http://www.champnews.com All the latest Skelmersdale news from Champion Newspapers en-uk Copyright 2007 Champion Media Group. All Rights Reserved http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8130 Woodley Sports 1 Skelmersdale United 0 Skelmersdale lost an unbeaten away record stretching back to September on this trip to Stockport writes Neil Leatherbarrow The difference between the sides was two magnificent saves by Woodley keeper Liam Higginbotham. Skelmersdale were reduced to ten for more than an hour and struggled for half the game to come to terms with Woodley’s artificial pitch. They might well have overcome all that had it not been for Higginbotham. It didn’t take long for things to start going wrong for Skelmersdale, in the sixth minute they went behind to a well worked goal and a clinically executed finish. Woodley defender Rob Parsonage was put away down the right by Liam Hogan, Parsonage’s cross in to the penalty area was swept past United keeper Damien Eastham to give Woodley the lead. Inside a minute Skelmersdale should have levelled, John Cass was slipped through behind the Woodley defence, but screwed his shot just wide of Higginbotham’s left-hand post. In the 18th minute, Higginbotham pulled off the first of his two great saves. Michael White swung in the ball from the right side, Houghton latched onto it, but was floored by a clumsy challenge from Parsonage, who surprisingly was not booked. White stepped up for the penalty and hit a venomous shot high to Higginbotham’s right, but with the ball destined for the roof of the net, the keeper somehow got a hand to the ball. It wasn’t a perfect penalty, but it wasn’t that bad and the save was pure instinctive. In the last six weeks Woodley have beaten both Lancaster City and Colwyn Bay on their home pitch by three goal margins, so it is fair to say it gives them an edge, it certainly restricted Skelmersdale’s passing game in the first-half and both teams became embroiled in a battle for possession rather than a feast of skills. Matters took another turn for the worse from Skelmersdale’s angle in the 25th minute. Aaron Turner tussled with home number seven Mark Haslam as play switched up the pitch via a long ball, Haslam went down holding his face and referee Mr Waters waved an instant red card at Turner, some say a butt was involved, but that’s debateable as even the camera man filming the game missed the incident as he and the crowd followed the ball up field. The first 45 minutes had really been a stagnant affair, so the second period had to be better, surely?  It was, but not remarkably so. Skelmersdale opened well, but still couldn’t find any sustainable tempo. White and Paul Woolcott combined well on the right before White put a crisp ball across the pitch to Cass, but the striker’s snap shot was straight at Higginbotham. In the 56th minute, Houghton beat the Woodley offside trap, but Cass couldn’t get a telling touch to Houghton’s ball into the box. Then Cass headed over from Karl Ledsham’s cross.   After 67 minutes, Cass saw another shot saved, before Shaun Foster found the net, but was well offside. Time was running out on Skelmersdale. Ledsham had a shot deflected wide, then Kevin Towey had a go.   With five minutes left, it clear it was not going to be Skelmersdale’s night. Towey laid the ball back to Woolcott and his shot was ferocious, Higginbotham sprang from one side of the goal to the other and palmed the ball away, Skelmersdale were astounded, and it was a goal from the moment the ball left Woolcott’s boot. The game petered out in the remaining few minutes. United had dominated possession after the interval, but again chasing a game was difficult, however, it might have been easier against any other keeper but Higginbotham and the result was rough justice. Skelmersdale get a break from league action on Saturday, when they play Belper Town at home in the Presidents Cup semi-final. Belper are not in the best of form themselves, so it might just be a good opportunity for Tommy Lawson’s men to get the show back on the road, with no pressure.   Woodley Sports: Higginbotham, Hogan, Sellers (Jarrett, 65), Parsonage (c), Cotton, Sarcevic (Dickinson, 83), Haslam, Gee, Dennis, Browne, Walker Subs (not used) Elmore, Towns Skelmersdale United: Eastham, White (c) (Towey, 81), Foster, Burke, Akrigg, Turner, Ledsham, Wade A., Cass (Wade R., 68), Houghton (Armstrong, 64), Woolcott Subs (not used) Loughlin, Bathurst  Referee: J. Waters Attendance: 101 12/03/2010 16:37:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8128 Tommy Rogers Skelmersdale & District Sunday Football League Sunday, March 7 2010. Match Reports Premier League Games Highwayman 1 Hare & Hounds 3 This was a credit to both sides who played the game in a fantastic spirit, while still keeping its competitive edge by Kevin Mulholland. Highwayman took the lead after 15 minutes when L. Morris found the net, and they were good value for the lead until Mark King levelled the scores 15 minutes later and swung the advantage towards Hare & Hounds. Ash Dineley then added a second for Hare & Hounds in the 41st minute to see them ahead at half time. The second half saw both sides playing some fine football and creating good goalscoring opportunities, but the only goal of the half came via centre forward Mark King who netted his second in the 68th minute to seal a good win for Hare & Hounds. Shevington Park 2 Athletico Edge Hill 1 Edge Hill started this game very well and shocked Shevington Park with an early goal after nine minutes from Adam Hayes. This proved to be the only goal of the first half and indeed the only goal of the opening 75 minutes. Shevington Park left it really late to hit back but they finally did in the 80th minute when C. Blackhall converted from the penalty spot and J. McFadden grabbed a late winner in the 87th minute. Field Lane 2 Digmoor 4 Digmoor controlled this game from the off, and deservedly took the lead after 20 minutes through John Stalker with captain Alan Tyrer adding the second after 31 minutes. Lee ‘Chocky’ Thomson added a third just before the break and Digmoor looked comfortable. The second half resumed the same pattern as Chocky added his second to put Digmoor 4-0 up and they looked in cruise control. Unfortunately they took their foot off the pedal and allowed Field Lane two late goals in the 84th (Ian Luck o.g.) and 86th (C. McKenna) minutes to give the scoreline a flattering look. St Benets 5 The Todd 5 This game was really nip and tuck throughout as the goals came thick and fast! Enough football clichés – Todd took the lead after four minutes through Alan Kelly with A.Merner replying for St Benets after 16 minutes. One minute later Todd were ahead again through Adam Scullin, but St Benets again levelled 10 minutes later through A. McNab. Connor Dickens and Alan Kelly then gave Todd a two goal cushion at the break with goals in the 43rd and 45th minutes. St Benets clawed their way back into the game after 65 and 66 minutes with two goals from A.Merner to make it 4-4. They then went on to take the lead after 77 minutes when T. Sinclair found the net, but Todd had a sting in their tail and they hit back with two late goals in the 83rd and 86th minute from Craig Jacobs and Adam Sculllin to nick the win. Pingwood 2 Molyneux 3 Another superb game with Molyneux dominating much of the early play and deservedly taking a 3-0 lead with goals from Craig Castley (12 mins), J. Philips (39 mins) and Castley again (69 mins). Pingwood battled resolutely in the closing stages and pulled two goals back to give Molyneux a real fright with goals from Gary Ryder after 75 minutes and a penalty from Dean Chewh after 82 proving too little too late. The Tail 0 Ashley Travel 1 Another fine game with both teams playing some really good, clean football without finding a breakthrough in an enthralling first half. The deadlock was finally broken in the 67th minute by J. McLintock with what proved to be the winner, although both teams continued to play some great stuff until the final whistle. 