018 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to enable essential arboriculture works to be carried out on Carr Lane, Prescot (“the Works”) and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council made the above named Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Order”), The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles (except emergency services) including pedal cycles from proceeding along sections of: (a) Carr Lane, Prescot, from its roundabout junction with Huyton Lane to its roundabout junction with Cables Way. The diversion route for vehicular traffic affected by the Order which will be clearly signposted will be via Cables Way, Manchester Road, Liverpool Road, Huyton Lane and vice versa.

The Order came into force on Friday 28 December 2018 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months. It is anticipated that the works will take place over four consecutive weekends from Saturday 5 January 2019 to Sunday 27 January 2019. If all the necessary work is completed within a shorter period, this Order shall cease to have effect at the end of that shorter period.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to properties, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said work and for works vehicles, any vehicle used in connection with the police, fire or ambulance purposes and anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (WINDSOR ROAD, ROBY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2018 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to enable carriageway improvement works on Windsor Road, Roby (“the Works”) and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council made the above named Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Order”), The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles including pedal cycles from proceeding along: (i) Windsor, Road – For its entire length.

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (CEDAR ROAD, WHISTON) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2019 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to enable water apparatus repair works on Cedar Road, Whiston (“the Works”) and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council proposes than in not less than seven days from the date of this Notice to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Order”), The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles including pedal cycles from proceeding along: (i) Cedar Road, Whiston – From its junction with Lunt Avenue to its junction with Cedar Close.

The diversion route for vehicular traffic affected by the road closure on Cedar Road will be via Lunt Avenue, Hazel Avenue, Birch Close, Chestnut Close, Cedar Road and vice versa.

It is anticipated that works on Cedar Road will commence from Monday 4 February 2019 to Sunday 17 February 2019.

The Order will come into force on Thursday 24 January 2019 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (LYME CLOSE, HUYTON) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) (EXCEPT FOR ACCESS) ORDER 2019 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to ensure public and highway safety whilst housing development works are been carried out on Lyme Close, Huyton (“the Works”), and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council proposes not less than seven days from the date of this Notice to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The effect of this Order will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles (except emergency services) including pedal cycles from proceeding along i. Lyme Close, Huyton, the southernmost end of Lyme Close (circulatory) from a point coincident with the boundary line between property numbers 49 to 51, in a westerly, northerly then easterly direction to its junction with Lyme Close (adjacent to property number 17).

Diversion routes are not applicable in this instance.

The Order will come into force on Monday 14 January 2019 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months. It is anticipated that the works will take place on Monday 14 January 2019. If all the necessary work is completed within a shorter period, this Order shall cease to have effect at the end of that shorter period.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to properties, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said work and for works vehicles, any vehicle used in connection with the police, fire or ambulance purposes and anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

Dated the 7th January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

The diversion route for vehicular traffic affected by the road closure on Windsor Road will be via Western Avenue, Page Moss Lane, Pilch Lane East and vice versa.

It is anticipated that works on Cedar Road will commence from Tuesday 8 January 2019 to Tuesday 22 January 2019.

The Order came into force on Friday 28 December 2018 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) (HALL LANE, OLD ROUGH LANE, COUNTY ROAD AND VALLEY ROAD, KIRKBY) (TEMPORARY SPEED LIMIT) ORDER 2018 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in order to enable essential highway improvement and resurfacing works to be undertaken on the roads described in the Schedules below (“the Works”), and in order to facilitate traffic management, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough made the above named Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The effect of this Order will be to temporarily restrict the speed of vehicles to 20mph on the roads set out in Schedule 1:The council also proposes to temporarily revoke the Orders detailed in Schedule 2 below.

It is anticipated that the works will be undertaken from Wednesday 2 January 2019 to Sunday 2 June 2019. The temporary speed limits will therefore only be brought into effect during periods when specific work operations are being carried out. The Order will come into force on Friday 28 December 2018 and will have a maximum duration of 18 months.

SCHEDULE 1 • County Road, both carriageways - From its junction with Church Green to its junction with Irlam Drive.

• Old Rough Lane - From its junction with Scoter Road to its junction with County Road.

