The Archive: 2014 |
 Fiddling
Fylde's Figures 10 Nov 2014
St Annes Bathing Waters were set to fail under more stringent classifications to be introduced
next year, but now they are predicted to pass. That's because the figures have been fiddled to exclude half the samples that were taken. Blackpool, and points north, are still
set to fail.... |
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 Oh Lordy! 1
Nov 2014
 On
Monday, the House of Lords will begin the Report Stage of their debate on the 'Infrastructure Bill' that will give fracking companies the right to drill under our land
and homes. We look at what happened during the debate at the Committee stage and where this Bill is going next..... |
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 Blackfield Green
Inquiry 17 Oct 2014
 We
have reports of the first week of proceedings at the Inquiry at Ribby Hall, and hope to add a summary of the second week's proceedings shortly.... |
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 David Eaves
Resigns 17 Oct 2014
 Tuesday's
surprise resignation of David Eaves as Fylde's Leader heralds at least a change of style and tone for FBC. We review his tenure of the leadership over the last five years, and
speculate about who might be ready to fill his shoes..... |
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Fracking in the
Lords 12 Oct 2014
 On
Tuesday, the Government will alter the Infrastructure Bill to allow fracking under your property without your consent, and without getting a court order. If this measure is
approved, it will disapply centuries of established property law in a stroke.... |
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Minority 2 At
Council 8 Oct 2014
 Fylde
Conservatives are running scared and refuse to take a decision on a Minority Report highlighting flaws in their emerging Local Plan. The issue is Employment Land but the
effects are much wider. We have all the details - and the background..... |
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 Fylde's Fracking
Marathon 30 Sept 2014
 A
very long article recording the debates on six planning applications concerning shale gas. Lancashire County will make the final decision, but this meeting was about Fylde's
views - on probably the most important planning issue in Fylde Council's history ..... |
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 Obituary:
Alfred Jealous 24 Sept 2014
We record the passing of one of Fylde's most colourful and long serving members. An Alderman, former Councillor, former
Mayor and Committee Chairman, he had seen civic life from a very early age and dedicated a great part of his life to Civic affairs. He will be sadly missed ..... |
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 Governance
Consultation 16 August 2014
We look at the arrangements the Council says are needed to operate satisfactorily when it introduces the new Committee
System, and we contrast that with what the Fylde Civic Awareness Group says should happen, and we add our own view as to how the Council should organise itself..... |
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Fracking Interest 25
Aug 2014
 Councillors
Fiddler and Threlfall received payments from Cuadrilla but failed to disclose them as interests for over two years. Did they do anything wrong? We think they did,
and we publish the evidence. We also wonder whether it's appropriate for a criminal investigation to be considered..... |
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A Long Division 17
Aug 2014
 Something
very odd is going on in the Division Lane and Wild Lane area of Fylde. Part of Division Lane road was going to be closed for 18 months, then 6 weeks, then not closed at all,
then it was to be closed again, now it's all been postponed. Residents threaten a Judicial Review. What's going on?..... |
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Melton
Grove: The Ombudsman Reports 14 Aug 2014
 The
Local Government Ombudsman has, after about a year of investigation, published her report into Fylde Council's handling of the matter. We provide her report, statements from:
Melton Grove Resident's Association and Fylde Borough Council, and our own analysis of what has been said ..... |
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Fylde
Local Plan: Re-Consultation 13 Aug 2014
 After
the Minority Report and the Declaration of Unsound Consultation, Fylde has decided to re-consult the public on the latest version of its local plan. We know they'll say this
was planned all along - but if that's the case why wasn't re-consultation a step in their timetable. What's going on ..... |
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 Planning Update
13 Aug 2014
We have a long delayed update on the main planning stories in Fylde since our last report in June. We visit Warton, Wesham and Wrea Green. We
have news of neighbourhood planning, plans for Garden Cities (or maybe not), and a good idea from CPRE to change national policy..... |
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Reclaim the
