Knowsley Online

Christmas show for all the family

The magic of Narnia comes to Knowsley this Christmas.

A production of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is on at the new Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park on Saturday 10th December at 7pm.

It will also be shown at the CUC in Liverpool the following day on Sunday 11th December.

It's being staged by the Halewood Youth Theatre and is the result of months of rehearsals.

“We’ve been working on this since May,” said Kate Gorst, director of Altru Drama, which runs Halewood Youth Theatre in partnership with Knowsley Arts and Heritage Service.

“It’s been an amazing experience for everyone involved. The young people have been involved in set design and costumes as well as acting.

Knowsley apprentice picks up award

When Dave Coogan left school he decided not to go to university, but to pursue a more ‘hands-on’ career.

He applied for an apprenticeship with Knowsley Housing Trust, passed his interview and started training in gas installation and maintenance.

Now Dave’s enthusiasm and hard work has earned him the Construction Apprentice of the Year award at the North West Training Apprentice Awards.

He received his award – Presented by NWTC – at an awards Ceremony at Aintree racecourse.

Dave, 22, from Kirkby has been an apprentice gas engineer at KHT for the past four years. He said: “It was fantastic to win and it just motivates me to keep striving for my goals.”

As part of the judging process, Dave and 17 other finalists travelled to Cologne in Germany earlier this year on an industrial tour to gain an insight into what the construction and engineering industries are like there.

David had to produce two reports which helped the judges choose the winner, the first about his apprenticeship so far, the second about what he had learned from the trip to Cologne.

Merseyside above North West average for helping kick flu

Uptake of the winter flu vaccination in the region is above the North West average according to latest figures from NHS Merseyside.

Latest figures reveal that, between September and October 2011, two thirds (61.3 per cent) of those who are 65 and over and more than a quarter (25.9 per cent) of pregnant women have already followed their local health advice and taken advantage of their free vaccination.*

Knowsley residents have heeded advice the most, the borough boasted the second highest uptake among pregnant women (32.7 per cent) and was one of the top three boroughs in the North West for uptake of the flu jab among people aged 65 and over (66 per cent).

With the colder weather still due to kick in, NHS Merseyside is encouraging those people with underlying health conditions, or in at risk groups to get their free vaccination now.

Dr Anjila Shah, Consultant in Public Health at NHS Sefton, said: “Last year we had a particularly bad year for flu outbreaks, so we are delighted to see that Merseyside residents are taking health advice and having their flu vaccinations early.

Public consultation on Waste Plan- Proposed Submission Document

An eight week consultation on the proposed Waste Plan for Merseyside and Halton is launched this week. The six councils of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral have published a report detailing proposed waste policies and site allocations for new waste management facilities and they are asking for your feedback.

Public consultation on the Waste Plan - Proposed Submission Document, starts Friday 25^th November and will last eight weeks. The consultation is open to anybody, but responses must be received by Friday 20th January 2012. 

Alan Jemmett, Project Director for the Waste Plan said: "The Proposed Submission Document is the final consultation stage in the preparation of the Joint Waste Plan and is the culmination of several years’ hard work between the six councils. The Waste Plan will provide greater certainty through the planning process for where and how the large quantities of waste produced in Merseyside and Halton are managed.  This public consultation is the last opportunity to raise issues on the soundness of the Plan”.

Free festive parking for Knowsley shoppers

Car parking in Knowsley’s town centres will be free every Saturday in December to welcome shoppers in the run up to Christmas.

The initiative will apply to all council run car parks in Huyton, Kirkby and Prescot town centres.

Maximum stay restrictions will also be lifted so shoppers can park in any of the council’s car parks for as long as they need, free of charge.  Blue Badges will still be required when parking in disabled parking bays.

The council hopes the scheme will encourage more people to shop locally and make the use of the fantastic town centre shops in Knowsley.

Building worker creates poetry for an old school floor

Construction worker Jimmy Roberts turned poet to create a lasting work of art for Knowsley.

