Knowsley Online

Video: Whiston writer Tommy Kearney on his new hit play

Below: Whiston-born-and-bred Tommy Kearney talks about Little Boy, his latest play, which had its Liverpool premiere at the Homotopia festival this week.

Prescot Cables 0 Leigh Genesis 4

Saturday 14 November 2009

Prescot wished that this Unibond Division One North game had been called off near the kick off time as heavy rain made conditions problematic.

Cables squandered the opportunity of opening the scoring when Thurston shot into the side netting with Rey and Green unmarked by the penalty spot.

A controversial incident ended the match in the 75th minute.  Keeper Paxton was adjudged to have handled the ball from an unexpected back pass.  Baguley blasted the indirect free kick, from the wrong position, through a sea of players into the net as tempers flared.

Cables day turned sour like the weather. An outrageous run of the ball was accepted by Ince who made it 2 nil in the 81st minute. 

Morgan then brought down Dorney in the box.  Stepien slid home a penalty on 84 minutes.  Whitham then scored Leigh’s fourth in the 89th minute.

The final score by no means represented the match at a sodden Hope Street.

Prescot Cables :  Paxton, Sayer, Morgan, Liptrot, McIntosh, Lundon, Wright, Cooney, Green, Rey, Thurston.  Subs – Calland (for Cooney, 79), Cliff (for Green, 85), Kirkbride, Riley, Gibiliru

Prescot Cables 1 FC Halifax Town 0

Saturday 7 November 2009

This Unibond Division One North match was the first encounter between the clubs and concluded with a surprise result.

In an entertaining first period, returnee Dean Thurston’s attempt at goal was blocked by keeper Hedge after a flowing move.  Moments later, Phil Cooney was undecided whether head or kick the ball when he met Aaron Rey’s looping cross at the far post.  Cooney could only hit the stand wall from 5 yards.

The second half became a war of attrition.

The breakthrough arrived after Prescot was awarded a free kick on 74 minutes.  Dale Wright floated the ball into the box.  As players went up to contest there may have been the slightest of touches as the ball nestled in the far corner of the net.

Andy Paxton then produced two miraculous saves in the 90th minute to keep Prescot noses in front.Following seven minutes of added time Prescot held out to inflict a first league defeat on Halifax.

Prescot Cables : 

Paxton, Sayer, Morgan, Liptrot, McIntosh, Lundon, Wright, Cooney, Green, Rey, Thurston.  Subs – Ridler (for Rey, 86), Owens, Cliff, Gifford, Kirkbride (for Wright, 92)

Planting for winter

Knowsley Council is bucking the national trend, as its apprentice scheme is blooming and giving valuable work opportunities for youngsters.

21 young people from the Borough have just started working for the Council as apprentices, in a wide variety of roles across the authority from housing benefits to horticulture.

The apprentices have earned initial two-year fixed term contracts, which see them combining working for the Council with studying for NVQs and other relevant certificates.

Jason O’Neill and Sean Davies are apprentices in the Council’s horticulture team and have been busy planting winter bedding flowers in the borough’s parks this week – as well as sowing the seeds for success in their own careers.

18 year old Jason, from Huyton, said: “I really wanted to get this apprenticeship and I am absolutely loving it. The best thing about working for Knowsley Council is they really look after you and support you.

Whiston's clean-up operation a great success

Residents in Whiston are benefiting from a major clean-up operation as part of Knowsley Council’s Big Deal campaign.

People in Littlecroft spent the day working hard alongside the Council’s environmental enforcement team, neighbourhood management, Pride teams and Street scene operatives.

Between them, they removed around three tonnes of domestic rubbish in vans and filled another three skips with waste from their gardens, sheds and homes.

Following their fantastic efforts, the area will be kept under review with enforcement action being taken against anyone found flytipping. Residents have also been given useful information booklets containing guidance on a range of environmental issues.

Cllr David Lonergan, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services said: “This clean up was a tremendous success thanks to the incredible hard work of staff from Knowsley Council and residents. They have really made the area a cleaner, safer and more pleasant environment for everyone.”

Life in the fast lane

Children from a Knowsley primary school learnt an important lesson about the dangers on the roads through a roadside assessment of driver and passenger behaviour.

Year 6 pupils at Whiston Willis Community Primary School, Whiston, carried out speed surveys using radar equipment at a busy road near their school, as part of the ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ scheme run by Knowsley’s Road Safety team.

