Providing • bridge maintenance • paths


www.lancashire.gov.uk Green future plans County plan to reduce threat posed by climate change


By Tony Hill, Headteacher, Walton-ie-Dale High School, Bamber Bridge.


HAVE you seen those programmes on TV where par­ ents seek advice on how to handle their


tearaway children? At Walton-le-Dale High


School we turned this on its head by getting other students to show youngsters how to behave positively. We believe that one of


the most powerfid ways of getting youngsters to think about


their


behaviour is to use other students who set a good example. Older students act as


"peer mentors" - positive role models who discuss problems, behaviour and relationships with other students. We train mentors to


help resolve difficult situations and to help fellow students build positive relationships. Happy students are also successful students. Mentors also help


younger students to organise their work and encourage them to work hard. The reality is that most


young people are delightful, thoughtful and a pleasime to be with. However, we need to


remember that children are still learning. Young people today


have tremendous press­ ures and influences placed upon them from an early age. They are influenced not


only by their parents, but also by their peers and, perhaps most import­ antly, by the media. Young people often


copy the behaviour they see on television prog­ rammes such as soaps. They also see the way


footballers and pop stars are portrayed in the media. Parents and schools


have to work together to ensure that youngsters learn how to act in a responsible way. I f students are to


mature they need to understand why then actions are wrong, what they need to do to put things right and avoid the same mistakes in the future. We believe this is what


our community and our parents want.


All: letters must i include a name i and address.: - : Letters may be edited. We • : cannot provide individual . answers


L A N C A S H I R E people are being urged to work together to tackle long term environ­ mental threats in the newly launched Lancashire Envir­


onmental Strategy. The strategy will focus


policy and planning over the next five years on addressing climate change, health, sustainable reso­ urce management and the landscape.. County Councillor Hazel


Harding, leader of


Lancashire County Council, said: "Environmental sust­ ainability is all about securing a better quality of life now and for future generations. "If unchecked global


climate changes could increase the risk of flooding in western, low-lying parts of the county. - "A major contributor to climate change is the growing number of cars on our roads and the strategy aims to keep car usage growth below 5 per cent in Lancashire until 2010.


"Lancashire has a se iy


good reputation for its environmental work but there is still much more to be done if we are to continue to work towards environ­ mental sustainability." Other strategy targets


include reclaiming 600 hectares of derelict land by 2010 and increasing Lancashire's woodland areas by 15 per cent. Jonathon


Porritt,


chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, said: "There is a sense of growing urgency about environmental risks


and the UK is one of the only countries in the world to have a systematic approach to involving I t^ government in promoting sustainable development. "Lancashire has a good


bedrock of environmental reform fiom which it can launch this strategy.” The development and


implementation of the new strategy will be overseen by the Lancashire Environ­ mental Partnership, compr­ ising 45 members including local authorities, health bodies and environmental


3 ^ ^


•ISSUE: From left, green-minded Anne Selby, Jonathon | Porritt and council leader Hazel Harding at the launch.


Beacon buggies scale new heights


C OU N T R Y S ID E lovers can take an alternative look at L a n c a s h i r e ' s


conntiyside. New all-terrain buggies


and trails have been launched at Beacon Fell Country Park. Lancashire Countryside


Service is committed to improving access to the countryside for all. As part of this


programme, two new TVamper buggies have been purchased for use at the country park, ..near, Longridge. The new battery- powered TVamper vehicles


are available for members of the pubhc to borrow and use on three low-mobility trails.


Each of the new trails


offers a unique experience and different views of the surrounding area. County Councillor


Marcus Johrrstone, Cabinet member for Plarming and Environment explained: "Whether people are using a TVamper buggy or not, these new trails allow everyone to experience Beacon Fell's natural beauty. "We are very pleased


that bookings are already coirring in for the buggies. "Many people have


NEWS IN


Call for moor help


V O L U N T E E R rangers are wanted for the South Pennine Moors - the dramatic landscape made famous by the


Brontes. Lancashire Country­


•DENISE Baker from Access Lancashire tries out a Tramper.


already expressed their happiness at being able to access these new areas of


Beacon Fell." Tb book a session on one of the easy-to-use TVampers


contact the Visitor Centre 640557.


