On 1st December the Boundary Committee for England published their Draft recommendations for unitary local government in Lancashire and are now "consulting" on the draft options put forward for a period of 12 weeks until 23 February 2004. Click Here to view the full report. The recommendations are founded on the findings of a "statistically robust" Mori Poll of 300 West Lancashire residents. Click here for the Mori Report in full.

In summary, the three options that the Boundary Commission have proposed are:

Rather bizarrely, our three options are actually only two. You are asked to provide feedback on these proposals but, to date, the supposedly convenient Online Feedback Form on the Boundary Commission website does not work and so any comments you wish to make must be made as best you can using pen and paper and it will cost you the price of a stamp. We have informed the Boundary Commission of this oversight and are awaiting a response.

Get the very latest floodplain data direct from the Environment Agency Website

The Environment Agency's new Indicative Floodplain Maps provide a general overview of areas of land in natural floodplains and therefore potentially at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. The maps use the best information currently available, based on historical flood records and geographical models. They indicate where flooding from rivers, streams, watercourses or the sea is possible. However the maps do not show flood defences which offer vital protection in many areas.

REDROW PLANNING APPLICATION NOVEMBER 13th 2003-11-15

The Conservative members decision to overturn the Officers recommendation for refusal of Redrow application and thereby overturning Policy of the Adopted Local Plan sends out some very disturbing signals both to developers and public.

The strong arguments put forward by leading Conservatives in favour of releasing even more land for the development of Executive homes on the Greaves Hall site were in stark contrast to the professional advice given by Senior Officers of the Council.

Cllr. Robert Hodge pitched his 30 year experience in planning matters (!) directly against the Officers when he argued that in his opinion there were ‘Material Considerations’ in favour of changing the land designation from Employment to Housing thus enabling Redrow to build many more houses on the site. What happened to ‘Local jobs for local people’, Robert?

From the developers point of view this will mean a substantial boost to their profits, as they already own the land in question, bought years ago at way below current land prices.

From the viewpoint of adjacent residents on the Redrow estate, it was not too difficult for their ward Councillors to persuade them that a ‘few more houses’ would be preferable to ‘Industrial units’ and what about the much trumpeted ‘community benefits’ dangled before them? ( less than half the value of a Redrow house)

From Cllr Hodge and his Conservative colleague’s viewpoint judging by the cheers from the Redrow residents in the chamber, there are a significant number of now secure votes in the bag.

But what about the rest of us in the northern parishes? What does this mean to us?

Quite simply that far from the claims in Conservative election literature that “We will stop further development in our villages” the exact opposite is true- they are absolutely determined to see more and more development in our villages, but are not prepared to be open about it.

Most fair minded conservative supporters must now see the clear pattern of their elected representatives: promises that they will ‘work hard to prevent further development’ at election time, sneakily pass more applications in between time and then blame it on someone else later (ideally Labour/ Lib Dems/ Independents or recently even Planning Officers!) at next election time. If anyone was left in doubt as to how all the development was allowed to happen in our villages over the last 30 years then they need look no further than Conservative’s performance on Thursday.

The facts are simple – we do not need any more executive houses in our villages. The Redrow residents are probably unaware of the implications of this latest permission, namely that the principle of land re-designation is now firmly established – Redrow will aggressively pursue further development throughout the site. How will these same residents feel when they discover they live on a 1000 house estate? When they realise too late the local infrastructure cannot support them?

Cllr. Hodge disputed the need for consultation in North Meols stating “we have never done so in the past, why start now” This flies in the face of what people actually do want.

The recent efforts throughout the Northern Parishes to provide effective consultation gained overwhelming reactions against further development from a responsive public. Now the Conservatives have wilfully set their face against the wishes of the public, the Professional Planning Officers of the Council and not least their own election promises in an apparently shameful attempt to gerrymander a few more votes. These people will simply do and say anything just to stay in position. So people of the Northern Parishes, be warned, there are serious threats to undermine your wishes. Observe elected members actions rather than listen to their empty words at election time.

John Hodson (Tarleton Village Design Group)

Despite strong objections from North Meols Parish Council and a recommendation from Planning Officers to refuse the application, the proposal for Redrow to complete a further 69 dwellings on land earmarked for employment at the Greaves Hall site was nevertheless granted at last nights West Lancs Planning Committee.

The application, which was first submitted by Redrow in 2001 is in conflict with the West Lancashire Local Plan Policy in that it would materially reduce [by half] the amount of land designated for business use thus reducing the potential for increased local employment.

The 30 pieces of silver, or "upgraded community benefit package" as it is now known, tabled in furtherance of the Redrow proposal includes:

Two more applications have been received at West Lancs Planning relating to the growing problem of accomodating seasonal agricultural workers.

Flavourfresh Salads have applied to the Council to retain five residential caravans at their Marsh Road site and also to retain the use of a former office block at Rydings Lane for accomodating seasonal agricultural workers .

All members of the public are asked to be on the look-out for the following 2 vehicles. They have been seen recently acting suspiciously and it is also believed they have been seen throughout the West Lancs area. The vehicles are both White Transit vans:-

H 846 RAW

P 850 KJA

The whereabouts of these vehicles are wanted by both Lancashire and GMP Police. One vehicle is believed to be involved in theft of motorcycles. Please be on the look-out for both these vehicles. Any sightings should be reported to the Police immediately.

Application No.: 8/2003/1362
Proposal : Erection of workshop building; provision of car
parking area and alterations to existing
vehicular/pedestrian access.
Location : Land rear of 29, Chapel Lane, Banks.
Applicant : Mr D Rimmer
29 Chapel Lane
Banks
Ward : North Meols Parish :North Meols
Date Valid : 30 OCT 03 Grid Ref :SD3956921112

Message from The West Lancashire Neighbourhood Watch Association
The police are warning the public about bogus officials who have been gaining entry to elderly persons homes by posing as water board officials who want to check water pipes. Once in the home the offenders have stolen property.

Application No.: 8/2003/0638
Proposal : Outline application for residential development for low cost housing.
Location : Land rear of 97, Station Road, Banks.
Ward : North Meols Parish :North Meols
Date Valid : 25 JUL 03 Grid Ref :SD3860120399

Newly promoted to the West Lancs Premier league, Fleetwood Hesketh faced a formidable Hesketh Bank side at a freindly pre season away match last night and ended up loosing 2:1 to their arch rivals.

The Annual General Meeting of the West Lancashire Area Committee of the Lancashire Association of Parish & Town Councils was held in the Council Chambers at Ormskirk on Friday 12 July 2003.

Councillor Joan Draper of North Meols Parish Council was elected to the Chair of the Area Committee for the ensuing twelve months.

Where in North Meols are: Premises used for agricultural fabrication and repairs, vehicle recovery and storage, vehicle maintenance and repair, parts and steel store. Garaging of steam engines, showmans caravans etc and towing equipment?