RISHTON ISSUES - 26th OCTOBER 2010

Cllrs Harry Grayson and Ken Moss have looked into several issues around the village this week and are liaising with Hyndburn Borough Council to get them resolved:

• Butler Street - overgrown alleyway in need of clearing
• Woodside Avenue - house causing damp and rat problems
• George Street - safety issue on unadopted road

Reports of underage drinking and use of mini-motos on the Holt Street MUGA have now been reported to the local police for investigation.  Claims that Hyndburn Borough Council removed some iron fencing along the brook during construction of the MUGA were unfounded although this has been flagged up as a safety concern.

Pro-forma letters to Royal Mail were collected from residents by Ken Moss on 25th October and delivered to Hyndburn MP Graham Jones who has now written to the Post Office regarding the lost post box on James Street.  An article also appeared in The Accrington Observer on 22nd October.

Harry Grayson, Ken Moss and Clare Cleary have also been talking to residents on Shawbrook Close and Station Close regarding the tall conifers which have now grown to a dangerous height.  Letters have been sent out indicating that Lancashire County Council will remove the trees completely and only one objection has been raised so far but residents remain unclear as to the timescale of events and so Harry Grayson has requested further clarification.

Ken Moss has also raised the question of Selective Landlord Licensing in Rishton with Graham Jones.  The MP has campaigned for years for better standards of social housing and selective licensing has just started in selected areas of Hyndburn, although Rishton is not one of them.  Cllr Moss has asked Graham Jones to discuss wider application of the scheme with the Secretary of State.

Finally, local resident Nathan Bibby has reported a disturbing incident on the Rishton Website Facebook page which will also be brought up at the next Rishton Area Council meeting on 9th November:

'I thought this would be a good place to post this to raise awareness and help ensure the safety of the community. Last night (22/10/10) four Asian lads in a silver Vauxhall Astra attempted to get my mum into their car and take her to Blackburn. This happened outside the Post Office bank on High Street and they followed her up George Street to her car where she promptly rung the police. Please be vigilant and don't get lured into conversation with them. Lord only knows what their intentions were. Stay safe!'

Thanks are due to Nathan for bringing that to the attention of the wider community in Rishton.