Knowsley Online

Traders flock to Kirkby Market

Despite difficult economic conditions, Kirkby Market is continuing to flourish with its highest occupancy rates for more than 7 years.

Over its three days trading days, the current average occupancy rate is 93%. This is compared with an average of only 85% at the beginning of April this year. The pitches are proving so popular with traders that there is currently no more space available on a Tuesday, with Fridays and Saturdays also filling up fast.

Cllr Dave Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy & Skills commented:
“We have seen a real increase in the number of traders taking space week on week and this has continued to rise. The current figures are the best we have seen in years and despite difficult financial times for us all, the market is doing really well.

Tenant excluded after threatening behaviour

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) has won an Exclusion Order against a tenant who was abusive and threatening towards her neighbours.

The order, obtained on August 2 at St Helens County Court, means Catherine Taylor, 37, cannot return to the property on Hazel Road, Huyton, for 12 months. If she breaches the order, it could mean arrest and a potential custodial sentence.

KHT is now seeking to evict Miss Taylor from the property permanently.

She had lived in the property since June 2007 and at the time of the Exclusion Order, was the only occupant.

KHT had received many complaints about Taylor’s behaviour from her neighbours over several months, stating that she had been using threatening behaviour towards residents and smashing up her property.

Knowsley Council plans will spark outrage in Prescot & Whiston

Knowsley Council plans to demolish Prescot Leisure Centre and Scotchbarn Pool will be the last straw says Carl Cashman, a Lib Dem Activist and Leisure Centre user. "The plans to demolish the Leisure Centre will leave Prescot with no civic centres what so ever. Even worse, the demolition of Scotchbarn Swimming Baths will leave Prescot and Whiston people with no Leisure facilities."

The demolition of Scotchbarn will put an end to an important life saving swimming club. "I was at the Planning Committee, I watched Labour Councillors happily agree to the demolition. As I walked out a young girl from Scotchbarn swimming club was crying her eyes out. Those Councillors should be ashamed." said Carl.

Scotchbarn Swimming Pool was built with money from both Prescot and Whiston Town Councils, so the taxpayers of Prescot and Whiston should be outraged by it's demolition. Knowsley Council will not build a new facility in it's place though, instead the area will become a car park.

Carl added "Knowsley Council have glorified spending £1 million in Prescot, but they have spent £25 million in Huyton. I don't see how that is fair."

Plans to invest £1.4m in leisure facilities in Prescot have been given the go ahead.

The council’s Planning Committee approved the £1.4m scheme yesterday, which will provide modern leisure facilities on the Warrington Road site.

The plans will create a new leisure facility that will include a fitness suite and will support the outdoor facility at the site.

During the construction work, the outdoor pitches will remain unaffected.  Temporary parking will be available on Scotchbarn Lane until early 2012 when the new car park for the facility will be completed.

Work is due to commence later this year and the new community leisure facility is due to open for summer 2012.

In addition to this £1.4m investment, the council has invested significantly in the area in the form of new Centres for Learning each providing extensive leisure facilities that are available to the public.

Knowsley Park Centre for Learning in Prescot and St Edmund Arrowsmith Centre for Learning in Whiston both offer a 4 court sports hall, small fitness suite, multi-purpose/studio area, multi use games area pitches and a full size pitch.

Cllr Eddie Connor, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Community and Culture, commented “I’m pleased that work will commence on site over the next few weeks, which will deliver improved leisure facilities in Prescot for our residents - something we have always been committed to providing. 

This latest investment will complement the work carried out a few years’ ago on the outdoor pitches and bring leisure facilities in Prescot up to modern standards.”

 

Knowsley’s A-Level students hit new heights

A-Level students in Knowsley are celebrating this morning after achieving improved results in the borough.

The provisional A*-C A- Level and equivalent grade results reported today for Knowsley students have increased by 6.6 percentage points compared to last year, whilst A*-E A-Level grades have improved by 1 percentage point.

The improvements are for two Centres for Learning in the borough offering A’ Level and equivalent provision, All Saints Catholic Centre for Learning and Halewood Centre for Learning, as well as Knowsley Community College.

Cllr Graham Wright, Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services, said:

Dementia – Knowsley Admiral Nurse team can help you

Many of us will know someone who has suffered with dementia.  Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, disorientation, communication problems and difficulties in carrying out simple every day tasks.  It can be a devastating condition not only for sufferers but also for their family, friends and carers.

Dementia is a common condition. In the UK, there are currently 750,000 people living with dementia, and 1500 of them live in Knowsley.  It is estimated that by 2021 there will be over a million people living with dementia in the UK.

Did you know?

• Dementia is a syndrome that is associated with an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities.
• Dementia usually occurs in people who are 65 or over. Two thirds of people with dementia are women.
• The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.
• There is no cure for dementia and symptoms will get worse over time. However, there are a number of effective treatments that can help people to cope better with their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Admiral Nurse Service

Families enjoy fun at Community Day

Communities across Knowsley came together for one of the biggest fun days in the North West.

Knowsley Housing Trust’s Community Day was once again a huge success with a petting farm, climbing wall, football tournament, circus skills and much more.

Despite the downpours, thousands attended this year’s free event at George V Sports Complex in Huyton on Thursday (August 4).

Carol Dolan, from Huyton, who took her daughter along to the Community Day, said: “The kids always look forward to the community day.

“The weather hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t stopped everyone having a good time.”

Housing associations show support for Gay Pride festival

Over 40,000 people turned out to enjoy Liverpool’s second official Gay Pride festival on Saturday, August 6.

The celebration, with the theme a Summer of Love, transformed Liverpool’s streets into a rainbow of colour and music with a ‘hippy’ vibe.

Amongst them were 150 representatives from housing associations across Merseyside who joined the celebrations to show their commitment to equality and diversity and wore matching t-shirts with the Homes for Everyone logo.

Staff members and customers helped to push the float – a zero carbon creation made by local company Hallangen Arts – along the route from St George’s plateau, through Liverpool city centre and to the main festival site at the Pier Head. The float was a cupid’s garden, complete with flowers, picket fence, BBQ and of course a couple of cupids to spread the love.

Nominate a community hero

Nominations are now open to find Knowsley’s community heroes.

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) is holding its annual Community Achievement Awards in September and wants to hear about tenants or resident groups who are making a real difference in their neighbourhoods.

Bob Taylor, KHT’s Chief Executive said: “There are so many unsung heroes who work tirelessly to make our neighbourhoods better places to live, and we want to thank them for their efforts.

Residents reminded to have their say

A consultation on how Knowsley should develop in the future is drawing to a close – and residents are being reminded to make sure they’ve had their say.

Knowsley’s Local Development Framework is currently being discussed with residents, and all households have been sent a leaflet which summarises the proposals.

This plan will shape the way Knowsley  develops to 2027 and beyond, including the potential to create more than 7,000 new homes and increase employment opportunities for local people.