• Hall Lane - From its junction with County Road for a distance of 88 metres in a westerly direction • Valley Road, westbound carriageway - From its roundabout junction with M57 Junction 6 southbound on slip road for a distance of 100 metres in an easterly direction.

• Valley Road, eastbound carriageway - from its roundabout junction with M57 Junction 6 northbound on slip road for a distance of 100 metres in a westerly direction.

• The Circulatory Roundabout on Valley Road – for its entire length SCHEDULE 2 • (LONGMOOR LANE, FAZAKERLEY AND VALLEY ROAD, KIRKBY (A506))(40MPH SPEED LIMIT AND REVOCATION) ORDER 1995 - Valley Road, westbound carriageway, from its roundabout junction with M57 Junction 6 southbound on slip road for a distance of 100 metres in an easterly direction.

• (LONGMOOR LANE, FAZAKERLEY AND VALLEY ROAD, KIRKBY (A506))(40MPH SPEED LIMIT AND REVOCATION) ORDER 1995 - Valley Road, eastbound carriageway, from its roundabout junction with M57 Junction 6 northbound on slip road for a distance of 100 metres in a westerly direction.

Dated the 7 January 2019 Mike Harden Chief Executive

32 January 2019

LIGHTING UP THE SKY IN CROXTETH Fun lovers and families were invited to step into the beautiful Victorian surroundings of Croxteth Hall and Gardens in December, where a magical, illuminated adventure awaited.

The Lantern Company, renowned for their extraordinary illuminated events and parades the world over, were back in town with a brand-new illuminations extravaganza called The Secret Winter Garden - created especially for Croxteth Hall.

For 10 nights in December the grand Victorian venue and its stunning gardens were transformed into a luminous wintery wonderland, to delight and enthrall visitors of all ages.

People Ventured through a long-forgotten doorway to discover The Secret Winter Garden. Uncover a glowing trail

full of giant surprises, secret pathways, amazing creatures and enchanting characters.

Visitors also enjoyed a beautiful twilight market, stocked with delicious festive food and drinks as well as unique handmade Christmas gifts and crafts made by local artisans and craftspeople.

And for those wanting to get creative, they could take part in Lantern Company workshops, where they made a mini lantern or tree decoration to take home.

Jo Pocock, artistic director, said: “We were so excited to finally run our new event here in Liverpool, at the beautiful Croxteth Hall and Country Park. The event was for audiences of all ages, and the gardens were aglow with astonishing sights and enchanting sounds… a luminous adventure full of surprises!”

Challenge Sport The

If you have any sports news contact the Sports Desk on 0151 706 7411 or email: thechallenge@merseymirror.com

MIXED MONTH FOR CABLES Club captain James McCulloch scores at Droylsden

A month of challenging fixtures for Prescot Cables started and ended with defeats but over the busy festive period also provided three back to back wins.

Away to Widnes, Cables couldn’t hold on to the lead they gained through a Chris Almond penalty and lost 2-1 on their travels to two second half goals.

They bounced back the following week with a 4-2 dismantling of Droylsden at Volair Park. A stunning lob from Michael Monaghan and a rare goal from captain James McCulloch in the second half was enough to secure victory at home The momentum continued with a 2-0 at home to playoff place rivals Trafford in a hard-fought win. A customary penalty conversion from Chris Almond kept the Pesky Bulls in fourth place.

Cables were then hosted at their own ground Volair Park by their tenants Skelmersdale United. A shaky first half saw Skem pile on early pressure and nearly made it into half time at 1-1 had it not been for a header from defender James Cooper shortly before the whistle.

Once Prescot found their rhythm in the second half they scored at will from pinpoint crossing. Goals from Hamilton, Griffiths and Dean completed the ‘away’ day rout.

Hosting Colwyn Bay on boxing day, Cables met a similar fate to the Widnes game and took the lead with a fantastic strike from Jack Lenehan before falling to two second half goals.

Heading into January Prescot remain fourth in the Evo-Stik League Division One West with 37 points and games in hand on the teams above.

Cables next home fixture will be on the 12 January at home to Kendal Town. A key match to look out for is the Liverpool Senior Cup Quarter Final away to Lower Breck. Cables have been the defending champions of the trophy for the past two years.

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