Knowsley Online

Kind Huyton Students up for national award

Kind hearted pupils from a Knowsley school have won an award for helping their neighbours fight crime and their fear of crime.

Anti social behaviour was causing some problems for residents of a sheltered housing scheme near Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning.

Some pupils had been using Marshfield Close as a short cut to and from school and this had caused some damage and made the residents anxious.

The students realised that fear of crime had become the problem and this  stemmed from a lack of any relationship between the two groups.

They set up a project to promote a positive image of young people and invited the residents to come to some of the after school activities.

The residents held sessions to teach the young people how to knit and the students entertained them with acting, singing and bingo.

New Plans for Stockbridge Village Centre

The detailed plans for the regeneration of Stockbridge Village centre have now been formally submitted to Knowsley Council for planning approval. The proposals include the creation of a new swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym and leisure facilities, learning resource centre, police access point, primary school, Children’s Centre and Family Centre, multi-use games area (MUGA) and a supermarket.

Developed in consultation with local people and key partners in the area, the multi-million pound plans directly reflect the needs and wants of the local community and aim to create a vibrant and welcoming focal point for the entire community to enjoy.

These proposals also complement other development projects in the area, including an extension to the health centre and provision of a new Play Pathfinder scheme in the heart of the village centre.

Local ward councillor, Bill Weightman commented:

“We have engaged with residents and businesses throughout the development process and we are confident that these proposals really reflect their aspirations for the future. Importantly we have listened to residents’ feedback on what matters most to them in their local area and worked hard to incorporate their comments into the proposals.

It’s this kind of responsiveness and willingness to listen to the community that I believe will contribute to the long term success of this development, which has the potential to have a really positive impact upon the area.”

Knowsley Walk to School Cash Bonanza!

Hundreds more school children will be walking to school across Knowsley thanks to a further £18,500 of funding awarded to schools under the Department for Transport’s ‘Walking to School’ initiative.

Next year, 10 schools in Knowsley will receive £1,000 and a further 17 will receive £500 to help reduce the number of cars outside the school gate. This brings the total amount received by Knowsley schools to £59,500, since the start of the programme in 2007.

The funding can be spent in a variety of ways, which gives schools the flexibility to use it to meet their particular needs. They could set up and run a Walking Bus, buy new tabards for pupils or provide a range of incentives for children who walk to and from school.

Knowsley Village Primary School is one of the school’s receiving £500. Learning Mentor, Bill Saxton explained: “The money has been really useful. We used our grant last year to purchase some reconditioned shelters for use by pupils and parents and we hope to use this year’s allocation towards incentives for a ‘Walk Once a Week’ Shop to reward regular walkers.”

Walking to school helps to cut down on congestion and helps to improve the environment, particularly air quality around the school gates. With rising concerns about childhood obesity, walking is a great free and easy exercise and it is sociable too.

Cllr Graham Morgan, Knowsley's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills said: “This is excellent news for the children of Knowsley. By reducing the number of school-run cars on the road, congestion and pollution is eased in our communities and this benefits all residents.

“This scheme is just one of a number of ways that we work together with our partners to encourage sustainable methods of transport like walking and cycling.”

For further information you can get in touch with Knowsley’s Travel Plan Advisers Joanne Spencer or Yvonne Plaistow on 0151 443 2239 or email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Joint raids in Knowsley lead to seizure of tobacco and fake designer goods

Raids in Knowsley have netted more than 6,000 illicit cigarettes as well as hundreds of items of fake designer goods.

Officers from Knowsley’s Environmental Health and Consumer Protection team joined with a team from HM Revenue & Customs and Merseyside Police on Friday (January 30) to carry out a series of raids at addresses throughout the borough.

At a property in Knowsley Village, they discovered: 6,240 illicit cigarettes and 26 kilograms of illicit tobacco along with a large quantity of fake DVDs and 27 bags and boxes of counterfeit designer goods. These included fake clothing items comprising coats, jeans and socks from designers such as Lacoste, Rock Face, Prada, Armani, and Christian Dior. There was also a quantity of counterfeit sunglasses and perfumes.

Investigations into the haul are ongoing. The householder - a 64 year-old man - will be questioned by Knowsley’s Environmental Health and Consumer Protection Officers in relation to the counterfeit goods in due course.

Cllr Ken Keith, Knowsley’s Cabinet member for Corporate and Customer Services, said: “This is yet another example of excellent joint agency working to address the growing problem of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco, as well as counterfeit goods.

