Croston Parish Council Newsletter

September 2017

It’s finally here!! The first phase of the improvements to the Recreation Ground has been completed, with a new play area for toddlers and equipment for older children installed costing around £75,000 (see photos on page 11).

We’ve had some great feedback about the play equipment from our young people and we’ll be trying to get further funding to continue with the improvements.

We would like to thank the various bodies who provided funding including the Lancashire Environmental Fund, Chorley Council (for developer’s contributions) and the Parish Plan Steering Group. We’d like to reiterate our thanks to the members of the Friends of Croston Rec for their efforts, both raising funds and for their help with the design.

This year’s North West in Bloom Competition judging took place on 19 July and RHS Britain in Bloom on 4 August (see pages 7 - 11 for full report). We have had a number of comments from people both inside and outside of the village that Croston looked absolutely fantastic this year!

We are now waiting for the end of October for the results and hope our December newsletter will be carrying some good news from the Awards Ceremonies.

The Parish Council would like to thank the members of Croston in Bloom, who worked very hard to tidy up and plant around the village and all residents and businesses who joined in this year with both displays and generally keeping the village clean and tidy.

Chairman’s Message I should like to welcome Kevin Ward to the Parish Council to fill the vacancy following the resignation of Eva Norris.

On 6 July I attended the official opening of the Flood Relief Scheme and I was very impressed with what I saw. I feel very confident that we should now be protected from the flooding we have seen in recent years. Thanks must go to all concerned with bringing about this scheme from the volunteers of LYFAG to the Environment Agency and all their partner organisations.

The newly refurbished recreation ground is being well used. Stage one of the project seems to be much appreciated by all. There is still some landscaping to be done and as and when funding is obtained more equipment will be added. Thanks must go to the members of the Friends of Croston Recreation Ground who have worked alongside the Parish Council on this project. New members will now take it forward with the support of the Parish Council, Croston Together and Croston in Bloom.

Members of the Bloom group will also be supporting the Parish Council with its plans for the Out Lane car park. The process of obtaining this site for the village has been long and at times very difficult but the support of Keith Iddon as both Parish and County Councillor has helped secure this much needed car park for the village.

Remedial work will begin any day on the Town Road Bridge which will be closed for 2 months. It’s re-opening will hopefully coincide with the completion of the restoration works currently ongoing at St. Michael’s Church. Perhaps this serves as a reminder that we need to look after our ancient buildings and structures so that they can be enjoyed by future generations. Sunday is just not the same without the bells ringing out!

Anne Peet

Christmas Lights Switch-on Sunday 3rd December

Christmas Fair Sunday 10th December

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Remembrance Sunday

Subject to approval for road closures etc, this year’s Parade should take place on Sunday 12 November. Look out for information on the Parish Council’s notice boards and social media nearer the time.

The Parade will leave Croston Old School at 1:00pm and walk along Town Road to the War Memorial for a short service. There will then be Service of Remembrance at 1:30pm at St Michaels and All Angels Church. Following the Service everyone is invited back to The Old School for refreshments.

If you can spare time between 28 October and 11 November for door-to-door collecting, or you have a business and would be willing to have a poppy tray and collection box please contact Alan Platt, the Poppy Appeal Organiser for the Croston District, on 01257 234003 or via email at crostonpc@ btinternet.com

l-r Anne Double, Steven Pearson, Alan Platt, Anne Peet and Frank Sutherland.

Thanks to HMP Garth Late August saw a visit by Council Chairman, Anne Peet, and Clerk, Alan Platt, to HMP Garth for the presentation of a seat which had been made in the workshop and kindly donated to the Parish Council.

The initial suggestion for the donation came from Croston resident, Anne Double, who is Education manager at HMP Garth, and the seat was made by students under the watchful eye of joiner, Frank Sutherland. Governor Steven Pearson presented the seat to the parish council on behalf of NOVUS in partnership with HMP Garth.

The new seat will replace a damaged seat on Highfield Road and the Parish Council would like to thank everyone involved for the hard work which went into this kind donation.

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• Breakfast and tea-time clubs (subject to sufficient numbers attending)

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Doorstep Challenge A big ‘thank you’ to every-one who entered our inaugural challenge -

we had 70 entries!

Judge Diane Harrison from Avant Garden Centre had a wonderful day visiting all the entries with Bloom secretary Martin Chaplin.

Look out for

information on

the Christmas Doorstep Challenge!

BBC2 Filming Our journey to the Northwest in Bloom judging day has been filmed for a series to be shown on BBC 2 in Spring 2018. The half hour programme will focus on just two of our projects alongside the wonderful work done by Tracy at The Black Horse.

Croston in Bloom

Business Section winner:

G McGavock

Adult Section winner: Karen Yates with Martin

Chaplin and BBC presenter Chris Bavin

Children’s Section winner:

Croston Pre-school

Judging Days

Wednesday July19th

Northwest in Bloom judges Dave Bielawski and Brian Whalley were very impressed with all the work achieved by the ‘Bloom’ group. They also appreciated all the wonderful displays by residents around the village which looked stunning. As ever our community spirit shone through as they chatted with the various volunteers who work on the station and the church grounds.

Friday 4 August

RHS Britain in Bloom judges Rae Beckwith & James Cordingley accompanied by trainee judge Lesley Jellyman toured the village with ‘Bloom’ chair Anne Peet. The morning began with a short presentation and a tour of the church grounds before the party set-off to The Black Horse where they were very impressed with the beautiful displays. The work of the Station volunteers was once again a highlight as were the displays along Town Road and Church Street.

We will not know the outcome of either competitions until the end of October but whatever the results we are truly proud of our village and would like to thank all the residents and businesses who have made Croston such a lovely village to live in.