11/03/2010 12:20:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8124 West Lancashire councillors are thrashing out ways to deal with some of the borough's worst parking spots in an effort to end misery for many of the region's motorists. Last night (March 9, 2010) the borough council's Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee met to consider a report into some of the trickiest spots for residents to park up, and advocated using vacant council-owned land and garages in an attempt to allievate pressure on some of the worst-affected areas. “The Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee at West Lancashire Borough Council carried out a review on Car Parking in West Lancashire the purpose of which was to consider the diverse parking problems experienced in the Borough particularly as it affects residential areas near to centres of employment and schools who do not have space available to accommodate vehicle parking,” said Up Holland borough councillor Terry Rice, the committee's chairman, in his foreward on the report into the parking problems. “We started the scrutiny project in July 2010 and have learned much from our enquiries. In Autumn 2009 we surveyed our own Members through a questionnaire to hear their views on parking "hotspots" in their Wards. The evaluation of the results and our enquiries has assisted us to explore the issues of the review topic and inform the Committees recommendations.” Several locations across the borough have been highlighted as being particularly bad in terms of parking, with Ormskirk having the most places which have been identified as being priorities for any work the council undertakes to ease pressure on car parking spaces. The West Lancashire locations the committee considers as being its highest priorities in easing parking problems are: Ormskirk, in the vicinity of Tower Hill Ormskirk, in the vicinity of Edge Hill University and Ormskirk Hospital Ormskirk, around the town centre Sandy Lane Centre, Skelmersdale Linacre Lane, Halsall Burscough Village Centre Aughton Town Green Lane Shops/Aughton Village Hall Ormskirk, Burscough, Aughton, Appley Bridge and Up Holland railway stations The council has already considered several solutions to problems with parking in the borough, including allowing vacant garages it owns to be used by residents to store vehicles, and allowing empty council-owned sites to be used as temporary extra car parks. It also advocates working more closely with Lancashire County Council to improve the borough's public transport, particularly park and ride schemes, to lessen residents' reliance on their cars and reduce the number of them driving into towns such as Ormskirk and Skelmersdale. The final reccomendations from last night's meeting will be considered by the council's cabinet when it meets at its next meeting, due to take place next Tuesday (March 16, 2010). For more information read next week's Champion, due out on March 17, 2010. By David Simister       10/03/2010 09:16:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8120 First it was the frosty weather that led to Skelmersdale Junior League matches being cancelled, and now games have been called off by another problem - moles! Bosses of the Skelmersdale Junior League have had to close a pitch at Liverpool Road because of moles digging up the pitch. And there were no games at all played on the pitch last Sunday and it is expected it will not be used next Sunday either. West Lancashire Borough Council have now contracted their own mole man to make the 'catch of the day' and solve the problem. Joe Nelson, chairman of the Skelmersdale Junior League, claims the problem is not restricted to Liverpool Road and he believes moles are rampant in the area. He said: "They have moved in and set up some problems for us. The mole man has done a good job and the problem is being controlled. "The animals dig and burrow under pitches and make the ground uneven." The moles have had a field day taking the soil out and bringing it to the surface. "I don't think the problem is limited to Liverpool Road as moles are pretty rampant in Skelmersdale." "We will have to work with the council to get the situation back on track. We may have to play some games midweek." A spokeswoman for the borough council said: "West Lancashire Borough Council has engaged a contractor who is currently working to remove the moles from the pitch. “Traps are being laid and once the moles have been caught they will be released unharmed well away from the site. "Once the moles have been removed it will also be necessary to backfill their underground runs with topsoil to ensure that the surface is safe to play on. "The process will be completed as soon as possible and we hope to have the pitch available again in two to three weeks." "Moles do present us with a frequent problem around West Lancashire but we are committed to dealing with all incidents as soon as they occur to ensure that residents can continue to enjoy using the facilities." By Henry James     10/03/2010 08:56:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8119 West Lancashire could have not one but two big National Lottery winners. A mystery winner, known only as Mr T from Lancashire, scooped £577,360.30 in the EuroMillions draw on January 8, 2010. And a Lotto prize of £114,939 has yet to be claimed in the West Lancashire area, so National Lottery ticket players are being urged to check and double-check their tickets. Camelot, who operate The National Lottery, could not say where exactly in Lancashire Mr T was from, but did add he had matched five main and one Lucky Star number. He was playing The National Lottery through an interactive channel, so never had to touch a ticket. The search is now on to find the owner of the winning ticket, bought in the West Lancashire area, who matched five numbers and the bonus ball in the Lotto draw on Saturday, February 20. The winning Lotto numbers on that date were 8, 24, 27, 31, 34, 36 and the bonus ball was 19. Camelot was not allowed to disclose where the ticket was bought. The lucky ticket-holder has until 5.30pm on Thursday, August 19, 2010 to make their claim. If no-one comes forward with the winning ticket before the prize claim deadline, then the prize money will go to good causes. A National Lottery spokesperson said: “We're desperate to find this mystery ticket-holder and unite them with their winnings - this amazing prize could really make a huge difference to somebody's life. "We're urging everyone to check their old tickets again or look anywhere a missing ticket could be hiding. Try checking in the pockets of clothing, in wallets, bags and down the back of the sofa - someone out there could literally be sitting on a fortune! "We have the champagne on ice and our fingers crossed that the lucky winner comes forward to claim their win."  To jog Lotto players' memories, the charity single, Helping Haiti - Everybody Hurts topped the UK singles chart at the time, while Alicia Keys was at the top of the album chart with The Element of Freedom. Local club, Ormskirk FC were romping to a 6-3 win over Atherton Royal, while Skelmersdale United FC were losing 4-1 to AFC Flyde. It was the day Liverpool ground out a 0-0 draw with Manchester City. Anyone who believes they have the winning ticket should call 0845 910 0000.  By Henry James    10/03/2010 08:49:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8116 Dreamboats and Petticoats, Liverpool Empire Theatre   The sixties were full of fun – remembered for the first man on the moon, England’s World Cup victory and Coronation Street’s first episode being broadcast – among many things. It was a decade of ‘first times’ and Dreamboats and Petticoats on stage at the Liverpool Empire brings back memories of music, youth and love through a fantastic, lively and electric show. It tells the story of young dreamer Bobby, who isn’t scared to strive for what he wants – to be a successful songwriter and own his own electric guitar (with amplifier). Opportunities open up for him to start the journey to his dream, although he is distracted along the way – yes you guessed it – there’s a girl involved (a Runaround Sue to be accurate). Through the youth club he attends, St Mungo’s, Bobby is entered into a competition to win a recording with a top agency – all he has to do is write a hit song. He enlists the help of young Laura, who is madly in love with him, although he’s to busy chasing the girl at the youth club with the biggest bust – Sexy Sue. Unfortunately for Bobby Sexy Sue is chasing cocky ‘real man’ Norman – are you keeping up? The show is packed with no less than 40 sixties songs, all performed in fantastic context with the tale of young love and big dreams With a live and kicking youth club in Essex, a day trip to South End (and the Tunnel of Love) there’s no shortage of action. Each cast member is great apart and sensational together, with the ladies in particular belting out fantastic tunes showing off their powerful voices, teamed with flawless dance moves and brilliant choreography. Featuring hit songs like Teenager in Love, Let’s dance and Let’s Twist Again, it’s no wonder the show partners a best-selling album. The live band, who are also part of the company are on stage throughout the production and are the icing on the cake, particularly Bethany Compson-Bradford on the saxophone. Filled with witty lines referring to today’s society, including the economic downturn and the perdition that the new TV programme Coronation Street ‘won’t last’ there are plenty of laughs. If you’ve ever been young and in love, or had a dream you were determined to follow, this is the show for you. Wear your dancing shoes though – I guarantee packed isles come final curtain.   Champ Verdict – 4.5/5 – Get ready to twist!   Dreamboats and Petticoats runs at the Liverpool Empire until March 13. Box office: 0844 847 2525 www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk.   