Bowland on 01995


side Service requires rangers for Boulsworth, Wddop and Stanbuiy - the largest area of new access land in the South Pennines. Contact 01772 534709


for details. Send your letters to: iVe telling ysi Tsunami


thanks THE people of Lancashire have been most generous in supporting our work over the years - and again we must


ask for their help. In the aftermath of the


tsunami disaster we had to call a temporary halt to clothing donations, but now we are extremely low on stock. We also require dried


and tinned food of a l l , types, especially rice and pasta. Since January we have


dispatched an average of two


trucks and


containers per week. These have beqe loaded with every conceivable item necessary for the victims of disaster and prolonged poverty. Since we began our


work 14 years ago we have distributed aid to over 35 countries. Poor nations such as Georgia,' Russia,


Belarus,


Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Mexico are just some of our recent destinations. This year alone we


have been able to assist more people than ever before, and with your continued support we can help many more. Please sort out your


wardrobes and cupboards and bless the less fortunate of this world. Donations can be taken


to one of charity shops or to our headquarters at Longton near Preston. Please call 01772 611000 for the nearest drop off point.


REV BERNARD COCKER


International Aid Trust


■INTERNATIONAL Aid Trust was "adopted" by councillors and staff at the county council in the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami cata­ strophe. The authority made outlets available for charitable giving by members of the public across Lancashire Editor.


Holiday memories


YOUR feature on the Langdale Valley brought back mem­ ories of


family


holidays every Sept­ ember during the


1940s and 50s. A week at Elterwater


staying with Miss Bowness (Aga cooker and paraffin lamps - no electricity). From Elterwater there


were walks north, east and west. Maybe twice a


day the cry would go up car coming!Ill


A favourite walk was


over to Little Langdale, up Wrynose Pass to the Three Shires Stone at the top, where you could stand with one foot in Westmorland, one foot in Cumberland and your arms in Lancashire. In the 40s and 50s you


might just meet another person or small group on the fells and mountains now and then. I feel we were lucky to experience the solitude as an extra bonus to the gem which we were proud to have (in part) as Lancashire. Magic!


D P jR A T T Accrington


■THE boundary chan­ ged in 1974 and Three Shires Stone is no longer on the Lancashire border. It now lies entirely within Cumbria - Editor.


Playing the right notes


I noticed in your June edition that the Lancashire Sin­ fonietta is giving two concerts, one in Fleetwood and also


Oswaldtwistle. I was struck by the


reasonable ticket prices. I was wondering


The Editor, Vision, Corporate Communications Group, County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ. nell.giaham@css.lancscc.gov.uk


whether the orchestra was coming to Preston or the local - area this summer, as the Halle and RLPO concerts are highly priced.


FWRIGHTON Walton-le-Dale


■THE next Sinfonietta concert takes place at Preston's Minster Church, formerly St John's, on Friday 23 September. Tbe following evening


the Sinfonietta visits The Platform at Morecambe. Tickets cost £7.50


(£4.50 for concessions). The box office number for both events is 01772 531794 - Editor.


Firestarter


HAVE we become a society that is afraid


of its children? We will be the first in


history if we have. I write after viewing


four children lighting a fire against a garden wall as me and a Iriend sat in the neighbouring garden. I'd like to say that the


children did not realise they should not act in such a way. Sadly, their furtive


looks in our direction showed they knew it was wrong - but they clearly knew that we would be


. unwilling to stop them. My friend advised


against saying anything to them. He feared-they


would return and target his property. I do not’ know i f that is correct, but the fear he had of the young struck me as shocking. Looking around at the general state of his estate, I suspect he was right. A low-level incident,


maybe. But ' what message did it give to the children? That they can do what they like and no adult will interfere? You might suspect


these children would be about 15 or 16. In fact, they were about 10 and acting as i f they knew there was little,


School bus pass renewal


SUMMER is fast approaching and pupils are rem­ inded to renew their education


travelpass. Re-issue forms have


been sent out to all pupils who currently hold a travelpass. Forms should be returned as soon as


possible. For further details


contact the School Traveline on 01772 534588.


Safety ‘sins’ i f


anything, that adults could do. They may be wiser than we think. Litter is another case


in point. This generation of schoolchildren is educated in environ­ mental awareness yet the approaches to local schools are disfigured by litter. Operation Summer


Nights (Vision, June) aims to tackle these problems but I wonder if the problem is far deeper than we realise i f adults feel constrained from taking such anti-social behaviour to task. Incidentally, I recently


saw a pupil relieving himself - in school hours -


. against a school wall. What do other readers


think?


