DARWEN NEWS by Darwen Online: Darwen News

Web giant Google has now extended its Street View to include areas of Darwen!

Internet users can now view panoramic images of local houses, pubs & shops etc from a ground level perspective.

Street View launched under some criticism although they've been allowed to go ahead despite some security concerns reported by worried individuals. To protect people's privacy car number plates and faces have been blurred and they also offer a 'report a problem' area if you see anything inappropriate.

Previously, only the larger towns and cities were able to zoom into Street View level but Darwen has recently been added following mapping by the special Google car during the back end of last Summer.

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Shares in Darwen based smart meter supplier Bglobal responded well to recent contract wins.

The share price, which was just 10p at the start of last summer, had slipped 10p from the highs of 55p at the start of the year.

However, since announcing news of the contract wins, one of which will see its energy 'smart meters' installed into 23,000 schools, it is hoped the share price will once again start moving in the right direction as its installation programme recovers from disruption caused by the freezing weather.

The cold spells during the winter meant engineers struggled to visit homes, schools and businesses but the company, which employs 100 people, is pleased to announce the bullish trading update.

Along with the contract to supply schools, Bglobal also struck a deal with Npower to supply its business customers with smart meter devices.

The 'smart meters' allow owners to monitor energy usage in the home, school or workplace.

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Jake Berry has today slammed the current Labour MP for Rossendale and Darwen as a hypocrite, following revelations uncovered in a letter from Gordon Brown’s MP that was passed to Jake by a concerned local resident.

In the letter Ms Anderson confirms her expenses as “appearing excessive”, what she fails to mention is that the letter, sent on House of Commons taxpayer funded notepaper, may itself be in contravention of the expense rules.

Jake commented “The letter is a blatant piece of electioneering sent at the taxpayer’s expense as a last gasp attempt to try and justify 13 years of failure by Gordon Brown’s Labour Party. It is unbelievable to think that this letter admitting excessive expenses claims may itself be another abuse of the expenses system.”

“Last week Ms Anderson branded the new Darwen Leisure Centre as “hideous” yet now she takes the credit for building it. Six months ago Ms Anderson called for a leadership election to replace Gordon Brown, yet now she praises him in a last ditch attempt to save her job.”

“Stop treating the people of Rossendale and Darwen like fools. It’s time for change, and that change can’t come soon enough.”

Mr Berry confirmed that he has passed this letter to the relevant authorities for investigation.

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Community groups are now able to brighten up the borough with free paint from the Blackburn with Darwen Council’s paint donation scheme.

The paint is available following a donation of “waste” paint from local paint manufacturer Crown Paints, based in Darwen.

The paint donation scheme is aimed at raising awareness of the potential re-use of “rubbish” and at the same time supporting local organisations.

All local groups can register for free paint by contacting the Council’s cleansing line on (01254) 585863/866

The paint will be given out to those who have registered during two sessions at the Council’s regeneration and environment department at Davyfield Road.

These will take place on Thursday March 11 (4.30 - 5.30pm) and Saturday March 13 (9.30-11am)

Councillor Alan Cottam, executive member of regeneration and environment, said: “One person’s rubbish can be another person’s treasure. Crown have kindly donated this paint which has come through their Testing Laboratory to the Council so we can pass it on to community groups who need it.

“This is recycling at its very best. Paint can also be a health and environmental hazard when it is thrown away and many organisations are desperate for it so everyone benefits.”

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Almost 60 staff have left Blackburn with Darwen Council after being offered early retirement. Full story

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Homeowners in Bank Street, in the St Peters conservation area in Darwen, are the latest to benefit from refurbishment work.

Since 2004, the Housing Market Renewal (HMR) programme will have funded refurbishments to 279 properties in the Darwen area.

The work undertaken by Blackburn with Darwen Council includes the cleaning and pointing of the front elevations of the properties, rain water gutters and pipes as well as installation of new front gates, railings, sash windows and hard wood doors were necessary.

The work funded through HMR is aimed at improving the appearance of properties, thereby helping to inspire confidence in the area with the aim of regenerating and boosting the local housing market.

The property refurbishments on Bank Street are to the National Heritage standard, which is a standard that uses design details and materials which are either the same as the original or appropriate to the historic character of the area.

Councillor Salim Lorgat, executive member for housing, said, “This improvement work is excellent news in terms of conserving the borough’s heritage. We will continue to work with local residents to improve the quality of housing in Darwen.

”We can already see how housing market renewal funding is making a real difference to our communities and housing through the work we have undertaken over the last five years, but we still have to continue to work on making Blackburn with Darwen a better to place to live.”

