Lancashire Now 218

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Issue. 218 - November 2022 0115 6972677 | www.wilcopmedia.co.uk | sales@wilcopmedia.co.uk

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Latest aerial pictures show new M55 junction nearing completion

New aerial pictures show Lancashire’s latest major motorway improvement nearing completion

A new junction – the ‘missing’ junction 2 – is currently being built along the M55 as part of the wider Preston Western Distributor Road project. Lancashire County Council and main contractor Costain are delivering the PWDR scheme and are building the new junction for National Highways.

The new aerial pictures show the four junction slip roads and two roundabouts taking shape – all linked by a new bridge over the motorway in a ‘dumb-bell’ arrangement. Contractors are also working to install new steel and electronic signs and other equipment at locations alongside the M55 on either side of the new junction.

Brian Smith, senior project manager for National Highways, said: “It’s starting to

look like a proper motorway junction now and it’s on course to be completed and open to drivers next spring - supporting the local economy and relieving congestion at other junctions along the motorway.”

Work on the new motorway junction has been going on since the PWDR project started in October 2019. The new road and motorway link are due to open next year.

The new road, to the west of Preston, will link the M55 to a new junction with Blackpool Road at Lea. The new motorway junction is being constructed between Swillbrook and Higher Bartle.

County Councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth at Lancashire County Council, said: "The Preston Western Distributor is ten years in the making, and is much more than your average road scheme.

"Not only will it improve connectivity across the county, but it will open up new housing sites and create more development opportunities, boosting Lancashire’s inward investment potential. Access to the M55 motorway and the wider national motorway network will be vastly improved, and the scheme will also help to relieve congestion on the existing road network.

"Our teams have made unbelievable progress since construction begin in 2019 and are now focused on making sure this major scheme is ready to be opened up to the public next spring."

The £207m Preston Western Distributor scheme is the biggest new road programme funded in the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal. As part of special ‘designated’ funds to support the generation of new jobs and building of new homes, National Highways, which operates the M55, is also contributing £25 million.

Lancashire Enterprise Partnership is also supporting the project supported with £58m from its Lancashire Growth Deal programme.

Debbie Francis OBE, Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said: “It’s great to the see the new M55 junction take shape as part of the Preston Western Distributor scheme.

"Improved connectivity is vital for Lancashire with regards to unlocking new investment opportunities, as well as helping us to support new housing and developing better and more accessible public amenities.”

Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulation at Preston City Council, Councillor David Borrow, said: “We are delighted to see the rapid progress of the Preston Western Distributor Road, linking the M55 for easier access to the motorway network from Preston, and a link road through the new housing areas in the Bartle area.

“This is a key part of the growth plans for Preston alongside the proposed Cottam

Parkway Railway Station, helping facilitate much needed new homes and reducing congestion on existing local roads, particularly around the Broughton junction.”

The distributor road is the biggest new road programme in the City Deal - an agreement between the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, along with central government and Homes England.

The City Deal will help to deliver new infrastructure, new homes and more jobs over ten years. It will help to create more than 20,000 new private sector jobs and see over 17,000 new homes built across the area, along with new school places, open green spaces and new health provision to cater for the growing population

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Final figures from fortnight of Operation Vanquish to tackle road criminality Almost 450 people have either been arrested, summonsed to court or handed a traffic offence report during a fortnight of action to clamp down on criminality on Lancashire’s road network.

Police have been out an about across the county since October 17th, as part of another round of #OpVanquish surge activity to tackle those breaking the law on the roads.

Throughout the course of the operation we have stopped vehicles at checkpoints and have targeted those where intelligence suggests they may be involved in criminality. From those we have detected hundreds of offences, including:

was found to be disqualified from driving and drug-driving. He was arrested.

- A family travelling to see the illuminations in Blackpool in a stolen car.

The driver initially failed to stop for officers, but once pulled over was found to be Specific stops include: disqualified from driving, - A van driver reported for driving under the influence not driving with due care of cannabis and using false after ending up in the canal registration plates. We in Cabus. Thankfully he don’t think our blue lights was unharmed. were the illuminations he - A VW Golf which caught had in mind an officer’s attention on - A vehicle pulled over and New Hall Lane, Preston, found to have such low tyre thanks to an illegal regtread the cord was exposed istration plate and excess - A lorry on the M6 carspeed. Once pulled over rying six tonnes of load there was an “overwhelmwhich was held down by ing” smell of cannabis and just two pieces of lashing the driver tested positive at - A driver in Galgate who the roadside for drug-driv- was driving on a provision- 101 people with no ing. He was arrested. al licence, while transportinsurance - A Mercedes driver who ing three children without - 74 people drink or failed to stop for officers seatbelts and a baby sitting drug-driving and made off at 90mph in on their mum’s knee in the - 13 people using a mobile a 30mph zone. He finally front. phone at the wheel pulled over at the Tickled The fortnight of action - 54 people with no MOT Trout petrol station and was aimed at tackling those who use the county’s roads for criminality – anything from using a mobile phone at the wheel to transporting stolen vehicles.

Officers, including specialist teams, have stopped vehicles at checkpoints and have targeted people where intelligence suggested they may be involved in this type of criminality.

Ch Insp Matt Willmot, of the Lancashire Police TacOps team, said: “We appreciate that most people Caught driving with baby on drive safely and legally so Mum’s Knee Over the course of the fortnight 225 people were given traffic offence reports, 122 people were summonsed to court and between October 17th and 30th 79 people were arrested.

first and foremost we would like to say thankyou to them.

“We would also like to say a huge thankyou to the motorists who were stopped and found to be fully compliant with the law. Their patience and understanding was very much appreciated. We’d also like to thank those members of our communities who stopped to say hello to officers or who reported concerns about dangerous driving in their areas.

“However, there are still people who clearly believe the law doesn’t apply to them and it is to those people we say this: you risk your own and others’ lives when you drive illegally. If you are using the road network to commit crime – by couriering drugs, or simply by not checking your tyre treads – we are coming for you.

“Although the two weeks of surge activity is now over, we’d like to stress that this type of work is part and parcel of our daily business, and we hope that this fortnight of activity shows that dangerous and criminal driving on Lancashire’s roads will not be tolerated.”

If you have concerns about dangerous driving in your area, or you want to report somebody for driving illegally, you can do it online at doitonline.lancashire.police.uk or by calling 101.

Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said: "It's great to see proactive policing delivering results and addressing the concerns of the overwhelming majority of law abiding citizens.

"This surge in activity through Operation Vanquish is an important part of the Chief Constable's response to my Fighting Crime Plan and demonstrates how we are taking the fight to those who drive dangerously on our roads, putting themselves and others at risk.

"It's what we all want to see, officers out on our streets, our roads and in the heart of our communities. I will continue to back the Chief Constable with the resources he needs to get tough on criminals and make Lancashire safer."

Unsafe load on the M6

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Affordable warmth grants will help the most vulnerable Burnley Council has set out how it plans to spend funding to help the most vulnerable residents this winter.

The council has been awarded £88,000

by Lancashire County Council as part of the national Affordable Warmth grants scheme.

A report to the council’s executive member for housing and development control Councillor John Harbour said the aim was to provide high impact “interventions” to protect the most vulnerable residents from harm due to having to live in cold and damp homes.

Coun. Harbour said: “This grant scheme is very welcome and is one of a number of measures being put in place to try and support the most vulnerable and least welloff people in our communities in these difficult times.

“The council is also looking at other ways it can support residents by working with

partners such as Burnley Together and the Cosy Homes in Lancashire (CHiL) programme.”

The funding will be used to provide measures such as boiler servicing, draught proofing, fuel top-up payments and replacing defective windows and doors.

The scheme will be delivered through the council’s recently launched home improvement agency which will target the grants to the most vulnerable residents on the lowest incomes who meet the eligibility criteria.

As there is limited funding available applications will be addressed in date order.

For further information click here; email housinggrants@burnley.gov.uk; or phone 01282 477234.

Scheme to improve safety around trees to be given the go-ahead

A scheme to improve safety around trees will be rolled out across more areas if Lancashire County Council's Cabinet gives it the green light.

The council already cares for trees on or near to the highways, but this will be extended to include those on land that the authority owns or has responsibility for.

The plans will see all trees numbered so the authority can keep track of each individually, so they can be monitored for disease, weak roots and dead trees, which could pose a risk to the public.

It is the first time that the authority has carried out a full audit of how many trees it has but there are likely to tens of thousands inspected and catalogued.

County Councillor Shaun Turner said: " We take the safety of the public incredibly

seriously and this expansion will make our already very safe service even better."

"Within recent years, nationally there have been several high-profile tragic tree related accidents involving trees.

"The risk to people is exceedingly small, around one in 10 million, however tragedies do occur every year.

"One reason the risk is so small is that in most instances appropriate and timely management decisions have taken place and hazardous trees have been identified and removed."

Three full-time tree surveyors that were recently taken on by the authority are expected to carry out the work.

The report has been recommended for approval at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, November 3.

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New blueprint outlines how Lancashire will unlock full economic potential An ambitious blueprint outlining how Lancashire will unlock its full economic potential is expected to be endorsed by councillors next week.

As the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Lancashire was instrumental in leading the way for showing how modern economies could deliver growth and prosperity.

Despite current growth conditions, the medium-term projection for the Lancashire economy remains exciting, with the county boasting an established pipeline of major development and infrastructure that has the potential to secure more than £20bn of investment over the next decade.

To support the delivery of economic growth and prosperity – one of four headline priorities for the council – a

new three-year strategy has been developed.

The strategy, which will run until 2025, sets out how we will meet the challenges and maximise opportunities for local economic growth. It presents a simple, high-level view of the council's immediate and medium-term priorities that will support and address activities that add most value in creating the conditions for growth and economic success across the county.

County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth said: "While there will undoubtedly be challenges ahead, the future of Lancashire's economy looks bright.

"Significant programmes of work that include multi-billion-pound developments and infrastructure projects are already in the pipe-

line, together with a mix of high-performing, well established businesses, with long and settled roots in Lancashire.

"We have a unique opportunity over the next three years to capitalise on new industries and new business locations across the county, to secure high value jobs and encourage further investment.

"The creation of new, quality opportunities will also contribute to our wider ambitions for health, regeneration, making Lancashire somewhere people want to live, work and visit."

The economic strategy highlights how work will support the local business community by progressing our major economic projects and delivery programmes at pace, as well as engaging with businesses to improve the focus and value

we deliver for Lancashire.

Priorities around transport planning, highways and digital infrastructure will also help to achieve these goals.

A skilled talent base will be critical to enabling Lancashire's economy to flourish, as it will enable business growth and attract inward investment.

County Councillor Jayne Rear, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: "At the heart of this strategy are the hard working and innovative people of Lancashire. We know the importance of education and increased opportunities for adults to reskill and upskill throughout their lives to be able secure good jobs that also meet the needs of our local economy.

"We also need to prepare for our future employment and skills forecasts by increasing demand for higher

level skills, with a growing need for digital, tech, cyber and low carbon sectors.

"By working collaboratively with employers and education and skills providers across Lancashire, we can realise the full potential of Lancashire’s businesses and assets and enable our people to maximise the opportunities on offer in our local labour market."

Designed to complement work with local government partners and other key stakeholders in the devel-

opment of the sub-regional strategy ‘Lancashire 2050’, the new economic strategy will be the first of three closely linked strategies to be discussed by cabinet over the coming months.

Strategies focussing on how we deliver environmental and transport priorities will follow.

This economic strategy also works alongside the Lancashire Skills and Employment Strategic Framework, which was refreshed in 2021.

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Lancashire and South Cumbria COVID-19 vaccination programme wins top award

The COVID-19 vaccination programme in Lancashire and South Cumbria scooped a top prize at the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN) awards.

