Local Life - West Lancashire - November 2015

West Lancashire Edition

November 2015

Jim’s flood

Photo by David Sudworth

fears WIN a fused glass bowl from Local News Food & Drink Jack’s Tracks Health & Fitness What’s On On Your Plot...

www.locallife247.co.uk

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Sinking

feeling A

nyone who lives, works or merely travels through West Lancashire cannot fail to grasp how important the farming industry is here. According to latest figures, the concentration of people working in local agriculture is four times the national average; with roughly 2,300 directly linked to its activities.

So the Environment Agency’s decision to shut off several pumps - vital to local ditches which crisscross acres of farmland - is of great concern. Our interview with Rufford farmer Jim Golding (see pages 44-46) spells out the plight fairly starkly.

Certain parts of West Lancashire’s waterways are prone to flooding at the best of times, so one shudders to think what would happen if, one day, the pumps didn’t kick in. However, the current push towards an Internal Drainage Board may not prove to be the panacea some believe. For instance, having one didn’t protect Somerset from dreadful floods in 2014. Moreover, guidance has, for some years now, actively encouraged the flooding of farm land in order to protect urban areas. Such moves may have their merits where land is not in active, economic use, but in an area such as West Lancashire - a literal bread basket for much of the North West - it is a thought which deserves to sink without trace.

editorial@locallife247.co.uk Local Life Media

@locallifemedia

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In this issue Roast

Win a fused glass

bowl

chicken

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41 Jack’s Tracks

Flood

fears

Hoscar Moss

44

52

Masterchef’s John

On your

Torode

plot

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56

Regulars 26 Class from the past 30 Planning Matters 42 Eating Out Guide

Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB

47 What’s on 62 Useful Numbers

Telephone: 01695 627 999 Publisher: Chris Pearce Sales: Lisa Jackson, Nicola Gray Editorial: David Sudworth

chrisp@locallife247.co.uk sales@locallife247.co.uk editorial@locallife247.co.uk

Sections

Design: Peter Bretherton Distribution: Sally Boon

sallyb@locallife247.co.uk

6 Local News 26 Education 40 Food & Drink

Accounts: Sam Garrahan

accounts@locallife247.co.uk

47 Leisure 56 Gardening 58 Home Services

Next issue - December 2015

Advertising deadline - Tuesday 3, November Published - Monday 23, November

design@locallife247.co.uk

Local Life is published every month. The magazine will be distributed into the following edition areas on an alternate monthly basis.

This edition will be delivered via Royal Mail to every home in the L40 postcode district and also to the PR4-6 and WN8-7 postcode sectors - that’s a total of 13,240 copies.

The next edition will be edition is delivered via Royal Mail to every home in the L39 postcode district and also to the L40-6 postcode sector - that’s a total of 12,655 copies.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

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Sporting

chance

Derelict sports facilities in Burscough are set to undergo a major facelift.

Plans have been unveiled for the refurbishment of the multi use games area, new fencing, new lighting and a brand new 3G sports surface at the village’s sports centre on Bobby Langton Way. An application has now been submitted by West Lancashire Leisure Trust, which oversees the running of the borough council’s leisure centres. The application states the current site is “derelict and not fit for purpose.

If granted permission, the works would be carried out by specialist contractors. A decision on whether to grant planning permission is due soon.

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NEWBURGH £195,000

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Green with envy

Board meeting

Mawdesley’s Millennium Green is the best kept in Lancashire - and that’s official. The open space came top in the recent Lancashire Best Kept Village competition. Mawdesley was also highly commended in the Champion Villages, along with Halsall, the public hall section and a Certificate of Merit highly commended spot went to SS Peter & Paul RC Church in the village. Elsewhere, Hesketh Bank gave a good showing, being named among the highly commendeds in the Large Villages section. Its Booths store came top in the Shop/ Filling Station category while the village hall won the Notice Board section.

A new Scrabble club is starting soon at Tarleton Library. If you are interested in joining others for a game at the Mark Square facility, please call in to register your interest.

Friends signal for help

replacing these cables, which have been providing

Friends of Burscough Stations are seeking volunteers

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to help keep the Junction and Bridge facilities looking

many years to come. We will continue to invest in the

their best. Call Brian Bailey on 01704 894557 or email

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to our customers.”

Power to the people Thousands of Hesketh Bank residents are set to benefit from a £260,000 power investment. Electricity North West have been working in the area between Moss Lane, Hesketh Lane and Station Lane to replace aging underground cables which were first installed more than 40 years ago. Paul McGonigle, programme delivery manager for Electricity North West, said: “By power since the 1970s, customers in Hesketh Bank

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Holy

smoke!

A stash of tobacco lay buried for over 40 years has been unearthed in Burscough.

Developers have had to excavate the site, off the A59 opposite the Bull and Dog pub, in preparation for homes to be built on the land.

A recent parish council meeting heard how the news came to light when local councillors visited the site and spoke to the owner about why a 30ft hole had been dug. It’s said the tobacco had been used in a Litherland tannery works and was buried

over 40 years ago. However, this was still giving off methane gas and had to be alleviated.

A parish spokesman said: “He was asked what was to be done with the tobacco waste and said that once it had been exposed to the air, it could be used to spread on the site as top soil. The site also consisted of huge amounts of concrete and bricks that had been dug out. This site had in the past been a crushing plant for the purpose of making hard core. Cllr Cynthia Dereli is approaching the County Council to find out what input and information they have on the site.�

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New store branding

Burscough in top 20

Changes are on the way at Mawdesley Post Office following customer feedback. The Poole family say that the New Street store is being rebranded as a Spar because, among other reasons, they are happy for them to use as many other local suppliers as they like. The store will have a new layout, with the introduction of more fresh fruit and veg, with a bigger more prominent display. There will also be bread and morning goods, such as pastries and croissants, freshly baked in store, and a new floor together with new LED lighting throughout to improve the ambience of the shop.