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has received £12 million this year, from Regenerate Pennine Lancashire (formerly Elevate) which is one of the HMR pathfinders created by the government to manage the multi-million pound Housing Market Renewal Programme for Pennine Lancashire.

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Four year 5 classes from primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen are celebrating after success in a Council energy saving event.

St Cuthbert’s C of E Primary School, on Saint Alban's Road, Darwen claimed first prize winning £150 high street vouchers.

Three other schools claimed joint second prize winning £75 high street vouchers each. They were Griffin Park CP School, on Cavendish Place, Our Lady’s RC Primary School, on Holmbrook Close and Sudell Primary School, on Sudell Road, Darwen.

Every Blackburn with Darwen Primary School was invited to take part in the event held over Autumn/Winter 2009, which was designed to promote the importance of conserving energy.

The classes learnt about energy conservation by taking part in an interactive presentation, playing games and completing a multiple choice quiz.

Councillor Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration and environment, said: “The event was designed to engage the children in activities and help them choose energy saving ideas that they can put into action themselves.

“My congratulations go out to everyone that took part, especially the winning classes.”

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It has been revealed that plans to clean up River Darwen and River Blakewater include £35m of drainage works over the next 5 years.

The project will replace miles of underground pipes which will result in local road closures meaning a series of diversions will be in force. In Darwen the junction of Marsh House and Sudell Rd is likely to see disruption for a period of around 4 months.

More details on the proposed work and level of disruption will be available once planning permission has been obtained for the various stages of the work in Blackburn, Ewood and Darwen.

Meanwhile, there are growing concerns amongst Darwen residents about how the opening of the new town centre Academy will affect traffic with most people resigning themselves to the fact their journeys to work in the morning will take longer as a result of parents on the 'school run'.

The news of the proposed works comes as local business owner, Dave Scott, has started a campaign to improve our roads because he is tired of the constant potholes outside his business. He says that the work to fix the road defects isn't good enough and in most cases the holes re-appear within 6 weeks.

In other news it has been revealed that the proposed bus lane as part of the Pennine Reach scheme may not be going ahead after all. Plans have hit a stumbling block - not because the local public oppose the idea - but because the Government has less funding available for schemes like this as they look to cut back on spending.

The deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council says he fears a major £45million transport scheme may “never happen” after it emerged it is still waiting for the green light from the Transport Secretary.

The £45m plan to connect Darwen, Blackburn & Accrington may never become a reality as the Government looks to make cuts in spending. If eventually given the go ahead, despite objections from residents and business owners in Darwen, the work would coincide with the drainage work and run from 2011 to 2014 meaning more traffic misery for local drivers.

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An inflation ‘busting’ draft budget has been revealed and although no rise in costs is a welcome rise Blackburn with Darwen Council is due to set its council tax below the level of inflation for the third year running.

The proposed increase of 1.90% means that the average band D council tax bill per household in the borough for 2010/11 will be £1,266.85 – a rise of just over 45p a week on 2009/10

Councillors are due to set the charge at a meeting of the Finance Committee on March 1. The Council’s budget for the year will also be agreed.

Councillor Colin Rigby, executive member for Resources at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We know people are facing a lot of pressure on their finances. This is the same for the Council. We have seen a huge rise in demand for our services yet face less money coming in.

“We have kept the promise we made in 2007 to keep the rise below inflation. We have worked hard to keep rises to a minimum over the past few years at the same time recognising that the Council has a key role to play in the current difficult economics times. Council tax is essential to protect services and we continue with efforts to improve our two towns. I’m pleased that most of the people who shared their views with us as we prepared the draft budget agreed on this.”

As part of the process for producing the 2010/11 council tax bills, new council tax accounts are being set up for anybody living in the five wards of Darwen that make up the new Darwen Town Council. The changes are needed because, like parish councils, the town council runs separately to Blackburn with Darwen Council and sets its own budget.

The extra charge for people covered by the Darwen Town Council has been set at £14 for an average band D household.

Further information, including advice for anybody struggling to pay, will be issued with bills once the budget and council tax has been set.

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A major conference was held to discuss what people want to see in Blackburn with Darwen over the next 20 years.

More than 100 people took part in the event at King George's Hall which featured speeches from Blackburn MP Jack Sraw; Blackburn with Darwen's Mayor, Cllr James Hirst, and Mike Murray, chair of the local strategic partnership.

A presentation was also given to share the research and consultation that has gone into Vision 2030 over the last nine months.

Hundreds of local people have been involved and they were invited to take part in the important conference to give them another opportunity to have a hand in the final Vision.