The team walked away with the Health and Equity Campaign award for vaccination outreach work in Caribbean and African communities in the region, at the ceremony in Manchester last month (22 October).

Consisting of representatives from the NHS, Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council as well as local voluntary and faith groups, they beat 74 other nominees to first place.

Following detailed research and engagement with the communities, the team put together a strategy which encouraged people in areas experiencing high vaccine hesitancy to protect themselves from COVID-19.

National research has shown the virus has had a disproportionate effect on these communities, making it increasingly important to receive enhanced protection.

In addition, the programme was also named as runner-up for the Voluntary Sector Collaboration award, recognising work in partner-

ship with the Preston Windrush Initiative to increase uptake in the Caribbean population.

Naveed Sharif, vaccine inequalities lead for Lancashire and South Cumbria COVID-19 vaccination programme, said: “COVID-19 exposed and exacerbated health inequalities gaps. I am incredibly proud to lead a team that recognised those worsening inequalities as real negative impacts on real people – individuals, families and communities – not just a line on a spreadsheet.

“The team has worked incredibly hard and I’m delighted that this has been recognised by this award.

Moreover, I am delighted that we have made strides in making our vaccination offer both accessible and acceptable to all in Lancashire and South Cumbria.”

Since January, Lancashire County Council has led a targeted vaccination programme, taking the vaccine to various spots across the county.

This outreach work has become an award-winning good practice and supplements the wider vaccination programme.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health at

Lancashire County Council, said: "Ensuring that everyone has equal access to the COVID-19 vaccines has been a huge challenge, and it was crucial that we met this head on so the inequalities did not widen.

"The success of targeted vaccination work is the result of careful planning and coordination between the county council, the NHS, community pharmacy, community outreach teams and district councils.

Vax Programme.png "I am very proud of what we have achieved by working together, and proud that the hard work and dedication of our teams has once again been recognised."

(L-R): Kevin Lavery, chief executive of Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB; Naveed Sharif, vaccine inequalities lead for Lancashire and South Cumbria COVID-19 vaccination programme; Abdul Razaq, director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council; and Tahira Widlof, vaccination programme operations manager Abdul Razaq, director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, added: “The Health and Equity award recognises

the immense dedication, professionalism and collaborative efforts of services and staff in local authorities working very closely with NHS colleagues over the last

two years on the vaccination programme.

“Together we have implemented successful outreach and engagement work for local communities which

has helped to protect lives and this recognition for Blackburn with Darwen is hugely deserved as a testimony to that mutual endeavour.”

Pendle honoured with one of the Queen’s Tree of Trees The Queen’s Tree of Trees legacy will live on in Pendle. Pendle Borough Council will receive a native British tree – one of 350 trees which formed the living sculpture called Tree of Trees.

This sculpture stood tall as a message of hope, regeneration and optimism to the nation and the world as part of the Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations.

The Council joins over 300 organisations from across the UK to receive a tree in The Queen’s name presented in a pot embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher EIIR - standing for Elizabeth II Regina.

The eight feet high mountain ash tree will be planted by Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire, Dennis Mendoros and The Mayor of Pendle, Councillor Yasser Iqbal on Thursday 20 October at 2.30pm outside the Station Hotel on Broadway in Nelson.

Local people are welcome to come to the special tree planting ceremony.

Once in place, the tree will become part of the living legacy in honour of Her Majesty, joining over a million trees already planted across the UK as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

The Mayor said: “It is a great honour to be chosen as one of the recipients of a tree, which serves as a thank you for all the valuable and tireless work that volunteers and individuals undertake for the benefit of their communities.

Dennis Mendoros added: “I am delighted to be invited to plant this special tree in honour of Her Majesty.

“Standing proudly in the heart of Nelson, it will serve to remind us of the dedication, enthusiasm and hard work of Pendle’s many com-

munity groups, organisations and individuals.”

The tree will complement the improvements to the area which are being delivered through the Accessible Nelson project in the Nelson Town Deal programme.

An important part of this programme is tree planting and designs which make for a greener and more inviting town centre Following the wishes of His Majesty The King, Patron of The Queen’s Green Canopy the initiative will be extended to the end of March 2023 to give people the opportunity to plant trees in memoriam to honour Her Majesty.

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Urgent appeal to recruit Specialist Foster Carers in Blackburn and Darwen

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has launched an urgent appeal for more people to find out about becoming a specialist foster carer.

Working alongside Blackpool Council, BwD is appealing to meet the needs of local children and young people who are in care with complex emotional and physical needs.

Both councils are joining forces to recruit a diverse range of fostering families who can provide them with a safe and supportive environment.

Foster carers are needed across all age ranges, for varying length of times.

Carers that can take children and young people with complex needs are a priority but foster carers from all walks of life are needed.

Councillor Julie Gunn, Elected Member for Children’s Services at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: “Being a foster carer is an

amazing thing to do, and we are so grateful to have such great BwD foster carers who offer support and care for children and young people and provide a safe home environment.

We are looking for people who can offer a young person a safe place to stay at a time in their lives when they need it most. When a child needs a PACE bed it’s because the only alternative is a police custody suite for the night. We want to do all we can to avoid that no matter what the situation is.”

Foster carers choose the type of fostering that is most suited to them and their family life. They can provide a child or children with a home for a few weeks, months or even years.

Michelle Plaiter is a foster carer with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and specialises in parent and child placements.

Michelle said:

“With nine children of our own, and our professional backgrounds, we felt that we had the expertise and passion to support parents who are within the Child Protection process. We wanted to help parents to be able to improve their parenting skills so that they had a chance of keeping their children in their care We do appreciate that there are some parents who are unable to keep their children safe and whilst this is not always the outcome that we would have desired, for some children, it is safer for them to live with someone else. We value that we can give those parents the opportunity to make changes and support them through the process, whether it is to take their child home or their child to live somewhere else.”

Specialist foster care includes: • Parent and child fostering (sometimes known

as mother and baby fosterhelp a child or young pering). This involves caring son adjust to moving from for a vulnerable parent a residential children’s and their young child. home to living in a stable • Foster carers provide a and supportive family safe place for a new parent environment. Making the to take their first steps, move from a residential helping them to adjust and setting to a family home develop the valuable skills can be a difficult transition they need to nurture and for the child. They may care for their baby. have experienced trauma, • Fostering disabled which means that they children. As a foster carer may display complex and for disabled children, this challenging behaviour. To may involve taking care of help the child recover, foster carers provide empathy a child or young person and compassion alongside with a range of medical secure boundaries. conditions including • Remand fostering. This developmental disabilities type of fostering provides such as autism, physical young people who are disabilities which limit a remanded by the courts child’s mobility, and learning or sensory disabilities. with a remand foster carer Foster carers can find this while they await court type of fostering hugely proceedings. A remand rewarding as they help a placement is usually a child with complex needs short-term arrangement live their life to the fullest, and involves a foster carer giving them the help and working closely with youth support they need to reach justice officials. their potential.

Empathy and patience • Step down fostering. A are key to being a specialist step-down foster carer will foster carer. The role would

be particularly suitable for those with a background in childcare, social care, policing, teaching, youth work or previous experience of foster care.

People interested in becoming a specialist foster carer must have a spare bedroom and be over 21 years.

Specialist foster carers receive extensive training and a full package of support, including enhanced generous allowances to cover the cost of caring for a child or young person and to acknowledge the commitment required to this crucial role.

They also benefit from regular support groups, peer mentors for new carers, fostering forum meetings, and a dedicated supervising social worker.

You can find out more information, including frequently asked questions about fostering with Blackburn with Darwen Council, by visiting the Let’s Foster website.

400 Tree Giveaway

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400 cherry blossom saplings will be given away over three dates throughout November in support of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative.

Earlier in the year, Preston City Council gave away more than 300 saplings to local schools and residents as part of ‘Plant Preston’, an initiative set up as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a cause for which Preston was chosen as a ‘Champion City’.

Preston City Council have now joined forces with Lets Grow Preston, a local charity set up to help local communities brighten up their greenspaces through gardening, for another giveaway.

The saplings will initially be available from 1pm until 3pm on Sunday 13 and Saturday 19 November at Ashton Park Walled Gar-

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den, Pedder’s Lane, Preston, PR2 1HL where people will be able to pick up a cherry blossom along with a pot and compost donated by Let’s Grow Preston. On these dates, 180 saplings will be given away each day.

The Mayor of Preston, Councillor Neil Darby, said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative has proven to be a wonderful opportunity for the residents and communities of Preston to be part of a national endeavour to plant more trees. I am delighted that we now have an opportunity to work with a local, recognised charity Let’s Grow Preston, through this amazing scheme.

By picking up a free sapling you can help to make our city a little greener.”

The third giveaway is part of a larger event, arranged to celebrate the work of

Let’s Grow Preston. On Saturday 20 November a planting of a ‘Tree of Trees’ will take place. The tree was donated by The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative in recognition for the work the charity does to support Preston communities.

Preston is one of only eight recipients throughout Lancashire of this ‘Tree of Trees’ which is part of special legacy in Her Majesty’s name.

The tree will become part of the living legacy, in honour of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Joining more than a million trees already planted across the UK. Mike Crosby, Chair of Trustees for Let’s Grow Preston, said: “We see this tree as recognition for the part we play in the support of Preston communities and

are honoured to accept the gift on behalf of the City of Preston.”

Annie Wynn, Development Director at Let’s Grow Preston, added: “Receiving such a special tree is a huge delight for Let’s Grow Preston and is recognition for all the work that we do to support Preston communities, improving people’s physi-

cal and mental well-being through nature. However, we wouldn’t be able to do anything without the generosity of our volunteers and the collaborative and cooperative way we work with Preston Food Hub Network, the allotmenteers and so many grassroot groups and local businesses.”

The Tree of Trees planting event will take place on

Sunday 20 November from 10am until 3pm and will include activities such as build a bird or bat box and willow weaving at The Hub, Grange Park, Off Mitton Drive, Ribbleton, Preston, PR2 6EN On each occasion, trees will be given away on a first come first served basis.

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Page 9.

Men sentenced after assault and kidnap of innocent man

Three men who seriously assaulted and kidnapped an innocent man, wrongly believing he was an Albanian drug dealer, have been jailed.

Faisal Fareed, 23, Faizaan Fareed, 26, and Nicholas Shaw, 45 (pictured, left to right), were sentenced to a total of 27 years at Preston Crown Court on Monday (October 24) after they kidnapped a man in Darwen last year.

On June 13, 2021, the victim, a man in his 40s, had returned home from work. After getting out of his car, he was attacked by a number of men armed with weapons.

The men bundled the victim into his own car and drove him to Dove Lane, Darwen, where they were accusing him of being an Albanian drug dealer.

The men continued to threaten him with knives, despite realising he was

the wrong man. The men saw a police car and drove to Blackburn, leaving him inside the car. The victim raised the alarm and was given first aid by police officers. He was taken to hospital and treated for 14 stab wounds and a collapsed lung.

Detectives launched an investigation and quickly linked the trio to the offences through forensic and telephony evidence.

The men pleaded guilty to the offences.

• Faisal Fareed, 23, of Lawrence Street, Blackburn, was jailed for 11 years for conspiracy to kidnap, affray, assault and conspiracy to supply drugs.

• Faizaan Fareed, 26 of Lawerence Street, Blackburn, was handed a 10 year sentence for conspiracy to kidnap, affray, assault and conspiracy to supply drugs.

• Nicholas Shaw, 45, of

Medina Close, Accrington, was jailed for six years for conspiracy to kidnap.

Det Con Rachel Norris, of Blackburn Police, said: “Both Fareeds and Shaw launched an ill-conceived plot to attack and torture the victim, believing he was an Albanian drug dealer. He was neither Al-

banian, nor a drug dealer.