Power? 7 Aug 2014
 On
the day that 25 grannies occupied a field near Cuadrilla's prospective drill site on Preston New Road, we bring news of the camp that will be established for about a thousand
people from 'Reclaim the Power' next Thursday. We went to the pre-camp meeting - at the Hilton, no less..... |
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Testing the Water 5 Aug
2014
 The
drilling rig off Harrowside isn't Cuadrilla's latest fracking rig, it's testing the sea bed for cables and geology. Then it goes to Anchorsholme where it will stay for about
three months. We know what it's doing, but why's it there? What's it testing for? We have the answers.... |
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Another Shambles 3
Aug 2014
 A
long, in-depth report and analysis of a dreadful Council meeting where calls for a fracking moratorium were procedurally sidestepped and eleven councillors declared interests,
having received money from Cuadrilla. Public anger boiled over. Exciting, but not edifying. We have the details.... |
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 Obituary: Margaret
Procopides 2 Aug 2014
We note with sadness and respect, the passing of Honorary Alderman and former Ratepayer Councillor Margaret Procopides - known to
her friends as 'Miss Proc'. A stalwart of the community, she was an able councillor with a keen interest in people, and rose to be deputy Leader and Mayor.... |
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 Only Five More Cabinets
25 Jul 2014
There are only five more Cabinet meetings to go before Fylde Council returns to conducting its business using the Committee system. They've
been looking at how to start. We've all the griff and some thoughts of our own, plus news from friends following Fylde's path elsewhere in the UK..... |
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July 2014: Fracking
Update 24 Jul 2014
 Seventeen
different topic headings in this long fracking update, with bulletpoint headings at the start so you can skip around at will. Planning; Questions at Council and in The House;
Proposals for a moratorium; Threats over signs and all the latest developments in the Fylde Fracking saga..... |
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Moss Road 18 Jul
2014
 There has
been deep joy in the fundemold of late, with lots of coverage about the Moss road being replaced with the M55 Link Road and a start being made next year. Sadly, we're less sure
that all the ducks are in line on this project, and we hear that a 'plan B' is being readied - just in case..... |
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Boles'd Out
17 Jul 2014
 The
anti-planning Minister- who has done so much to destroy town and country planning in the UK - the Rt Hon Nick Boles MP is moved from planning to oversee gender equality
legislation. The new man is Brandon Lewis MP who few have heard of. We have the lowdown on the change..... |
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Planning Debate
11 Jul 2014
 MP's
- including our own MP Mark Menzies - take part in a debate designed to hold Planning Minister Nick Boles to account, and don't they just. Warton residents are singled out as
'exemplary' by our MP whose support for them is far better than anything FBC can offer. But Nick Boles, on the other hand..... |
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Fracking Squatters
4 Jul 2014
 Squatters
take up residence on the fracking sites, but they seem to be working for Cuadrilla. Strange. We also report some new signage on the A583 "Frack and Toxic Waste
Creation Site Ahead - 800 yards on the left" and other strongly worded claims against fracking. What's going on?.... |
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Warton Planning
Update 1 Jul 2014
 Warton
is under siege from developers. We look at why this has happened - the Assisted Area Status, an update on the main planning applications, a report of the Riversleigh Farm
debate at FBC, a letter from an angry resident, and news of a second Parish Meeting tomorrow night.... |
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Fracking Applications
25 Jun 2014
 As
Cuadrilla move from exploration to the pilot development phase, we report the first planning applications for fracking, and the £2m fund for business. We also look in some
detail at Cuadrilla's Environmental Permit application that isn't getting the attention it deserves.... |
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Bathing Waters Set to
Fail 19 Jun 2014
 We
break news that most Fylde Coast Bathing Waters are due to have signs erected warning against bathing next year. All but one are (officially) predicted to fail. Having given
the technical details previously, we now look at the effect, and at the great con trick being played on us..... |
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Not Fit For Purpose
15 Jun 2014
 We
chronicle a Policy Development Scrutiny Meeting with the most incompetent chairing we have ever seen and an outcome that was pure bigoted, logic defying party-politics.