And people attending the conference got the chance to record their thoughts using specialist video equipment, which will be uploaded to the Vision website. The long-term "Vision 2030" will help shape the borough's future.

The draft Vision has four key themes providing a focus over the next 20 years, they are: prosperous towns; safe, healthy towns; clean towns and connecting communities.

Key findings from the consultation and the draft Vision were presented to to conference.
Jack Straw, who gave a key note speech and took questions from the audience, said: "It's essential to this area that we follow the example of previous generations and grip the future, have dreams and turn them into reality."

Mike Murray, chair of Blackburn with Darwen Strategic Partnership, who also spoke at the conference, added: "The 2030 Vision for Blackburn with Darwen was a well attended event, indicating the enthusiasm amongst residents for the borough's future.

"I have every confidence that if we dare to dream the impossible we will almost certainly achieve the attainable.

"We need people to join with us in making Blackburn the place to work, play and thrive."
For more information on Vision 2030 or to get involved in the online debates and see the draft report go to: http://vision2030.bwd.public-i.tv/viewfinder_core/

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The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Jim Hirst will officially open the new Darwen youth centre next week.

The former Knott Street Community Centre has undergone a £400,000 refurbishment after receiving funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

A new IT suite, an all-weather pitch, an interactive white board and games screen, a dance studio and a meeting room are all included in the newly refurbished centre and young people from the Darwen and rural area have already been meeting there to try out the facilities.

Councillor Michael Law-Riding, executive member for leisure and culture and play champion for the borough, said: "It's great to see the youth club up and running. Young people have already been experimenting with the new equipment and it's proving a great success.

"This new facility certainly has the wow factor and it's good for youngsters to have something to do on Friday and Saturday nights."

There will be a seven days a week programme until 10pm for youths aged 13 to 19, including dance sessions, games nights, and skills classes for young people not in education, employment, or training.

And sessions for young people up to the age of 25 years will be available for youngsters who have a disability or are leaving care of the local authority.

Additionally there will be play projects as part of the Council's 'Off For Fun' programme during school holidays, which will provide play provision for children aged five to eight and nine to 14 years.

Provision for young people aged up to 19 is also part of this programme.

The Mayor will be joined by Councillor Law-Riding to officially open the centre at 2pm on Wednesday February 24.

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Forecasters are warning of more heavy snow across the country over the next week or so with the worst of the weather predicted to hit Darwen over Sunday and Monday.

Temperatures are forecast to fall below zero overnight for the rest of February in parts of Lancashire and early predictions say we could see the odd flurry of the white stuff at the beginning of March - so don't pack your children's sledges away in the loft just yet!

Although weather forecasts are sometimes wrong, especially long range ones, early indications show it is likely to start snowing around lunch time on Sunday with showers lasting for approximately 24 hours. We'll just have to wait and see if they are right!

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Darwen welcomed former Conservative party leader William Hague MP to town today, February 19th 2010.

After arriving at the new Darwen Conservatives Office on Railway Road Mr Hague visited Derwent Hall before taking an escorted walk round the town centre to meet local shoppers and talk to some of the market traders.

The Shadow Foreign Secretary was shown round parts of Darwen by Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Darwen and Rossendale Jake Berry on a gloriously sunny Lancashire afternoon.

The MP is widely tipped to become deputy prime minister if the Conservatives win this years General Election so it was quite an important visit as Jake Berry bids to become the next MP for our constituency in the forthcoming election.

Jake Berry himself is aiming to restore trust in MP's locally following the expenses scandal and the local candidate likes to keep in touch with residents through his own website: http://jakeberryuk.blogspot.com/

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The spare land behind Duckworth Street is to undergo a transformation to open up the area as a riverside walkway. A new entrance to the land, which stretches from Heys Lane to the town centre, will also be created by way of a footbridge off Duckworth Street.

Plans have been approved by local planning bosses to restore some of the historic features, repair boundary walls, remove trees & overgrown shrubs and create a new path for pedestrians and cyclists which will include lighting and seating areas.

Repair work will also take place along the banks of the river, restoring the existing culvert.

The work will be a welcomed improvement to the former gas works site following a number of failed plans over the years which included ambitious plans for a new football stadium & shops.

Local residents and business owners say the work will help tidy the area up and give the area of town a better image. What are your thoughts on the plans?

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Exciting job opportunities are being created for young people in Blackburn with Darwen thanks to the borough’s ambitious Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Hundreds of young people could benefit from apprenticeships in job sectors across the board to boost the local economy and give them a crucial first step into growing and established job areas, and build up local skills for the future.