Rebecca Keegan 09/03/2010 08:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8115 Review Stop Messing About, Liverpool Empire Theatre   My first impression was that I would find this play a bit dull – I’m a fan of bells and whistles, changing scenes and big shows, so when the set of a 60s BBC recording studio was clearly the full length backdrop, I was ready to start clock watching. That was until five minutes in, after an audience warm up and introduction to the show had me giggling in my seat and the metaphor-tastic sketches. I can’t say it brought back memories fir me – as I wasn’t yet in the world when the well-known radio series was broadcast, but the education into the ‘good old days’ was fantastic. You don’t have to be a Kenneth Williams fan to enjoy this show, it offers something for everyone – it’s fast paced and full of double entendres – constantly keeping the audience on their feet (or more precisely, on their seats). Some jokes of course, didn’t sink in right away, and during the interval I was surrounded by people explaining various lines to their friends, with further laughter erupting as the punch sunk in. Although there were no big changes to make, the cast of four were constantly running from mic to mic in the recording studio taking on the roll of different, often eccentric characters. Through an instant change in accent, dialect and facial expression, the cast did a fantastic job of completely transforming through characters. This play is cheeky, fun, fast – and sometimes a little close to the edge. Stop messing about and grab your tickets now to this Kenneth Williams extravaganza. Champ Verdict – 3/5   Stop Messing About runs at the Liverpool Empire until Saturday, March 6. Tickets range from £16. Box office: 0844 847 2525 www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk Rebecca Keegan 05/03/2010 05:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8114 Tommy Rogers Skelmersdale & District Sunday Football League Match Reports Sunday, February 28, 2010. Premier League Games Ashley Travel 0 Molyneux 3 In this hard fought encounter Molyneux started much the better of the two sides and were looking to consolidate their place at the top of the table, writes Kevin Mulholland. Ten minutes in and J. Devine gave Molyneux the lead with a superb goal and no more than they deserved, although for the remainder of the first half the game was very even. The second period was also even but two silly mistakes by Ashley Travel proved very costly as Molyneux capitalised and extended their lead with goals in the 50th and 65th minutes. Pingwood 1 St Benets 2 St Benets controlled the early exchanges of this game and got their reward with the opening goal when McNab poke the ball home from the edge of the area after 20 minutes. St Benets then extended their lead when McNab again found the net with a great header on the half hour mark. Chad Brown then pulled a goal back for Pingwood in the 34th minute with a sublime lob over the keeper to make it 2-1 at half time. The second half saw plenty of pressing without any real chances, although Ste Windy did hit the crossbar for Pingwood and this was the best chance of a tight second period. Shevington Park 1 Hare & Hounds 3 Another really tough, hard fought encounter with both teams competing for everything. Shevington Park taking the early initiative when D. Hilditch scored after 28 minutes. Dale Sealey hit back for Hare & Hounds after 32 minutes with a rare goal to level things up at the break. The second half saw Hare & Hounds really take control and two further goals from Mark King after 48 minutes and Chris Lomax on 84 saw them through for a fine win. Highwayman 1 Field Lane 3 In another evenly matched contest, D. Lindsay gave Field Lane the lead after 31 minutes and when he added a second from the penalty spot on 34 they were firmly in control. The second period saw a quick response from Highwayman as Kevin Tully pulled a goal back in the 55th minute but Field Lane pressed on and in the 77th minute finally put the game beyond doubt when J. Leigh scored the third with a stunning strike. Athletico Edge Hill 2 Digmoor 0 This was a good even game with both sides playing some really inventive football. Adam Hayes put Edge Hill ahead with the opening goal after 21 minutes and then midfield lynchpin Lewis Kerr added the second with a deflected shot in the 33rd minute. Digmoor were then forced to play the remainder of the game when their goalkeeper went off injured, and although Edge Hill continued to press in the second half the Digmoor defence stood resolute with Tony Pilson outstanding. Palmeiras 2 McMillan 3 A really close encounter which saw A. Pearce put McMillan ahead after 35 minutes with C. Smith adding a second just before half time. The second half was really tight and the goalscoring dried up until the 75th minute when M. Price pulled one back for Palmeiras with C. Choney scoring an unfortunate own goal to give McMillan a 3-1 lead in the 83rd minute. The same player then made amends with a goal at the right end in the last minute but it was too late to instigate a fightback. Polo 2 Busy Bee 8 This was a poor game in which Busy Bee controlled much of the game, although S. Morgan got Polo off to a flyer with the first goal after 16 minutes. Two minutes later Busy Bee were level through I. Jones and from then on they never looked back with goals from Kevin Leadbetter (19), Adam Leadbetter (41 & 73), L. Phillips (63), Dave Stoddern (67), M. Atherton (67) and A. Stoddern (87). Steve Edwards grabbed Polo’s other goal in the 37th minute. The Tail 1 The Todd 6 Pretty much one way traffic in this game which saw Todd take control from the off with a goal after just four minutes from C. Daulby. The same player completed his hat trick with goals in the 37th and 70th minutes and along with goals from A. Kelly (50 & 58) and T. Brady (84 pen) saw his side through to a comfortable win. C. Knox netted The Tail’s consolation goal in the 85th minute. 04/03/2010 12:11:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8108 A Skelmersdale couple have told how they feared for their lives on the night 45th wedding anniversary when their car was set ablaze just yards from their own front room. Steven Murray, 65, was sat in his living room with wife Beryl watching television when they heard the window of their Jaguar XJ6 being smashed and then watched in horror as it burst into flames. Fortunately they were not seriously injured and the fire was extinguished within around 15 minutes but the couple still have sleepless nights because of the incident that happened last Thursday night. Steven, a retired postman, said: “We were just locking up for the night at around 11pm and the car alarm went off - we were shocked to find out that the car was on fire. "We were actually very lucky as if we hadn't of caught it that quick there would have been an explosion that could have caused some serious damage and killed us all." Beryl Murray, 65, said: ”We still feel anxious. I didnt believe it at first I thought - how can somebody so such a thing? “It could have killed us and set fire to the whole row of terraced houses.” Steven added: “I'd like to pass on my sincere thanks to our neighbours who have supported us through this difficult time. "They have given us flowers and have offered us spare cars or lifts to help with the shopping, it shows that Skelm has a real community spirit." A police spokesperson said: "An investigation is underway with regards to this incident and we would encourage anyone with any information relating to it to contact the police on 0845 125 3545." By David Raven   03/03/2010 05:40:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8106 West Lancashire Borough Council has frozen its Council Tax, but residents will still face a very small rise in their bills this year. The borough and county council have both frozen their Council Tax precept, but the overall bill marginally increases by 0.36% when the costs of the fire and police are added in. Bosses at the borough council have said the decision to freeze their Council Tax and car park fees has been done to help residents through the recession. Fees for pest control, and bulky collections will also be frozen. Someone who lives in a Band D property will pay £1,501.77 per year. Following the budget West Lancashire, MP Rosie Cooper, criticised the council for not using the £22.6m in their reserves to invest in initiatives such as weekly waste collection, concessionary travel and youth provision. Tory finance chief David Westley added: “This is an austerity budget as we expect our income will continue to fall, and we are likely to face funding shortfalls in future years.” Over the last 12 months, the council completed a £1.6m package of efficiency savings and a 10% reduction in the workforce. The council faced a budget gap of only £228,000 in 2010/11 and this will be met through a number of efficiencies including: * Saving £90,000 on human resources management costs through partnership working with Lancs County Council * £30,000 through introducing wheelie bins in Skelmersdale The council has set aside £25,000 in a budget to help deal with problems caused by severe weather. Council leader Councillor Ian Grant said: “The statutory obligation to clear roads and the town centre was Lancashire County Council's - however a small budget has been made available to address some of the snow clearing problems especially in the town centre.” West Lancs have also set aside £2,000 in a new grants scheme for older people. An Empty Homes fund was mentioned too, which will enable the council to address several homes which because of neglect by owners have had an adverse affect on the appearance of a neighbourhood. When asked if the council would have to make any more job cuts? Cllr Grant responded: “It would be inappropriate to say never, because we don't know what will come in Government packages after the election.” In response to criticism from Rosie Cooper on their reserves the council has said that while they had £22.6m at the start of 2009/10, only £8.2m of this was available to