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Eye sore set to be transformed

A derelict eye-sore in Prescot is set for a £2.4m transformation.

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) along with its partners at Knowsley Council and the Homes and Communities Agency will soon start work on an Eco-friendly Family Support Unit at Yates Court,  which will accommodate homeless families.

The once blighted area in Prescot off Sewell Street, will be used to build a green, safe and modern building which will be used to support homeless families and then help find them permanent homes.

The 13 self contained apartments will be completed in early 2010, and will boast many Eco features including energy efficient insulation and lighting as well as a communal garden and external parking facilities.

KHT’s Director of Regeneration, Maggi Howard is delighted:

“We are confident that this much needed service will provide essential support to the local community.  The project will convert a neglected site and transform it into a fantastic new facility.”

Have Your Say Events

The Safer Knowsley Partnership will be holding a number of ‘Have Your Say’ public consultation events in March and April this year.

If you live or work in Knowsley, why not come along to one of our ‘Have Your Say’ events and tell us about the issues that impact on your feelings of safety?

Senior representatives from Merseyside Police, Merseyside Police Authority, Knowsley Council, Merseyside Fire & Rescue and Knowsley Primary Care Trust will be on hand to answer any questions or queries you may have about crime and disorder in your area; all those attending will have a chance to speak to each of the five partner agencies.

The event will take the form of speed dating, with groups of attendees allocated 15 minutes with each agency before moving onto the next. During these sessions we aim to identify your priority issues so that we can take action on these in the coming months. The event will also include a market place where you will be able to access information about other agencies in the Safer Knowsley Partnership.

Events run from 7pm-9pm with registration from 6.45pm.

Thursday 19th March – Kirkby
Kirkby Suite, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby

Thursday 26th March – Prescot, Whiston & Cronton
Prescot Leisure Centre, Warrington Road, Prescot

Thursday 2nd April – Halewood
Arncliffe Sports and Community Centre, Arncliffe Road, Halewood

Tuesday 7th April – Huyton
Huyton Suite, Civic Way, Huyton

To book a place at one of the above events please contact:
Sarah Haslam, Event Organiser
Tel: 0151 443 3326 or Email: sarah.haslam@knowsley.gov.uk

Places must be booked prior to the event and are on a first come basis.

CRASBO issued in Knowsley

Knowsley’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, including staff from Merseyside Police and Knowsley Council, has successfully applied for a Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour order (CRASBO) at Knowsley Magistrates Court today (26 January 2009).

Tracey Bernadette Caine, aged 43 years, from Reeds Road, Huyton pleaded guilty to three offences of theft in December 2008.

Due to this conviction, Knowsley’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit applied for a Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour order, with the aim of protecting the business community from her anti-social behaviour.

The CRASBO was imposed by Magistrates, and will stay in place for two years.

• Under the terms of the CRASBO, Tracey Caine is prohibited: From entering Tesco, Steeley Way in Prescot.
•  From entering Asda, Huyton Lane in Hutyon.
• From entering any retail outlet in the area bounded by and including Huyton Town Centre, including Lathom Road to the junction with Huyton Hey Road, to the junction with Derby Road, to the junction with Poplar Bank, to the junction with Archway Road back to the junction with Lathom Road.

Chief Inspector Claire Richards said: "The court recognised that Tracey Caine had been causing distress to businesses within the locality. Through our work with Knowsley Council, we have been successful in obtaining the Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour order, which will allow us to try to prevent this kind of behaviour in the future - and send a strong message to offenders.”

"The use of the CRASBO is a vital tool in our disposal and we will look to work with our partners locally to target offenders in this way, and use this legislation again in the future, with the aim of improving the quality of life for the business community in Knowsley."

Councillor Jackie Harris, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Social Inclusion, added “This action sends out a clear message that we will take action against those causing anti-social behaviour. If Tracey breaks any of these conditions, she will be liable to up to five years imprisonment, a fine, or both.”

Knowsley introduces new training standards for borough’s taxi drivers

Knowsley Council last night (Wednesday, January 28) agreed new standards of training for all of the borough’s taxi drivers.

The Council’s Licensing Committee approved plans for all of the borough’s hackney and private hire drivers to pass a National Vocation Qualification

All new drivers must now complete a VRQ course (Vocationally Related Qualification), before taking to the roads.

Within 12 months of gaining their licence, they will also be required to pass an NVQ too, when they will be assessed on the road.

It will mean they are trained on a range of issues including customer service, disability awareness, transporting passengers safely, equality and diversity, street knowledge and route planning.

Prior to last night’s decision, private hire and hackney carriage drivers attended a one day training course and were required to take a knowledge test.

A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: “Our private hire and taxi drivers already provide a high quality service but we are striving for excellence. The introduction of these new standards will provide all drivers with a nationally recognised qualification.

“The VRQ has been available for drivers to take at Knowsley College for sometime and 150 people in the borough have already passed the standards. The feedback from people who have been on the course is very positive and one local firm will not allow drivers to undertake school contract work unless they have passed the qualification.