Burscough has been named as one of the top 20 places to live in the country. The village joined the likes of Middlewich in Cheshire and Faringdon in Oxfordshire as a sought-after location. The report, from finance firm One Family, says: “ Property prices are well below the national average with a two bed costing £159,311 though average wages are high at £22,662, suggesting strong employment opportunities.”

Branching Out Parbold Tree Warden Group is seeking new blood.

It meets on Tuesdays at the Village Hall, on The Green, from 9.30am to 11.30am. Contact Margaret on 01257 462909 or email abelchris@talktalk.net

Apprentice help West Lancashire firms are being encouraged to apply for new grants if they are looking to take on an apprentice. To be eligible, businesses must employ fewer than 50 people, be based in West Lancashire, and commit to employ the apprentice for a minimum of 12 months. Contact Tracey Shaw on 01695 712555 or email: tracey.shaw@westlancs. gov.uk

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Works on track

Design commended

The third phase of works on Hesketh Out Marsh, near Hesketh Bank, is set to be finished this winter with the whole project heading for a summer 2016 completion. The Environment Agency’s shoreline management project is the largest of its kind in the country and has already won The North West Award for Coastal Excellence. It is designed to reduce the risk of flooding on the south side of the Ribble Estuary, without increasing the risk elsewhere.

It includes a new embankment and 3.5 square kilometres of saltmarsh. This will provide habitat for wildlife and an area for local people to enjoy.

However, some of the paths on the out marsh will be closed while earthworks are carried out.

Burscough’s new Booths store hasn’t been open six months yet, but it has already scooped an award! The building was commended in the West Lancashire Design Awards. The overall winner in the competition’s commercial category was Creative Edge at Edge Hill University. A commendation also went to the Salt and Liquor Bar, Derby Street, Ormskirk.

Knotweed concerns Newburgh Parish Council is considering paying for extra knotweed spraying on the outskirts of the village. It follows concerns about its growth at various sites. A decision is due soon.

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Free publicity for YOU! Are you in a local community group? Do you want to publicise a talk, school fair or charity fundraiser?

If so, get in touch with us today!

Local Life is distributed to over 100,000 homes across Wigan, St Helens, Chorley and West Lancashire. Each edition is crammed with stories for local events, and your group could be appearing in our next edition. The types of events we publicise are as follows:

We’re also on the look out for old school photographs, street scenes from yesterday and want to hear from you if your group is celebrating a special milestone.

by

- Talks which are open to the public

Simply contact our Editor David Sudworth with the details - what, where, when, why, who for, how much - and anything else you want to tell our readers. The earlier you can provide the information, the better the job we can do.

- Pleas from community groups or associations for new members

So don’t delay – contact David today by emailing him directly at editorial@locallife247.co.uk

- Charity fundraising events - Local school, church or community fairs - Amateur concerts community groups

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Drinks plan

Dig this

A Tarleton garden centre could soon be serving alcoholic drinks with food. Ornamental Plants Ltd

Parbold & District Flower Club - which is celebrating its 45th birthday this year - is looking for new

has submitted its proposals for Sooty’s Plants, on Southport New Road, to West Lancashire Borough Council’s licensing department. The application states: “It is our intention to only supply alcoholic beverages to customers in the cafe as a supplement to the provision of food. Due to the nature and proposed ambience of the establishment we will not allow anyone to consume an amount of alcohol that could cause any problems to other customers.

We will only be stocking a limited amount of alcohol i.e wine, bottled beer and a very limited range of spirits.” Opening hours being applied for are 8am6pm, seven days a week. The application goes on to say: “ it is our intention to have the venue available to certain clubs and societies from Tuesday through Saturday in the evening. We will also have some late night openings during spring/summer and also at Christmas.”

members. New member subscriptions cost £34 per year. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month, except during August, December and January, at Parbold Village Hall, The Green, from 1.15pm to around 4pm. To find out more, call Eileen on 01704 893124.

Foodbank open The Northern Parishes Foodbank is open from 11am-2.30pm each Thursday at Banks Community Centre, Hoole Lane. It is open to those who have vouchers to exchange for food. Vouchers can be given out by GPs, social workers, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, some local churches, schools or Job Centre Plus. For more information, email northernparishes. fb@gmail.com or call 07597 163282.

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Class from the

past

This month’s Class from the Past is from Rufford CE School in the mid 1950s. Remember, if you have a photo you’d be willing to share, email David Sudworth on editorial@locallife247.co.uk

Do YOU want to teach ?

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6th October - St Bede’s Catholic High School, Ormskirk 7th October - St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Wigan 4th November - St Mary’s Catholic High School, Astley, Leigh 11th November - St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Wigan “10th best performing school in the country, Daily Telegraph 2014”

Extra-curricular activities include: Guitar, Football, French, Spanish, Rugby, Dance, Gymnastics

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Club improves

Admissions deadline

An out of school club - previously deemed ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted - has made improvements.

Richard Durnings Endowed Out of School Club, on Chorley Road, Bispham, was given a Grade Four at its last inspection in February. But it has now jumped to a Grade Two, which is ‘good’. Inspector Alison Regan said in her report: “Children are motivated and eager to learn. They actively explore the indoor and outdoor environments and are supported by enthusiastic staff. Consequently, they have fun and increase their friendships with others.

Children are protected because the manager, staff and committee members have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibility to safeguard children.”

The deadline is looming for West Lancashire secondary school applications. Saturday, October 31, is the last day for parents wanting to express a preference as to which high school their child should go to next September. Lancashire County Council, which is in charge of the process, says it is always best to include a school near to where you live as one of your preferred options. Demand for school places is high, in some areas greater than others, and this helps towards you being offered a local school. To apply online, visit www.lancashire. gov.uk or for more information, call 01772 532190/532191. Alternatively, email pupilaccess. southadmissions@lancashire.gov.uk

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Sew impressive!