support the General Revenue Account budget. And as a result of previous council decisions, £2.8m of the £8.2m reserves will be used in 2009/10, leaving only £5.4m reserves at the current time. By Henry James   03/03/2010 05:20:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8102 West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has been blasted by the chief of the county council after she claimed that the Whitemoss Landfill site could be used to store radioactive waste. Ms Cooper said that plans to expand the role of the site could see it double in size and change its status to handle hazardous waste, which could include mild nuclear waste. But borough council leader Geoff Driver accused the MP of being “irresponsible” and “scaring people”. Ms Cooper has started a petition on her website against county council plans to use the site, on White Moss Road South in Skelmersdale, and urged residents to sign up and share their views. She said: “Enough is enough. Skem residents have put up with noxious smells and long term dangers to their health for long enough. I oppose plans for any extension to Whitemoss. The site isn't full and local residents believe that this decision is being driven by profit, not need. ”We also don't need more dumping grounds throughout West Lancashire to cause increased dangers to residents and communities. “Just because we have the land does not mean that we will be dumped on by Lancashire County Council. ”That is why I'm encouraging people to go to online and sign the petition so that we can make our voices heard loud and clear: Don't dump hazardous waste on our children and communities.“ Her comments come following several seperate campaigns in the Skelmersdale area against the plans for the site, including one launched by residents' groups in the town, and another launched last month by Skelmersdale South borough councillors Doreen Saxon, Syd Jones and David McKay. Lancashire County Council responded by saying that it had already clarified that no radioactive waste is to be treated at the site, and said Ms Cooper's comments were ”amazingly irresponsible“. ”This is not true and I find it beyond belief that she would scare local people by telling them this. “The majority of her press release makes claims that are not true or, even more worrying, exposes her complete lack of knowledge about her own area. This is the first time I have heard these amazingly irresponsible claims from the MP and, hopefully, the last,” said county councillor Geoff Driver, the council's leader. “The county council has a responsibility to investigate all the options for the future of waste in Lancashire. We do this openly and honestly and have been asking for the views of people in Lancashire, as part of the Minerals and Waste Development Framework, since last year. Why has the MP left it until now to speak up? Particularly when our own officers have told her what has really been proposed.” Rosie Cooper's petitions against the plans for the Whitemoss landfill site are now available to view online. To take a look for yourself visit www.rosiecooper.net/say-no-to-waste-dumps. By David Simister   26/02/2010 11:18:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8101 A young man who attacked his girlfriend after taking a cocktail of drink and drugs has been jailed for 21 months. Liverpool Crown Court heard that it was Lee Stevens' fourth conviction for domestic violence, though the first time on this girlfriend. Judge David Aubrey, QC pointed out that that while on bail for the attack Stevens went on to commit further violence, for which he has already served six months. "This tells me quite a bit about you and your ability, or otherwise, to control yourself. "I have no doubt whatsoever that you represent a risk, particularly to females." Judge Aubrey said, however, that whether or not he regarded him as a significant risk of serious harm to the public he did not have the power to impose an extended sentence on him. Stevens, 25, of Wheatfield View, Ford, Litherland, pleaded guilty to assaulting Sarah Brennan causing actual bodily harm. Philip Hall, prosecuting, told the court that 26-year-old Miss Brennan had been going out with Stevens for two weeks but had they had known each other for years and had been in a relationship before. On May 3 last year the couple consumed a large amount of alcohol and cocaine and when they returned to her home in Netherton about 4.30 am the next morning an argument began during he became violent. "He punched her to the face, dragged her to the floor, kicked her to the back and hip area using both feet," said Mr Hall. She managed to leave her home about 9.30 am and was treated for her injuries which included a lump to her forehead, a black eye, a cut behind her ear and bruising to her arms and knees. Andrew Downie, defending, said: "He recognises he behaved appallingly and that it is time to change. "It is not insignificant it occurred after a monumental exercise from both the complainant and defendant in consuming alcohol and cocaine." Mr Downie added: "He understands the consequences of violence as his brother was seriously assaulted recently and is now in a permanent brain damaged state. "This weighs heavily on his mind and he feels shame and guilt." By Lynda Roughley   26/02/2010 11:07:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8092 People in Skelmersdale have a new venue where they can meet their neighbourhood police officers - a former public toilets. Town councillors Neil Furey and Barry Nolan have panned plans to locate the police point in the former public toilets in the town's Coronation Park and rejecting vacant shop unit in The Winsters. Skelmersdale North Labour councillor Barry Nolan, said: “I would have preferred the police point to have been located at a vacant shop unit on The Winsters, which is located alongside the main pedestrian route way from Old Skelmersdale to the Concourse shopping centre.” Skelmersdale North Labour councillor Neil Furey, added: “This decision appears to have made on finances alone and little consultation has taken place within the community. "Unfortunately, the Police would have to pay rent on the shop unit but the public toilets have been offered for free by West Lancashire Borough Council. “The public toilets at Coronation Park overlook the children's play equipment and multi-use games area. I expect children standing on the swings or travelling down the slide the wrong way will be dealt with by the nearby Neighbourhood Police on park watch duty.” West Lancashire Chief Inspector Dean Holden said the decision behind a new Police Point in Old Skelmersdale was taken following full consultation with members of the community. He responded: “The potential site in the vacant shop at the Winsters has been fully considered but unfortunately is not deemed a viable option due to the financial implications in terms of refurbishment and rent." "The site at Coronation Park is an ideal location in terms of ensuring the Neighbourhood Policing Team is accessible in an appropriate environment and is financially viable in the current financial climate." "Advances in technology enable members of Neighbourhood Policing Teams to spend more time within the community whilst being able to access force IT systems which reduces the need for them to regularly return to a Police Station or Police point in order to complete administrative functions. "I would therefore expect that despite having a police point at Coronation Park, my officers will spend more time out on patrol in the key areas of the town which includes the area around The Winsters." By Henry James 24/02/2010 05:58:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8091 The chap leaning out of his milk float said it all. Normally, if someone shouts a couple of words at you which can't be repeated in a family newspaper, you'd be within your rights to feel a bit offended, but for a change I could see where he was coming from. This was Lord Street on a bright weekday morning, and I was walking down it wearing pyjamas. I have felt less conspicuous. It seemed like such a good idea in The Champion office last Friday. There's been a lot of talk lately about whether it's right to wander into your favourite shop wearing nothing more than your nightwear, and as the only one of us who actually admitted to having done it before, I took on the challenge of trying it out for an entire day. It is, after all, only nightwear! But lots of you don't agree, and reckon people putting on PJs for the trip to the shop is about as sensible as going to bed in your best suit. “They aren't setting a good example to their children, as now their children are doing the same thing. When I see these young women they are making us know they are on the dole, lazy and unkempt, why can't they get dressed and look smart, as visitors to Litherland think this is terrible,” said Litherland resident Marie Williams, after complaining of female residents wearing pyjamas during the daytime. “You don't see men walking around in their pyjamas, so have have a bit of respect.” Actually, you do now, although I suspect this is only because no woman in our office is foolish enough to try walking through Southport town centre wearing long jimjams, slippers and a dressing gown. I'll happily admit that at 3am, I have been to branches of Tesco before, usually to