“Despite him being in a serious condition, bleeding heavily, as well as knowing they had got the wrong man, the attackers continued to use their knives pressing them into his chest and legs. He believed he was going to die.

“The men took the victim’s

keys believing they would give them access to a closed public house, however, when they realised this was not the case, they drove off with the victim still in the car, all the time threatening him. Eventually after seeing police, they drove to Blackburn and after an hour left him in the

car, not caring if he died.

“This was an absolutely horrendous attack which left the victim seriously injured. The damage inflicted on him has been long-lasting and he continues to be affected by what happened to this day.

“We welcome the sentences handed down at court.”

Groundbreaking carbon reduction technology piloted in Lancashire A new way of storing thousands of tonnes of CO2 in the ground beneath our feet is being piloted in Lancashire.

Lancashire County Council is one of the first councils in the UK to trial the large-scale use of biochar, a charcoal-like substance that is made by heating agricultural and forestry crop residues.

When they die, plants and trees decompose and release the CO2 they have captured back into the air. Biochar can last for thousands of years in the soil so it is an effective way of storing carbon and helping to fight climate change.

Biochar also helps to improve soil quality and moisture retention, with the potential to make land more productive for growing grass, crops and trees so increasing the rate at which they remove CO2 from the air.

The pilot is taking place on 6ha of farmland on a former landfill site at

Midgeland Road in Fylde, and at Chisnall Hall near Chorley where compost, produced from the county's garden waste collections, is also being used to plant 1ha new woodland to boost the carbon capture.

You can see the progress at Chisnall Hall in the video below.

The county council secured more than £150k from the AgriCaptureCo2 project to fund the pilot.

County Councillor Shaun Turner, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: "Ensuring we can capture more CO2, which is produced when fossil fuels are burned, is an important part of our plans to tackle climate change.

"We know that trees play an important role, but it's not always possible to plant trees on many of the fields across Lancashire.

"By using biochar, we can capture much more carbon using the ground beneath people's feet. We're piloting this scheme on two agricul-

tural sites, but if the scheme is successful, we could potentially use it across the county on fields, sports pitches, in parks and other open spaces "We are also looking into turning any trees felled because of ash dieback disease into biochar, so the carbon they already contain is not lost back into the atmosphere.

"Innovative schemes like this are a key part of our plans to make Lancashire a greener county."

The county council is running this pilot to research the potential of biochar on behalf of all the councils in Lancashire.

Nik Bruce, the county council's principal nature recovery officer who is leading the project, said: "Bio-

char is essentially charcoal to be put into the soil.

"This is a way of locking carbon into the ground for thousands of years. With this approach, in 10-13 years we could store as much CO2 as is captured by a new native broadleaved woodland in 50 years. " Here at Chisnall Hall, we are also using compost created from Lancashire's

green bin collections to help establish new woodlands.

You can see that by using biochar we can help create forests above the ground, and store carbon beneath your feet."

For more information about action the county council is taking to protect the environment, visit its Climate Change webpage.

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New homes set for Moss Nook through £2m investment

A further 262 homes are set to be built at Moss Nook, former industrial land in Sutton thanks to almost £2m funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram; Harworth Associate Development Director, Matt Whitely; Cabinet Member for Stronger, Safer Communities Cllr Jeanie Bell; Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, Cllr Richard McCauley at Moss NooThe funding supports the third phase of a project which will eventually see 900 homes on the 94-acre site which has already undergone works to allow developers to turn the brownfield site into new homes for St Helens Borough residents.

A total of £1,954,000 from the Combined Authority will be

used to support the remediation and infrastructure work necessary for development of 112 properties for sale, 50 affordable homes and 100 for rent.

The funding has been awarded to Harworth Estates Investments Ltd, experts in preparing complex, "brownfield" sites for onward sale for construction by housing developers.

This follows an initial £2m awarded to the company in 2020, which prepared the ground for the first 240 homes at Moss Nook.

Councillor David Baines, Leader of St Helens Council said: "This plot of land, which is located between Sutton, Parr and Bold, was derelict for a number of years and had been plagued by anti-social behaviour. So it is great to see this site

cleaned up and turned into a place for families to live.

"This latest funding will help make more of the site a suitable spot for development in the future and has the potential to unlock new housing and additional facilities in the area. We are committed to putting these eyesore brownfield sites back into use and funding like this is vital in helping us to make sure that can happen."

Matt Whiteley, Associate Development Director at Harworth, commented: "Within just a few years, Harworth has transformed a piece of derelict brownfield land into a thriving new community in St Helens, providing new infrastructure, amenities and green space for local people. We are grateful to St Helens Council and the Liv-

erpool City Region Combined Authority for their continued support in helping us to deliver on our vision, and it is a privilege to be able to show them our progress on site today."

Councillor Jeanie Bell, Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities added: "The earlier phases of the project is delivering a welcoming space for families with things like playgrounds and green spaces already in place. The transformation of brownfield sites helps us to provide new homes for our residents while benefitting the wider community by removing the draws for anti-social behaviour that derelict sites can bring."

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

"New homes are an investment in all our futures. They give families the opportunity to realise their home ownership ambitions; attract new funding into our towns and cities, and help us to retain the very best talent to fuel our economy.

"We know that our journey to building a strong, prosperous community starts at home, which is why we are helping thousands of families across the Liverpool City Region to invest in good quality, genuinely affordable, and accessible houses.

"By specifically targeting brownfield sites, we are helping to turn once-forgotten areas back into thriving communities - and help to protect more of our green spaces.

"We've already made great strides to achieve this ambition,

having committed £20 million to build nearly 2000 new homes across the region, including these much-needed new properties at Moss Nook."

Councillor Graham Morgan, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Housing and Spatial Framework, said: "Moss Nook is a great example of our brownfield first policy in action, where our investment has enabled a formerly derelict site to be developed, creating hundreds of decent homes for local people.

We have work under way at sites across the city region and a further pipeline of projects ready to come on stream and we are well on our way to enabling the creation of thousands of new homes."

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Council issues almost £9m of funding to help with cost of living crisis • Five separate schemes have helped residents with financial pressures • Almost 40,000 people helped by energy rebate schemes alone • Council's own discretionary scheme still open to applications West Lancashire Borough Council has paid out over £8.7m in funds to help West Lancashire Residents and businesses with rising energy costs and financial support.

Five schemes have been running since April including the government's £150 Energy Rebate scheme, Household Support Fund and Business Rate Scheme and a discretionary energy support fund agreed

by Council.

The £150 Energy Rebate Scheme alone has seen almost £6m paid out to 40,000 people with a further 8,500 people supported by an additional discretionary fund.

Additionally, the Household Support Fund saw almost £400K paid to 3,973 residents and three organisations including foodbanks. The bulk of expenditure was used to provide help with energy and food, and we also secured white goods for 31 families.

Plus, over £2m has been issued to businesses as part of a rates relief scheme. Another £260K discretionary fund, approved directly by the Council is still open for applications.

Councillor Adam Yates, portfolio holder for Finance and Regeneration said: "I'm incredibly proud that our Council stepped up to get these payments out as quickly as possible, despite very challenging logistical issues.

"I know these payments will have made a real difference to many people and I'd like to personally thank the officers involved who I know worked tirelessly to push through the payments.

"Lots of households are struggling right now, some of whom did not expect to be, such as those in full-time employment. We have been working hard to support them, and will continue to look for ways to help them as winter pressures bite.

"As a starting point, I would urge anyone who is struggling to negotiate these incredibly difficult times to visit our Cost of Living Hub for further help and advice."

Tribute paid to motorist

The family of a man who sadly died after a collision in Higher Shuttleworth have paid tribute to him.

Harry Boothby, 74, from Padiham, was driving a Volkswagen Passat when his car was involved in a collision with a Mercedes Vito van around 7.40pm on Saturday (October 29).

The accident happened on the A6068 between J8 of the M65 and Blackburn Road.

The driver of the Mercedes suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital. His injuries are thankfully not life-threatening.

Sgt Michael Higginson, of Lancashire Police’s Tactical Operations, said: “These are tragic circumstances and our thoughts and prayers are very much with Mr Boothby’s family at this difficult time.

“We are continuing to appeal for witnesses, in particularly anyone with dashboard mounted camera footage, which could assist our enquiries.

“If you can help please come forward.”

In a tribute, Mr Boothby’s family said: “We would like to thank the witnesses that stopped to help our dad and the emergency services that attended to him on

Saturday.

“We would also like to thank the police liaison officer who has given us support through this difficult time.

“Thank you for all the support from our friends and extended families.

“We are devastated as a family, and he will be greatly missed by his children and grandchildren” Anyone with information should call 101 quoting log 1154 of October 29.

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Female scaleup support service begins in response to county-council report on barriers to women in business

Female business owners and decision makers from 14 leading businesses in Lancashire have joined forces to take part in a six-month, county council-backed support programme to help prepare their organisations for rapid growth.

The programme, Women Scaling Up, was launched by Two Zero, Lancashire County Council’s scaleup support service, in response to a landmark report published in August about the barriers faced by women leading businesses in Lancashire.

Women Scaling Up includes tailored coaching and peer group sessions designed to build participants’ resilience and leadership skills, along with in-depth business acumen. Those taking part in the programme include business owners and directors from a range of businesses across Lancashire such as professional services, creative industries, and the manufacturing sector.

Kelly-Ann Groves is chief operating officer at Sundown Solutions, a cloud transformation and IT consultancy based in Accrington.

Kelly-Ann is the only female in the firm’s leadership team. She is taking part in the Women Scaling Up programme to broaden her

business knowledge through female mentoring and is looking forward to meeting like-minded women in similar roles and listening to their stories.

She said: “The programme offers an opportunity for me to switch off and absorb the energy and enthusiasm from other professional women. Sundown has seen rapid growth in the past three years and my role has significantly changed in that time. To coin the popular phrase ‘imposter syndrome’, sometimes I think ‘am I really the right person for this job?’”

“I see the programme as part of my personal development as a business leader alongside studying an MBA. I know I can work and perform better; I just need that next level of input and confidence that I hope to gain from Women Scaling Up to become an even stronger businesswoman.”

The programme has been launched in response to Growing Women, Growing Lancashire, a report led by Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub which analysed the landscape for females leading businesses and Lancashire, and offered recommendations about the support needed, particularly from the public sector.

Among the recommenda-

tions was improved funded business support offering for female owners and leaders of businesses.

Delivered by Role, a Lancashire business growth consultancy which also co-authored the Growing Women, Growing Lancashire report, the programme begins with an outdoor experiential half day with an emphasis on leadership skills, communications skills and goal setting.

Activities include the ‘leap of faith’ where delegates climb to the heights using wooden ladders and, summoning all their

courage, leap and ‘high five’ an elevated ball, whilst team members cheer them on from below.

The 14 participants on the programme receive six months of support, including strategic planning, profiling, boardroom masterclasses on key aspects of scaleup, executive coaching and a resilience retreat.

County councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth, Lancashire County Council added: “As a county, we must support all types of diversity in our business community. There

are so many success stories of female-led businesses in Lancashire but with the right support, the number of women leading Lancashire businesses can grow further.

“The Growing Women, Growing Lancashire report provided a set of recommendations for the whole Lancashire economy to improve the business landscape for our county’s female business leaders.

Currently only 20 per cent of businesses in the county are led by a woman.

“Among those was the need for improved female-focused business support and

I’m proud that through Two Zero, Lancashire County Council is providing funding to help accelerate the growth of the county’s fast-growing companies.”

The Women Scaling Up programme is two thirds funded by Lancashire County Council through Two Zero. Two Zero is a business support service for scaleup business leaders in Lancashire. Led by Lancashire County Council, its mission is to help Lancashire’s scaleup leaders learn, grow their business 20% and create jobs.