Crafty so-and-sos in Burscough are being urged to join local groups. Knit and Natter group meets every Friday in Burscough Library, Mill Lane, at 1.45pm. Organisers say whether you are a beginner or a pro, new members are always welcome -just take along your needles and wool. In addition, new quilting workshops are opening at the Blyth Spirit Emporium at Burscough Wharf. They are on every other Thursday from 2pm to 4pm and will be an informal group of stitchers meeting to learn the basics of English patchwork. Contact Julie on 01704 894757 or Mark on 07890 564761.

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Planning Matters

front elevation, facing Course Lane (.ref: 2015/0940/ FUL) A decision is due soon.

Burscough

Parboid

Sunnyside 4 Junction Lane: Two storey side extension and conversion of existing detached garage to living space (.ref: 2015/0894/FUL) A decision is due soon.

Douglas Dale, 23 Bradshaw Lane: Removal of existing conservatory and erection of single storey entrance porch with canopy to one side of house.

Two storey extension to other side. Two storey extension to rear of house (ref: 2015/0909/FUL) A decision is due soon.

7 Canal Bank, New Lane: Extension to first floor bedroom, rear of the property - retrospective (ref: 2015/0767/FUL) A decision is due soon.

Newburgh Ivanhoe, Course Lane : Demolition of an existing single storey extension and replacement with a new single storey extension with four windows to

Tarleton 17 Sutton Avenue: Single storey rear extension (ref: 2015/0883/FUL) A decision is due soon.

For more _information on these plans, visit www.westlancs.gov.uk

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Care in your OWN Home ASK AMANDA! Amanda Barlow is the Registered Care Manager for Right at Home – she answers your questions.

Can you help with Parkinsons?

YES. When we established Right at Home some years ago one of our first clients experienced Parkinsons. Our client had pioneering surgery to implant a “deep brain stimulator” to control his tremors. We became interested and experienced in Parkinsons and learned a great deal about the disease; issues such as taking medication at the correct time, the difficulties people face in a morning, “freezing”, falling, feeling a little depressed and in some

cases how it can affect swallowing, speech, eyesight and balance. Our staff have been trained by the Parkinsons Society and in helping our customers we have also got to know medical staff at specialist centres such as the Salford Royal Neurology Unit.

We can help people with Parkinsons in a number of ways.

It can include: prompting medication, helping someone dress, preparing meals, travel to appointments, providing support if they are unsteady on their feet, staying overnight or managing their diaries/appointments.

Whether you require short term support or want more regular help please call Amanda for further advice

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0843 224 9555 07595 420237 or

Email: info@docsolarelectrical.co.uk Website: www.docsolarelectrical.co.uk

we make it our business to help yours

36

Love

L

ondon, Paris, New York and Amsterdam are all known for their innovative art collections, but now there’s a gallery a little closer to home – at Love It Gallery, based at the old Billinge Garden Centre site on Winstanley Road (near Winstanley College).

The gorgeous Love It Gallery, which opened last month, is a virtual potpourri of giftware, home furnishings and art in an elegant and spacious setting. Headed up by the owners of Morpheus Glass, Stephanie O’Brien and Ian O’Brien, Love It

it!

Gallery is a welcome and imaginative addition to the North West’s world of retail.

Morpheus Glass now supplies fused glass work to galleries, shops, interior designers, architects and independent traders both nationally and internationally, and Fused Glass artist Stephanie enjoys working with clients on a range of varied and exciting bespoke commission projects.

As you’d expect, Love It Gallery carries a beautiful, unique and original range of contemporary fused glass products from Morpheus Glass, but there’s so

37

much more on display at the Gallery, including gifts, ceramics, hand-crafted jewellery, furnishings, bags and more from dozens of leading UK designer/ makers.

Adjacent to the gallery is the inspirational splashback showroom, where customers can see how fused glass splashbacks can make a stylish enhancement to a dream kitchen or bathroom.

Coming soon to the site is the new Bag & Bean cafĂŠ, where you can enjoy tasty cakes, delicious coffee and light lunches six days a week.

With Christmas just round the corner, a trip to Love It Gallery is a must!

Love It Gallery The Hideaway, Winstanley Road, Billinge WN5 7XG Opening hours are; Tuesday-Saturday 10-5pm Sundays 11-4pm www.loveitgallery.co.uk 01695 622332 www.morpheusglass.co.uk 01695 624182

38

Win a fused glass

bowl!

Here’s your chance to win a gorgeous hand crafted bowl from Morpheus Glass, one of the UK’s leading fused glass companies. This fused glass bowl, which would normally retail at £120, will be personally created for you; designed to suit your tastes and using colours chosen by you.

What is the name of the Billingebased gallery where Morpheus Glass exhibits their work?

Leading glass artist Stephanie O’Brien of Morpheus Glass uses a range of advanced glass techniques to create a unique and original range of contemporary glass products. Each piece of work is created using many different materials and design elements including coloured grains, metals, foils, silver and copper wire and also glass powders.

Only one entry per household. Entrants must be over 16

You can view the work of Morpheus Glass at their Love It Gallery, which is based on the site of the old Billinge Garden Centre on Winstanley Road in Billinge.

To win the bowl simply visit our website www. locallife247.co.uk, click the ‘Enter our latest competition’ graphic and fill in your details along with the answer to this question;

The expiry date for this competition is Monday 30th November 2015. years of age. The winners will be notified within 14 days of the closing date. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd and their immediate relatives are not eligible to enter this competition. Winners’ names will be published in the January 2016 issue of Local Life.

39

40

Food & Drink

Home

comforts

By Keeley Bolger

“W

hat are you like in the kitchen?” asks MasterChef’s John Torode at the beginning of our cookery masterclass. “I’m OK,” I grunt, a mental carousel of burnt biscuits, teeth-extracting pork joints and soggy bottoms whirling to mind. “Did anyone tell you that you had to be brilliant at cooking?” despairs the 50-yearold, with a world-weary sigh.

“People forget that their friends love them. They come around to your house for dinner not because they want you to show off to them. They come round your house for dinner because they love you.”

