The Whitehall Hotel hosted the prize evening for the Whitehall in Bloom competition last night.  The competition is in its second year and is organised by Whitehall Ward Borough and Town Councillors.  We doubled the number of entries this year with well over 50 entries.  The Town Mayor, Cllr. Eileen Entwistle presented prizes in different categories including; Best Large Garden, Best Yard, Best Hanging Basket etc.  Particularly pleasing was entries from young people.  Ashleigh and St. Joseph’s school were prize winners as was St Barnabas Nursery.

Thanks to local companies who supported the competition, these included; WEC Engineering, DACA, Ladybugs at Four Seasons Garden Centre, Claire’s Creatures, Whitehall Hotel, David Hunter, John Sturgess

Blackburn with Darwen Council is about to consult on new dog control orders. The Council should be publishing these officially in the next few weeks and you have 28 days to comment on them before a final decision is made by the Council’s Executive Board. There will be 3 types of order.

Type 1 – in these areas an official can request dog owners to put their dogs on a lead. You can find out which areas here.Dogs1

Type 2 – in these areas dogs have to be on a lead. You can find out which areas here.Dogs 2

Type 3 – in thewse areas dogs are banned completely. You can find out which areas here.Dogs 3

Let us know what you think

Bus times are changing from 1 September.  The main bus route affecting Whitehall ward is the No.1 Service to Bolton and Blackburn.  You can see the new timetable by following this link.

Information from our local bus company

From 1^st September 2013 we will be extending our existing child discounts to all of those under 19 years of age. The child fare will be relaunched as a Ugo! fare, using the slogan Under 19’s – they go cheaper with Ugo!

Anyone who is under the age of 19 and asks for a Ugo ticket (or child fare) can receive reduced price travel, which is normally 40% discount on full adult fares. The current requirement for young people to prove their age will also be removed so there will be no need to carry a proof of age identification card.

We realise that it’s a difficult time for many young people. Traditionally they’ve been expected to pay full fare yet many can’t afford any other means of transport and finances are tight, with many in low paid jobs, looking for work or finishing their education.

Transdev in Lancashire already work closely with the regions colleges to offer substantially discounted travel opportunities to students and the introduction of Ugo! fares will extend access to cheaper travel, helping provide young people with affordable access to continuing education, training, work experience and jobs, as well as saving them money when visiting friends and family or going shopping with their friends.

Our commercial decision to extend discounts to those aged 16, 17 and 18 will hopefully be welcome news to young people in East Lancashire. Our groundbreaking initiative is supported by our local authority partners at Blackburn with Darwen Council who have permitted us to extend the same fares policy on to those journeys and services that Transdev operate under contract to the authority.

Unfortunately Lancashire County Council have declined to participate in this initiative on their tendered services despite the fact that the commercial risk on the majority of these services would remain with Transdev rather than the County Council. Transdev are deeply disappointed by this decision given the negative affect it will have on young people relying on supported services, especially in the evenings and on Sundays when fewer commercial routes operate. This may affect those travelling within the borough on cross boundary evening services supported by Lancashire such as services 6,7 and 22.

A drop in and appointment service is starting to give careers advice to young people (mostly 16-18yr olds).  The service will start from 9 September operating from Darwen Town Hall on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.  Mornings will be appointments and the drop in sessions will start from 1:30-5pm.  

I was there to watch AFC Darwen mount a great comeback at the WEC Anchor Ground last night.  They were 1-0 down after being largely outplayed in the first half and it could have been worse but for some great saves by the Darwen goalkeeper.  In the second half Darwen were a different side and scored 4 goals  within about 15 minutes.  Great result.  Let’s get more people down there for their next home game on 7 Sept.

We have called for the Council to tidy up outside Darwen Leisure Centre.  There are some really nice planters on the road running passed the Leisure Centre but the grounds of the Centre itself are overgrown and untidy.  We have urged the Council to get it sorted.

Work has now started on the dangerous retaining wall on Stanley Drive in Darwen.  I am pleased the Council is acting swiftly.  I reported the wall after residents noticed it had started to lean dangerously and looked as though it could collapse at anytime.  Work should last about 2 weeks and may need width restrictions on Stanley Drive from time to time.

A666 emergency repairs 

A gas leak has been discovered by National Grid today on the A666 Bolton Road, opposite Calico Street by the Ewood Gyratory.

 As a result, emergency repairs are required and the road will have to be partially closed from 7pm this evening. It is hoped that the works will be completed by 2pm tomorrow, Wednesday August 7.

 The closure will affect northbound motorists travelling towards Blackburn. Southbound traffic towards Darwen will be unaffected.

 A diversion will be set-up and signed via Bolton Road, Livesey Branch Road, Preston Old Road, Redlam, Bank Top, King Street and Freckleton Street.

Motorists are being advised to expect some minor delays as roadworks get underway around the borough towards the end of this week.

On Thursday, August 8 at 6.30pm, work will take place to remove the existing road surface of Bury Street and Green Street in Darwen. A road closure will be in place to allow the work to take place with signed diversions.

The roads will then be resurfaced on Sunday August 11 and 18 – again under a road closure with signed diversions