“Housing developments in Preston West will affect all of us with traffic problems and congestion unless there is a real strategy from Lancashire County and Preston City Councils working in harmony on these issues” says County Cllr Bill Winlow. “After drawing local residents attention to Preston’s Preferred Site Allocations at Stoney Butts and off Dodney […]

“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 […]

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 […]

The  West Coast Main Line franchise fiasco is likely to cost taxpayers at least  £50m , the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has warned (BBC News today).   “It will also have effects in Preston” says County Cllr Bill Winlow, “because all plans to refurbish Preston station and to improve links with bus services […]

“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 […]

At yesterday’s annal Budget Meeting of Lancashire County Council, Cllr Geoff Driver unexpectedly announced a 2% Council Tax cut, thereby reducing the council’s available resources by £7.34m  for 2013-14 and in future years.  “Given that we face massive budget cuts in the next four years, amounting to £250m, 28% of resources, this is downright irresponsible” said  Liberal Democrat […]

On Wednesday 20 February 2013 20.57 GMT Juliette Jowit, political correspondent of the Guardian newspaper reported that: “Changes to the way housing benefitsare paid have sparked concern at the top levels of government amid fears that tenants who cannot manage their money will fall into arrears and be made homeless. “The proposed change away from […]