pick up essentials on a five minute dash because nothing else is open. I'd like to say strolling into a supermarket at 10:30am in the morning is a completely different kettle of fish, but I can't. The staff wouldn't let me in. What's worse is that our Champion photographer insisted on heading off in front so he could turn around and catch me walking past stunned shoppers, but this meant lots of loitering around looking very suspicious. This wasn't shopping made easier. This was looking like I'd escaped from somewhere and had arrived in an alien world, completely confused and out of place. The point I was trying to prove is that it's a free country and if you want to go shopping in your pyjamas, there's nothing stopping you. I'll carry on nipping timidly into late night stores in my nightwear if the emergency calls for it. But I can only conclude one thing from doing it for an entire day, when you've got an entire wardrobe's worth of gear to wear. Why would you? It's a stupid thing way to spend the day wandering around, but if you're proud to parade around in pyjamas, I'm not going to stop you. I suspect I may get some abuse for this... By David Simister   24/02/2010 05:49:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8090 The region's guiding leaders are urging aerial photographers to come to their aid to help pull off a spectacular centenary stunt on Ainsdale Beach this summer. Members of Sefton's guiding community told The Champion on Monday, January 15, 2010, that they are planning to create a giant “100” figure out of 1,000 of their own members as part of their centenary celebrations, but need the help of a skilled aerial photographer to help capture the event when it takes place later this year. “This will be a once in a lifetime event, which will give guides, brownies and leaders alike the chance to celebrate 100 years of guiding with an amazing one-off event,” said Natalie Simmons, leader of the 74th Brownies, based in Kew. “We're looking for an aerial photographer to take pictures of the event, which will see 1,000 brownies and guides arranged into the shape of a number '100' on the beach. It's part of as challenge they're taking part in to help celebrate 100 years of guiding, and doing this will help them gain the maximum number of points and help them complete that challenge.” The guiding movement was first established in 1910 by Scouts founder Robert Baden Powell, who believed that girls' activities should be different from the boys' activities in the Scouting movement, which led to the establishment of the first units. Sefton's branch of the girl guiding movement has decided to celebrate the centenary in a number of ways throughout 2010, and is proposing the beach display as a memorable stunt to help commemorate the anniversary and promote the region. If you think you can help, contact Natalie Simmons on 07590 114539 or go to the Sefton girlguiding website online at www.girlguidingsefton.org.uk. By David Simister 18/02/2010 11:37:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8089 Health bosses are promoting awareness of their bowel screening programme as part of national bowel cancer awareness week. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK and over the next two years all men and women aged 60 to 69 who are registered with a GP will receive a screening test kit through the post. Dr. Mark Hendrickse, Clinical Director of the Lancashire Screening Programme believes that the kits can save lives. He said: “Screening through the use of the test kit is extremely important and potentially life-saving. ”It is estimated that around 90% of bowel cancer cases could be treated successfully if caught early enough. “Therefore, I would urge people to use their test kit when they receive it it could save your life. ”Research has proven that regular bowel cancer screening can reduce deaths by as much as 16%.“ For further information on the campaign dubbed be loud be clear call 020 8973 0019.   17/02/2010 07:22:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8086 Skelmersdale residents could face over a six month wait to see a dentist despite there being over 15,000 new places available in West Lancashire. A number of residents have complained to the Champion that they face a wait of up to a year to register with the new dental practices after last weeks story about there being a significant amount of new places available. Residents who called the NHS dental access team to register for the West Lancashire practices were told that their names would be added to a waiting list database but it could take up to a year to get a reply. Marilyn Murray of Aughton has worked as a nurse for 38 years, and said: "After reading the story in the Champion, I rang up the dental access team to register and I was told to keep this off the record - that I might have to wait six to twelve months! "I was surprised at first, with 11,700 new places I expected to wait a few weeks but not that long." "Dentists will say that they do not get paid enough from the NHS and the patients will say that there aren't enough dentists - but there are probably a number of reasons for why the situation is so bad." Nathan Carter, a driving instructor in West Lancashire, first registered on the list last September and still hasn't received a response. He said: “I've been on a waiting list for around five months to register with a dentist and I can't believe that there are local places still available that are paid for by our taxes and we cant use them. "For the last few months I have tried to call up to find out what is happening but their phone line is always busy." Janice Nicholson, head of dental commissioning at NHS Central Lancashire, said: "The dental access team are currently writing to all West Lancashire patients on the database to ask them which practice they would like to attend." "Once a patient has confirmed this, their preferred service will contact them to offer an appointment. The majority of patients should be seen within 12 weeks of them returning their letter. "All new practices have been receiving a steady influx of new patients and have been developing their dental teams to cope with this demand.   "In the meantime, anyone who needs emergency dental treatment can call the team on 01772 777397 and they will be directed to a service immediately." Up Holland dentist claims thriving business Dentists at St Raphaels in Up Holland state that the practice is thriving and that they are taking on an additional 4-500 new patients per month. Dr Raphy Paul said: “We are delighted at the rate of growth in our practice, as word spreads of the quality of treatment our patients are receiving. "We are taking on more and more patients each month and are working extra hours to accommodate them, the practice is growing nicely and we still have room for more patients. The viability of the practice is not in issue." By David Raven       17/02/2010 06:42:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8080 Council tax should be frozen to give West Lancashire residents a chance to get over the worst of the current economic crisis, the region's MP has argued this week. West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper called on Monday (February 12, 2010) for any rises in council tax to be postponed for at least a year to help give families a helping hand, but her proposals have been given a cold reception by Conservative councillors who say of that Labour councillors have been behind previous rises, some as much as 15%. “It is now important that local government plays its part in supporting its rate payers, and in West Lancashire's case, this means a council tax freeze. It is an easily affordable policy to implement for our council, which has built up an astounding £23 million in reserves over the years,” she said. “The Tory administration has piled up this mountain of cash on the back of the local community. They now have a responsibility to invest that money back into the community. There is certainly no justification for a further attack on vital services, nor indeed to seek any additional monies from local council tax payers. £23 million is a significant amount of cash to have salted away. It's about time the Tories started investing it on services that matter.” Ms Cooper also said that the Conservative-run borough council should use its funding surplus to invest in several schemes, including a free rail travel scheme for pensioners, free swimming options for younger residents, and reinstating weekly bin collections across the borough. She also encouraged Lancashire County Council, which is also Conservative-controlled, to use some of its own funds to arrange more efficient gritting policies for West Lancashire, following complaints throughout December and last month that a lack of gritting left many roads in icy and dangerous conditions. But Adrian Owens, Derby borough councillor and the Conservatives' parliamentary candidate for West Lancashire, told The Champion that Lancashire County Council has already frozen council taxes, and that Labour had a history of raising council taxes in West Lancashire rather than freezing them. “It is longstanding national Conservative policy to freeze council tax for two years if the Conservatives win the General election, so I welcome Ms Cooper’s late conversion to this idea.  