Cabinet expected to approve increase to vital community food grant scheme A grant scheme for community groups who provide emergency food provision is expected to be increased to £250,000 to further support residents this winter.

The Lancashire Community Food Grant Scheme is aimed at local organisations within the voluntary, community and faith sector that deliver projects to tackle food insecurity.

Community and voluntary organisations can apply for up to £3,000 from the community food grant scheme. Applicants can apply for items

such as food, equipment, volunteer expenses, premises costs, organisation staff costs and resilience building activities.

The first round of the community food grant scheme for 2022-23 has already received more than 96 applications and has approved 46 schemes with funding totalling more than £123,000.

For instance, Preston Community Hub was formed in February 2020 to help provide food provisions during the pandemic and has successfully applied for funds to purchase of equipment and food.

Lancashire Women is a well-established, leading charity for women in Lancashire with an average of 6000 women accessing their services each year. The charity successfully applied for funding to support emergency foodbanks and their centres in Accrington and Burnley.

The Marsh Community Centre, based in Lancaster, runs a five day-a-week dropin for the most vulnerable to get advice and crisis support as well as a weekly programme of youth and community activities. They received funding to support the running costs of their

food club project.

As we head into winter, it is expected that there will be an increase in applications to the fund. Given the increasing demand, it is proposed that the funding available for the scheme be increased to £250,000 for the year 2022/23.

The county council's cabinet will be asked to approve the increase at its meeting on Thursday 3 November.

Cllr Michael Green, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "A significant number of projects across the county have already received money from this year's communi-

ty food grant scheme and we expect to receive many more applications over the coming months.

"By increasing this fund significantly for 2022/23, we can support many more residents across Lancashire this winter.

"This is in addition to the £2m package of support Lancashire County Council has committed to strengthen a number of existing initiatives, which builds on the significant support by the

Government to reduce energy bills.

"I would urge anyone in need of assistance, or who think they may need it over the winter, to visit our new Cost of Living information hub to see what help is available in Lancashire."

Residents can view what support is available by visiting Lancashire.gov.uk and clicking on the Cost of Living section.

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Ten arrested in regional drugs operation

Ten people have been arrested as part of an operation to tackle drug dealing and County Lines offending in Morecambe.

On Wednesday, October 26 officers from Lancashire Police and Merseyside Police joined forces as part of Operation Medusa, aimed at disrupting the supply of drugs by organised criminal groups.

The operation followed intelligence suggesting drugs gangs from Liver-

pool were expanding their operations into the town, using violence to drive out local dealers and exploiting children and vulnerable people to sell drugs – also known as County Lines.

Det Sup Rebecca Smith, of Lancashire Police, said: “We want to hit criminals hard but also make sure young and vulnerable people who have been criminally exploited are treated sensitively and with understanding.

“Working cross border with other police forces is key in disrupting and dismantling county lines and putting offenders behind bars. We are sending out a strong message this criminality activity will not be tolerated and we will continue to work together with our partners and regional forces to disrupt anyone involved in county lines and bring them to justice.”

As well as making a

number of arrests, officers searched 13 people and made six vehicle searches.

Plain-clothed police officers on foot patrol targeted addresses in the West End area, seizing cash, mobile phones and suspected Class A drugs.

Det Supt Smith added: “County lines gangs and organised criminal networks are involved in exporting illegal drugs, using dedicated mobile phone lines or another form of

‘deal line’. The gang activity is highly associated with violence, drug dealing and exploitation; having a devastating impact on young people, vulnerable adults and local communities.

“Gangs will use children, and vulnerable people, to move drugs and money, criminally exploiting them; they will also seek to establish a base in target locations, typically taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults by force

or coercion – this is referred to as ‘cuckooing’.

“We need intelligence coming from our communities to alert us to potential drugs activity so we can investigate and bring organised gangs to justice, as well as safeguarding people, particularly children, who have been exploited and are victims.”

If you suspect drugs are being dealt where you live, please call 101.

Lancashire social worker highly commended for prestigious award A social worker supporting children with disabilities in Lancashire has been highly commended for Social Worker of the Year as part of the National Children and Young People Awards.

A social worker supporting children with disabilities in Lancashire has been highly commended for Social Worker of the Year as part of the National Children and Young People Awards.

Sophie Hopcroft works across central Lancashire and was nominated this summer. Following an interview with the judging panel, she was shortlisted alongside eight others in the UK.

Sophie said: "I wanted to be that person to safeguard children and young people in the way I wanted as a child. What I do is a true privilege.

"I have been a social worker in the Children with Disabilities Team for four years, and each day brings a different challenge or experience. The children, young people and families that I work with inspire me to continue to develop professionally despite the current strain on resources linked to the pandemic. I could not have done this without the amazing support from my colleagues and managers."

Laura Friar, Team Manager within the Children with Disabilities team and Sophie's manager, said: "I am personally so proud of Sophie. To watch her develop and flourish has been wonderful. Sophie is an absolute credit to the social work profession, always going above and beyond whilst ensuring she enables positive impact for the children and families she supports. What an achievement for her!"

The National Children and Young People Awards celebrate excellence in care for children, young people and families, showcase innovation and best practice in this area and pay tribute to those individuals or organisation who excel in quality care provision.

County Councillor Cosima Towneley, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: "Sophie should be immensely proud of herself, as we all are. Her work in supporting children with disabilities in Lancashire is exemplary and our Lancashire family is incredibly lucky to have her.

"Congratulations Sophie and well done!"

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Residents urged to spot the signs early for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Do you know the signs of pancreatic cancer?

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS is encouraging people to know the symptoms of pancreatic cancer this Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in the UK and has the lowest survival rate of any of the 21 common cancers.

The five-year survival rate is 7.3 percent but for those diagnosed in time to have potentially life-saving surgery, this increases to around 30 percent. This presents an opportunity for intervention where people can be diagnosed earlier and live longer with a better quality of life.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include: • Jaundice: the whites of your eyes or your skin could turn yellow, you may

also have itchy skin, darker pee, and paler poo than usual • loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to • persistent changes in bowel habits – poo becoming loose or harder, floating and pale • back pain • pain at the top part of your tummy and your back, which may feel worse when you are eating or lying down and better when you lean forward Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and a new diagnosis of diabetes.

If you have suspected symptoms, please contact your GP for advice. Early diagnosis saves lives.

Dr Neil Smith, GP lead and cancer director for Lancashire and South Cumbria said: “Pancreatic cancer can affect anyone, and the risk of developing the disease increases from the age of 45.

Over 10,000 people die of it each year in the UK, and it can be hard to diagnose as

symptoms can be vague.

“Unfortunately, many patients are diagnosed in A&E as an emergency and when the cancer is at an advanced stage. If more people are aware of the symptoms, we will have a greater chance of catching it early when surgery and other treatments may be an option.”

Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in the pancreas grow uncontrollably to form a lump or mass, usually referred to as a ‘cancerous tumour’. Patients who present with one or more of the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer need treatment quickly.

Vicki Stevenson-Hornby, pancreas and hepatobiliary specialist nurse at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital said: “Treatments for pancreatic cancer vary and are dependent on the stage of the disease and fitness level of the patient. They can in-

clude surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and symptom control.

“Currently, only 10-15 percent of people who are diagnosed receive their diagnosis in time for life-saving surgery. There is no screen-

ing programme for pancreatic cancer, so it is vitally important we raise awareness of the symptoms and encourage people to seek medical help if they experience any of them.”

Pancreatic Cancer Aware-

ness Month runs throughout November with World Pancreatic Cancer Day on Thursday 17 November. More information is available on the Pancreatic Cancer Action website.

Burglar jailed after thefts and rooftop siege A burglar who stole curtains and a footwarmer, before being arrested following a six-hour rooftop siege, has been jailed.

Tyler McPherson, 26, of St Andrew’s Road South, St Annes, was sentenced to five years and six months in prison at Preston Crown Court on Friday (October 21) after pleading guilty to offences including burglary, vehicle interference, public nuisance and possession of a bladed article.

McPherson was arrested by police following an investigation into a number of burglaries in St Annes.

On November 23, 2021, police received a report of an attempted burglary and two offences of vehicle interference in Cartmell Road. Attempts had been made to enter two vehicles parked on a driveway, with the offender trying to open locked patio doors of the same property.

On the same day, the same offender targeted a property on Riley Avenue, St Annes, entering a property through a window, stealing mobile phones, a laptop, money and cigarettes, as well as curtains and a footwarmer from a vehicle on the driveway.

Attempts were also made to enter two vehicles on the driveway of a neighbouring

property.

Following CCTV enquiries, McPherson was identified, arrested and charged on December 8. He was later released on an electronic curfew, with signing on conditions, by the court.

Officers found McPherson had breached his curfew and signing on conditions, with McPherson found leaving a property in St Helier’s Road, Blackpool.

He climbed onto the roofs of outdoor buildings, ripping up tiles and wood, throwing items at officers. A siege of more than six hours began in the early hours of April 23, with the fire service, Ambulance Service and police officers and negotiators involved.

During the siege, further tiles were thrown, with attempts made to set fire to pieces of wood and other material. McPherson also threatened himself and others with a knife.

Eventually he gave up and was arrested and charged with affray, criminal damage, public nuisance and possession of a bladed article.

PC Gareth Evans, of Blackpool Police’s Targeted Crime Team, said: “Burglary is a horrible and intrusive crime that often leaves victims feeling vulnerable and unsafe in their own homes. It is therefore only right that we use all of our policing powers to deal with

those individuals who invade the homes of others and steal their property.

“McPherson targeted several properties on neighbouring roads, stealing a range of items, including curtains and a footwarmer. He was prolific and brazen, making no

attempt to hide his offending.

“I have no doubt McPherson would have committed further crimes and a custodial sentence is reflective of the gravity of his actions.”

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Christmas is coming to Burnley!

Can you hear those sleigh bells ringing? Festive fun is set to return to Burnley in November and December with activities for the whole family!

A light switch-on event kicks things off on Saturday 19th November in the town centre before you’ll be invited to get your skates on in the week leading up to Christmas Day. Yes that’s right, Burnley will be playing host to its very own synthetic Ice Rink from Saturday 17th to Friday 23rd December!

Please keep reading for more details about these two magical events.

BE THE FIRST TO HEAR CHRISTMAS UPDATES

Saturday 19th November, 2pm-5pm Lights Switch-On and Stage Show (3pm) The festive season gets underway in Burnley with a fun-filled afternoon of winter wonder on St James’s Street. Here’s what visitors can look forward to: Activities on Saturday 19th November: Festive walkabout acts including; start) • Buddy the Elf • Snow Cannons • Live Music • Family friendly Magician • Light Switch-On (5:00pm) • Burnley Dance Group • Burnley's Christmas Tree • Burnley Youth Theatre As you can see it’s set to • Appearance from Burnbe a magical afternoon so ley FC players • Ice Queen Show (4:30pm come along and get into

the festive spirit! Don’t forget to visit our businesses too and enjoy some Christmas shopping and a warming winter treat or three!

Burnley Ice Rink, Town Square

Saturday 17th – Friday 23rd December, 10am4pm Get ready to glide into Christmas!

A synthetic Ice Rink will provide frozen fun in the

lead up to the big day.

Tickets will be released to subscribers of the Discover Burnley Newsletter before they go on general sale so make sure you’re signed up if you want to be the first to get hold of them!

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Preston's Christmas lights

will be lit on Saturday 19th November following the Christmas Lights Switch On event, which gets underway from 5.30pm.

The event will feature live performances from special guests: Preston’s Commonwealth Gold Medallist Sarah Davies will join Britain's Got Talent’s ‘Soldiers of Swing’, The Street Monkeys, Retro City Orchestra, Russ Brown's UV Puppets, and Santa, live on stage. ‘Buddy the Elf ’ will also make an appearance!