TCALMAN Rossendale


A ROAD safety tour visited seven venues across the county recently to highlight seven


road safety sins. The tour marked the


launch of the third annual Roadlife mag­ azine featuring Olympic medallist Amir Khan and singer Lemar. For a free copy call


0800 328 1635. Comp winner


THE winner of last month's . Vision competition is Mrs L Read from Wa r 1 0 n , n e a r


Carnforth. Mrs Read wins -first


class rail travel to London • and an overnight hotel stay.


ashiiGonvii^ SCRUTINY


WATCHDOGS at County Hall are friends of the pub­ lic in ensuring that money is spent wisely and that se­ rvices are tailored


to public need. ■nie “overview and


scrutiny” investigations into public services can be requested by YOUR county councillor.


Watchdogs me up


THE new team that will be a pubhc serv­ ices “watchdog’ for the people of Lancashire has been


announced. County Councillor


Matthew Tbmlinson, Overview and Scrutiny management panel chairman, has pledged that the committees will work hard to shape serv­ ices for the benefit of the people of Lancashire. He said: “Our council­


lors look at how things are being done and how services are performing.” County councillors Tim


Ormrod and Graham Davies will look after Health Equalities and Internal Scrutiny respec­ tively. The Best Value remit is held by Conservative county councillor John Shedwick. County Councillor Wendy Dwyer returns to chair the External Committee.


New look for health


MENTAL health services in east, cen­ tral and west Lancashire and on the Fylde coast are to have a mod­


ernising overhaul. Ajoint Health


Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been pro­ posed to scrutinise pro­ posed service changes. Local Implementation


Tbams (LTIb) made up of patients, carers, NHS trusts, local authorities and other groups are already looking at ways to boost the quality of mental health care. LTIb have identified


the need for 24-hour spe­ cialist treatment and a one-stop shop. .


Better bus


GETTING the most out of transport has been a major project of the Best Value Overview and


Scrutiny Committee. The committee has


been eager to inake sure that services are efficient. Its TVansport Review


includes all the county council’s transport servic­ es, including sdiool buses, fleet services Md social services.


Litterbiigs put to sham e


ijvww.lancashire.gov.uk


Providing * information c ent r e s * hot lines


Juiy2005 End in sight for derelict-site eyesores?


HOPES are rising that a solution may be found to the scourge of derehet land and buildings that bhght some


Lancashire neighbourhoods. Talks are now taking place beiween community groups, coun­


cillors and Lancashire County Council’s economic development company to establish bodies to take over such land and develop it for community use. The hope is that Community


Asset Reinvestment TVusts (CAR'I) may be able to negotiate taking


such land and buildings into trust “ownership” and allow development to take place. Covmty Councillor NiM Penney,


Lancashire County Developments chairman, said: “Similar schemes are already domg good work in some parts of the country and initial


talks here have been very positive. “We are very conscious of the fact


that there are building and land in ^most every commimity that could offer real solutions to problems like the lack of affordable housing and the need for community centres and business incubator units.”


Gardeners taste fruit of success


GREEN-fingered enthusiasts are digging the way to a brighter fiiture by transforming wasteland


into a horticultural project. From tiny acorns, mighty oaks grow... and the


aim of Pendle’s GardenAble project is to get adults with learning difficulties to plant seedlings to grow a solid future for themselves in the world of work. Social skills and work discipline are the target


for the new approach that takes services for such adults away from traditional segregated build­ ing-based help. The adults used three Nelson allotment sites


and developed them to grow a range of produce. Jackie Nelson, deputy manager at Colne’s


Ecroyd centre at Lancashire Adult Social Services, said: ‘The project gets people working in partnership—a red social benefit—while ben­ efiting the community. “Members benefit fiom the project as they


develop new skills, become healthier and form new relationships. They are valued as members of the community for their skills and knowledge.”


. . GardenAblo’s latest venture 'is its involvement in the Pendle Floral Heritage project working alongside Pendle Environmental Network. The aim is create a tree and wild flower nursery so that the people in Nelson will be able to enhance their knowledge of wildlife and indigenous


species. Support for adults with learning disabilities in


Lancashire to^y focuses strongly on community- based projects and services to develop employa­ bility and social skills.