What a pity that her Government doesn’t practice the same financial rigour operated by the Borough council, then we wouldn’t be borrowing £6000 every second with a threat to our credit ratings and the higher mortgage rates and business costs that would bring," he told The Champion.   "Labour rejected a Conservative proposal for a council tax freeze last year at the county council and West Lancashire Labour council group have failed to present an alternative budget for several years. "The last time they ran West Lancashire they increased the council tax by 15% in one year and promptly lost the next local election, so I don’t think we should take any lessons from Ms Cooper.  I know the Borough council is bearing in mind the financial difficulties people face as it prepares its budget.” West Lancashire Borough Council's own announcements on council tax are expected later this year. By David Simister       17/02/2010 06:01:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8076 Skelmersdale Vision developers St Modwen claim they will “continue to progress” with the town's regeneration project despite suffering pre-tax losses of £119.4million. The assurances on the £350milion project came from regional director Michelle Taylor after the developers announced the losses, but registered trading profits of £8.4million. Michelle Taylor, North West regional director, St Modwen said: “We're very pleased to announce that St Modwen has made a £8.4million trading profit this year and can confirm that we will continue to progress with our projects in the North West. ”There was good news for Skelmersdale town centre in late 2009, when the Tesco/Everton proposals for Kirkby were rejected by the Secretary of State. This allowed the planned £300million development of Skelmersdale to go ahead. “We are now working up proposals for the first phase of development and a planning application is expected to be made later this year.” The proposals for the regeneration of Skelmersdale town centre were put back on the agenda following the decision made by the government to reject the plans for a retail and Everton football stadium development in Kirkby. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has since asked for a rethink on the Kirkby proposal. West Lancashire Council's Skelmersdale Vision had been put on hold while a decision was reached on the Kirkby development. In the Vision are plans to build new homes and create a new high street with new features such as a cinema. But the council announced that 180 homes in Firbeck and Findon would have to be knocked down. 11/02/2010 11:37:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8065 Imagine walking past Sefton Park or Botanic Gardens and instead of seeing fields of lush greenery, birds and butterflies, you came across a car park, a supermarket and more plain houses. Or if you drove through the farms in Burscough and Ormskirk and instead of passing cows, trees and fields of corn, you stumbled upon ASBO teens, a power plant and an industrial estate. Well these are the kinds of scenarios that are being presented if it wasn't for the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) who have fought to protect the countryside for the last 84 years. The Champion can reveal for the first time the Green Belt areas in which we cover. The CPRE work behind the scenes to put a halt to any planning application that tries to build in an area's designated Green Belts. So what is a green belt? A Green Belt is an area that is created to protect countryside or undeveloped land from urban exploration. The North West contains more Green Belt areas than any other area in England and makes up 10% of all the country's parks. And the first major survey into the benefits of Green Belts was published this week alongside a diagram that shows their breakdown outside urban areas. The secretary for the newly-formed Sefton District Group of the CPRE, Nick Thompson of Waterloo said: “Around 30 years ago the Government passed a legislation to protect Green Belt land around Merseyside and to restrict the expansion of homes and businesses into the areas. ”A Green Belt is basically just a restriction in planning law and our aim is to make sure that every building that gets approved doesn't damage the environment in any way, shape or form. “For example we would oppose plans to build a block of flats in an open field to make sure that we protect the environment and the countryside in every way possible. ”We have also made constructive comments on a number of essential developments inside the Green Belt in the Sefton area. “They are essential to protecting parts of the environment which we care for and enjoy.” Survey results When asked what Green Belt activities they would like to undertake in the next year, people in the North West most commonly chose visiting the land on a day out or to get peace and quiet and were keen to see more nature reserves, more woodland walks and more new parks. By containing urban sprawl, the Green Belt has been a success story of post-war planning and if managed effectively it can also help tackle climate change, support wildlife and provide health and leisure opportunities for local residents to enjoy. Numbers facts 28,038 hectares of grade 1 land in the North West (highest in England) 79% of people in the North West would rather buy food produced in a Green Belt than produced elsewhere 6,251 is the number of square miles of Green Belt in England. 30 million people live in or next to Green Belts 13% of England's land surface is covered by Green Belts 100 acres of US farmland is lost to developers per hour 03/02/2010 10:09:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8061 Calls are being made for the council to replace old storage heating systems in 1,200 council homes following complaints from tenants that they are breaking down on a regular basis. Digmoor borough councillors Jackie Coyle and Terry Aldridge want the council to provide new heating systems to the affected homes, after they received calls from residents, who said their heating systems had broken down, leaving them in the cold. Jackie Coyle and Terry Aldridge said: “For some time now we as councillors have been receiving complaints from tenants regarding their old storage heating systems which are breaking down on a regular basis. "During the sub zero temperatures these complaints have increased, and the old and obsolete systems can't meet the demand of tenants trying to keep their homes warm, which has meant a number of families have spent days without any proper heating at all. “Even after they have been repaired, tenants face another 24 hour wait until the heat is stored up in them again before they get the benefit of any heat. "These systems in some cases are over 40 years old, it cannot be cost effective to keep patching them up for them to break down again a few weeks later. This upgrade is needed as a matter of urgency." Pensioners at Beechwood Court residential home in Digmoor are among the people to have problems with the old storage heaters. Councillor Terry Aldridge commented: "They need new gas central heating in there. The residents have signed a petition to get the system changed." A spokeswoman for the borough council responded: "The old storage heating systems still function and do actually meet the Decent Homes Standard criteria and so they are not identified for replacement. We also realise that these heaters are not as efficient as new storage heaters. "Last year, as part of consultation with our tenants this issue was raised and our Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Val Hopley, listened to their concerns and has stressed the need to direct more resources into energy efficiency initiatives such as double-glazing and upgrading old storage heaters rather than into new Kitchens and re-roofing. "This matter will be debated in detail at the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee this Thursday (February 4) when the draft Capital programme for housing improvements is presented for 2010/11. There may be scope to include some upgrading works, however, this will be for councillors to decide." By Henry James 03/02/2010 06:54:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8053 The drink/drug driving figures for West Lancashire over the festive period have been released and police have revealed that the results show a problem with the under 25s. During December in Lancashire Police's Southern Division (which includes West Lancashire) 1,170 tests were administered, with 41 people testing positive or refusing to provide a specimen. This compares to 2008 when 1,281 tests were carried out with 51 individuals testing positive or refusing to provide a specimen. For the whole county the number of people caught drink/drug driving has fallen again following the annual campaign. In Lancashire during December, 11,407 tests were given with 244 people testing positive or refusing to provide a specimen. This represents a failure/refusal rate of 2.2%, which is down from 2.5% for the 2008 campaign. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has said the number of people caught drink-driving over Christmas in England shows a review of drink-drive laws cannot come too soon. The safety charity has for many years called for a reduction in the legal alcohol limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg, a move which, they say, would save around 65 lives and 230 serious injuries on Britain's roads each year. Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cooke commented: "It's really pleasing to see the figure fall for the third year running and I think it shows that the vast majority of people don't drink and drive because they know it is unacceptable. "On the downside, the results still show we have a problem with the under 25's with a third of those failing or refusing falling into this category. "We will continue to work with our partners to get the message through to these young people that drink/drug driving is illegal and you will face the severe consequences when caught." 28/01/2010 12:05:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8051 A special evening of entertainment has been organised in the town in memory of 17-year-old Kelsey Taylor, from Skelmersdale, who tragically collapsed and died last year at a dance competition at Southport's Floral Hall. She had been taking part in a rehearsal for the Skelmersdale Celebration of Dance 2009 in aid of Alder Heys Imagine Appeal. The tribute night will be held at Up Holland Labour Club on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 7.30pm. Stephanie Woods, who is a former X-Factor contestant, will be performing as will the comedian Charlie Hale. Carl Palmer will also be singing. Kelsey had been a member of the Inspiration dance team and they will be performing on the night. The organiser of the tribute event is Kelsey's uncle Peter Sweeney. He said: “Kelsey was a very popular young lady who lost her life at the age of 17. "Kelsey had so much to give and was a great dancer and singer and her smile touched thousands." “Her death brought our small town to a standstill.” Tickets for the event will cost £5 and can be obtained by ringing Peter on 07754800120. Tickets can be purchased also through Facebook where there is a page called Evening of Entertainment in memory of Kelsey Taylor RIP. Money from the night will go towards a headstone in St Helens in memory of Kelsey. By Henry James 27/01/2010 05:46:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8038 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 PRESCOT CABLES 0   By Neil Leatherbarrow Skelmersdale United retained their place in the Unibond Division One North promotion pack, with what was a relatively comfortable victory at home to local rivals Prescot Cables, a brace of goals in 13 and 22 minutes being enough to secure three valuable points. Both teams showed signs of tiredness after the break, but after the pace at which the first-half had been played, that arguably was understandable. Speaking after the game, Skelmersdale manager Tommy Lawson agreed that his team did perhaps ease off a little, he added; “We won it because of a fine 25 minutes spell in the first-half...... even so in the second-half we had more chances than them.” It took the opening goal to get the game going. Michael Duffy pouncing on a loose pass, then purposefully taking the ball to the goal-line and crossing to the far post, where it was met by Karl Ledsham, who stooped to head the ball past a helpless Andy Paxton. Prescot were now forced back onto their heels, though they were holding on well. That was until the 22nd minute, when some sharp finishing brought about Skelmersdale’s second goal. The ball went low across the face of the Prescot goal, Ledsham getting a touch that was scrambled off the line by a defender, the ball dropped to captain Michael White and he reacted quickly to direct the ball low into the corner of the net from four yards out. Cables were doing their best to play good positive football and they had their moments. In the 27th minute Phil Cooney flicked the ball over the United bar from a free-kick, then in the 30th minute Cooney again was thwarted, this time by home keeper Damien Eastham after Martin Crowder lost possession. In the 39th minute, Skelmersdale midfielder Aaron Turner showed just why he has been the focus of attention from bigger clubs, when he played a wonderfully weighted ball over the Prescot defence, but Kevin Towey failed to find the target from a good position.  Skelmersdale continued to press and a minute into added time they came painfully close to a third goal. After a foul on Chris Almond, Crowder put in a left foot free-kick of the highest quality and only an acrobatical one handed tip over the bar by Paxton prevented a goal.  Skelmersdale started strongly after the restart, initially forcing a succession of corners, before Towey had a great chance in the 53rd minute. An enterprising run down the left by Almond resulted in him sliding a square ball to Towey, as Paxton left his line, Towey side-footed the ball inches wide of the far post. Prescot then had a spell in which they had more of the play, but significantly they were struggling to make inroads into a well marshalled home defence. Cooney could have done better with a shot he put over the bar in the 59th minute, however, the nearest Cables came to scoring was in the 77th minute, when some slack play by Skelmersdale presented overlapping full-back Paul Lundon with the ball, he quickly made ground, then hit a thunderous drive that went just over the United crossbar form twenty yards. In the latter stages, Skelmersdale started to assert again, substitute Mark Houghton being very unlucky to hit the post from a snapshot, before Ledsham headed over the bar from a Crowder free-kick six minutes from time. If it was a horse race you were watching, you have concluded that both protagonists needed the run and will do better next time out. Skelmersdale have a tough game on Saturday at Curzon Ashton, where they will need to up their game, so the game represents a valuable exercise in regaining match fitness and the three points will be useful, too. SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Eastham, Duffy, Crowder, Akrigg, White (c), Turner, Ledsham (Quarless, 89), Armstrong, Almond (Houghton, 63), Towey (Wade R., 63), Loughlin Subs (not used) Burke, Wade A. PRESCOT CABLES: Paxton, Lundon, Morgan, Liptrot, Ridler (c), McCulloch (Johnson, 75), Wright, Thurston (Rey, 75), Gibiliru, Cliff (Spearitt, 61) Subs (not used) Green, Couch  Referee: P. Gooch 21/01/2010 11:15:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8035 Suspected cases of the winter vomiting bug, norovirus, are causing disruption at Southport hospital and have caused the closure of one ward and forced restrictions on three others. One ward at Southport hospital is closed to new admissions and discharges and three others have been affected. Last weekend more than 140 wards at hospitals across the country were closed in an attempt to contain norovirus that was reported to have claimed up to 500,000 victims. Norovirus brings on nausea and projectile vomiting. A spokesman for Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said: "The Trust has one ward closed at Southport hospital to new admissions and discharges, while three other wards at the same hospital have bays with restrictions on as precautionary measures following suspected norovirus cases. "None of these cases have been confirmed as the virus at the present time. "When a ward is closed we don't take new patients or discharge patients from the ward until the last person has been clear of diarrhoea and vomiting for 48 hours." There was an increase in norovirus cases last November and there is now believed to be a second stage. Throughout January last year there were 46 ward closures in the country for norovirus, although last weekend at least 141 were shut in England. The norovirus bug is another problem for NHS trusts who faced disruption during the Big Freeze. But the Department of Health has said: "Norovirus is not new, it is not a 'superbug' and the vast majority of people recover with no long-term effects. "The NHS deals effectively with norovirus outbreaks all year round and this year is no different." 21/01/2010 10:37:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8034 A Skelmersdale taxi driver has been left “extremely traumatised” after a daytime attack. Andy Dickson, 40, was seriously assaulted after he picked two men up from the town's ASDA car park in his Hackney cab on Tuesday, January 12, at around midday. Mr Dickson drove the men to Fordcombe Road in Belle Vale, where one of the passengers put a rope around his neck and the other stabbed him in the leg. The two offenders fled the scene with a quantity of cash and left the victim unconscious. Mr Dickson's partner of more than two years, Susan Collins, 50, told The Champion that he later woke up in the car and managed to get help from a nearby house. Ms Collins described the father-of-two as “a lovely man who works hard.” She added: “He doesn't work nights because he doesn't want something like this to happen.” Mr Dickson spent time in hospital recieving treatment for his leg injury. Merseyside Police is now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or have any information, to come forward and help with inquiries. The offenders are described as white and in their mid to late 20s. One of them was around 5ft 9in tall and was wearing a white woollen hat, a dark coat and light coloured trousers. The other was wearing a dark woollen hat and dark jacket. Both men were wearing white trainers. Detective Constable Keith Hampson said: “This was a