Cult TV figure Shaun Williamson (Barry), of Eastenders and Ricky Gervais’ ‘Extras’ fame, who recently performed live on stage with Sam Fender, will lead the audience and willing stage-participants in a huge festive pre-Word Cup sing-along, with his ‘Barrioke’ show, which has taken festivals and events by storm this year.

He’ll be joined by multi-platinum selling, BRIT award-winning, Kenny Thomas.

Pop sensation Junior Andre, who is signed to Columbia records alongside, Miley Cyrus, Calvin Harris, and George Ezra, is also confirmed to perform, hot on

the release of his October single, ‘Messy’.

Andre’s debut single, ‘Slide’, reached number one in the iTunes chart in its release week, outselling Lady Gaga, Eminem and Harry Styles. The singer and actor has already amassed almost 400million views on his TikTok channel.

The free show takes place on the city’s Flag Market and is organised by Preston BID, in partnership with Smooth Radio North West, and funded by city centre businesses.

The event, which officially launches

Christmas in Preston, is generously sponsored by Pintxos, Guild Hall Estate and Lettings, NWL Chamber of Commerce and TalkTalk, with support from Preston City Council.

2022 sees a refreshed Christmas lighting, with interspersed colour-changing elements in certain locations including the Flag Market and Cheapside. The new scheme will feature low energy LED lighting, which uses up to 75% less energy than traditional lighting schemes.

Switch On performers will be accompa-

nied by a British Sign Language interpreter, kindly organised by Preston based Disability Equality North West.

For updates on the event, and competition details, visit the Facebook event page.

The Christmas Lights Switch On is funded by city centre businesses and sponsors.

The Christmas lighting scheme is funded by city centre businesses in partnership with Preston City Council.

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Pendle Productions propels panto to The Old Courts Theatre this Christmas with Aladdin

Once again, professional Pantomime is returning to The Old Courts this Christmas. "Oh Yes It Is!" The Festive season is almost upon us and there’s nothing like a good old pantomime to get you and the family in the Christmas spirit before ‘IT’S BEHIND YOU’ until the next year! Forget a lamp full of wishes, The Old Courts will make all your panto dreams come true! Following the incredible success of Cinderella in 2021, Pendle productions have been invited back to The Old Courts, this time with their spectacular fun family pantomime – Aladdin!

Aladdin is an awfully big adventure with iconic characters for children of all ages. With slapstick comedy provided

by Wishee Washee, the Emperor, and Dame Widow Twanky you are sure to be laughing right through to Christmas

and beyond. Come with us on the ride of a lifetime and get ready for a magical two hours. It’s a warm welcome for this classic British Christmas tradition, with catchy songs, wicked dance routines, a superb set & charming costumes, and the wickedest baddie you have ever seen in Abanazar, you are sure to cheering Aladdin all the way as he leaves his mother’s laundry, finds the magic lamp, and rescues his princess.

The Old Courts Arts Centre is situated in Wigan town centre, a significant part of what they do centres around live events. Gigs, dance shows, theatre shows, exhibitions, film screenings, sector conferences, audience events and seminars provide artists and the public with the maximum number of entry points to the arts. The Old Courts is a multipurpose venue with lots of differ-

ent spaces. Nestled within the charming building is an intimate, professional 150 seat theatre which is quite the hidden gem, with a friendly staff who are fully equipped to welcome families this Christmas.

Aladdin will run from 3rd December –

23rd December The Old Courts, Gerrard Winstanley House, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1, 1NA Ticket Link https://www.theoldcourts.com/shows/ pantomime-aladdin/

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Manchester Christmas Lights switch-on event WON'T go ahead this year

Council bosses have spent the last few weeks trying hard to find a location that would be both big enough - with appropriate sightlines for an audience of families with small children - and also safe enough to host the much-loved annual event that regularly attracts thousands of people into the city centre to kickstart the festive season.

Despite best endeavours and trying everything to make things work, the amount of construction work currently underway at key locations in the city centre this year rules out a big switch-on event.

Plans are however already being made to ensure that the event returns to the city centre again next year 2023, ahead of what promises to be the biggest and best ever switch-on event in Manchester's history the following year in 2024 when the event will once again return to Albert Square in front of the city's majestic and magnificent Victorian Town Hall.

Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: "We've tried really hard to make a big Christmas lights switch-on event happen again this year after not being able to have one for the last couple of years, but despite our very best efforts this just isn't going to be possible.

"Anyone who has been in the city centre recently can't fail to have noticed all the development work going on to make Manchester even better than it already is, and as great as this is it does mean we've not got the space needed to safely manage a big switchon event this year.

"The ongoing work to renovate the Town Hall rules out Albert Square, as does ongoing demolition and construction work at the end of Deansgate. Piccadilly Gardens unfortunately isn't suitable in its current formation for a switch-on event, and after having a

good look at safety and sightline issues we've also had to rule out St Peter's Square as a site that is just too complex to manage to ensure a successful event that could be enjoyed by the thousands of people, including young children, who usually attend.

"We're very well aware how much families enjoy the switch-on and what it means to them and are gutted that we can't deliver an event this year for them.

"We will however definitely be back with a big switch-on event next year for them, followed by Manchester's best ever Christmas switch-on event the year after that in 2024 when our wonderful Town Hall and Albert Square will be back in use again.

"In the meantime we've pulled out all the stops and have got some extra special Manchester Christmas magic in store this year to bring a sparkle to the city's streets and put a smile on everyone's faces.

"Watch this space for more announcements very soon on some absolutely not-to-bemissed free festive treats coming to Manchester this Christmas."

Although there won't be a big switch-on event this year, the city centre will still be dressed in its sparkly Christmas best with streetlights, lights in trees, and light installations throughout the city centre from Thursday 10 November when the Christmas Markets open.

The exception to this is St Peter's Square, which will host Remembrance Sunday events on Sunday 13 November, and will therefore not be lit for Christmas until the week beginning Monday 14 November to coincide with the welcome return of Father Christmas who will once again be taking up residence in front of Central Library for the duration of the festive season.

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Best Unusual Christmas Gifts: Quirky And Show how much you care this Christmas with an offbeat gift that shows you know them better than anyone else Stuck for ideas when it comes to Christmas gifts this year?

After all, you can only buy socks, chocolate or aftershave so many times before they become a bit samey. Even a small twist on a generic gift can show a loved one you care, and that you’ve put thought into choosing something that screams unique.

However, there are so many present options out there it can be difficult to know where to begin – from wacky food and drink gifts to novelty clothing (that you know they'll never wear). But do not fear – we have written this guide to cut through the noise.

Whether you're looking for a present for a partner, friend or family member, our philosophy is the quirkier the better. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a selection of

the best unique gifts to buy your loved ones for Christmas 2021.

Best unusual Christmas gifts Polaroid Originals OneStep+ Camera A 70s-style instant camera with modern Bluetooth connectivity is stacks of fun, but beware: it could get messy. the best of both worlds.

Sculpd Pottery Kit The OneStep+ allows you to connect to the Polaroid app and access extra effects and features

For a gift that will outlast Christmas, consider buying a friend or family so, no, it’s not quite as analogue as the original – member a new hobby.

For the creative minds but it looks just as cool. in your life, this kit Throw Throw Burrito includes everything Card Game they need to get started This game isn’t for the with pottery – they'll be faint of heart. Though making plant pots, candle it’s described as a ‘card holders, coasters or minigame’, that’s undersculptures before you selling it. It’s a bonkers know it. card game crossed with dodgeball in the form of LuckyVoice Karaoke squishy toy burritos. It’s Set This stylish at-home

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d Unique Present Ideas To Stand Out From The Crowd depending on which camp you’re in) about personalised marmite?

The School of Life Conversation Menus

We love this pack of Conversation Menus, which consists of curious, thought-provoking questions that promise to connect you to others and make every dinner party set from London and a delight.

Brighton’s leading The Big Cheese Making karaoke bar would Kit make the perfect gift for If you count a ‘turophile’ someone who likes to (that’s a cheese enthusiast belt ballads like Beyoncé. to you and I) among your That’s the Boxing Day nearest and dearest, this entertainment sorted. is a gift worth knowing Oxfam Poverty Busting about.

Pig The Big Cheese kit The School of Life (cocontains everything founded by philosopher you need to create 10 Alain de Botton) creates a different cheeses across range of thoughtful gifts, 40 batches, including from charming children’s mozzarella, ricotta, books to an ‘emotional mascarpone, halloumi, first aid kit’. feta and paneer.

Part of a series of charity gift cards, this povertybusting pig makes a donation to Oxfam in your loved one’s name, which enables the charity to set up farming cooperatives and provide training for farmers living in poverty. A thoughtful gift that gives back.

Personalised Marmite

Personalised gifts always go down a treat with tricky-to-buy-for friends and family.

You really can find something for everyone, whether it’s personalised PG Tips tea or a monogrammed whiskey glass, but what’s not to love (or loathe,

Chefly Pasta Maker This pasta maker will allow you to take your tagliatelle to new heights.

It won’t break the bank, either, so it’s a great choice for budding chefs who are dipping their toe into pasta making for the first time.

Personalised Floral Liberty Framed Picture Another personalised gift that will go down a treat, especially among loved ones who are into interior design.

The print is backed with gorgeous Liberty floral fabric and finished with bespoke lettering. It’s completely personalisable, comes framed and is made in England.

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Free events at Preston Markets this Christmas Preston Markets has a fantastic selection of free events planned throughout December to get you in the festive mood!

Preston is a great place to buy all your gifts and if you are in the city centre doing a spot of Christmas shopping, why not pop along to Preston Markets and enjoy all the yuletide cheer we have on offer.

Little ones in tow? Bring them along to the free Santa’s grotto, complete with cheeky elves! Children can tell Santa what they would like to see under the Christ-

mas tree this year and each child who visits him will receive a free small gift.

Preston Markets is also providing free entertainment with live music from The Jive Aces, a festive dance performance from a local dance group and much more!

Looking for a rare gift for someone special or a distinctive Christmas decoration to add to your collection? Preston Markets Craft Fair will be back on Saturday 26 November, with a selection of local businesses from around the North West sell-

ing their unique handmade items – you are sure to find something extraordinary.

Masa Record Fair is a regular event at Preston Markets and will be back this December. With thousands of records to choose from, the Fair will be held just in time to find a favourite Christmas album or a unique vintage vinyl gift for any discerning collector.

On top of these exciting free events, this is a great opportunity to support the local community by shopping local.

Many Preston Market trad-

ers worked hard throughout the Covid lockdowns.

When market shelves were empty, they provided a vital service, delivering their local produce to the people of Preston. Now that the lockdowns are over and the high streets open, it is even more important to support local businesses. Traders buy their products from local Lancashire farms, growers and small industries. You can make a real difference by choosing to spend your money to support these vital local firms.

In the Market Hall alone

there are a host of stalls providing local, fresh produce including an artisan butcher, a specialist cheese stall, a fishmonger, two fruit and veg stalls and a variety of cafes not to mention a cosy and welcoming bar where you can sit and relax.

The Orchard craft beer bar is also happy to provide a warm, dry place to eat any food purchased within the markets, whether it’s a fresh curry, a delicious smash burger or a warming butter pie. Why not treat yourself to lunch, a festive coffee or even a pint while you are

there?

You can keep up to date with festive fayre on offer, deals and opening times on the Preston Markets website or on social media where you can tag us in your photos with your special purchase or having fun at our many events.

Visit www.prestonmarkets. co.uk and follow @prestonmarkets on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

We ho, ho, hope to see you soon!

