POST BOX ON JAMES STREET

Work on the renovated houses on James Street appears to have gathered momentum and the stonework beneath the scaffolding looks impressive after sandblasting.  However, residents in the area have been asking about the post box which was removed from the wall four months ago and has never been replaced so Ken Moss telephoned Royal Mail on 30th April to find out.

The Collections Manager at Royal Mail is well aware of the situation and is looking to replace the box with a standalone pillar but there has been considerable difficulty obtaining planning permission from Hyndburn Borough Council.  Cllr Harry Grayson and County Cllr Miles Parkinson are now looking into the matter further and an update will be posted when available.

RISHTON CANVASSING - 24th APRIL 2010

Ken Moss and Councillor Harry Grayson have been delivering the Rishton election address and every household in the village should have had one by Tuesday.  Two residents have asked for promotional boards for their front gardens to try and get Ken Moss elected for which grateful thanks are due!

Several issues have been flagged up by residents and these are now in the process of being addressed:

• Bridge Street - skip of hardcore in back alleyway being emptied by youths
• Spring Street - slates from roofs of derelict houses being used as projectiles
• Spring Street - furniture and fly-tipping at carpark
• Spring Street - noisy neighbours and speeding cars
• Lord Street - plywood and empty paint tins in back alleyway
• Westwood Avenue - cracked and dangerous flags on pavement

A resident on Livesey Street contacted Ken Moss regarding poor landlords and how irresponsible letting is running the area down.  A request has been made to set up a residents' group to raise ongoing issues and see what action can be taken.  Ken Moss will be making a home visit on Monday 26th April to progress the matter.  If anyone is interested in becoming involved or would like to find out more then please get in touch on 01254 882797 or 07789077816.

SUSPICIOUS FIRES ON SPRING STREET

On 20th January 2010, S215 notices were served on the majority of houses between 84 and 100 Spring Street, with a deadline of 19th April to renovate the houses to a reasonable level of presentation and make them secure.  Monday 19th April saw four suspicious fires in a 24 hour period which have now destroyed the roof structure of most of the block and left the houses looking even more of an eyesore.

These houses are mainly owned by companies outside of Rishton but the poor condition they have been left in for several years is having a detrimental effect on residents wishing to sell their own homes.  Ken Moss sent an e-mail to both Hyndburn Council and Lancashire County Council with a request for direct intervention to bring the properties back into use.  This recieved an instant response from County Councillor Miles Parkinson who has now contacted the relevant department for details of their future intentions.

THE CHRISTIE FOUNDATION TRUST COFFEE MORNING AT THE CENTRE

A special coffee morning was held on Friday 16th April in aid of the Christie Foundation Trust, a North West charity organisation concerned with helping cancer sufferers.  Books and bric-a-brac were on sale, as well as a raffle and tombola to raise money for the trust.  The kitchen was open for lunches and several of the ladies who organised the event had delicious home-made cakes on sale, with over £800 of proceeds going to the charity.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the Christie foundation can visit the website:

The Christie Foundation Trust

The Peoples' Centre is open every weekday from 10.30am - 12.00pm for coffee mornings.  A small fee of 50p will get you tea or coffee and biscuits (plus friendly chat) and is open to all residents. 

THE ROEBUCK INN QUIZ NIGHT

Ken Moss will be hosting a new quiz night in Rishton at The Roebuck Inn every Wednesday night from the beginning of May.  Cash prizes will be handed out to first and second place, with bottles of wine as spot prizes during the course of the 50 questions.  There will be a free supper after the quiz, followed by Play Your Cards Right for another cash prize which is open to everyone whether they have played the quiz or not.

There is a Facebook page dedicated to The Roebuck here:

Facebook - The Roebuck Inn

The first quiz is at 9.00pm on Wednesday 5th May.

WALKABOUT - 10th APRIL 2010

Cllr Harry Grayson had a walk around Rishton over the weekend and identified several problems which have now been reported to the Hyndburn Council cleansing departments:

• Chapel Street - furniture dumped in back alleyway
• Burton Street - fly-tipping in back alleyway
• Hermitage Street - 82 has unsightly rubble in front area

Work has now begun in earnest on the Multi-User Games Area (MUGA) on Holt Street recreational ground after a delay in February, although a completion date is not available at the moment. 