My nearest and dearest might be more inclined to come round for dinner if there was less chance of the usual tortured pasta dishes I foist upon them.

And evidently, I’m not the only one to feel coy about my cooking skills (or lack of ) because Torode’s new cookery tome My Kind Of Food explores just that.

A deeply ‘personal’ collection of recipes (complete with pictures and cards made by his four children proudly placed alongside the acknowledgements), the emphasis is on getting us back in the kitchen and having some fun there. And if that means using shopbought condiments, so be it.

“You don’t make your own vinegar,” he reasons. “You don’t make your own honey.”

Correct, John. So after starting off with banana bread (“Everybody in Australia has banana bread”), we move swiftly on to Pesto and Tomato Tarts and Pesto and Pods, made with peas.

“Good food should be accessible to everybody and that’s what I’ve done with the book,” he says. “I’m not after Michelin stars, I’m not after praise in that way, what I really like is when people taste my food and say, ‘That’s delicious’. And if that word comes out all the time, that’s fantastic. I’m really, really happy.”

If you fancy trying some of Torode’s delicious dishes, here’s one from My Kind Of Food...

My Kind Of Food by John Torode is published in hardback by Headline, priced £25.

41

Roast

chicken Method Heat the oven to 200C/gas 6. Season the inside of the chicken with salt and pepper, then spoon the creme fraiche into the cavity. Plug the end of the chicken with the lemon half. Rub the chicken with some of the oil, season well and then place in a roasting tin, breast up.

With creme fraiche, new potatoes and watercress

Serves 6 Ingredients 1 large chicken, about 1.5kg 200g creme fraiche 1/2 lemon 4tsp vegetable oil 500g new potatoes 100g watercress Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1tsp mustard (optional)

Roll the potatoes in the remaining oil and then scatter around the chicken. Place the chicken in the oven and roast for one hour 10 minutes without opening the oven door. Leave it.

Pick the largest stems off the watercress and put the lot into a large bowl filled with cold water. Push the watercress under the water and place the bowl in the fridge. The clean watercress will float to the top while all the dirt will sink to the bottom.

Take the chicken out of the oven. Pour the creme fraiche out of the chicken over the potatoes in the tin, then turn the chicken upside down onto a board and leave it to sit for 10 minutes so that all the juices flow back into the breast. It will be done.

Meanwhile, place the tin over a medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring the potatoes around the tin so all the lovely sticky bits come off the sides and make the sauce. Take it off the heat.

Lift the watercress out of the bowl and shake off the excess water. Put the chicken and potatoes onto a large platter, scatter over the watercress and pour yourself a congratulatory vat of wine.

Add a spoonful of mustard for a bit of spice in the creme fraiche.

42

Eating out

guide Brookes Bistro A stylish and contemporary venue serving great bistro style food.

Home cooked food & cakes. Full English Breakfast and Breakfast Menu Served all day every day.

Delicious Sunday Lunches.

01695 581557 Brookside Living, Aughton Street, Ormskirk, L39 3BH

The Blue Mallard

Shaw Hill

Michelin Guide 2015:- “Beside the towpath you’ll find a restored Victorian wharf filled with small artisan businesses and this unfussy first floor restaurant. Cooking is fresh, local and flavoursome, with a modern edge; the set menu offers great value.”

Burscough Wharf, L40 5RZ 01704 893 954

A unique relaxed restaurant and bar with great food, events and dining.

Using high quality locally sourced produce to create the ultimate dining experience whatever the occasion. Menus start from £12.95 Whittle Le Woods, Chorley, PR6 - 7PP 01257 269221 shaw-hill.co.uk

Advertise

here £30 + VAT

Call 01695 627999

Tastebuds Delicious homecooked food using local and seasonal produce. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or high tea in our restaurant or outside on the decking overlooking the boats. Home made cakes and scones baked daily - delicious !

Fettler’s Wharf Marina 20 Station Road, Rufford, L40 1TB 01704 822 888

Rigbye Arms Country Inn Friendly service, delicious food and real cask ales. We offer top quality pub food, and our Feather & Fin restaurant serves the finest quality fresh fish and local game.

01257 462354 2, Whittle Lane, Wrightington, WN6 9QB rigbyearms.com

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High Moor Restaurant Based in rural Wrightington, we boast an enviable reputation for superb food, outstanding wines and genuine hospitality. We offer quality ingredients, freshly-prepared food and excellent value for money.

01257 252364 High Moor Lane, WN6 9QA highmoorrestaurantwigan.co.uk

Infusions Café Bistro

Quattro’s

Infusions is a family run Café Bistro, serving fresh, cooked to order food, using locally sourced products whenever possible. Visit our website or Facebook page to see an up to date menu.

4, Orrell Lane, Burscough, Lancashire, L40 0SQ 01704 893356 www.infusionscafebistro.com

A family run Italian restaurant situated on the Rainford By-pass at Bickerstaffe. Being just off the slip road of the M58 makes this an ideal location for meeting friends and business lunches.

01695 720800 54 Rainford Road, Bickerstaffe, Ormskirk L39 0HF quattros.co.uk

Courtyard Café Located at Warbreck Garden Centre, the Courtyard Café is open 7 days a week and serves a range of fresh food, including what has been dubbed ‘the best breakfast around’.

01695 722960 Lyelake Lane, Lathom, L40 6JW warbreckgardencentre.co.uk

Advertise

here £30 + VAT

Call 01695 627999

The Cricketers In elegant yet cosy surroundings near Ormskirk centre, you can enjoy simple pub classics or a range of innovative daily specials. Famed for its delicious selection of Lancashire Tapas. Fantastic value set menu every Sunday.

01695 571123 24 Chapel St, Ormskirk L39 4QF thecricketers-ormskirk.co.uk

The Stocks Tavern Warmest and friendliest of welcomes with award winning chef Mike Heap, who uses only the finest, freshest, local ingredients to ensure you leave completely satisfied.