The decision will have disastrous and long lasting implications for Fylde and its residents..... |
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22 May 2014: Democracy
Day 8 Jun 2014
 The
Commissar can rein no more. Democracy was not dead in Fylde, it was only sleeping, Now it will return, thanks to a unique vote by Fylde residents that has changed their Council
back to the Committee system of operation. Fylde is the first community in the UK to do this..... |
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 ASA
Chide Wimpey for Advert 5 Jun 2014
The Advertising Standards Authority criticise Taylor Wimpey for a misleading advertisement where a picture of Wrea
Green was used in an advert for homes Wimpey were offering for sale in Warton. The Advert must not be used again.... |
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June 2014 Fracking
Update 2 Jun 2014
 We
report: LCC's Environmental Statement scoping. A big public meeting about fracking. Some waste questions. A Ministerial address in Blackpool. Unsatisfactory moves in Canada.
Proposals to change the UK trespass law to make fracking easier, and the first full Cuadrilla application..... |
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 Obituary Eric Bamber
30 May 2014
We mourn the passing of one of nature's true gentlemen and the age to which he belonged. He served his electorate with respect, honesty and
diligence for 38 years.... |
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 A Bad Development Management
Meeting 28 May 2014
We report an awful meeting of Fylde's Development Management Committee. The top table consistently tried to circumvent the will of the
Committee. Chicanery and shenanigans abounded. It was always going to end in tears - especially with Queen Elizabeth in Boadicea mode.... |
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Committees Referendum 20
May 2014
 With
the Local Referendum vote to decide how Fylde Council should conduct its business looming on Thursday, we take a look at why Mr Eaves and his Cabinet want things to stay as
they are and why FCAG say they should change.... |
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Bathing Water
Update 13 May 2014
 We
update readers on the current position with the Revised Bathing Waters Directive and how it will impact on the Fylde coast. We're very pessimistic, and can see no outcome other
than signs appearing on some of our beaches next year - warning people not to bathe or paddle here.... |
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 Planning Catchup 5 May
2014
Our catch-up on Fylde's planning stories - an awful Individual Member Decision; updates on Warton, Wesham and Wrea Green, plus some National issues,
emerging Labour Party planning policy, Questions in the House, and an update on Fylde's Local Plan Steering Group.... |
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 No Special
Measures for FBC 24 April 2014
In the shifting ground that measures planning efficiency, the Government lets Fylde retrospectively adjust figures for the
time it has taken to decide planning applications, and so Fylde has narrowly avoided being placed in Special Measures for its Planning service.... |
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 Newton Residents
Association AGM 18 April 2014
Following our 'Humble Pie' article about the Newton Call-in, we bring you the story from the NRA. How can Fylde's
Conservative councillors be so unpopular, in Newton when Fylde's Conservative MP's enjoys such strong and warm support? We think we have the answer.... |
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 Humble Pie Distribution
17 April 2014
We run a reprise of the story to date, before dishing out slices of Humble Pie to those who got it wrong when they were'minded to approve'
the planning application for the Newton Gypsy Site. St Eric has now taken the decision out of Fylde's incompetent hands and will decide it himself. |
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Committees
Campaign 2 April 2014
 Four
stories in one. FBC approve arrangements for Committees, Canterbury follows Fylde with a petition. St Annes Town Councillor Carol Lanyon highlights failure in FBC governance
options, and how our readers can get involved in the campaign to restore democracy... |
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 St Johns By-election
Result 29 March 2014
Our analysis of the result of the 2014 St John's Ward by-election that saw a landslide victory for Mark Bamforth and disaster for most
of the other parties. We look at the results and the implications to assess the political temperature with next year's Borough-wide election in mind.... |
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Water,
Water, Everywhere. 17 March 2014
 We
bring news of new arrangements for drainage and watercourse management due to start in April. It will bring big changes for developers, landowners, and for everyone buying a
new house. In essence the system of drainage management in the UK is about to be 'nationalised'.... |
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 Out of Europe? 14 March 2014