“This sort of activity is not a victimless crime.- it not only impacts on the health of the community but also on legitimate local businesses.”

Mike Connolly, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) added: “The huge profits from cigarette smuggling feed other criminal activities such as drug dealing and fraud. Smuggling undermines public health by creating a cheap and unregulated supply, and undermines honest traders.

“ HMRC work closely with the UK Border Agency and local law enforcement agencies to tackle smuggling and attacks on our markets like this. The tobacco products seized in this instance equate to evaded duties totalling approximately £4,100. Don’t be tempted by these illicit products which harm our communities, damage legitimate retailers’ income and reduce community funding for such things as hospitals and schools.”

Knowsley Council's Acting Consumer Protection Manager Alan Shone is pictured with some of the seized goods

Marine 3 Prescot Cables 6

Friday 26 December 2008

A stunned audience witnessed a remarkable Unibond Premier League match in which Prescot overcame their Arriva Stadium hoodoo in some style.

Darren Byers opened the scoring spree as early as the 3rd minute as he managed to impart enough pace on his header to beat keeper Lake.  Cables increased their lead on 12 minutes when Byers fired a blistering shot past the helpless Lake.

Prescot let Marine back in when a botched clearance from a corner allowed Lawless to volley past Jones in the 20th minute.

Cables restored their two goal lead on 23 minutes when Smith located Byers whose pass inside the penalty area was met by McCulloch and he took advantage of defenders ‘ball watching’.

Only a minute later the score read 1-4 as Mike O’Donnell blasted the ball past Lake from close range. Byers was denied a hat trick by the woodwork.

With nothing to lose Marine cut their arrears on 51 minutes when Brazier headed home.

Byers was not to be denied a third goal with a tap in on 62 minutes.  Two minutes later McCulloch scored his second with a volley. 

Bizarrely Jones in the Prescot goal was the busier keeper in saving attempts although could not stop Brazier from scoring his second in the 78th minute.

Prescot’s second instalment with Marine continues at Hope Street on New Years Day, kick off 3pm.

Cables draw after extra time in the 3rd round

Prescot  Cables.  2. v  Marine 2. (After extra-time)
Unibond League Challenge Cup. 3rd Round.
Marine won 4-1 on penalty’s.

Both teams made changes from the previous week's derby, in the Liverpool Senior Cup, but there was no let up in the excitement for the fans of both sides.

Marine certainly started the better but were unable to create many chances but it was Cables, on 20 minutes, who should have opened the scoring, when Forsyth broke clear but with only the keeper to beat shot over the bar. This miss did not prove to be to costly because only three minutes later, Cables Byers diverted an excellent cross from Mahama into the corner of the net. Marine came more into the game and wasted a great chance when Tuck completely missed the ball when attempting a header, when only 6 yards out from goal. The game was now end to end but without any further chances being created.

The second half started with Marine pushing forward and looking very dangerous and it was no surprise, when Brazier struck with a fierce shot from just inside the area to equalise. Both defences were now coming under increasing pressure as each side tried to make a decisive breakthrough. Marine brought on Cumisky and nearly scored with his first kick but his shot went just wide. 

Extra-time was looking certain but with only 5 minutes left, Tuck scored with a header. Cables threw everyone forward and deep into injury time Byers hammered home a deserved equaliser. Byers nearly won the game but had a close range shot saved by the keeper.

Jones in the Cables goal made two excellent saves to deny Marine taking the lead, in the first period of extra-time. Cables started the second period the better of the two teams but could not score although Taylor forced a brilliant save from lake in the very last minute of the game. So the game, in which neither side deserved to lose, went to penalties. Marine’s players kept there nerve the better and made Cables pay for missing two of there attempts.

Marine 3 v Prescot Cables 1

Tuesday 18th November 2008.

A local derby is always something to look forward to and when it is also a Liverpool Senior Cup game, excitement is an added element. On reading the programme notes, the last sentence said “enjoy the game”. The players obviously read the note, because from the start both sides played a passing and movement game, which was visually pleasing to all the fans. This provided a game of many chances, both defences being put under a lot of pressure, it was end to end, but without that vital breakthrough.

Just on half time Cables nearly scored as Green forced Lake in the Marine goal to beat away his shot, the keeper recovered to make another fine save from Flood. Lake’s double save became even more important because in their next attack Marine were awarded a penalty, and Hussey converted the spot kick to put Marine ahead right on half time.