01257 462874 16, Alder Lane, Parbold, WN8 7NN thestockstavern.co.uk

Fifteens @ The Fox With real fires burning, local fresh food and great cask ales, Fifteens @ The Fox offers a perfect combination of a traditional pub with relaxed fine dining, seven days a week.

01695 628178 Roby Mill, Up Holland, WN8 0QF fifteensatthefox.com

44

Action

stations

West Lancashire’s farmers say they face being flooded out of their livelihoods because of budget cuts. David Sudworth reports...

I

t’s mid morning on a crisp but bright autumnal day in Rufford. The conditions are perfect for picking the latest crop of white turnips. Local farmer Jim Golding peers into the distance and nods: “Looks like the lads are off for some baggin, they’ve been here since quarter to six.”

As someone who left school at eight years old to work on the land, Jim knows almost every inch of the village’s vast acres: “This land was drained about 300 years ago and we have a complex system of low and high level ditches. It’s like a man-made draughts board and fed the area through two world wars. The only other place you’ll see this is in Lincolnshire.

“The wildlife is fantastic. People come from all over to see yellowhammers, pied wagtails and corn bunting, and yet some people want to flood it.”

Jim is talking about the Environment Agency’s decision to serve closure notices on five pumping stations in the area; Banks March, Boundary Brook, Kew, Rufford Causeway and Clay Brow.

EA chiefs say that whatever happens, there would be no

45

increase in flood risk inside residential properties. But opponents say it will be an “ecological disaster” for the area, and destroy many farmers’ livelihoods.

“Where we are standing now would be under 15ft of water within five years.,” says the 73-year-old.

“It took them 100 years to get the land drained fully as the water came in from higher ground. It’s only when the steam engines came that it gave more power to their elbow.

“It’s beautiful land round here. Wheat, barley, potatoes and white turnips are our main source of income. We supply Booths supermarkets and our produce goes all over the country.”

Jim also explained how he and other farmers in the area work together to keep the ditches from being overgrown: “We look after about six miles of ditches. They think the same as me, that we should do what we can to keep the area well maintained, so that’s what we do. We have the local knowledge.”

Another local agricultural expert who is concerned about the plans is Malcolm Barron.

Malcolm, who lives in Doctors Lane, Sollom, is also from farming stock, and spent years working in the industry.

He’s now the local county councillor for West Lancashire North, which could be severely hit.

“I’m very angry about this. There are farmers like Jim all across West Lancashire who have worked on the land round here for years. They know the area like the back of their hand, and yet they’re being told what’s best for the area by people who have only ever studied the environment at university. They think that makes them experts but it doesn’t.”

The Rufford pump is located at the side of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal off Causeway Lane, just before you enter the village from Burscough. In the distance is Marsh Moss Bridge, which carries the Ormskirk-Preston railway line.

Malcolm Barron at the Rufford Pumping Station

Jim believes that the line itself would be threatened if the pump was turned off: “There’s no way they’d allow a train line to go through a flooded area. The banking for the line is man made; they used bales of cotton from South America to help build it.”

The EA says it will stop funding the pumps, which serve the upper part of the Alt Crossens catchment area, in July 2017. However, as it stands, alternative solutions are being considered, including the setting up of an Internal Drainage Board (IDB). How

“The rail line would be threatened” such an organisation is funded though is still being discussed. One option is a levy on landowners of up to £25 per acre as well as contributions from local councils.

Such a proposal isn’t new. In the mid 1950s, farmers opposed the setting up of an IDB - labelling a proposed levy as “an injustice”.

Local MPs have attended top level meetings in an effort to get the matter resolved.

Seema Kennedy, whose constituency includes Rufford, said; “Those attending the meeting with the National Farmers Union recently felt the

46

best solution was an Internal Drainage Board, but anomalies in existing legislation means that new IDBs are not offered the same funding as established ones. This is something I intend to query with the Minister.

“I have also raised the issue in the House of Commons asking a question about the funding of Internal Drainage Board’s and whether Network Rail would be able to absorb a portion of the cost, especially as their train line is at risk.”

An EA spokesman explained: “Government guidance now means that we must prioritise spending its funding on flood risk management

“We must prioritise spending ” that benefits people and residential properties. We have carried out extensive modelling of water flows in the catchment, looking at what would happen if the pumps were to stop operating. It has shown that some road and railway lines could be affected by standing floodwater more frequently. We will be discussing this further with partners to consider if any action could be taken to reduce this.”

Back at Jim’s residence, at Helm House Farm, on Mere Lane, some of the lads are now working on a mini production line. Sorting, picking and packing the freshly picked produce into net bags to be transported across the country.

“This is what would be lost if the area was flooded, we are talking jobs and people’s livelihoods” says Jim, now 73.

“I personally think all this talk about turning off pumps is just a threat. I can’t see them going through with it. I don’t agree that an Internal Drainage Board is the answer. I’ve been under three of them in my lifetime and the Environment Agency is the best by far.

“The IDBs were done away with 30 years ago.

Back then, the cost of them was spread across the country in the rates so the cost per household was negligible.

“I did say to myself that I was going to walk away from this fight and just see what happens. But Malcolm’s persuaded me to work with him and have another go. Together, we hope to get a result.”

47

Events & Leisure

What’s Craft and Gift Fair

on

Fun, Fashion and Frolics!

Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30

Tuesday, November 10

Held at Lakeside Christian Centre, Fairway, Southport. The opening times are from 10am to 4pm on both days. A variety of stalls include ceramics, knitted items, wood crafts, handmade speciality cards, jams & pickles, jewellery, art and many more. Admission and ample parking are both free. Further information please contact Jill 07792196379.

Fashion show organised by Queenscourt Hospice’s Tarleton support group at the Cock & Bottle, Church Road, Tarleton. Doors open at 10am for a 11am start. All items will be available to purchase on the day. Tickets are priced at £6.50, which includes hot pot, can be bought at the Queenscourt shop on Church Road, Tarleton. For more information, call 01772 815821.