“Making the VRQ, along with the NVQ compulsory for all drivers in the future will ensure every driver licensed to operate in Knowsley is trained to the highest standards available. This decision will benefit the travelling public and drivers alike.”

Existing hackney carriage and private hire drivers in the borough are to be given a period of five years to pass the VRQ and NVQ. The course, which has indefinite funding from Train to Gain, will cost all applicants £10.

Drivers in the borough wanting to find our more information about the changes can call the Environmental Health and Consumer Protection service on 0151 443 3613

Defensive Lapses cost Cables.

Prescot Cables 2 v 4 Whitby Town. Tuesday 27th January 2009.

Defensive lapses cost Cables three points against an opposition who took there chances when presented to them by an unsure Cables defence. The game started with both side creating good chances, Cables should have scored in the 8th minute but Byers, who was left completely unmarked and with only the keeper to beat, shot against the underside of the bar and was cleared.

So it was no surprise when Cables took the lead in the 13th minute, a long throw was flicked on by McCulloch and the Whitby Town keeper, Liversedge allowed the ball to slip through his grasp and into the net. Cables attacking play continued to trouble Whitby’s defence and on 16 minutes Taylor broke clear of their cover and he went round the keeper but in doing so went too wide of the goal, his cross caused panic in the Whitby defence and the ball was handled on the edge of the box.

Williams took the free-kick which struck the bar with the keeper stranded, Cables could have been 3 up at this time, but Whitby struck back quickly. A long through ball found Cables defence static and Charlton scored with a fierce shot from the edge of the box. If that shook Cables fans worse was to come, within 3 minutes Whitby took a shock lead when an unmarked Rae headed in a cross from Ross, who was also left clear by the Cables defenders.

Cables, although now behind continued to attack and got a deserved equaliser when Parsonage struck a fierce shot with a 25 yard free-kick, this was his 3rd goal in two games. Both attacks were still creating chance and Whitby’s Rae struck the post, and then minutes later he headed over from 6yds. On the third occasion, a poor clearance by Cables Williams, gave the ball back to Whitby and from the cross Rae scored from close range. At half time Cables found themselves behind when the game could have been over after 13mins. HT 2-3

Both Cables players and Fans could not believe that they were behind as there attacking play had created some many chances. If this continued in the second half there was still a chance of an important win, but the second half meant an immediate reshuffle in the Cables defence with Flood having to be replaced, Willliams dropped back into defence. Cables seemed unsettled by this change and although they continued to push forward Whitby had tightened up there defensive play and try as they might the chances to equalise never came.

Whitby were now defending well and hitting long balls over the Cables defence which was being stretched by the speedy Whitby forwards. Whitby made the game safe when Cables defence gave away a free kick on the edge of the box and from the resultant free-kick, Jones the Cables keeper fumbled the shot and Raw forced the ball home.

It was a disappointing result for the home fans to take, and it leaves Cables rueing the missed chances that could have put the game beyond Whitby early in the first half.  

Full Time  2-4.

Cables. Jones, Deakin, Flood, McCulloch, Bell, McIntosh, Parsonage, Taylor, Byers, Taylor, Williams. Subs Connolly ( 63m Deakin), Mahama (45m Flood), Thomas.

Next Fixture. 31st January Away North Ferriby United.

Ashton United 2 Prescot Cables 2

Saturday 24th January 2009

Prescot still await their first Saturday success in the Unibond Premier League as the points were shared at Hurst Cross.

Cables keeper Jones was busier of the two between the sticks in the first half.  He could do little to stop Howard’s penalty kick after Prescot substitute Deakin had handled the ball in the 26th minute. 

A few moments into the second period a replacement assistant referee had to be found due to injury.  Ashton was still the more likely scorers as Prescot gave the ball away too cheaply.  This all changed when debutant Parsonage fired a spectacular equaliser in the 56th minute that galvanised Cables. Six minutes later Parsonage struck again as his shot deflected past the Ashton keeper Smith.

Cables performance was in complete contrast to their abject first half display.  Unfortunately a mistake by keeper Jones, who failed to reach a cross, allowed Howard to lob the ball back into an unguarded goal in the 71st minute.

Williams proceeded to torment the Ashton defence and received rough treatment, one tackle saw Rose red carded.  From the many free kicks Williams hit the post, then at the end saw his shot deflected and Smith made a fine save to keep the scores level.

Prescot’s next Unibond League match is trip to Humberside to face North Ferriby United on Saturday 31st January.

Designated Areas introduced in Knowsley

Three ‘Designated Areas’ have been introduced in Kirkby and Whiston in order to combat anti-social behaviour.

The orders, introduced in Kirkby and Whiston, were introduced yesterday (25 January 2009) and will remain in force for 6 months.
The powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act mean that police officers can move youths on and arrest those who return within 24 hours.