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Festive cheer aplenty as the most wonderful time of the year returns to Leeds Immerse yourself in the magic of music and performance If there’s one time of year when catching a show is an absolute must, it’s Christmas!

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a fan of the ballet or you’re a panto fanatic, Leeds has shows aplenty that are all guaranteed to get you into the festive spirt.

The iconic Leeds Playhouse will be putting on a pair See the city sparkle of heart-warming family Christmas is one of the most favourites, with Charlie and magical times of the year, and the Chocolate Factory and City Centre Festive Fun Leeds is a city that embraces After bumping into Santa, it’s Stickman both available to illumination like no other. festive theatregoers of all now time to explore Leeds So, if you are after a little ages. While City Varieties is festive sparkle Leeds’ has got and uncover all the festive hosting a rock ‘n’ roll pantoawe inspiring locations, with activities underway. This that is guaranteed to get your a little more to offer than just year sees the return of the feet tapping. ever-popular Ice Cube an your standard tangled fairy More classic performances outdoor ice rink in the midlights. dle of Leeds city centre. After come courtesy of Northern Christmas illuminations Ballet’s rendition of The you’ve strapped on your can be found in Roundhay skates and glided around the Nutcracker at The Grand, Park, Leeds’ historic houses rink you can pop into the ski and with a sprinkle of magic, including Temple Newsam themed bar next door for a and Lotherton Hall as well warming sip of something as all over the city centre, so mulled. why not pick a destination and really get into that festive If you’re envious of Santa’s reindeer-eye view of the city spirit by enjoying the light and want to experience flying displays! over Leeds in all its festive Track down Santa and his glory, there are two spectacular rides to fit into your elves Don’t tell the little ones, but Christmas plans for 2022 offering spectacular views of Santa has more than a few Leeds – the Wheel of Light scheduled stops on his caland the Starflyer on Millenendar this year for Leeds. A visit with Santa is a great way nium Square.

There’s also not one but at to get the whole family into least two tipis offering warm the Christmas spirit and the Visit Leeds guide includes all fire pits, mulled wine, and plenty of hot chocolate across of Santa’s itinerary in Leeds the city centre, why not go over the festive period. for an explore with friends Top destinations for Santa this year include the Merrion and family- you can even sort your Christmas shopCentre, who will be hosting ping at the same time! their traditional grotto right With the festive season upon us, the streets and surrounding areas of Leeds are set to come alive for the busiest time of the year.

Christmas is a season that Leeds celebrates like no other city, with spectacular shows, festive food, and drink, decked out historic houses, cosy tipis, ice-skating and so much more!

on the doorstep of all the festive action in the city centre.

There’re also the historic surroundings of Lotherton Hall, where Mrs Claus can be found after a wander through the sparkling woodland walk.

While Abbey House Museum will be saying hello to Father Christmas himself, so wherever you choose, you’re sure to come away with a smile, good cheer and maybe a wrapped gift or two for those kids on the nice list.

Cinderella will be taking to the stage at Leeds very own intimate venue, Carriageworks Theatre.

Feast on festive goodies Leeds has a great reputation as a foodie capital of the north and that only becomes more apparent at Christmas.

There are a wealth of restau-

rants all offering a wide variety of dining and drinking options right across the city, from festive feasts through to street food around a roaring fire.

Christmas markets at Leeds Corn Exchange and Leeds Kirkgate Market are particular highlights, where you can pick up a last-minute present

alongside some delicious, sweet treats or a tasty midshop Christmas dinner.

Reckon you can fit all of that into just the one festive period? Probably not without some of Santa’s time saving magic, but it is definitely worth an attempt....

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DRINKS: SKEGNESS SPIRIT(S)

The Lincolnshire coastline extends for over 50 miles. Throughout Lincolnshire many places attract great interest, with seaside resorts being popular destinations for residents, locals and visitors, alike. Hamlets, villages and towns attract numerous visitors, as well as the city of Lincoln, with its magnificent Castle and Cathedral. Tourism forms a great part of this county’s interest, constantly

Article By Trevor Langley

having visitors, from global origins. Farming plays a very large part of Lincolnshire’s success, too. Numerous businesses developments have now emerged, adding to the county’s success. Skegness is very important and, along with the surrounding area, has thousands of people visiting.

Skegness is located on the east coast and is (world) famous for its Jolly Fisherman and Clocktower. Entertainment and holiday homes are a major attraction for this town and surrounding area. The golden beaches are a very popular draw, throughout every year. Many pubs, eateries and restaurants offer much-needed beverages and foods.

With liquid refreshment in mind, I located the Skegness Distillery.

The Skegness Distillery offers so much – as I discovered. The productions include London Dry Gin, Raspberry Gin, Passionfruit & Mango Gin, plus Rhubarb Gin and Liquorice Gin, amongst several others. With personal preferences to the fore, these productions certainly do not disappoint, in any way. The flavours and textures are appreciated and recognised by many connoisseurs, plus, with Liqueurs, Stonewall Gin and Mrs. Riggall’s, both gin and rum lovers will justifiably enjoy these productions. Cu29 is a further, ex-

tremely popular gin, available from the Spirit of Skegness Company.

At the Spirit of Skegness Distillery visitors can enjoy, and take part in, Gin and Rum School Experiences, plus Tasting Parties, Distillery Tours and Sampling Sessions. A Private Bar and Event Space, is also available.

Some of the exquisite productions include Blackberry Gin Liqueur, Liquorice Gin and Skegness Chocolate Rum. Gift packs and gift

vouchers are available, too – now, there’s a thought! These are just some of the beverages and facilities available from the Skegness Distillery. Their excellent website has all details and availability.

Skegness Distillery, 36 Prince George Street, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 2BD. Tel: 07742 012740 E-mail: admin@spiritofskegness.co.uk www.spiritofskegness.co.uk

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Drinks: Make Mine A Crabbie Alcoholic beverages, from beers, lagers, ciders, through wines and liqueurs, to spirits and more, have been consumed and enjoyed for many, many centuries. The whisky industry is doing very well, indeed. With the UK and export markets increasing, whisky, most definitely, can be said to have ‘stood the test of time’.

As societies become more affluent, then the requirement for whisky grows, being something of a status symbol, clearly giving signs of a higher lifestyle. For example, it is reported that in China, people are enjoying Scotch whisky in western-style bars and it has become a growing trend. My quest, on this occasion, was to locate whiskies which I find interesting and satisfying.

John Crabbie & Co have been purveyors of wine and spirits since 1801. John Crabbie and his family owned a lot of property in Leith, north of Edinburgh and exported around the globe.

Providing fine, single malt

Scotch whiskies was John Crabbie’s objective in life.

Several whiskies are within the Crabbie range. Yardhead Single Malt is so named because of the original site in Leith. The Crabbie 12 year old Speyside Single Malt whisky is hugely popular and produced utilising bourbon casks, to great advantage.

The bouquet is most enticing and the smooth, wellbalanced mouthfeel continues the delight, with an excellent body that has superb depth and a richness that follows for the palate’s pleasure, having fruity and vanilla overtones.

Other Crabbie whiskies include 8 year old and 12 year old productions, plus 15 year old Highland Single Malt.

40 year old Speyside Single Malt (44.5% vol) and 50

year old Islay Single Malt (46.5% vol) are destined for the ‘top table’, most certainly, I suspect. Stockists of Crabbie whiskies include supermarkets, independent wines/drinks retailers, bars, restaurants and they can be purchased online, too.

It is always exciting and very satisfying to find whiskies that are fresh and have interest, with a good nose and flavour. The flavour and finish, on the palate, having great importance – then duly noted and remembered!

John Crabbie & Co, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 5QN. Tel: 44 (0) 151 480 8800 www.crabbiewhisky.com

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Festive, family fun at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair!

Visit Santa’s Grotto, meet the reindeer and see fantastic fireworks at the Winter Fair!

The Royal Welsh Winter Fair is just around the corner, and there is plenty taking place for families to look forward to. The annual event takes place later this month, on 28th and 29th November.

Santa Claus has kindly agreed to take time out from his busy winter schedule to meet the children attending the event, and this year he is bringing some extra special reindeer guests! The Santa’s Grotto will be located in the Clock Tower, Tŷ Ynys Môn, near the bandstand, on both days of the event. Santa Claus will be available to meet at the following times: • Monday 28th November: 2:30pm - 3:30pm / 4:30pm - 6:00pm • Tuesday 29th November: 11:00am - 12:30pm / 2:00pm – 3:30pm This year, we are very lucky to also welcome two of Santa’s superb reindeer to the Winter Fair! The

reindeer are flying in from the North Pole on Monday 28th November and attendees will be able to meet and greet them from 2.00pm – 6.00pm in the Forestry Small Action Ring (next to the bandstand). Please note, the reindeer are visiting on Monday afternoon only.

Another main attraction this year is our fantastic fireworks display. The spectacular fireworks are a firm favourite with Winter Fair guests, adults and children alike. You can catch the display at 7:00pm on Monday 28th November.

As usual, the Food Hall will be packed full of delicious delights from traders across Wales and beyond for you and your little ones to sample and enjoy. And maybe even a festive tipple for the grown-ups!

School and college trips are welcomed and encouraged to visit the Winter Fair.

Sharing knowledge about the agricultural industry and how food is produced is vital and an initiative the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society continues to

support. If your school or college is interested in coming to the Winter Fair, then please contact us to organise your trip. Email requests@ rwas.co.uk or call the office on 01982 553683.

So, why not add a bit of magic to your experience of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair and come along to meet Santa Claus and his reindeer, watch the fantastic firework display and enjoy some tasty treats!?

For more information about the Winter Fair or to buy tickets visit the RWAS website.

Santa Claus will be visiting the Royal Welsh Winter Fair on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th November.

This year Santa is bringing some very special guests along! Meet and greet the reindeer on Monday afternoon (28th November) from 2pm-6pm.

A firm favourite of children and adults alike, the magical firework display takes place at 7pm on the first day of the Winter Fair (28th November)

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Hay Festival Winter Weekend The Hay Festival Winter Weekend promises to be a fun-filled festive couple of days for all the family. Come to Hay for sparkling stories, Christmas inspiration and fine shopping.

Taking place from the Thursday 24th through to Sunday 27th November 2022.

Hay Festival Winter Weekend is an annual mini-festival taking place just before Christmas in Hay-on-Wye. Events take place at venues around the town, and include a wide range of author events, music, comedy and performance, as well as workshops for kids and Christmas shopping.

The Winter Weekend, which has been running for nearly twenty years, is a smaller version of the main festival with events taking place in venues in the town.

Hay Festival Winter Weekend

Hay Festival Winter Weekend The town’s atmospheric market square is a focus of festivities: On the Friday, the Hay Christmas lights are turned on, transforming the town into a winter wonderland brimming with festive cheer, accompanied by carol singing, readings and evening entertainment.

On the Saturday, Hay Food Festival celebrates all that’s good about winter cooking, with over 50 stalls showcasing the very best of local produce, from savoury to sweet.

On the Sunday, Hay Does Vintage transforms the square into a festive outdoor fleamarket with over 50 vintage and retro traders offering a diverse collection of items from clothes, textiles and jewellery, to furniture, collectables, and kitchenalia.

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Chester’s Christmas lights switch ons illuminate the city Friday 18 November – The Town Hall Square Christmas tree will prompt the light up of the entire city. Chester’s Christmas lights will adorn the streets throughout the season bringing festive cheer to the city! There is no official switch on ceremony.

