PROBLEMS WITH DOGS

A number of residents have been complaining of dog-related problem across the village over the past month or so:

• Howard Street - adults with free-roaming dogs on childrens' park
• Livesey Street - elderly lady nipped by dog
• Bridge Street - elderly gentleman nipped by dog
• Harwood Road - two Alsatian dogs loose
• Spring Street - uncontrolled dogs along the White Path

Residents are urged to contact the HBC dog warden with any complaints so that the culprits can be dealt with officially. The contact number is 01254 388111 and further details can be found on the HBC website:

HBC Dog Warden

PLANNING APPLICATIONS - 19th JUNE 2013

The following planning applications relating to Rishton have been lodged with HBC recently:

11/13/0195 - 2 Essex Road
This relates to the reduction in size of an extension

11/13/0203 - 3 Blackburn Road
This relates to alterations to porches

11/13/0204 - 12 Walmsley Street
This relates to a change of use from a shop to a dwelling

ARMED FORCES DAY 2013

This year’s Armed Forces Day parade and service will take place in Rishton on Saturday 29th June.

The Parade will form up on the library car park, just off School Street,  from 10.15a.m. with a 10.30a.m. start. The service will take place at the war memorial opposite the Esplanade Gardens.

A mini bus will be provided from the library for those who are unable to walk in the parade.

A senior Royal British Legion member will be laying a wreath on behalf of all organisations. The British Legion have asked that no other wreaths are to be laid during this service.

Rishton Free Gardeners Club are hosting a special Armed Forces Night on Friday 27th June from 7.30pm which includes a 1940s Swingalong with guest artists Marj and Claire. This is open to both members and non-members of the club.

Rishton Conservative Club will be laying on refreshments after the service on Saturday afternoon and all residents who attend the parade are welcome to come back to the club.

FESTIVAL BINGO - 22nd JUNE 2013

The second of the June bingo sessions in aid of Rishton Festival will take place at The People's Centre on Saturday 22nd June from 2.00pm until 4.00pm. Games cost £5.00 for a session of six with refreshments and fresh cream cakes available at half time for £1.00.

Cllr Ken Moss will be number caller for the afternoon, with Cllr Clare Cleary helping the Festival committee in the kitchen. All residents are invited to attend.

BBC RADIO 4: RISHTON POST BOX

Cllr Ken Moss has given an interview to BBC Radio 4 regarding the lost post box from lower Rishton. Ken was contacted regarding articles that were on the Rishton First blog from 2010 as they relate to a new ruling from the communications regulator, Ofcom, that a post box needs to be within half a mile of properties in Great Britain. Burton Street resident, Margaret Stinson, also attended the interview to give the perspective of the people who are affected by the loss of the box. The interview formed part of the daily You and Yours programme:

You and Yours - 14th June 2013

A further interview was broadcast later in the day on BBC Radio Lancashire as part of the Brett Davison programme. The iPlayer version can be heard here until 21st June and the Rishton segment starts at around the 10 minutes mark:

Brett Davison - 14th June 2013

CRIME COMMISSIONER TO ATTEND COUNCIL

Hyndburn Councillors will hear from the new Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner about his plans for policing at next Thursday’s Council meeting at Accrington Town Hall. This meeting will start at 7.00pm and is open to the public, who are welcome to come and view proceedings from the public gallery. Minutes and the agenda can be found online here:

Full Council - 20th June 2013

Rishton Councillor Clare Cleary will be putting direct questions to Clive regarding crime in the Spring Street area, which has increased significantly recently. Cllr Cleary has been working with the police and residents on Danvers Street regarding juvenile antisocial behaviour and damage to property and will be raising the question of alley gates with the Crime Commissioner.

RISHTON IN THE MEDIA - 13th JUNE 2013

Several stories have been run regarding Rishton in the local newspapers recently and they can be found here:

Lancashire Telegraph - Rishton_Festival_gets_a_beer_tent

Lancashire Telegraph - Police_tackle_mini_moto_menace_in_Rishton

Accrington Observer - sweet-idea-helps-support-abuse

Accrington Observer - pensioner-died-after-clothes

Accrington Observer - police-want-speak-two-women

RISHTON FESTIVAL SCARECROW COMPETITION

With the Country Life theme of Rishton Festival 2013, the committee have thrown open the challenge to residents to come up with scarecrows for the event. Anyone can enter and it is hoped that the local schools in particular will rise to this challenge. 

If you wish to make a scarecrow you can simply turn up on the day at Norden High School or better still join in the parade through Rishton at 10.30am starting from The Rishton Arms on Station Road by the railway station!

Rishton Festival takes place on Saturday 6th July this year and a medal will be awarded to the best scarecrow.

RISHTON ROUNDUP - 11th JUNE 2013

Various issues have been brought up with the Rishton Councillors recently and these are now all in the process of being dealt with:

• Allan Critchlow Way - canal trees causing problems
• Norfolk Street - street light problem
• Bridgefield Close - antisocial behaviour on old foundry land
• Spring Street - scrap metal vans stealing from back yards
• Spring Street - stolen grit bin
• Noble Street - flytipping at old sausage factory
• Bridge Street - untidy back yard

Some problems have taken much longer to address than others as is the nature of things but residents are urged to keep reporting issues to their local Councillors.

FESTIVAL TEMPORARY LICENCE GRANTED

The Rishton Festival Committee have been granted a Temporary Event Notice for 2013 and for the first time there will be alcohol on sale to visitors. The notice only allows sale of alcohol between 10.00am and 5.00pm on 6th July 2013 at Norden High School.

Cllr Ken Moss, who applied for the licence on behalf of the committee, said, "I've been very keen on a beer tent for some time and I urge residents to bring their tankards along to this year's Festival and get into the spirit of things. Our theme this year is country life and it wouldn't be much of a celebration of rural living without real ale and cider!"

Adrian Wilding (pictured right) will be selling bottles of real ale and cider from his stall in aid of Meningitis UK. His partner, Donna Heyes, was a regular player of Festival Bingo but sadly passed away in April this year from meningitis, aged just 25. All proceeds from the stall will go towards meningitis research.

A second beer tent is expected to be announced later this week, selling lager, bitter and wines. The owner of a mobile bar who attended The Great Harwood Show earlier this month has been requested to set up his tent and this is now in the last stages of being finalised as the alcohol licence needed to be granted first.

For further updates regarding Rishton Festival, please visit the Facebook page:

Facebook - Rishton Festival 2013