Knowsley Online

Prescot market returns next month

Due to popular demand, the producers’ market in Prescot will return a month earlier than planned, on 4 February.

Eccleston Street will again come alive with the sights and sounds of this busy market, running from 9am on the first Saturday of every month in 2012.

Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration Economy and Skills, said, “It’s fantastic that the market has proven so popular that we are able to bring it back earlier than planned. 

These events give us the chance to showcase the best in regional produce in the heart of historic Prescot. I would urge people to come and see for themselves what’s on offer”.

For more information, visit knowsley.gov.uk or call 0151 443 2270.

KHT granted suspended possession order after firearms found at property

Knowsley Housing Trust has secured an order to prevent a man convicted of keeping firearms at one of its properties from returning there for five years.

Ryan Porter, 20, was convicted last year after police seized a semi automatic hand gun and ammunition.

KHT has now been granted a suspended possession order by the courts against his mother Pauline Porter, who is the tenant at the property.

The order has been suspended for five years to allow her to remain in her home under the condition that she does not allow Ryan, who is serving a five year sentence, into the property during that time.

KHT has worked closely with Merseyside Police to take a tough line against firearm incidents and securing the order is a significant achievement.

KHT Operational Director of Landlord Services Terry Bonner said: “Our priority at all times has to be the safety of our tenants.

“We will move swiftly to take action against those possessing dangerous weapons, or those who tolerate such activities.

“Tenants should be aware that there are repercussions to criminal or anti-social behaviour that will impact on their family and potentially their home.”

 

 

 

Children's centres score well for the inspectors

Two children’s centres in Knowsley have been given the thumbs up by a government watchdog.

The new Stockbridge Village (Acorn) Children’s Centre was inspected six weeks after opening and Jubilee Children’s Centre in South Huyton was inspected the following week. Both have been rated good with outstanding features by Ofsted inspectors.

Inspectors found the Stockbridge centre is “building a strong and increasingly positive reputation within the community and this has established trust and confidence in the staff, partners and the services it delivers”.

They also noted “families who are experiencing change and challenging circumstances in their lives share their concerns with staff because they trust them and know they will receive effective support”.

The report acknowledges how well staff and partners understand the community and the challenges it faces and that parents take part in exciting activities, whilst building their confidence, relationships and parenting skills.

Financial help to create jobs

Small businesses in Knowsley are receiving financial help to move into new markets and create jobs.

Knowsley Council’s Small Business Growth Grant offers financial assistance to growing small businesses in the borough to further encourage business growth and job creation.

Harrison Collier in Prescot is one company to benefit from this support. The company designs, manufactures and installs bespoke kitchens, bedrooms and furniture specialising in large, luxury developments. The firm recently received a £10,000 grant to invest in a CNC machining centre, enabling it to expand its services and increase production capacity. As a result the company is creating four new full time positions and one part time post.

Simon Harrison, Managing Director of Harrison Collier, said: “Following our expansion onto the new Prescot Business Park a few years ago, the business has been very successful in attracting prestigious clients. To enable an increase in production capacity we needed to invest in new equipment. The CNC machining centre will allow us to speed up the processing of bulk components which will give our craftsmen more time to concentrate on handcrafted parts and installations.”

Road closure

From Monday 16 January 2012 to 26 February 2012 (6 weeks) Seth Powell Way will be closed to all vehicular traffic between the junctions of Woolfall Heath Avenue and Stockbridge Lane in both directions.

The signed diversion route is via Stockbridge Lane – Knowsley Lane- Liverpool Road and Vice Versa. Long delays are expected.

Southbound traffic on the M57 exiting at Huyton (Junction 3) are advised to exit at Junction 2 (Prescot).  

The work is to enable National Grid Gas to renew their existing medium pressure cast iron gas mains.

Kirkby Road Closure for United Utilities Work

From Monday 16 January 2012 to Sunday 5 February 2012 (3 weeks) Boyes Brow and Headbolt Lane will both be closed to all vehicular traffic at the Junction with County Road, Kirkby.