The initiative also enabled them to compile seatbelt and stopping distance surveys. Local councillors Sandra and Ron Gaffney and Pauline Kelly joined the pupils as they returned to the classroom and the results were presented to them. Pupils learnt through DVDs and a class discussion what the outcomes meant to them in terms of their safety as pedestrians and car passengers.

The session was of particular importance to year six pupils as they prepare to make the transition from primary to secondary school. It is likely that they will have to make a longer journey, and be expected to cross busy roads to get to and from school.

Whiston ladies get on their bikes

Two ladies are in the saddle to demonstrate some pedal power after winning bicycles in Knowsley.

The bikes have been given away as prizes as part of Knowsley Council and NHS Knowsley’s commitment to encourage residents and staff to adopt a healthy lifestyle and do their bit for the environment.

During National Bike Week, everyone who attended a Pedal Away ride, an Active Travel breakfast or a Bike Doctor session was entered into the draw for the bicycles, provided by YOU health funding.

The lucky winners were Julie Moss, who works at St Leo’s and Southmead school in Whiston, and resident Sheila Thompson.

Julie has been involved with the school’s Travel Plan for five years, helping organise bike training and other events, and is now aiming to use the bike to get back in the saddle herself for the first time since childhood.

Meanwhile, Sheila hadn’t cycled for years before joining the Pedal Away scheme and is now looking forward to getting out on her bike even more.

Patience Jones, Travel Plan Co-ordinator for Knowsley Council, said: “We are delighted that these great prizes have been won by people who are so keen to put the bicycles to good use.

“We have a number of schemes in place which encourage residents and staff to get on their bikes. They really can benefit as it helps them lead a healthy lifestyle, saves them money by leaving the car at home and, as a result, is very kind to the environment.”

To find out more about Pedal Away community bike rides, contact co-ordinator Kelly McKeown on 0151 443 2148.

Julie Moss receives her bike, watched by colleagues and pupils at St Leo’s and Southmead school, while Sheila Thompson tries out her new bicycle with Pedal Away co-ordinator Kelly McKeown.

Meet Crime Writer Mandasue Heller

Mandasue will be visiting Whiston Library on

Tuesday 24th March 11.00 to 1.00

To launch her new book Snatched.

Win a signed copy of her new book!

‘Wonderfully wicked . . . Suspense intersects brilliantly with savage pop culture satire’
Publishers Weekly

‘Cracking page-turner . . . a gritty compassionate account of life on the margins’
Manchester Evening News

For more details and tickets ring Whiston Library on 0151 426 4757
Praise for Mandasue Heller’s novels:

‘Wonderfully wicked . . . Suspense intersects brilliantly with savage pop culture satire’
Publishers Weekly

‘Cracking page-turner . . . a gritty compassionate account of life on the margins’
Manchester Evening News

‘Alarming . . . beguiling . . . exhilarating.’

Scotsman

‘Sexy and slick’

Look magazine

‘Crammed with gangsters and glamour girls this is a sassy take on the usual crime thriller.’
Woman magazine

Mandasue Heller moved to Manchester in 1982. She spent ten years living in the notorious Hulme Crescents and worked as a singer in bands playing on the local pubs and clubs circuit. It wasn’t until a savage attack on her home and a period of time suffering from illness that that she began to re-evaluate her life and decided it was time to try to fulfil her ambition of becoming a writer.

Mandasue had always loved reading crime novels and so literally sat down one day and wrote about what she knew: hard-hitting tales of life on the estates in Manchester. She sent in her first novel to Hodder & Stoughton and it was bought within a few months. No agent, no contacts in the publishing world, just a woman with a wonderful ability to write and some great stories to tell.

Her debut novel, The Front, was published in January 2002 and received great praise from reviewers, booksellers and readers. Since then she has had six more books published – Forget Me Not, Tainted Lives, The Game, The Charmer, The Club and Shafted – all of which have won her more and more fans.

Mandasue’s eighth novel, Snatched, is being published in March 2009. She continues to live in and write about Manchester.

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.”

Designated Areas introduced in Knowsley

Kirkby and Whiston are the latest areas in Knowsley to introduce a 'designated area' to combat anti-social behaviour in the Borough.

The orders will be introduced on 25 January 2009 and 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 will operate 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 will operate 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 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.”