The second half started with Cables pushing forward, and Henders equalised after Connolly cut through the Marine defence and squared the ball across the area. After the goal Cables pressed forward but were unable to score again, although a fine diving header from Connolly went inches wide. Both sides were now starting to create more chances and Hibbert had to be alert to push over a shot from Hussey.

Marine scored the important second goal, when Hussey headed in a cross from Tuck. After this Cables pushed forward to try and grab an equaliser but were caught on the break in the fine minute and Tuck forced home the 3rd gaol after a scramble in the Cables area.

Prescot Cables 0 Frickley Athletic 2

Saturday 16th November 2008

Goals from Frickley’s  Neil Towler, settled this close encounter, between two sides who needed the points to move further up the table.

Cables started the better and applied early pressure on the Frickley defence, without creating any clear cut chances.

Play was becoming very scrappy and both sides lacked the cutting edge to breakdown both solid looking defences. Close to half time Cables had two excellent opportunities, but both Byers and Moore shot straight at the keeper and the chances were lost. Early in the second half Frickley made Cables pay for those missed chance, when they scored twice in a seven minute spell.

Both goals were scored by Towler, First a free header, when a deep cross was missed by Cables static defence, and the second when a long ball found Towler clear and he lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper. Cables used all three substitutes to try and get back into the game, but although they applied a lot of pressure they were unable to create any chances and Frickley’s defence easily held on till full time.

Prescot Cables Hibbert, Smith, Flood, O’Donnell, Moore, McIntosh, Cooney, Taylor, Byers, Connolly, S.Williams. Subs. Henders, Green (for Byers 62), Bell, Forsyth( for Taylor 62), P. Williams(for Smith 62).

Matlock Town 2 Prescot Cables 2

Saturday 1 November 2008

Prescot escaped with a draw when a victory was once again there for the taking in this re-arranged Unibond Premier League clash at The Causeway.

The encounter turned into a game of three penalties with the officials having just as much an impact as the players.

Williams was fouled in the Matlock area in the 14th minute and Moore calmly stepped up to knock away the spot kick.

Cables looked dangerous on each attack.  Byers header was foiled by a flying save by keeper Richmond.  In quick succession McCulloch and Connolly had outstanding chances to increase the lead.

After the break Prescot allowed Matlock to drift back into contention.  Keeper Hibbert was judged to have brought down one of the Matlock forwards in the 68th minute.  Hannah put away the penalty kick.  3 minutes later he was helping himself to another penalty goal when Moore was judged to have handled in the area.

Not believing their good fortune, the Matlock spectators censed a gifted 3 points.

In the 93rd minute, a hopeful long throw into a crowded Matlock box was turned into the net by substitute Green to earn Prescot a deserved yet unlikely draw.

Prescot’s next competitive game is at home to Frickley Athletic on Saturday 15 November.

Prescot Cables 2 Nantwich Town 0

Tuesday 28 October 2008.

Precot cables moved out of the bottom four after an impressive performance against Nantwich town, in the latest game in the Unibond Premier league. After a period of scrappy play, in which both defences were on top, Cables started to build up the pressure and pinned Nantwich back in their own half. Williams played a prominent part in Cables attacks and he had two long range efforts saved by the keeper.

As the pressure grew, so did the home fans expectation of a break through, and on 25 minute the goal finally came. A clever through ball found Cables Darren Byers clear of the defence, and he calmly beat the advancing keeper, to give Cables a deserved lead,

After this Nantwich threatened for the first time and a mix up in defence nearly cost Cables the lead, but as the angled shot went across an empty net, no Nantwich player was on hand to put the ball into the net.

This scare only made Cables put on more pressure they continued to press Nantwich back and on 40 minutes Williams was brought down in the penalty area, Thomas Moore, who was having an excellent game, converted the spot kick, putting Cables 2-0 up.

The second half started as the first with some scrappy play. Both defences were on top, and chances were few in number but it was Cables who were looking the most likely to score.

Nantwich tried to change things by bringing on two substitutes and for a time this worked. They put Cables under pressure but the Cables defence was not going to crack. Hibbert the Cables keeper made an excellent save at the end of the game to prevent Nantwich a consolation goal, and kept a deserved clean sheet.

Prescot Cables: Hibbert, Smith, Flood, O’Donnell, Moore, McIntosh, Cooney, Taylor, Byers, Connolly, S. Williams. Subs – McEwan, Mahama, Henders (for Connolly, 78), P. Williams, McCulloch.