Local signed diversions will be in place. There will also be 2 way temporary traffic signals controlling the traffic on County road at the same location. Long delays are expected.

 The work is to enable United Utilities to renew their existing Victorian cast iron water mains.

Make a drama in your spare time.

Would you like to put a bit of drama into your life?

A community theatre group is starting up on February 1 in Stockbridge Village in Knowsley.

The group ran as a project last year for local adults and was so successful, it’s to be run again.

Around 23 people got involved last year and staged an adaptation of Jim Cartwright’s play, “Two”, renamed in this production as, “Happy Hour”.

They played to audiences of around 50 people on two nights at St Albert’s church hall in Stockbridge Village and those taking part said they really enjoyed it.

Maureen Clunan from Stockbridge Village played Irene in the production. It was the first time she’d tried acting.

She said: “I didn’t think I would ever have been able to get up and do a monologue but I did.

"It was an experience and a good one. The group became like a family to me. Meeting up with them once a week was my chill out morning.”

Knowsley Council runs the project in partnership with local company Altru Drama.

It starts up on Wednesday February 1 from 11.30am to 1.30pm at St Brigid's Space for Sports and Arts in Waterpark Drive, Stockbridge Village.

Sessions are free and open to any local adult aged over 19.

For more details, contact Kristy at Altru Drama on 0151 443 0333, email kristy@altru.co.uk  or Katy at Knowsley Arts and Heritage Service on 0151 443 5618, email  katy.mcloughlin@knowsley.gov.uk

Get a running start to the New Year.

Fancy having a go at road running?

Knowsley Council has organised free, taster sessions in road running throughout January at a variety of locations during the week and at weekends.

As the name implies, the sport involves running on an established road although some of the practice sessions will involve running on track.

The sessions are open to people of all abilities and they are supervised by the organisation, Liverpool Running Bugs, whose coaches will supervise those taking part.

• Road running taster sessions are being held:Every Tuesday and Thursday at Halewood Leisure Centre, 7-8pm (suitable for runners of all abilities).
• Every Tuesday at Kirkby Sports College Athletics Track, 7-8pm (suitable for more experienced runners).
• Every Saturday at Halewood Visitors Centre, Okell Drive at 1pm where there will be a 5K timed training run. This is free to enter and is for all abilities.

The taster sessions are part of Knowsley Council’s so called Golden Sports programme that provides taster sessions in every activity that will feature in the London Olympics.

If you’d like to kick start the New Year by learning how to road run, why not turn up to one of the taster sessions?

If you’d like more details, contact Peter Green on 443 2120 or go to www.liverpoolbugs.co.uk

Knowsley boy wins Princess Diana Award

A Knowsley boy who battled through massive health problems to become a  star pupil has been awarded the Princess Diana Courageous Citizen Award.

Ten year old Rhys Forshaw from Huyton was born with several facial problems.

In his early years he had surgery to repair a cleft palette, bone grafts and eye operations.

Recently he has had treatment to reshape his nose and more bone surgery to repair his jaw and hip.

Yet, in his time at St Aidan’s primary in Adswood Road Huyton he has maintained almost 100 per cent attendance.

He has worked hard to develop his emotional and social skills to make friends and has become popular.

He is now a member of the School Council and talked to the other children about his eye and hearing problems during a disability focus week.

“Rhys is the most ordinary yet extraordinary young man,” said head teacher at St Aidan’s, Moira Kenneway.

“He’s always smiling and is very accepting of his situation - he just gets on with it.

Time is running out for applications

Parents and carers have only a few days let to apply for a primary school place for September 2012.

If your child lives in Knowsley, you can apply online via the Knowsley Council website or by completing a paper copy, available in the Knowsley admissions booklet, whichever is easier for you.

The online form can be amended at any point up to the closing date by logging back into the application.  If any changes are made and the application is re-submitted, an email will be sent out when the application is received by the council.

An email confirming a place will be sent out on the same day that offer letters are posted out in April.

The closing date for primary school applications is Sunday 15 January 2012.

Please visit the Knowsley Council website to complete an online application form: www.knowsley.gov.uk