News
Updates from OWL
D-Day looms for Medical Waste Incinerator Proposal
Fallout under normal conditions would spread at least 10Km, reaching Ormskirk, Burscough and Skelmersdale A final decision on a controversial medical waste incinerator is due on Wednesday at Lancashire’s Development Control Committee. Our West Lancashire have consistently worked to ensure a…
Flytipping Incidents Fall Following Introduction of Mobile CCTV championed by OWL
Fly tip incidents have fallen by 43% so far this year as mobile CCTV has been introduced by West Lancashire Borough Council. The camera technology is being deployed at fly tip hotspots to fight this environmental blight. The news that fly…
One Councillor, One Vote System to be Introduced at West Lancashire Borough Council
One councillor, one vote will be introduced at West Lancashire Borough Council after councillors approved the recommendations of a councillor working group on the subject. Currently, a small group of 8 councillors from Skelmersdale and Ormskirk take most of the important…
Labour Forced Motorfest Cancellation only for Replacement Event to Cost More and Draw in Fewer Visitors
Figures obtained by Council Independents, Our West Lancashire show that after Labour forced the cancellation of Motorfest, the replacement event attracted fewer visitors than Motorfest while costing more than £11,000. Motorfest would have cost £7,000. The council had approved £7000 for…
Government must Release Specialist Study on Earth Tremors & Fracking
Plans by new Government to re-consider fracking while residents are kept in dark A report that looked at earth tremors and their connection to fracking must be released for public scrutiny say council Independents, Our West Lancashire. OWL made their call…
Council Plan Annual Report Rejected by Councillors
Glossy document didn’t reflect reality West Lancashire Borough Councillors rejected the Council Plan Annual Report at the July council meeting on Wednesday evening. This is the first time the Annual Plan Report has been rejected. There was criticism by councillors of…
Council must get Financial Support out to Hard-Pressed Households Now, not in June say OWL
The Borough Council must speed up their plans to get agreed financial support to local residents say Our West Lancashire, after news emerged that it could be June before the £150 energy rebate payment starts to be paid, much later than…
A Halt to All New Student Housing through the new Local Plan
Our West Lancashire would call a halt to all new student housing in Ormskirk and the wider area through the new Local Plan, preparation for which is now underway. Evidence provided to the Local Plan councillor working group shows there is more…
OWL’s Influence secures Important Improvements to Environmental Services; Town Centres and Housing Regeneration
“It felt as if the views of the majority of residents had a voice at this year’s budget” With the council having no majority party, Our West Lancashire were able to use their influence to secure important improvements to Environmental Services;…
Press Statement on Tawd Valley Developments
Following an Independent Review of Tawd Valley Developments Ltd (TVDL), West Lancashire Borough Council passed a motion this week which among other points, stopped all TVDL developments outside of the borough and all those within the Borough that are not already…
Start on Plans for a Third Revival Project in Skelmersdale warmly Welcomed
Plans to start a third revival project in Skelmersdale are set to be approved at the council’s budget meeting this week after all parties on the Council gave the plans approval at a working group meeting. Our West Lancashire have been…
OWL Success as Council Abandons Plan to Build on Highly-Valued Piece of Open Space in Ormskirk
The Labour-led Council have abandoned plans to sell public open space in Ormskirk for housebuilding to their own Development Company after sustained questioning by Our West Lancashire. The Council Independents have warmly welcomed the U-turn but said it showed how the…
OWL Secure Public Open Spaces Against Housebuilding but Concerns Remain
Work continues on plans to sell one single public open space for housebuilding Council-owned Tawd Valley Developments are not currently assessing any further public open spaces for housing development. That’s the assurance from council officers secured by Our West Lancashire. …
Mobile CCTV to be piloted in a trial of its effectiveness against Fly Tipping
Mobile CCTV is to be piloted in a trial of its effectiveness against fly tipping. The move has been hailed as a victory by Council Independents, Our West Lancashire who included the proposal in their alternative budget in February and have…
Your Support Needed as Community Christmas Tree returns for 5th year
The Community Christmas tree returns next week as a welcome sight in another year blighted by Covid. After the Borough Council stopped providing the tree, Our West Lancashire led the community effort to raise funds to reinstate it from 2017 onwards.…
County Council Deaf to Congestion Fears on Railway Bridge
The County Council have brushed aside concerns raised by the Borough Council and will push ahead with works to Ormskirk’s Derby Street railway bridge which will reduce traffic permanently to one lane. In July, councillors at the Borough Council united to…
A Lancashire 1st for Ormskirk as Councillors’ Campaign yields Result
Red Light/Speed on Green Cameras to be installed at County Road Junctions Enforcement cameras with the dual purpose of capturing both red light running and speeding are to be installed at the Fiveways and Hayfield Road junctions on Ormskirk’s County Road…
Burscough Business needs Answers and Help
Burscough’s OWL Councillor, George Clandon is demanding answers after being contacted by a local business being allowed to fall victim to a stand-off between West Lancashire Borough Council and Burscough Football Club. Independent Our West Lancashire Councillor, George Clandon was contacted…
More than £4.5 million a year is going to Tawd Valley Developments and none to improvements
Rents from council tenants generate a surplus of more than £4.5 million every year.
Scores of Careers for Young People Kickstarted after Cross Party Action
More than 200 young people will benefit from new job opportunities this year as a result of cross-party action at the Borough Council. Last July, Our West Lancashire moved a motion at the Borough Council calling for more support and opportunities…