The air duct fitter wrote a poem for the borough’s new Leisure and Culture Park that he was helping to build.

Now the poem has been carved into the side of a huge K-shaped table that sits in the main atrium of the centre, made from an old school floor.

“I’m slightly embarrassed and slightly proud,” said 41 year old Jimmy, who was a subcontractor at the leisure park site for Balfour Beatty.

“It’s part of an alphabet trail of public art at the centre. I wrote about the letter K, standing for Knowsley and Knowledge.

“I made the point that words can be used for any number of things, to bully, to answer back – people draw their own conclusions.”

Knowsley Foodbank provides for 100 people

A charity which provides food for families on low incomes has helped to feed more than 100 people.

Knowsley Foodbank launched at the end of September to help working families who are struggling to make ends meet keep their cupboards stocked.

In its first six weeks it received over three and a half tonnes of food donated from the public and has fed 111 people, giving out 674kg of food.

It has already helped families across Northwood, Cherryfield, Whitefield, Kirkby Central and Park wards.

Knowsley Foodbank has been set up with funds from many partners including Jubilee Church, Knowsley Housing Trust and the Church Urban Fund.

Steve Heverin, Operational Director of Investment at KHT, said: “Today, making ends meet is more difficult than ever as high unemployment and rising food and fuel prices take their toll.

Have a go at wheelchair basketball.

Teenagers in Knowsley can try out wheelchair basketball for just a pound this Friday.

Knowsley Council has been running a series of taster sessions in a variety of sports as part of the lead up to the Olympics.

The sessions have included archery, Tae Kwon Do and water polo and they were held from July 2010 onwards at sports centres and centres for learning across Knowsley.

The wheelchair basketball classes are being held at Halewood Centre for Learning and they are open to people aged 13 to 19, regardless of ability.

“We’ve been running sessions in every sport that will feature in the Olympics,” said Peter Green, one of Knowsley’s sports development officers.

“The most popular so far have been the water polo classes that were held in Halewood, Kirkby and Huyton.

St.Helens Mayor, Councillor Tom Hargreaves opens Beer Festival

Rainhill Beer Festival a huge success in spite of new venue

 Over 1800 lovers of real ale found their way to the Rainhill Beerfest 2011.

For the last 8 years, Rainhill Rotary Club have organised their annual Beer Festival at the Leisure Centre on Warrington Road, Prescot.  As a result of Knowsley Councils decision to demolish the building they found that they would be homeless for this year’s event unless they found a new venue.

It was with great relief that the General Committee at the Rainhill Recreation Club in Victoria Terrace, Rainhill offered their support and facilities.

The club then set about to create what turned out to be their best ever Beer Festival. Starting last Thursday evening 10^th to Saturday 12^th supporters turned up in great anticipation at the new venue.

Constructed in two very large marquees and the main club room the supporters had a choice of up to 75 different real ales, lagers, ciders and continental bottle beers. As a result, in the final hours on the Saturday night, out of 684 gallons of ale available at the start they were left with only 9 gallons.

The event is one of the major fundraising events organised by the club which donates over 80% to local organisations and charities.

The event would not be possible without the support of local businesses that sponsored the beers and food.

Already plans are underway to organise next years event at the same venue starting on the Thursday the 8^th to the 10^th November 2012.

Prescot Festival’s Christmas events

Thursday 15th December, 7.30pm

St Paul's Church, Bryer Road, Prescot. L35 5DW

MAYOR OF PRESCOT'S CHARITY CHRISTMAS CONCERT

with

The Knowsley Youth Orchestra, Prescot Methodist Choir, Prescot Parish Church Choir and St Mary & St Paul's School Choir

Tickets £4 on the door

and

Saturday 3rd December, 7.30pm
Prescot Parish Church, Church Street, Prescot. L34 1LA

BRASS AT CHRISTMAS

with

Skelmersdale Prize Band

Tickets £6 on the door to include Christmas refreshments

Proceeds to the 2012 Prescot Festival

www.prescotfestival.co.uk