•BLOOMING chance in life: Jeffeiy Watson (left), project co-chairman, and community support worker Nigel Balshaw.


Schools fear funding threat


LANCASHIRE’S Schools Forum members are calling on MPs to rethink plans they fear could lead to millions being cut from school budg­ ets. Lancashire’s school budget could


be reduced by as much as £14.7m if new funding proposals ftnm the Department for Education and


Skills (DfES) are accepted. The DfES is currently consulting


on new school funding arrange­ ments for 2006 which includes the establishment of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). This will effectively establish a national fund­ ing regime for schools, removing local responsibility for the setting of school funding. Lancashire’s ■ Schools’ Forum believes this could mean a reduction


in the overall funding available for schools in Lancashire. John Davies, Forum chairman,


said: ‘"These proposals represent the most'significant and fundamental change to planning and funding for schools since the introduction of Local Management of Schools and Fair Funding. “The principle of local determina­


tion of funding to meet local needs is for us in Lancashire a very impor-


School springs back to life with new owners


A SCHOOL has gained a new lease of life in the ownership of local peo­


ple. The Accrington school was made redun­


dant when a new school was built. It has now been reborn as Spring Hill Commumty


Centre. Indian head massage, crafts and face­


painting marked its official opening. The expectation is that the centre will become a focal point for training, children’s


dubs and youth services. - County Councillor Doreen PoUitt said:


‘People are really benefiting finm the facili­ ties made available through the residents’ assodation. ‘Tt also provides the perfect venue fo r.


meetings and events. Lancashire County Developments Ltd,


the county council’s economic regeneration company, has contributed to the project as part of its work with local communities.


A LITTER-picking scheme run by local volun­ teers has been launched in efforts to tidy up


some of Preston’s Moor Park “grot spots”. The Keep Preston Tidy scheme is run by a group of adults


with learning disabilities based at the Deepdale Centre in partnership with Preston East City Forum.


The group consists of 16 members working alongside


Moor Park ranger, Paul Lampkin, Md community support workers fivm I^cashireAdiJt Social Services.


•NEW owners, new start: Stephen Gill with County Councillor Doreen PoHitt at the opening of Spring Hill Community Centre.


tant one. “We do believe there is a case for


change but, for our pupils’ sake, it must be change for the better.” Lancashire County Council cur­


rently spends £14.7m more than the Schools’ Formula Spending Share (SPSS) calculated by central gov­ ernment. Under the new DSG proposals,


this top-up would be eventually phased out.


Mm


Poll joy for Sean, 21


LANCASHIRE County Council now has the yoimgest county coimciUor in the nation after Sean Serridge was elected in


Whitworth. Sean, aged just 21,


won the l^ e s t majority in Rossendde in the 5 May poll — his first bid for election success. Councillor Serridge,


who works for a Lancashire MP, will rep­ resent the Whitworth division - which also includes half of Bacup. His cotmty council duties will indude places on the Development Control Committee, and an Education and Policy Development role on Overview and Scrutiny. He will also work as a


director on Lancashire County Developments Ltd. His first task, as with all county council- _ lors, will be to tackle neighbourhood issues.


Dramatic changes


ARTS are being signed up to improve young people’s confi­ dence and tackle anti-social behav-


iour. Artists involved 130


young people from nine Lancashire dis­ tricts in a range o f creative activities including drama, graf­ fiti arts and film mak­ ing during recent half- term holidays. Many young people


wanted to know about careers and training in the arts and said the project was stop­ ping them from get­ ting into trouble.


Queen’s honours for three


PUBUC-spirited volunteers in Fleetwood have won royal honours in the 2005 Queen’s Awards for


Volimtary Service. West View Community


Association - one of three voluntary bodies to be so honoured in Lancashire - hopes the award will help with fundraising for future expansion. Other Lancashire win­


ners were Bowland Mountain Rescue Tbam and Burnley’s Brunshaw Action Group. The West View group,


formed entirely of volun­ teers, have opened their own community centre and activities include mother and toddler groups, gardening clubs and a tool club. David Blower, chair­


man, said 10,000 people were expected to use the facilities this year.


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