We return to St Margaret's - for another thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining Shrove Tuesday debate on the proposition that 'This house believes the UK should
withdraw from the EU'. So - having heard the arguments - what did the good people of St Annes decide?.... |
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 Snippets March 2014
10 March 2014
A round-up of news including the Lytham By-election, Helicopters, Streetscene rumblings, Flooding, the Living Wage, Mortgage news, Changes in
Fylde's charges, planning in Wrea Green, Warton and Staining, and a brief introduction to Nick Boles' new Planning Guidance... |
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Status Storm 6
March 2014
 A
European inspired plan to designate parts of Fylde as being 'economically deprived' begins a storm of protest and threatens Warton with the prospect of more housing
development. Strong words are used and calls for censure abound.. What's it all about?... |
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 Back to Committees 19
February 2014
Monday sees Fylde Council debating the arrangements it will put in place to run again by Committees if there is a 'yes' vote in May's referendum
to change away from the Leader and Cabinet and a return to the tried and tested Committee system. So what are they planning to do?.... |
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 Just a Minute! 14 February 2014
A spat about the accuracy of the minutes (ie who was responsible for fulfilling a condition to improve the highway on Thames Street, Newton if the proposed Traveller site is
approved) took up the first hour of business at Fylde's next Development Management Committee meeting..... |
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 Fracking Update Feb
2014 9 February 2014
Our catch up on the main fracking news since last summer, including Anna's Road, MPs questions, Regulators working together,
Resumption of fracking, Cash for fracks, Issues of land trespass, Fracking in Freckleton, Town Hall fracking meeting and news of a public meeting..... |
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 Planning in Private 3
February 2014
Fylde's Local Plan Steering Group looks and smells like a committee - but it isn't. In this awful Leader and Cabinet system we have, it
isn't allowed to decide where to steer. Fylde has agreed to publish its agenda and minutes, but they voted to keep the public out of its meetings..... |
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 Bin Discounting? 24
January 2014
Warton's Cllr Julie Brickles lands Fylde's Scrutiny Committee with a problem. Looks like some folk might be asking for £25 refunds if they
bought a green bin recently. A few bin policy issues were aired, but little in the way of scrutiny was applied to them. However, the fat lady ain't singing yet..... |
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 We're on the Move 23 January
2014
After ten years of publishing counterbalance we're moving to 'bigger premises' - So we're asking our readers to bear with us if there are any - issues - as
they say these days. We're also asking for your comments and suggestions for counterbalance in the future.... |
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 Considering
Committees 20 January 2014
After its decision to hold a local governance referendum in May, Fylde councillors are mulling over the pros and cons of
changing to the committee system. We bring readers the inside track into what's going on behind the scenes and what needs to be decided before May's referendum.... |
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 No Night Service 16
January 2014
Bus Trilogy Part 3. A look at changes that will see evening, weekend and bank-holiday bus services disappear across Lancashire after
April as Lancashire County Council makes huge budget and bus subsidy cuts. We assess the options and implications for Fylde residents.... |
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80 All Out 16
January 2014
 Bus
Trilogy Part 2. We look in-depth at the 11 day wonder rise and fall of the No 80 service that caused so much disruption in December We get very confused about who was
running the service, and we call for a Public Inquiry into what went wrong and left so many people stranded.... |
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 Bus Background 16 January
2014
Bus Trilogy Part 1. We set out some background showing how what were once 'corporation' bus services run by local councils, have become de-regulated
bus business opportunities. We look at who regulates and licenses buses, and how you can set up as a bus company.... |
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 One Week and Three
Meetings 10 January 2014
We've a reader update on a resident's meeting about the Newton Gypsy Site. Four reader reports from the Freckleton Fracking
Meeting, and our own take on a meeting at Wrea Green that echoes what's happening right across the country. When Wrea Green takes up arms, its serious.... |
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Dated: 31 December 2014  |