• Dates tbc – The suburb of Hoole will up bring the whole community together with Christmas Lights • November 25 – January 6 – Chester Cathedral will also be lit up by annual Christmas Tree Festival with twinkling trees surrounding the iconic building decorated by local schools and businesses in aid of local charities The CheSTAR (tbc) will hopefully return to the shine upon the grounds of Chester Cathedral – The giant sparkling Christmas star was handcrafted especially for the city and standing 25ft high and wide with almost 19,000 twinkling lights it is quite a site to behold • Friday 2 – Saturday 24 December – The magical Christmas lights will shine

and bring festive cheer in Bolesworth Castle’s as they launch their Christmas at Bolesworth wonderland • • Cheshire Oaks (tbc) While you are visiting the city don’t forget to also enjoy the delicacies and warm welcome in Chester’s best eating and drinking spots and to make the most of the offers and deals they have for you through the Christ-

mas period not to mention the fabulous places to enjoy fabulous cocktails.

Chester has the best restaurants to choose from with lots of child and family friendly options and we highly recommend you do some local Christmas shopping and check out all the festive menus available in the city while you’re out and about enjoying the lights

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Sleeping Beauty Pantomime 2022/23 Martin Dodd for UK Productions in association with the Grand Theatre presents Blackpool’s No.1 Pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

Blackpool Pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, stars Dancing On Ice Champion and Soapstar Hayley Tamaddon as Good Fairy, Comic and Britain’s Got Talent Finalist Steve Royle as Silly Billy, and dame extraordinaire Philip Meeks as the one and only Nursie!

Additionally joining Hayley, Steve, and Philip are Daniel Taylor (award-winning actor, producer, and director) as King, Josh Belward (Skin Deep and Power of Love, UK Tour) as Prince, Christina Meehan (The Revellers Society (UK Tour), Sleeping Beauty (Mansfield), Around The World In 80’s Days (Blackpool Grand)) as the Bad Fairy Carabosse, and last but definitely not least, Maisie Sellwood making her UK professional debut as the beautiful Princess Rose.

A beautiful Princess pricks her finger on a curse? The Princess can only be awoken by spindle wheel which has been cursed by the true love’s kiss. Will she find her true love evil Carabosse at her 18th Birthday party. and live happily ever after?

Can the Good Fairy’s magical spell break the The much-loved local lady Hayley Tamad-

don wowed TV audiences when she took the top spot in ITV’s smash-hit reality skating show Dancing on Ice alongside childhood friend Dan Whiston. The multi-talented performer also scooped the top prize in Celebrity Stars in Your Eyes and has starred in countless West End productions from Chicago to Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and top TV dramas from Coronation St and Emmerdale to Shameless.

Hayley is overjoyed to be now joining Britain’s Got Talent finalist and family favourite Steve Royle in Sleeping Beauty’s enchanting tale of magic, mayhem and misunderstandings live on the Grand Theatre’s famous stage.

Blackpool Pantomime, Sleeping Beauty is laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, musical hits, fabulous costumes and exciting special effects to keep audiences both

young and old entertained!

Don’t be caught napping… Don’t miss Blackpool Pantomime Sleeping Beauty – the greatest magical pantomime ever told.

Please do support our Magic and Sparkle campaign giving access to pantomime to children and families that have never experienced the magic or have financial barriers in place making it beyond their means. To learn how you can help visit our Magic and Sparkle page or call the box office on 01253 290190.

Blackpool pantomime, Sleeping Beauty is presented by Martin Dodd for UK Productions Ltd who have been presenting the Christmas pantomime at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre since 1996. Other productions presented at The Grand by UK Productions include Legally Blonde the Musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast The Musical, The Kite Runner, 42nd Street, South Pacific, Carousel, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Anything Goes.

Access Performances Audio-Described/Signed Performances | Sat 10 and Sat 17 December, 2pm and Thu 29 December, 7pm Relaxed Performance* | Wed 28 December, 7pm | All seats £17 A Relaxed Environment performance is perfect for anyone who benefits from a more relaxed performance environment, being able to make a noise, leave and return to their seat or access the toilets during the performance. This would include customers with dementia, anxiety, Tourette’s, bowel and bladder conditions, an autism spectrum condition, or a learning disability. There will be a few technical adjustments made to the performance. They are not suitable for customers with sensory sensitivities.

All seats £17

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Windermere Lake Cruises offers a wonderfully scenic way to enjoy Christmas in Cumbria.

You can enjoy a cruise in a fully heated launch at anytime over the festive period apart from Christmas Day itself. So, why not take in the snow dusted winter scenery while you cruise England’s longest lake and enjoy a warming drink on board.

It’s also a great way to leave the car behind if you are planning to visit Windermere’s Christmas Celebration this year (December 10 – 11). If you take a sailing to Bowness Pier from Lakeside or Ambleside a free shuttlebus service will be in operation courtesy of Mountain Goat to take you to the “Winter Wonderland” in Windermere.

Jennifer Cormack, Windermere Lake Cruises’ Sales & Marketing Director, says, “We understand how useful we can be to help people get around the Windermere area, not just visitors, but residents too. Whether you’re coming from the north end of the lake or the south, we can get you right into the heart of the Christmas Celebration by boat and then by ‘goat’!”

And in the run up to the festive season there are two special cruises on Saturday, November 19 for the Ambleside Christmas Lights Switch On, organised by the switch on event team.

The morning and afternoon cruises both depart from Waterhead Pier in Ambleside to search for Father Christmas in the morning

mists on the lake. There will be entertainment onboard for the children and Father Christmas will give each of them a small present during the cruise.

Elsewhere, there’ll be more to spot than incredible vintage vehicles at the Lakeland Motor Museum this Christmas!

Twelve of Santa’s little elves will make their way to the Backbarrow attraction to help bring some festive fun to visitors of all ages.

Youngsters, parents and grandparents are encouraged to see if they’ve got what it takes to solve the clues and track them down.

The mischievous little elves will be hiding amongst the hundreds of classic cars, motorbikes, bicycles and other exhibits at the muse-

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um.

The special Elf Trail runs every day until Christmas Eve and is open to kids of all ages!

It’s just one of many festive treats in store at the museum

over the holiday period. Visitors can also enjoy browsing a huge range of gifts that are available in the museum shop including jewellery, games, puzzles and memorabilia. There’s also the popular

Boxing Day gathering open to all interesting classic, vintage, retro and modern cars, motorcycles and trucks.

It runs from 10am to 2pm on Boxing Day.

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Planning For Your W As couples plan for their big day for 2023 now is the time to get into shape. and start organizing for what will be the best day of their lives. For the bride, you can’t start earlier enough.

You want to arrive at the alter looking vibrant with health and beauty, so what better excuse do you need to invest a little bit of time, money and energy in getting you there? Whether it is planning a few pampering trips to some spas or joining a gym, not only can you trim your figure, you’ll do wonders for your complexion and overall energy levels.

Shopping for the wedding dress is probably the part of the wedding plans you are looking forward to more than any other aspect.

The majority of bridal

gowns bought in the UK are classed as ‘off the peg.’ You try on a sample of the gown in the shop; they take your measurements and order the most appropriate size for you which is then delivered to the shop for alterations to fit your exact shape and size.

Don’t panic, there may be a huge amount to do but here is a handy checklist with some of the main points to take into consideration in the build up to the big day!

12 months before…

Choose a wedding date Decide on a budget Make a list of guests and decide on numbers Book your Church/ Ceremony location.

Book your reception

venue/caterers.

Choose your Bridesmaids, Ushers and Best Man. Start looking for The Dress!.

Choose and book your photographer 8 months before…

Choose bridesmaids’ dresses Book entertainment Choose and order your wedding cake Make an appointment with your chosen florist 6 months before...

Give Notice of Marriage Purchase or hire menswear Select your wedding rings 4 months before...

Send out your wedding invitations Arrange fittings for the wedding dress and menswear 1 month before...

Arrange a final fitting of

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Wedding Day 2023

your wedding dress your bridesmaids, ushers and best man. Enjoy your hen and stag parties!

2 weeks before...

Confirm the date and time of the rehearsal to the

relevant people 1 week before...

Arrange to collect your wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses and the menswear Have all your beauty

treatments Drink plenty of water and have some early nights Relax and enjoy this time – all your hard work is about to come to completion!

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Can you help the next generation of medical professionals?

UCLan is looking for volunteer patients to help train medical, physician associate and vision sciences’ students Are you able to spare some time to help the medical professionals of the future?

The University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) School of Medicine is looking for volunteer patients from across the North West to assist with the training of medical, physician associate and vision sciences’ students.

The volunteer patients would need to attend one of UCLan’s three campuses in Preston, Burnley or Whitehaven and allow the students to record their medical histories and, in some cases, undertake physical examinations.

Volunteers, who can commit to as many or as few sessions as they like throughout the academic year, are required to help improve the students’ communication and examination skills.

The School is looking for people from a variety of ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to reflect the patients they will be treating while on placements in the region’s

hospitals and opticians.

To ensure the students carry out authentic assessments, the volunteers need to be willing to allow hands-on examinations. It is also helpful if volunteers have a range of medical conditions to allow students to gain insight and knowledge but it is not essential.

Professor Cathy Jackson, Executive Dean of UCLan’s Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, said: “At UCLan, we’re training the next generation of medical professionals and we want to ensure they have excellent communication, patient care and decision-making skills.

“Research shows more than 80 percent of the diagnosis procedure is based on listening to the patient so it’s crucial our students can combine their classroom-based theory and knowledge with the hands-on opportunities.

“By working with real-life volunteers the students learn to listen to their patients’ personal experiences of

health care and ask the right questions to understand their problems.

“In addition, they also have responsive bodies which are thoroughly examined away from pressured clinical environments and those volunteers can provide feedback directly to the students on their performance and behaviours.”

Once registered as a volunteer patient, invites will be sent for specific teaching sessions or assessments every month but most sessions only require a handful of volunteers.

Bill Dooley, from Burnley, is one of the current volunteers.

He said: “I became a volunteer patient because I wanted to give something back to the National Health Service. Being 74 I’ve used the National Health Service for many years, and I have every confidence in it, so I decided this was an ideal way to give something back.

“What I enjoy about being a volunteer patient is a feeling

Health-related courses receive national accreditation Two University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) health-related courses have received official accreditation from a national body.

UCLan’s MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship and MSc Advanced Clinical Practice have been awarded programme accreditation from Health Education England’s (HEE) Centre for Advancing Practice.

It means all MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship and MSc Advanced Clinical Practice students from the September 2019 intake onwards are eligible for recognition on the HEE Centre for Advancing Practice Directory.

This will enable individuals to evidence they have been successfully recognised by HEE as having completed an accredited advanced practice

programme.

Robin Richardson, Executive Dean for the Faculty of Allied Health and Wellbeing, said: “This is fantastic news for students on our MSc Advanced Clinical Practice courses. The courses are well established and highly thought of across the Lancashire and South Cumbria region.

“This accreditation gives national credence to the hard work and achievements of Lynne Harrison, Allan Gardner and the rest of the advanced practice team. I am extremely proud of them and this accreditation.”

The student cohort has representation from a wide range of practitioners working within multi-professional teams and across a variety of healthcare settings. The subject encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice,

leadership, management, education and research, with demonstration of core capabilities and area specific clinical competence. Advanced clinical practice embodies the ability to manage clinical care in partnership with individuals, families and carers.

UCLan’s courses had to meet strict HEE’s standards set out by the Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England and the Standards for Education and Training.

of self-satisfaction, that I’m actually doing some good, helping the National Health Service and helping young people develop their careers.

I’ve also learned a lot about medicine and understood a lot more about the human body.”

Chris Smith, from Penwortham, has been a volunteer patient since 2019.

He commented: “It is very satisfying for me to help in the development of the students’ progression in their chosen career.”

Professor Jackson added: “Volunteering has many positive benefits for our students but also for the volunteers themselves. Our current volunteers regularly tell us that they feel they are contributing to the future of health care and are giving back to the NHS.” If you are interested in becoming a patient volunteer, please email: MedVolunteerPatient@uclan.ac.uk

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University seeks missing alumni UCLan wants to reconnect with lost alumni ahead of celebratory event The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is on a mission to find and reconnect with its 200,000 alumni ahead of a celebratory event next year.