PACT MEETING - 7th APRIL 2010

Last night saw the monthly meeting of Police And Communities Together (PACT) at the Copperhouse on Station Road to review crime in the village over the past month.  PCSOs Steve Charnley and Jennifer Hayes chaired the meeting and answered questions from residents regarding ongoing projects. 

Ken Moss asked about cars and motorcycles using Spring Street, Bridge Street and Cliff Street as a rat run and residents were advised to note the registration plate of any vehicle being driven dangerously and report it to Great Harwood Police Station on 01254 353334, remembering to ask for a log number so that warning notices can be served correctly.
 
Councillor Harry Grayson raised concerns over a spate of thefts at allotments around Rishton and a special public meeting with police officers will take place on Tuesday 13th April at 6.30pm in The Centre.  Anyone with any concerns regarding this matter is invited to attend.

There will also be an open-air PACT meeting on Wednesday 14th April at the Cenotaph.  The local police will be open to questions from residents from approximately 6.00pm - 8.00pm.

There is a Rishton PACT website with e-mail addresses for the local officers:

Rishton PACT

The next meeting at the Copperhouse will take place at 6.00pm on 12th May and all residents are invited to attend if they have any concerns they would like to report to the police in confidence.

WALKABOUT - 7th APRIL 2010

Over the past week, several problem areas in the village have been flagged up which Councillor Harry Grayson and Ken Moss have now reported to the relevant departments with accompanying photographs:

• Spring Street - fly-tipping on car park
• Mary Street - 'stray' Blackburn wheelie bin full of rubbish
• High Street - back alleyways behind Use-It Computers and beyond in need of cleansing
• Shuttleworth Street - badly damaged wall to the rear of number 12 in need of attention
• Spring Street - damaged wall from car impact at rear of number 37 in need of attention

A rat problem originating from bins of decayed food waste behind The Mighty Munchbox is now also being looked into.  If anyone has any instances of fly-tipping that they would like reporting, please contact Ken Moss on 07789077816 or Councillor Harry Grayson on 07939156648.  Alternatively, feel free to send an e-mail to rishton@hotmail.co.uk stating the approximate address of the problem.

HSBC CLOSURE

Rishton residents have been asking about what was done to try and save the HSBC branch on High Street and why it ultimately closed.   Cllr Harry Grayson led a campaign to try and prevent the closure, supported by Ken Moss, County Cllr Miles Parkinson and leader of the Hyndburn Labour Party, Graham Jones.

Letters were sent out by the bank in November to inform customers that it would be closed on 12th February 2010 and this prompted Cllr Grayson to write a letter of complaint and start a campaign. Protest leaflets were delivered to every home in Rishton and over 300 were returned, with several coming from businesses and charities within the village.

Local resident Susan Stace also spent several very cold days outside the bank collecting signatures for a lengthy petition. Ken Moss wrote another letter to the bank in early January showing that the residents had petitioned against the move but the reply indicated that the decision by HSBC was final.

An appeal was sent to the Financial Ombudsman Service to try and keep the bank open on the grounds that it was the last remaining finance service in Rishton and not in the best interests of the residents but this was rejected in early February.

WALKABOUT - 30th MARCH 2010

Cllr Harry Grayson and Ken Moss conducted another walkabout on Tuesday, primarily to address several problems in central Rishton:


• Clarke Street - fly-tipping

• Edward Street - fly-tipping and dangerous materials, stolen bollard from bus stop

• Knowles Street - fly-tipping

• Harwood Road - 14 is derelict and boarded up

• St Pauls Road - burned out garage presenting health hazard

• Cliff Street - unadopted alleyway in need of resurfacing, potential options have been listed to residents

• Commercial Street - The Centre has a broken downspout and a gate lintel is causing structural damage


A problem with a let property on Derby Street is now in the process of being resolved.  Ken Moss held a meeting with the tenant and the agent on 31st March and a timescale for full repairs to the house was agreed by the agent.

All problems have now been reported to the relevant departments and advice given to residents where appropriate.  Any residents who have problems they would like to see addressed can contact Ken Moss on 01254 882797 or Cllr Grayson on 01254 889438.