The apprenticeships will be delivered within the BSF programme and have been developed by Balfour Beatty Education, the company which is building the state-of-the-art schools which will transform education and community facilities in the borough.

The apprenticeships were announced at a glittering launch at Bolton Town Hall, to celebrate the BSF partnership between Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Councils and Balfour Beatty.

Apprenticeship opportunities will be created in a range of sectors, including agriculture and horticulture; arts, media and publishing; business, administration and law; construction, planning and the built environment; engineering and manufacturing technologies; and information and communication technology.

Chris Thayne, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for children’s services, said at the event: “We all have a shared vision in this partnership. There will be a transformation and the apprenticeship scheme will be one practical element of that transformation.

“Together we can access the elements of community wellbeing, and these elements are education, economy, inclusion and aspiration. We are bringing communities and people together and that promise is starting now.”

“At this present time, education, training and employment is so important for the development of young people in this area These new apprenticeships through the Balfour Beatty supply chain will offer the working and learning opportunities young people across Blackburn with Darwen need and as such they will form an extremely important part of what the BSF programme can deliver”

Cllr Linda Thomas, deputy leader of Bolton Council, added: “This is a huge opportunity for all our young people and for the economy. Hopefully in many years to come people will look back on today as a really important day for Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen.”

The new apprenticeship model will be rolled out to other Balfour Beatty projects throughout 2010 and will be in addition to existing opportunities and initiatives offered by Balfour Beatty. The apprenticeships will be delivered in partnership with the North West Apprenticeship Company.

Mark Howden, head of regeneration at Balfour Beatty Education, said at the event: “There will be a long-term skills legacy in the local area through these apprenticeships and real investment and planning into the future of a modern workforce.

“These schools will be made with modern materials and using modern methods, so we need to make sure we are offering modern apprenticeships.”

And Andrew McNaughton, chief operating officer for Balfour Beatty, added: “Working within this BSF partnership in Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton, we will leave behind a real skills legacy as significant as the buildings themselves.”

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The restoration of another building in Darwen’s conservation area will start soon.

The Darwen Town Centre Townscape Heritage Initiative comprises of a £2m Common Fund providing by Heritage Lottery Fund and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

Grants are provided towards property and environmental improvements within a designated area of the town centre.

The new scheme, at 17-21 Bolton Road, includes the reinstatement of architectural detail and repairs and improvements to the shopfronts, doors, windows and vacant floorspace.

The upper floor will be used for commercial use with the ground floor taken up by a take away and taxi office.

A grant of £132,244 has been awarded.

Councillor Alan Cottam, Executive Member for Regeneration and Environment, said: “The Darwen THI scheme seeks to reinvigorate historic buildings in Darwen that are run down and losing their original character through the removal of architectural detail and alterations.

“It is great to see another of Darwen’s historic buildings being brought back to life. They all play an important part in the unique nature of the town.”

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The unique £6m re:fresh scheme picked up the Sporting Communities award event held earlier this month.

A unique partnership between the NHS and the Council, the re:fresh scheme aims to reduce health inequalities across Blackburn with Darwen and tackle low physical activity levels of people in the borough. This followed a report released in early 2008 which revealed shocking health statistics of local people.

Since re:fresh was launched in July 2008 over 78,000 people over the age of 16 who live, work, are educated or have a GP in Blackburn or Darwen have signed up to take part in the scheme. This has translated into an overall increase in activity levels in Blackburn with Darwen as the Sport England Active People Survey of 2008/2009 revealed that Blackburn with Darwen has risen by two places since the last survey in 2005/2006.

All activities under the re:fresh scheme are free for people who sign up for a beeZ card, which is also free.

The scheme has seen the Council and the NHS work closely together to provide free leisure and support at a local level and introduce extra health trainers along with life long learning courses and healthy community partnerships to raise awareness of what is on offer to help people make healthier lifestyle choices.

Chair of NHS Blackburn with Darwen, Nick Kennedy said: “We are really proud to see the re:fresh initiative recognised at this national level. We realised that working in partnership was the only way to maximise the impact on the health and wellbeing of local people. This led to us being the first borough in the country to offer this type of support for exercise and physical activity. Now the activity levels in the borough are rising as a direct result of re:fresh, and this proves that partnership working can lead to great results for the people of Blackburn with Darwen.”

Councillor Michael Law-Riding, executive member for leisure and culture for Blackburn with Darwen Council added: “This is brilliant news for everyone in the borough. The hard work that’s being done in the community has been recognised by this prestigious award. However, we are not complacent, there is still much to do to make sure the health inequalities of the people of our borough become a thing of the past.”