Male Voice Choir Friday, October 30 Aughton Male Voice Choir in concert at St Cuthbert’s Church, Halsall Road, Halsall. Tickets £7.50 available from Mrs P. Carr on 01695 423817 or e mail postmaster@acdfpamerc.plus.com

Nancy Kerr & James Fagan Saturday, October 31 This exciting duo perform a wide variety of traditional and modern folk music at Parbold Village Hall, The Green, from 7.45pm. Tickets £12.50 for adults and £5.50 for young people via www. parbolddouglasmusic.org

Hill Forts and Excavations Friday, November 6 West Lancashire Archaelogical Society talk with Rachel Pope, from the University of Liverpool, on the hill forts and excavations at Pen Y Cloddiau.

Lectures start at 7.45pm in New Church House, next to Ormskirk Parish Church. Visitors welcome - entry is £3. Further information is available from honorary secretary on 01704 532846.

Aughton Street, Ormskirk, L39 3BP

Tel: 01695 581557

Christmas Meal Menu

Homemade Cream of Veg Soup with roll & butter or Homemade Chicken Liver Pâté with Red Currant Jelly ********** Traditional Roast Norfolk Turkey Breast with Cranberry Sauce Roast & New Potatoes, Fresh Veg & Thick Rich Gravy. or Roasted Vegetable Wellington, Roast & New Potatoes & Fresh Veg (v) ********** Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce or Homemade Apple Pie with Custard or Cream

3 courses for £12.95 Bookings only - Deposit of £2.95 per head required Full Bar Available Available for parties of 2 to 40 Christmas Crackers, Hats, etc provided.

Available Tuesday 1st December to Tuesday 22nd December.

48

Concert time Saturday, November 14

Bonfire Celebrations Thursday September 5 Halsall: Annual event at St Cuthbert’s Primary School on News Street, starting at 6pm. Admission £5 for adults, £1 for children and students.

Saturday, November 7 Mawdesley: Firework display on Millennium Green, Hurst Green. Tickets; £5 adults and £3 children from Mawdesley Post Office / Londis store up to 7pm the day before or £6/£4 on the night. Gates open 6pm, bonfire lit 6.45pm, fireworks 7.15pm.

Newburgh: Douglas Valley Lions bonfire and fireworks at the Red Lion Hotel field, Ash Brow, starting at 6.30pm.

Ormskirk: Held at Ormskirk Cricket Club, Altys Lane.

Details available from www.ormskirkcricketclub. com Rainford: Held at the church field and Rainford Cricket Club. Gates open at 5pm. Bonfire lit at 6pm, fireworks at 6.45pm. Tickets £4 from www. nsconnections.co.uk/fireworks or £5 on the night.

The orchestra of Ormskirk Music Society is holding its autumn concert at 7.30pm at Ormskirk School, Wigan Road. This special event explores some of the greatest music of the 19th century. Tickets are available either in advance - call Clare on 01925 221301 - or on the door; 10 for adults and £5 for children.

Gardening for Birds Wednesday, November 18 Talk by Chris Tynan and hosted by Parbold, Newburgh and District Garden Society. Starts at 8pm at Parbold WI Hall, The Common. Visitors welcome. Call David Pennington on 01704 821984.

Macbeth Wednesday, November 18 Starring Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and Paddy Considine. Starts at 7.30pm at Liverpool Philharmonic. Tickets from £7 via www. liverpoolphil.com

Chorley Pals Wednesday, November 18 Speaker Steve Williams gives this talk to Mere Brow Local History Society at Mere Brow Village Hall, The Gravel, starting at 8pm. Entry for a non-member is £2.50 including refreshments.

Rockin’ At The YPC 9 Friday, November 20

Rufford School Winter Ball Friday, November 13 The Friends of Rufford School’s Winter Ball, featuring live music from local band Northern Lights will take place from 7pm until late at Briars Hall Hotel, Briars Lane, in Lathom. Tickets are priced at £26 each. You don’t have to be a school parent to go, everyone’s welcome to attend. For further information, menu choices and to reserve tickets, contact Michelle Dennis on 07976 763428 or Lesley Falkingham on 07764 761323.

Sensational lineup of 1960s acts at Ormskirk Civic Hall, Southport Road, from 7.30pm-11.30pm. Entry Price: £10 in advance / £12 on door. Tickets available via www.skiddle.com

Christmas Bingo Friday, November 20 Halsall Sunshine Committee event at Halsall Memorial Hall. Doors open 7pm. Call Eleanor on 01704 841216 or Betty on 01704 840611.

49

Justin Moorhouse Thursday, November 26 The ex-Phoenix Nights star is back at Edge Hill Univeristy with his brand new stand-up show for Destiny Calling. Tickets £15/ £14 concessions £5.

Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/artscentre/

Manchester Christmas Markets Saturday, November 14-Monday, December 21 Spread across the city centre, the Christmas Markets are all located within roughly a quarter of a mile of each other and accessible to all. Albert Square is open 10am to 9pm daily. Other sites: 10am to 7.30pm (8pm in December). Bars open until 9pm on all sites. Visit www.manchester.gov.uk

Aughton Street, Ormskirk, L39 3BP

Tel: 01695 581557

Christmas Day Menu

Homemade Cream of Veg Soup with roll & butter or Homemade Chicken Liver Pâté with Red Currant Jelly ********** Traditional Roast Norfolk Turkey Breast with Cranberry Sauce Roast & New Potatoes, Fresh Veg & Thick Rich Gravy. or Roasted Vegetable Wellington, Roast & New Potatoes & Fresh Veg (v) ********** Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce or Homemade Apple Pie with Custard or Cream

3 courses

£35.00 non-resident; £32.00 resident; £16.00 child Bookings only - Deposit of £10 per head required Full Bar Available Available for parties of 2 to 40 Christmas Crackers, Hats, etc provided.

