“Nick Clegg’s announcement that Preston is to be considered for a City deal is of huge importance to the future economic well-being of the City”, says County Cllr Bill Winlow. If the deal is successfully concluded, it will allow Preston to take on extra powers and responsibilities. The city will have more autonomy over how […]

On the 18th of February in a major speech the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, announced that the county council, Preston City Council and South Ribble Borough Council had received the green light for our expression of interest in creating a City Deal which provides an  opportunity for about £400m of investment into the infrastructure within […]

Property developers should pay local authorities extra to offset environmental damage caused by building, according to the boss of Kingfisher, the parent company of B&Q. The recommendation forms a key plank of a report into how firms should deal with climate change. The Sunday Times Business, Sunday 3rd Feb. “We’ve all seen how poor developments can […]

According to The Observer today,  The Environment Agency has warned that Britain faces increasingly extreme weather conditions and urgently needs to improve its anti-flood defences and preparations for severe drought. New figures from the Met Office suggest that Britain could experience a severe short-term drought, such as the one in 1976,  every 10 years. Previous […]

The following highways improvements are planned for first quarter  2013-14 (April 2013 onwards) Tudor Avenue to be resurfaced Lea road to be resurfaced from Blackpool Road to Ainsdale Drive Later in the year, depending on various parties, the Lea Road corridor between Blackpool Road and Westleigh House should be improved with white lining and new signs […]

Those of you living in the Dodney Drive and Stoney Butts areas will no doubt be wondering when decisions will be made about the suggested housing developments in your area. After all, the consultations took place last May and we have heard nothing back so far. I gather from the planners that there will be […]

Development of the grandly titled Fishergate Central Gateway will be carried out with the aid of funding from European Regional Development Fund and will be done in three phases as follows: Phase 1 – 1st March to approx Mid July 2013 (approx 20 weeks) – Work will begin on the junction of Corporation Street and Ringway. The […]

Lancashire County Council halted the supply of all frozen processed beef products to schools after tests found further traces of horse DNA. The council, which removed contaminated cottage pies from 47 schools this month, said that horsemeat had been found in halal beefburgers for Muslim pupils. It said the pies and burgers came from manufacturers […]

Today sees the Growth and Infrastructure Bill enter its Report Stage in the House of Lords. It is off concern that the Bill is still tinkering around with the planning system and not focusing on the big barriers that our economy faces, like access to housing finance to build and to buy. The Local Government Association LGA is […]

“It is planned that most people in Lancashire should be able to receive superfast broadband in the next few years but there are serious planning concerns” says County Cllr Bill Winlow, who strongly supports the need for superfast broadband.  According to todays Daily Telegraph, MPs will debate proposals this week that will make it easier […]