The order to change schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, will be made early in 2010 and will come into force on 06 April 2010.

Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“It is essential that our native species are given the protection they need to flourish.  2010 is the International . . . → Read More: Himalayan Balsam- change in legal status !!!!!]]>  2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity

The order to change schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, will be made early in 2010 and will come into force on 06 April 2010.

Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“It is essential that our native species are given the protection they need to flourish.  2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and it’s more important than ever to do all that we can to halt the loss of biodiversity.  Stopping the spread of invasive non-native species makes a real difference to the survival of our own native plants, birds and animals.”

Himalayan Balsam has been added to the schedule 9

Section 14  prohibits planting in the wild of plants listed in Part II of schedule 9, or otherwise causing to them grow there. These provisions are necessary to prevent the establishment of non-native species which may be detrimental to our native wildlife.

Link to the full story and further background. http://www.webnewswire.com/node/492309

Further information on control can be found using the links at the right hand side of this page

Note:  The order to change schedule 9 was made on the 9 March 2010

Change in legal status

6 counts of maladministration

2 counts of injustice

This unfortunately does not reverse the planning decision and the injustice that this causes, including effectively closing the bridleway on Sundays.

A new application regarding the Lever Park site is expected shortly, so . . . → Read More: Friends Of Lever Park]]> We would like to congratulate Friends of Lever Park, on the findings by the Local Government Ombudsman against Chorley Borough Council

6 counts of maladministration

2 counts of injustice

This unfortunately does not reverse the planning decision and the injustice that this causes, including effectively closing the bridleway on Sundays.

A new application regarding the Lever Park site is expected shortly, so please watch out on the approach to Christmas and make your opinion count.

We welcome the formation of 

                          The Friends of Lever Park,

                          The  Arcon Village Residents Association,

                          The  Horwich Moor Residents Association,

                          The Montcliffe Residents Association.

     Together we can make a positive . . . → Read More: Making a Positive Difference to YOUR Community]]> Over the last few months, various planning applications have resulted in  residents coming together and fighting for the community. Many have formed  residents groups – something that we would encourage.

We welcome the formation of 

                          The Friends of Lever Park,

                          The  Arcon Village Residents Association,

                          The  Horwich Moor Residents Association,

                          The Montcliffe Residents Association.

     Together we can make a positive difference

I am reminded of a poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

“First they came for the communists,

          and I did not speak out

         —because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the trade unionists,

          and I did not speak out

         —because I was not a trade unionist;

Then they came for the Jews,

          and I did not speak out

          —because I was not a Jew;

Then they came for me

      —and there was no one left to speak out for me

If you need support to speak out, contact us with total confidentiality at BHEAG@Hotmail.co.uk

Agenda: (i) Report on the Ombudsman’s final decision.

(ii) Report on complaint made to the Information Commissioners Office.

(iii) Outlining our intentions following the final decision . . . → Read More: Friends of Lever Park]]> There will be a meeting for “friends of Lever Park” and their supporters on Thursday the 10th December 2009, it will be held at HORWICH CONSERVATIVE CLUB, Church Street Horwich, with an 8-00pm start.

Agenda: (i) Report on the Ombudsman’s final decision.

(ii) Report on complaint made to the Information Commissioners Office.

(iii) Outlining our intentions following the final decision by the LGO

(iv) A-O-B

This application has been discussed for sometime.

There are a large number of changes from the original application, which proposes to extract over three million tonnes of aggregate from the quarry and also process aggregate from external sources, in a 1.5 hectare site.

The application . . . → Read More: Pilkington Quarry , Makinson Lane, Horwich 80931/08]]> Public planning meeting Bolton Town Hall. Thursday 29 October at 14:00
Site visit Thursday 29 October 10:10

This application has been discussed for sometime.

There are a large number of changes from the original application, which proposes to extract over three million tonnes of aggregate from the quarry and also process aggregate from external sources, in a 1.5 hectare site.

The application includes refilling the quarry with inert waste, to the original ground waste , ie filling with more than three million tonnes of waste.

Concerns include, veichle movement, noise (including blasting), air and water pollution, effect on the greenbelt.

At the Special meeting of the Horwich planning committee 8 October 2009, there were a large number of people who cast doubt on the applicants adherence to current planning and environmental restrictions and the fact that they do not appear to be operating using “best practice”, something that the application states is a pre-requisite.

Please see the new application 83299/09  (click “home”)

As part of the process it was agreed that the land could only be used for residential properties and would contain a number of open spaces.

Due to increase in population it was deemed that the community centre car park needed to be enlarged. As such a . . . → Read More: Place of Worship Greenbarn Way Community Centre Carpark 82529/09]]> In 1973 agricultural land was transformed into the Greenbarn Way estate.

As part of the process it was agreed that the land could only be used for residential properties and would contain a number of open spaces.

Due to increase in population it was deemed that the community centre car park needed to be enlarged. As such a parcel of land was given to the council specifically to enlarge the Community Centre Car Park. This forms part of the required open space on the estate. It is on this land that the applicant wishes to build.

The open plan design of the estate would be comprimised by the fencing around the building

Approximately 25% of the already over utilised carpark would be lost. The carpark is frequently used for community support, eg blood donations.

Items for inclusion are invited by contacting either a committe member or else via the website . . . → Read More: Annual General Meeting]]> The Annual General Meeting ( AGM ) of the Blackrod and Horwich Environmental Action Group will take place on the 30th June, 7-30pm for 8.00 pm at the Methodist Church, New Street Blackrod.

Items for inclusion are invited by contacting either a committe member or else via the website comments option