If you, or someone you know, studied at Harris College, Preston Polytechnic, Lancashire Polytechnic or UCLan then the University wants to hear from you.

The University’s Alumni Team is looking for more graduates to come forward to share their memories of their time studying and living in Preston.

Maggie Wild, UCLan’s Head of Fundraising and Alumni, said: “Our alumni community of more than 200,000 graduates is a huge part of our long and celebrated history and we want to reconnect with as many as possible.

“We want to hear from those who graduated from Harris College in the 1950s

and 60s, those who studied at the polytechnics during the 70s to early 90s, those who have graduated with a UCLan qualification over the past 30 years right up to those who took the graduation stage of the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre in summer.

“We know thousands of alumni made enduring friendships and met their lifelong partners while we have also welcomed many generations of families through the doors. We want more people to get in touch so they can reminisce about those happy years and share their photos and memories.”

The University hosts annual Harris alumni reunion events and is looking to start similar events for more groups of alumni, in addition to planning a large reunion event for all former graduates.

Husband and wife Neil and

Rita Clarkson are regular attendees at Harris alumni reunion events. Neil started at the Harris in the late 1950s and studied engineering at various levels until he completed his HND in 1969.

He said: “I wouldn’t have got the job I had if it wasn’t for the Harris. I won Apprentice of the Year when I was studying the Ordinary National Certificate and it made a big difference and provided me with opportunities. I also wouldn’t have got to university and have been in the position to study a masters if I didn’t have that foundation.

“During my time in the early days at the Harris, we used to get every Wednesday afternoon off to do what we want. I used to play for the football team and one of the Preston North End players used to come and coach us. It was brilliant.

The Harris Alumni reun-

ions are wonderful. I enjoy meeting friends and hearing stories from other Harris members.”

Rita studied on a secretarial course at the Harris Commercial School in the late 50s/early 60s after she finished grammar school.

She initially studied during the day and when she started work, she continued to study at evening class.

She commented: “It was

a privilege to study at the Harris. Whatever job I applied for after that I always got and that was due to the education. The Harris also allowed me to work and study at the same time so I could earn a wage. I remember learning to type to the Air Force March. I thoroughly enjoy the reunions and meeting old friends as well as new people.”

All UCLan graduates

can access lifetime careers advice, get free business support, use the on-campus Library and access gym facilities at reduced prices.

To get in touch with UCLan’s Alumni Team, email alumninetwork@ uclan.ac.uk, visit www. uclan.ac.uk/reconnect or use #UCLanAlumni on social media.

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If you are looking to add value to your house, why not try out some home improvement upgrades?

Here are two home improvement upgrades that add value…

It can be super exciting to embark on home improvement projects, but it’s even better when the upgrades you opt for add

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value to your home. It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that some improvements might be worthwhile to you personally, they may not increase the value of the house to others. In this article, we’ll sum up our top five ways to add value to your home through improvements which you — and future buyers — will benefit

from. Here are the top home improvement upgrades that add value…

1. Add insulation In addition to increasing the value of your home, installing energy-saving insulation will also reduce your energy bills as well as ensure you’re minimising your carbon footprint. If you opt to insulate your loft or basement, this is a job that you can easily do yourself with a little bit of time and patience, but if you’re insulating your walls then we recommend you hire a professional to do it right. Another method of insulation is double glazing — double glaze your windows to further lock in warmth and add value to your home.

2. Upgrade your heating system Next on our list of home improvement upgrades that add value is to upgrade your heating system.

TO ADVERTISE HERE PLEASE CALL OUR FRIENDY STAFF ON 0115 6972677

Adding or upgrading your heating system is a failsafe way to add value to your home. You can do this with a few options, such as replacing windows (or add double glazing if possible, as mentioned in tip #1), seal any drafts around doors and windows or replace a boiler. If your existing boiler is due an upgrade and has passed the point of repair, then it’s a worthwhile investment to get a new boiler installed in your home.

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KOMPANY PLEASED WITH RESILIENCE IN ROTHERHAM WIN Clarets boss proud of side’s character in second consecutive comeback victory Vincent Kompany was delighted with the character shown by his side to fight back and win 3-2 against Rotherham United at Turf Moor on Wednesday night.

The Clarets made it 17 games unbeaten, and four victories in a row, having twice come from behind before Halil Dervişoğlu snatched a winner in the 100th minute.

Kompany spoke to the media after the game, discussing his side’s resilience, their ability to keep going in tough moments, and Clarets fans getting their reward for sticking with the team throughout.

Kompany on the win: “The important thing is that we kept just doing what we do, and we were really unlucky not to score more, but we were lucky that the goals came in the last minutes.

“We know it could’ve

been a little bit earlier in the game if we’re honest, but we also know we’ve got to stay calm and keep doing it in front of goal. https://media-cdn. incrowdsports.com/ a56b2e6c-6b35-4382be83-34764d1eff6e.jpg “It shows a bit of maturity in a group that’s coming together, and you’ve got to be able to look each other in the eyes during these moments, pull together, and stay calm.

“It all comes with experience, and once you’ve done it, there’s no reason to doubt you can do it again the next time you have to. It’s another good lesson for us.”

can run for 95 [minutes] and beyond, and it hapKompany on the importance of his squad: pens with experience.

“It’s crucial to have a “You need the depth bench you can rely on, in quality otherwise you you can trust, and your make substitutions, and bench one day is not althey don’t change the game. It’s a team that’s fit, ways the bench on another day so having a squad

of players you can rely on is vital, especially with such a busy schedule.

“Like any other manager, I tell them it’s possible, but when you experience it for real then you start believing it. This experience is massive for us going forward.

Kompany on learning: “It’s good for us to experience moments like this and for us to keep the belief. We’ve been leading most games and we were unlucky today not to score earlier, but this is football, and you don’t achieve anything without experiencing stuff like this.

“Hopefully it might happen again later in the season when we can remember these moments to help us keep going."

Kompany on a crazy league: “It’s the Championship, so every game is difficult.

There’s no game you can be expected to win and

our toughest games [so far] have probably been against teams who are nearer the bottom of the league now.

“Our most comfortable games have probably been against teams who are a little bit higher up, but that’s just the nature of the league.

“It’s the case for us, and the case for all other teams as well, I’m sure.”

Kompany on rewarding the fantastic Turf Moor support: “It’s why you stay until the end of every single game. Football matches are played until the last second, and you get to experience times like tonight maybe once every 50 games.

“This time, for us, it was twice in one week, but it shows you get to experience moments if you hang in there and support the team. We’ve just got to keep the belief, and this can happen.”

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Support Jimmy and Mandy in aid of All For Rio

Accrington Stanley's Jimmy Bell and his partner, Mandy, are hosting their annual charity fashion event on Saturday 12th November 2022 in aid of #AllForRio, with auction prize donations welcome.

Held in partnership with Longridge-based Boho Kisses, the event will take place at Tiggis restaurant in Clayton-le-Dale and will consist of an afternoon of music, fabulous food, shopping, fashion and fizz.

Rio, who is the five-year-old son of former defender Tommy Spurr, was diagnosed with a rare type of kidney cancer in April and has since been having chemotherapy at Manchester Children's Hospital.

All monies raised will help to fund further

new treatments or clinical trials available overseas, giving Rio every possible fighting chance of surviving this cruel disease.

Jimmy said: "Each year me and my partner, Mandy (Boho Kisses), pick a worthwhile charity and any support for young Rio will be greatly appreciated.

"Thank you all for your support in advance."

Tickets for the event are priced at £24.95, including a glass of fizz on arrival and a two-course lunch.

You can purchase yours from Boho Kisses or to reserve tickets, please contact 07950 383789.

Daniels Nominated For Moment of the Season Award

Jake Daniels has been nominated in the Moment of the Season category at this Monday’s Armstrong Projects North West Football Awards.

The 17-year-old striker released a statement and filmed an interview back in May to tell his story and let people know that he is gay, becoming the first professional in the UK game to do so in more than 30 years.

Inspiring and encouraging others to be themselves, Jake’s announcement was a ground-breaking moment that has helped to accelerate change in

football and tackle any form of discrimination and prejudice.

To vote for Jake to win the Moment of the Season, from a shortlist of six, please head over to Twitter and post the hashtag #ARMSTRONGMOMENTG

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World Record Attempt at Stadium Carol Concert Wanderers join forces with Council and University to stage free stadium show

Be part of history as Bolton Wanderers, Bolton Council and the University of Bolton attempt to break a Guinness World Record!

On the evening of Monday 12th December, Bolton Wanderers, in partnership with Bolton Council and the University of Bolton, are hoping to break the current Guinness World Record for the largest group of carol singers – and we want you to be part of it!

Taking place at the University of Bolton Stadium, the event will aim to surpass the current record - set in 2014

by Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir in Nigeria of 25,272 singers – by welcoming Bolton Wanderers' supporters, Bolton residents and members of the wider region alike into the stands to make

their voices heard, and to potentially make history.

With doors open from 5.30pm, the concert will take place between 7pm and 8pm and will be led by Club Chaplain Phil Mason, with the full Bolton Wanderers' playing squad in attendance.

Entry will be free of charge but in order to help verify numbers, concert goers must register via the club’s e-ticketing site here.

With many facing a tough winter ahead, there will be bucket collections on the night for charities working on the ground in Bolton to support those most in need.

Funds raised at The Big Bolton Carol Concert will be split equally between Bolton Wanderers in the Community, Urban Outreach Bolton, Backup North West,

Age UK Bolton and 1point North West.

Sharon Brittan, Chairman of Bolton Wanderers, said: “Christmas is a special time when families and friends come together - and here at Bolton Wanderers the annual Christmas Carol Service provides a timely opportunity for the Bolton Family to gather as one and celebrate the true meaning of the festive period through the power of music and song. ​​​​ “With the economic climate increasing worries for many families in our town, we wanted to do something a little bit different this year which will raise much-needed funds for those who need it the most in our community. ​ “We hope the exciting prospect of breaking a

Guinness World Record will inspire both Wanderers' supporters and members of our wider community to join us for what is set to be a memorable and magical evening. We will also be announcing a range of special guests over the coming weeks who will join us for this very special community carol concert. ​​ ​​ “Please help us spread the word and make sure our whole town knows about The Big Bolton Carol Concert!”

Sue Johnson, Chief Executive of Bolton Council said: “The Big Bolton Carol Concert is a great way of bringing the community together to hopefully set a new world record, while also supporting local causes.

“Bolton is proud of its

support for local charities, and I hope many of you will join us for the concert and to think of others at this time of the year.”

Professor George Holmes, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton, said: “The University of Bolton Group is delighted to be part of this amazing event, especially being jointly hosted with our key strategic partners BWFC and BMBC, in the University of Bolton Stadium. We hope that our 12,000-plus students and over 2000 staff will join in this enjoyable charity event.

“The University, which is now recognised as one of the top 40 universities in the UK by the latest Guardian League Tables, is always striving to put this great

town of Bolton on the map and a world record-breaking attempt, which is also for a good cause like this, is a great way to celebrate the end of a very successful autumn term where the university itself has enjoyed record levels of student admissions. Let’s sing loud about students and their ongoing success.”

Be part of something amazing and help us break a Guinness World Record this Christmas!

Join The Big Bolton Carol Concert and book your FREE tickets here.

Bolton Wanderers would like to extend its thanks to Ticketmaster, who have kindly agreed to waive their administration fees for this event.

Each Edition of the Lancashire Now has an estimated readership of 50,000 from print and online. Published by Wilcop Media Ltd, 92L Rolleston Dr, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 7JP.