Committee members enjoying a well earned drink with the judges

Before…… and after

Bishop Rawstorne Kitchen Garden - our biggest project ever!

In just 2 months we managed to achieve the seemingly impossible when we turned a badly neglected overgrown garden into an amazing space for the school pupils to plant, grow and eat fruit and vegetables.

We could not have achieved the monumental task on our own and thanks must go to every-one who stepped up to the challenge and came along to work with us. Thanks must also go to Martin Chaplin whose persistence overcame the many obstacles which kept popping up and whose belief in the project kept us all going.

Chorley Flower Show

We were very pleased to receive a silver medal for our first ever show garden at this years flower show!

Focused around the Croston Charter and featuring pots of Cosmos the flower of Croston, our garden also had a cobbled path and bunting!

Future Plans…….. We are already planning our next projects which will include working with the Parish Council to landscape the Recreation Ground and the Out Lane Car park.

We are sponsoring a trophy at the Croston Village Show for the children’s under aged 8 class. We are also hoping to begin working with the children at Trinity & St Michael’s school as well as continuing our work with Bishop Rawstorne.

If you would like to join us we would be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact our secretary Martin Chaplin 07597 183163.

Don’t forget you can also follow us on Facebook.

BBC Gardener’s World presenter Carol Klein

Recreation Ground The story so far…….(in pictures):

May

May

Bookings now being taken for 2018!

An ideal venue for any special occasion

Licensed bar available

For forthcoming events please go our Facebook page

Tel: 01772 603600

Croston Old School

Out Lane Car Park We have, at last, made progress on taking over the car park next to the Medical Centre on Out Lane to make sure this very valuable parking area remains available for public use.

The Parish Council has signed a 125 year lease for the land with Lancashire County Council and, in the next few weeks, we’ll be looking at what work needs to be done to improve the area including possible resurfacing and carrying out landscaping in conjunction with our friends at Croston in Bloom.

The car park will only be affected when any work is being carried out so, in the meantime, please carry on using the car park as normal.

Local Groups and Organisations

If you have any activities, events or information you would like to include in the quarterly parish council newsletter, please pass them on to the Clerk (contact details on back page).

Subject to availability of space in the newsletter we’d be happy to include free of charge articles for local not-for- profit organisations free of charge.

Closing dates for items for the next four quarterly editions will be 17 November (for the December issue), 16 February 2018 (March issue), 18 May 2018 (June issue and 17 August (September issue).

We are pleased to announce that following our recent Ofsted inspection we have been awarded a Good overall with Outstanding areas.

We have also been accredited with The Lancashire Quality Award that we have been working towards over the last 3 years.

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There have been a couple of reported burglaries in the village recently. Can we remind everyone to keep windows and doors locked whenever you are not home, and particularly overnight.

Please report anything suspicious to 101 or 999 if a crime is being committed and it is an emergency.

PCSO 7932 Maria Fetherstone

Reporting faults and problems The back page contains the contact numbers to report faults and problems but many can also be reported online.

Police: website www.lancashire.police.uk/online

email Chorley.NPT@lancashire.pnn.police.uk

twitter.com/chorleypolice

Chorley Borough Council

email: contact@chorley.gov.uk

www.chorley.gov.uk

Lancashire County Council

Report highways and public rights of way problems (roads and pavements, including street lighting and signs, ):

www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/fault-search.aspx

United Utilities (Water leaks)

www.unitedutilities.com/help-and-support/got-a-problem/report-a-leak/report-a-leak-form/

Please note: due to the urgency and possible life threatening nature of incidents involving gas, electricity and flooding these should always reported by telephone:

National Grid Gas leak 0800 111999

National Grid Electricity emergency 0800 40 40 90

Environment Agency Floodline 0345 988 1188

Environment incident hotline 0800 80 70 60

Contact Details

Alan Platt (Clerk to the Council) can be contacted at:

9 Ambleside Avenue Euxton Chorley PR7 6NX

Tel: 01257 234003

e-mail: crostonpc@btinternet.com

website: www.crostonparishcouncil.org.uk

Council meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month (except August), commencing at 7:30pm, in The Old School, Church Street, Croston. Details of the meetings are placed in the notice boards prior to the meetings.

Residents are always welcome to attend and part of each meeting is set aside specifically for residents to air their views on local issues.

Tel

600012

600368 07545 976151

600572 07787 005663 07983 578671

603427 07905 452160 07415 410037

Councillors

Anne Peet (Chairman)

Kath Almond Mark Cowley Peter Fenemore Keith Iddon Stuart Laverick Bruno Paillusson Gill Stubbs Kevin Ward

Useful Telephone Numbers

Police (non-emergency): 101

Chorley Police Station 01257 264225

Crimestoppers 0800 555111

British Transport Police (station/car park): 0800 405040

Chorley Borough Council 01257 515151

Lancashire County Council (roads and pavements, including street lighting): 0300 123 6780

National Grid Gas leaks 0800 111999 Electricity 0800 404090

United Utilities (Water) Leakline 0800 330033

Flood Action Group Kath Almond: 01772 600368,

Richard Guinness 01772 600957 Dave Massam 01772 601077,

Environment Agency Floodline 0345 9881188

Notice boards

Keep up to date with Parish Council activities and details of meetings etc. The notice boards are located on the Village Green, outside the Co-op, in front of the former Police Station on Westhead Road and by the Surgery on Brookfield.

Local non-for-profit organisations wishing to include A4 sized posters to publicise events etc should contact the Clerk.

Published by Alan Platt, 9 Ambleside Avenue, Euxton, Chorley. PR7 6NX

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