A warm welcome awaits customers old & new at...

THE

STANLEY CLUB BURSCOUGH

Offering a wide range of top brand beers & spirits at low prices, whilst enjoying the latest match on Sky & BT Sports shown on the big screen.

PLUS 3 full size snooker tables Championship dart board layout * Bingo - 8pm on Wednesdays * Live Music - Every other Saturday * Membership available from £5 a year

r’s Eve New Yea s Mark Coyle, The fabulou plus disco till late.

0 Tickets only £7.5 the bar)

ind (available now from beh

...so get your dancing

shoes on!!

Got a function coming up?

Talk to us about our room hire, available for up to 180 people, perfect for any Wedding, Birthday or Christening.

Tel: 01704 894454 or 07548 890628 1, Liverpool Rd North, Burscough, L40 5TN Open from 7pm weekdays & 12pm weekends.

50

Ebook Taster Sessions Tuesday, December 1 Update your IT skills with this free session from 2pm-4pm at Tarleton Library, Mark Square. Call into the library to book your place.

Robin Hood & Babes In The Wood Wednesday, December 2-Sunday, December 6

Duran Duran Friday, November 27 British music legends Duran Duran start the UK leg of their Paper Gods tour at Manchester Arena.

Tickets from £39.37 via www.eventim.co.uk

Rove Friday, November 27 Aughton Village Hall, on Winifred Lane, is hosting this show by Fergus Evans and tells the story in words and live folk music of a man’s search for his roots and family history. Tickets are £7 each and available from Sue Watkinson on 01695 422423.

Hot drinks are included and will be served in the interval.

Christmas Fair Saturday, November 28 Tombola, Christmas goods, cake stall and Father Christmas available at Four Lane Ends Mission, Skelmersdale Road, Bickerstaffe, from 2pm.

Hidden Heritage Monday, November 30 Ormskirk Historical Society lecture with Heather Davies on the hidden treasures in Lancashire’s museums and their conservation. Entry is £3, or free for students. Starts at 7.30pm at Four Lane Ends Mission, Skelmersdale Road, Bickerstaffe.

The Pleasure Folk Amateur Musical Society presents the panto at Ormskirk Civic Hall, Southport Road.

Performances at 7.30pm each apart from the Sunday (when it will be at 2.30pm) and there’s a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm as well as the 7.30pm show. Tickets £9 and £7 via 01695 580755, the Civic Hall and www.pleasurefolk.co.uk

Festive Fair Saturday, December 5.

Held from 11am–2pm at Parbold Village Hall. The Green. Lots of stalls selling jewellery, toys, speciality cheeses, painted stones and woodcrafts.All proceeds raised will go the Hut-on-the-Hill – home to all of Parbold’s Guiding and Scouting units.

Thoughts on Christmas Wednesday, December 9 Talk by Stephen Cookson from 12.30pm at Hesketh Bank Christian Centre, Moss Lane. Call 01772 816727 for more details.

Bob Cratchit - Retired Thursday, December 10-Saturday, December 12 Mock Victorial panto peformed by Aughton & Ormskirk U3A Musical Theatre Group. Curtain up is at 7.30pm and tickets are £8 for adults and £4 for children via 01695 579 742 to book or pay at the door.

Christmas Coffee Morning Saturday December 12, Mawdesley Methodist Church from 10am to noon 12:30pm in the schoolroom. Refreshments, singing with the children from St Peter’s school, tombola, crafts, decorations, raffle and carol singing.

51

Set in beautiful park land grounds Shaw Hill Offers - Traditional Afternoon Tea, Vardons restaurant offering lunches, evening meals and Sunday lunches, Leisure Club & Spa, Wedding and Celebration Packages. www.SHAW-HILL.co.uk

WHITTLE LE WOODS, CHORLEY PR6 7PP

01257 269221

INFO@SHAW-HILL.co.uk

Flower Power Wednesday, December 16 Talk by Alan Foxall and hosted by Parbold, Newburgh and District Garden Society. Starts at 8pm at Parbold WI Hall, The Common. Visitors welcome. Call David Pennington on 01704 821984.

Craft and Chat Wednesday, December 16

Dick Whittington Saturday, December 12 - Sunday, January 3 Live at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, starring Starring Sally Lindsay and Eric Potts (Coronation Street), Radio City’s Leanne Campbell, City Talk’s Pete Price as Alderman Fitzwarren and Kurtis Stacey (Emmerdale) in the title role of Dick Whittington.

Tickets from £10 upwards via www.atgtickets.com

Held at Hesketh Bank Christian Centre, Moss Lane, from 10am-noon. Entry is £1 and all are welcome.

Candlelit Carol Service Thursday, December 24 With Rev Melvyn Kelly and the Kingsford Singers at Mawdesley Methodist Church, starting at 7pm.

52

sponsored by

Hoscar

Moss

by David Sudworth

W

ith summer now a faded memory, local fields are starting to get very muddy in places. A bit of muck on the boots is par for the course, but when you’re still sweeping it up two days later, it can be tiresome.

This walk takes in some of the best countryside West Lancashire has to offer while giving you some decent pathways on which to tread. And if you’re a cyclist, then it’s the perfect route as well because not only is it full accessible for those on two wheels, but there’s a self-service cycle hire point at the Ship Inn for a very reasonable £1 per hour (minimum initial purchase is six hours). More information at www. southyportcyclehire.info

We park up on Wheat Lane (L40 4BX), which is accessed off the main A5209 Briars Lane via Glovers Bridge which goes over the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Once parked up, we head north west-wards, past The Ship Inn (known locally as The Blood Tub), up towards the junction with Carr Lane.

On the left, across the canal, you can see the old Ainscough’s Mill at Burscough. Situated further up the canal at Burscough Wharf, the mill used to produce flour from imported grain which came on barges on these very waters. Constructed in 1885, the mill had been disused for some time but has now been redeveloped into new homes and apartments.