For more information on The Community Partnerships Awards go to www.communitypartnershipsawards.co.uk

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Fifteen staff from Blackburn with Darwen Council will be fire walking next week to raise funds for local deaf children.

The team, who come from a variety of Council departments, have volunteered for the walk of their lives – a short dash over coals burning hotter than the fiercest summer day.

The money they raise will go to the East Lancashire Deaf Society to help teach sign language in schools to enable hearing and deaf children to communicate and socialise. Around 30 people in total are expected to participate in the event.

Chief executive Graham Burgess said: “Our staff do a lot of great work and fund raising for both local and national charities and I’m pleased so many have been brave enough to take up this challenge.”

The event will take place at the Knowles Arms, Pleckgate Road, Blackburn on Monday, February 15 and will start at about 6.45pm. Those taking part will be walking 20 feet (6 metres) over coals burning at 120 degrees Farenheit or 48.89 degrees Celsius.

The red hot team are:
Giuseppe Moncado, Smiera Yousaf, Janet Leeming, Mehrun Hafiz, Fiona Macauley, Lorraine Taylor and Sam Woods from the Council’s employment agency

Stuart McAuley, Adam Lohar and Mohammed Sidat from regeneration and environment

Jen Smith and Amy Gillespie from children's services

Shabir Elahi from housing

Marc Schmid and Andy Rhodes from the Council’s policy and communications team.

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Children's centres across the borough are celebrating after achieving a ‘Believing in Breastfeeding’ award.

The prestigious award is part of local work towards the UNICEF Baby Friendly initiative, which accredits organisations helping to promote infant feeding.

It recognises the commitment of teams working within children's centres to promote, support and protect breastfeeding.

In Blackburn with Darwen, teams working together include Little Angels, midwives, health visiting and the infant feeding team. They work to ensure health facilities and childrens centres are breastfeeding friendly places.

And to further help promote breastfeeding in the borough, a baby friendly champion has been appointed in each centre. The roles will help ensure that the children's centres retain the ‘Believing in Breastfeeding’ status by carrying out annual audits of centres, advising on the displays and information which is available.

To achieve the award, all staff have undertaken training over the last three years to raise awareness about the needs of mothers and babies and the importance of the roles that dads play.

Training has included learning about the health benefits of breastfeeding to both baby and mum, how to support and the maintenance of breastfeeding.

Another aspect of the award is ensuring that the children's centres are sensitive to the needs of breastfeeding mums and their families.

Councillor Chris Thayne, executive member for children’s services, said: “This award and the roles of baby friendly champions who will act as keyworkers will further help to highlight the health benefits of breastfeeding not only for both mother and baby but to their partners, peers and families.

“Breastfeeding is the best way to give babies a good start in life, it has been proven to help support babies' immune systems and their development but also helps to reduce child hood obesity and diabetes.”

Each centre also has a breastfeeding policy which includes the WHO guidelines for the protection of breastfeeding by ensuring breast milk substitutes are not advertised.

For more information on breastfeeding and to find the children's centres nearest to where you live, contact the families information service on (01254) 667877.

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Blackburn with Darwen Council is supporting Fuel Poverty Awareness Day.

The nationwide event which is today (Friday February 12) is run by National Energy Action (NEA) and sponsored by EDF Energy. The campaign aims to draw attention to the health problems caused by living in a cold, damp home and the help available to improve living conditions.

Once of the coldest winters in decades has seen more people struggle to cope with the rising costs of keeping their homes warm. The message the campaign is trying to get across is to seek help now if you or someone you know is struggling with energy bills as living in a poorly heated home puts you at risk of serious health problems.

For more information about home energy grants and discount schemes available to help make your home warmer and more energy efficient, contact the Council’s energy efficiency advice service on (01254) 588822.

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Google Zooms in on Darwen Streets with Street View

Bglobal shares on the way up?

Jake Berry accuses MP of hypocrisy

'Brighten up' the borough with free paint

Almost 60 staff take early retirement at Blackburn with Darwen Council

Refurbishment work in Darwen conservation area continues

Darwen schools celebrate energy success

Darwen set for traffic chaos?

Council Tax increases below the level of inflation again

Vision 2030 conference helps to pave future

New Darwen youth centre has wow factor

More snow on the way for Darwen?

William Hague MP Visit to Darwen

Shorey Bank, Darwen to be given makeover

A new world of possibility for local young people

Work to begin on new Darwen THI scheme on Bolton Road

re:fresh wins community partnership award

Fifteen go for the burn to help local children

Blackburn with Darwen achieves 'Believing in Breastfeeding' recognition

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

Coffee Break Games, What's On Guide & Poll Results

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