Two designated areas have been introduced in Kirkby, which operates from 5.00 pm until 2.00 am, 7 days a week. The designated areas are bounded by and include:-

• Whitefield Drive to the junction with Elstead Road, past Eastfield Walk, to the boundary of the M57. Following the perimeter of the M57 to the junction with Ingoe Lane to the junction with Whitefield Drive. This includes all roads and public places within this area, including Denver Road and Newick Road.
• Richard Hesketh Drive to the junction with James Holt Avenue. James Holt Avenue to the junction with Kirkby Row. Kirkby Row to the junction with Whitefield Drive. Whitefield Drive to the junction with Richard Hesketh Drive.

The designated area in Whiston operates from 4.00pm until midnight, 7 days a week and includes the area bounded by:-

• Manorwood Drive from its junction with Lickers Lane, Lickers Lane to Driveway. Driveway, up to and including Whiston Railway station, (running along the perimeter of the railway line), to Gresford Close. Gresford Close to Berrywood Drive, Berrywood Drive to Manorwood Drive. Manorwood drive to Lickers Lane (including all of the open grassed area known as ‘The Moonhills’).

Merseyside Police has worked in partnership with Knowsley Council to secure the designated areas to help them combat anti-social behaviour in the area which has been causing distress and making life difficult for residents in the area.

Councillor Jackie Harris, Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Social Inclusion said "This is a fine example of the police, council and partners working with local communities to address their concerns. We will use all the powers at our disposal to stop this type of activity and ensue that Knowsley remains a safe place to live, work and visit."

Chief Inspector Claire Richards added "We are making great inroads in the area in tackling anti social behaviour by targeting the areas causing the most concern. This has been tremendously successful but there are still some youths who persist in acting anti-socially and their behaviour is just not acceptable. High visibility patrols will ensure the designated area is not breached and its introduction will complement other tactics we are using to reduce anti social behaviour in Knowsley.”

Prescot Cables 2 v 0 Leigh Genesis.

Tuesday 20th January 2009.

Cables gained an important and deserved victory in their bid to lift themselves out of the bottom four of the league, but it was the Visitors, Leigh Genesis who started the game in a positive manor. Genesis kept the pressure on the Cables defence but did not look like breaking down a resolute Cables side.

It took until 35th minute for a clear chance to be created but Jones in the Cables goal made a brave save when Genesis finally broke through into the penalty area. Genesis continued to press and from a free-kick, on the right edge of the area, Cables fortunately scrambled the ball away for a corner. Cables then started to become an attacking force and they created a good chance of there own but O’Donnell shot across the face of the goal.

Then on 42mins Cables took the lead, when McCulloch struck home a fierce shot from 30 yards, an excellent time to score, just as half - time was approaching.  In the last minutes of the half both sides created good chances but were unable to score. The second half started, with Cables going straight onto the attack, and O’Donnell was fouled when running into the area and the referee correctly awarded the spot-kick. Bell, Cables no5 scored from the resultant penalty, although the Genesis keeper got a hand to the ball but the fierce shot crossed the line.

This was an excellent start to the second half by Cables and they continued to keep Genesis under pressure. Morton the Genesis keeper made an excellent save from Taylor, as Cables looked capable of increasing their advantage. Cables were now well on top but although they created some fine chances, especially a brilliant effort from Steve Williams, they were unable to score again.

This was a good performance from Cables, thoroughly deserving the three points, which lifted them up 4 places in the league.

Cables.  Jones, Smith, Flood, McCulloch, Bell, McIntosh, O’Donnell, Taylor (C), Byers, Taylor, Williams. Subs. Connolly ( 76 for Byers) Mahama ( 76 for Taylor ) Deakin and Hibbert.

Next Fixtures. Away.  Saturday 24th January v Ashton United
                      Home. Tuesday 27th January v Whitby Town

 

All the fun of the festival

A date not to be missed in the 2009 calendar is Sunday 5th July, the date just announced for the Halewood Community Festival which promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Over 4,000 local people enjoyed their own community showcase event last year and with a wide range of both indoor and outdoor attractions, the popular summer festival, is once again being hosted at Halewood Leisure Centre in Baileys Lane.

With a fantastic line up in a larger main arena of birds of prey, martial arts, cheerleading and air cadets, plus a dance extravaganza including belly dancing, line dancing and disco dancing, the free event has something to keep everyone entertained.

New for 2009 is a parade to launch the event with a Rose Queen procession, a Relaxation/Chillout Marquee and also a Craft Fayre where you can pick up some great hand crafted gifts. Organisers are appealing for Brownies, Scouts, Cubs and any other community organisation to be involved in the parade.

All the usual children’s activities are on offer with arts and crafts funzone, face painting, seaside fun, small fairground rides and a fancy dress competition for children with great prizes on offer. There is also a great line up of sports demonstrations including Ju Jitsu and Athletics.

A free shuttle bus service will be available from local residential areas to and from Halewood Leisure Centre provided by Merseyside Transport Trust.

There will also be a variety of stalls and information stands in the many marquees, with all sorts of information on local projects and community appeals. There is also the opportunity to find out more information on starting your own business by dropping into the Fresh Start Enterprise Zone.

The festival will run from 11-4pm with the Mayor of Halewood Town Council opening the event.

If anyone from the local community would like to be involved in the Festival please contact Carla Simkin on 443 2156.