53

Around here, you get a true sense of just how important farming still is in West Lancashire. True, it’s not as dominant as it once was, but for many families, it’s more than just adding a pleasant backdrop on an already beautiful landscape, it’s their livelihood. Sweetcorn, potatoes, cabbage, carrotts; you name it, West Lancashire has it in abundance.

At the bridge, we take a right down Carr Lane and within a few minutes, it’s time to turn left into Bleak Lane. This is the first time you begin to notice that although these are adopted roads (maintained at public expense), they are really very quiet, which makes them both very walker and cyclist-friendly.

Homemade signage imploring passers-by to avail themselves of a dozen freshly-laid eggs for a small fee is commonplace, all adding to the country feel.

As the road curves right, we cross the River Tawd, which is a tributary of the River Douglas and flows south into the heart of Skelmersdale just past the Concourse Shopping Centre.

If you haven’t already guessed by now, water is an important feature of the area. So it’s unsurprising that United Utilities have a few depots in this area, including the Wigan Wastewater Treatment Works which can be seen on the left as you go down Deans Lane. Quite why it is called Wigan is a mystery to most people. Later on that mystery deepens when another depot is called Skelmersdale.

At the level crossing for the Southport-Manchester line, go straight across and carry on past Bleak Hall Farm until the road forces you to turn right into Wood Lane. Parbold Hill is omnipresent on the horizon, giving us the benefit of some lovely scenery safe in the knowledge that, for today at least, we don’t have to scale its heady heights.

At the end of Wood Lane, we turn right on to Wanes Blades Road but be prepared to turn left again down Deans Lane, which is visible from the moment you leave Wood Lane.

However, before we get to that, we have to negotiate the railway crossing for a second time and then make our way under the Leeds-Liverpool Canal via Newburgh Aqueduct No 14, to give it its official title. Once out, the road climbs quite steeply up to Back Lane, which eventually veers right on to Hollowford Lane.

We’re now on the final quarter of our journey as

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Ring o’ Bells

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Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the walk Sc

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is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

55

Once back at Wheat Lane, I decide to check out the locks at the back of The Ship Inn, and what a fabulous sight they are. If you’re needing a bit of R&R after the walk, the Ship Inn is the place to do it.

This 5.4 mile walk takes roughly two hours and 20 minutes to complete at a steady pace, and for the more energetic there’s a chance to vary the route. I particularly liked the fact it’s a walk for all seasons, especially handy for winter when the ground is boggy. It’s also good to dip into three villages; Lathom, Hoscar and Newburgh, in just one go. we make our way towards Spencers Bridge. The gentle pace of life is evident here as we come across Newburgh’s version of a traffic jam. The swing bridge is up to allow a barge to pass through.

Far from it being an irritating hold up, it’s simply another chance to drink in that country feel as the stresses and strains of every day life float away.

Whether you are a beginner, seasoned walker or somewhere in between, you’ll reap the benefits of this walk.

Once the jam has passed, we cross over the swing bridge and turn left directly on to the towpath and follow it as it heads back towards Glovers Bridge.

As you amble along, there are some lovely properties which front on to the waterway, as well as some temporary and private moorings.

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56

On Your Plot

If you are anything like me you will spend ages drooling over pictures of bushes dripping with blackcurrants or gooseberries, trees laden with apples, or bowls full of luscious raspberries but struggle to get to grips with the realities of production on your own plot!

Feeling

Fruity

Patience is a virtue that is definitely required for growing your own, and this is particularly so with fruit trees and bushes. I have to confess to having an inclination to move on with anything that requires more than a few months to give a decent crop, but with most fruit you just have to force yourself to take the long term view and now being the proud owner of a 2 year old gooseberry bush and raspberry canes I can assure you that the waiting is worthwhile!

Think carefully about where you will grow your fruit. Trees require lots of space.

Late autumn is an ideal time to add fruit to your plot as trees and bushes will be entering their dormant period. It is important to buy healthy plants and to ensure that they are dormant as they will transplant more successfully. If you are ordering from a reputable mail order nursery they are likely to arrange delivery to coincide with the best time for planting. You should also get instruction on how to plant and care for your new tree or bush.

Trees such as apple or plum may be grafted onto a variety of different rootstocks - this sounds complicated but all you really need to know is what effect this will have on the final size of the tree. If you have limited space it is possible to buy dwarf varieties some of which can even be suitable for container growing. Pollination is also an important consideration, some varieties are self-fertile and do not need a pollinator, while others may require another variety planted close by to act as a pollinator. When planting your tree out it may

benefit from staking and protection around the base.

One ‘fruit’ that is a little different and very easy to grow is Rhubarb. Rhubarb is actually classified as a vegetable, but certainly tastes good used like a fruit in crumbles and pies. November is the perfect time to plant out dormant crowns. Although these can be bought from nurseries Rhubarb tends to spread well when established and needs to be divided every few years so it is often possible to obtain surplus crowns from friends or neighbours.

Plant your crown with the buds just above the soil and water well the first year. Once the plants have become established you can look forward to harvesting a good crop of delicious pink stems from Spring onwards - very welcome as the first ‘fruit’ of the year.

Jobs for November

• Start to harvest parsnip

s after the first frosts.

• Tidy up your greenhous e or polytunnel, wash out pots and seed trays bef ore storing ready for the Spring • Sow hardy peas or bro ad beans ready for an ear ly crop next year.

• Use netting or chicke n wire to protect you r broccoli and cabbages from hungry pigeons.

• If you haven’t already done so, plant garlic and shallots.

• If your rhubarb is tak ing over, lift and divide the crowns before replanting .

57

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E TH MA

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60

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62

Useful Numbers Medical Ormskirk & District Hospital Chorley & South Ribble Hospital Southport & Formby Hospital Skelmersdale Walk In Centre Burscough Health Centre Lathom House Surgery Parbold Surgery NHS Direct Tarleton Health Centre

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63

“Stiffkey Blue�

by Farrow & Ball

Merry Christmas to one and all!

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