particularly callous attack, but thankfully incidents such as this are rare. Not only has the taxi driver been left with physical injuries but he has also been extremely traumatised by the experience. "We are determined to catch those responsible for this heinous crime and I would urge anyone who knows anything about this incident to come forward and make contact with officers." Anyone with any information is asked to call 0151 777 5376, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. By Natasha Young                                          20/01/2010 12:02:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8029 Plans will be submitted to Sefton Council in the next few months for a brand new Sainsbury's store in Crosby. After planning and consultations with the public for more than six months, Sainsbury's have finalised plans for the development. The plan compromises of a new 50,000 sq ft store with parking spaces underneath and on a decked car park on Allengate (where the current store car park is), 150 additional jobs for local people, 209 car parking spaces in a multi-storey car park on Islington for town centre shoppers, a goods online facility for home deliveries and 11 new retail units (the old store would be split into smaller shop units and there would be new shops on Moor Lane. Sainsbury's also propose a building next to the Moor Lane roundabout, which could be used for community uses. The company held a two-stage consultation into the plans last year, and using feedback from the community have put together the final plans. If the planning is approved, work is due to start on the development early in 2011, and will open in spring 2012. By Rebecca Keegan     20/01/2010 11:36:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8025 Police in West Lancashire are urging residents to remain vigilant to the threat of burglary. The warning follows an increase in offences over this month as a result of homeowners leaving front doors insecure or garden tools in their gardens which are then used to force windows and doors. There have been nine burglaries already this year in the Ormskirk policing area where police have seen spades and hoes used to force entry, or where a window or door has been left unlocked. Offences have been committed in Burscough, Ormskirk, Aughton, Bickerstaffe, Lathom and Halsall. Police are warning that insecure windows and doors are an open invitation to thieves offering them easy access to your home, often they are in and out without their victims even noticing. Offences committed due to insecure windows or doors can also lead to insurance companies nullifying any subsequent claim. Detective Inspector Graham Hill from West Lancashire CID said: "The advice is to lock and secure your home at all times even when you are in. "Avoid leaving items of value on display which can be seen from outside and ensure you lock garden tools away in a secure shed or garage. "Criminals have no scruples and if you present them with any easy opportunity they will take advantage, even if it is during the middle of the day. "Burglary is at an historic low in West Lancashire and we need the public's help to keep it that way." Anybody with information about any burglary offence or other crimes is urged to contact Lancashire Police on 08451 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 14/01/2010 10:49:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8024 A group of residents living in a Skelmersdale street have been forced to grit the road themselves so they could drive to work and get to the shops - and they are sending the £146.88 bill to Lancashire County Council. Thornbury, which is on a hill, is not gritted by Lancashire County Council and the two grit bins on the road have been empty for weeks, so the residents decided to club together and pay for the grit from Rosbotham's in Skelmersdale themselves. Joe Walker, 66, who lives in Thornbury, said: "No-one was able to drive to work and no-one could drive to the shops because the road was treacherous. So we decided to take the situation into our own hands. We picked up a ton of grit from Rosbotham's and then gritted the road.  "We put the grit on driveways to make them accessible for people to get out. We also put grit on two lanes in the road. It has made a hell of a difference. "Fifteen houses paid £10 each to make up the bill, but I am going to send a copy of the bill to Lancashire County Council and ask them to reimburse us. "I can't believe the county council said that refilling grit bins was not a 'priority.' We pay Council Tax and this should finance the county council to refill the grit bins. Why should we be out of pocket after buying grit?" County councillor Keith Young, cabinet member for highways and transport, responded: "Unfortunately our policy of only gritting the primary roads for the last three weeks must continue due to the national shortage of salt now admitted by the government and which reflects the reality here in Lancashire. We are confident that we can continue to keep Lancashire moving for the foreseeable future. "However, we have announced the intention to purchase alternative none-salt materials which could help to give our operational managers more flexibility to deal in particular with serious town centre problems. "We have no policy for identifying and reimbursing people who buy their own grit or clear pathways at their own expense. Therefore, we will be unable to reimburse the residents of Thornbury." PIC shows: Joe Walker (holding invoice) and other Thornbury residents who gritted their own road 14/01/2010 10:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8021 Hazardous radioactive waste could be treated at a landfill site in Skelmersdale under proposals by Lancashire County Council. A number of residents and councillors contacted The Champion over a consultation launched by Lancashire County Council into future use of the county's waste sites, which has advocated expanding the Whitemoss Landfill Site, on Whitemoss Road, and increase the amount of hazardous waste it deals with. “I am a local, living as I do but a smell away from the landfill, and yet I have no idea what type of hazardous waste goes into this site. If they had some kind of accident over there, and if the prevailing wind was in the direction of Pennylands, would we residents be in extreme danger?,” said Pennylands resident Bill Clarke. “Why was this hazardous site put so near to housing and not in a remote area of the county? The industrial tragedy that occurred at Bhopal, India comes readily to mind. Could that sort of tragic event happen here?” The concerns come after a consultation was launched jointly by Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council, which examines where both hazardous and non-hazardous waste for the entire county of Lancashire can be either treated or landfilled. However a document outlining the consultation has advocated increasing the size and scope of the Whitemoss site to deal with the county's hazardous waste, including low-level radioactive waste from the BNFL (British Nuclear Fuels) site at Springfields, near Preston. “Landfill is the last resort for hazardous waste management, and stringent technical requirements apply to both the site engineering and the operational aspects of waste acceptance and emplacement,” the report states in its conclusions. “The Whitemoss Landfill site in Skelmesdale is one of only two dedicated hazardous waste landfills in the north west and whilst the amounts of waste accepted are small in landfill terms it nontheless provides a regional facility of strategic significance.” The Whitemoss Road area has also come to the attention of nearby residents throughout the past year who claim that waste is being left near the landfill site, although this has been linked to a nearby travellers' site rather than the landfill site itself. The Champion attempted to contact Whitemoss Landfill for a statement on the issue but nobody was available before going to press. By David Simister 13/01/2010 08:57:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=8017 Skelmersdale is in chaos  after heavy snow has lead to motorways being blocked, effectively leading the town to be 'cut off' to traffic. Police cordoned off the M6 after two lorries slid off the road and all slip roads off the M58 were also closed awaiting a road gritter. More heavy snow is expected for the rest of the week and Lancashire police are advising people to stay indoors unless absolute necessary. A spokesperson said: “We are trying to cope with the adverse weather conditions the best we can but we advise all residents of West Lancashire not to go outside unless they have to.” As the Champion went to press, thousands of children were out enjoying the snow thanks to 21 schools closures in West Lancashire. Among the closures in Skelmersdale are Holland Moor Primary and St Richards Catholic Primary School. Whilst in Ormskirk Asmall Primary, Ormskirk Church of England Primary and St Anne's Catholic Primary are all closed. In Burscough, Bridge Methodist Primary and Priory Science College are both closed. Buses in the region were cancelled on a route-by-route basis whilst the trains in West Lancashire remained unaffected. The met office issued a severe weather warning and they are expecting the snow to continue throughout the week.   05/01/2010 09:08:00