Paul Faulkner

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Preston's Guild Hall: council sets out two options and reveals decision date Preston City Council will decide within the next year whether it is “feasible” to build a replacement for the Guild Hall, it has been announced.

A replacement for the iconic venue could be on the cards, but funding will be the deciding factor - and its absence could yet make renovation of the existing building the only option. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Preston city centre set for huge revamp as shopping precinct demolition approved A “tired” Preston shopping precinct is set to make way for an “ambitious” new residential, retail and healthcare development, after a major regeneration plan was given the go-ahead by councillors.

The ever-changing face of Preston - the 1960s-built St. John's Shopping Centre is to make way for a new residential and retail development, with a neighbourhood healthcare facility and public square at its heart. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

'There's maybe something we can do': council hints at changes to Preston bus gate and lane First-time offenders who stray into two controversial bus-only zones in Preston might escape a fine in future, the leader of Lancashire County Council has suggested.

A compromise could be on the cards over two controversial bus-only zones in the city - but several councillors just want the restrictions scrapped. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Reform UK sets first Lancashire County Council budget: all you need to know, including council tax rates The Reform UK administration at Lancashire County Council has set its first budget – promising what it described as a “tsunami of better services” for residents.

The ruling group hailed an "incredible" achievement in balancing the books - but the opposition claimed they had better ideas. From potholes to black holes, council tax to care homes and robots to redundancies, here's a full flavour of the debate. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

'No way of knowing' if Lancashire's potholes are being filled in quickly enough amid data problem A “technical issue” means Lancashire County Council is currently unable to say whether it is hitting its own pothole repair targets.

A change of IT systems means the county council can't say whether repair response times are being met. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Camelot theme park plans prompt 'gridlock' warning ahead of big decision A councillor has warned of “absolute chaos” on the roads if plans to build 350 houses on the site of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park in Chorley are given the go-ahead.

It's the third time a housing estate has been proposed for the former attraction - but now it's a government-appointed inspector, not Chorley Council, who will make the decision. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Major update on the transformation of Penwortham town centre - six years on A long-delayed revamp of Penwortham town centre is still not at the stage of becoming a reality - with the latest hold-up appearing to be the result of a wrangle between councils over its design.

The town was promised a new look after its bypass opened - but a wrangle over road layout seems to be behind the latest hold-up. www.lep.co.uk/news/traffic...

'It took two days picking through dog dirt to sort this out': park makes waste plea The operators of a popular Chorley park have appealed for consideration from dog owners after waste bags were left piled up around overflowing bins.

Mountains of muck have built up after bin collections had to be paused at Cuerden Valley Park - but dog owners are being reminded that their pet's mess is their responsibility. www.lep.co.uk/news/people/...

Apartments plan unveiled for ‘Preston’s oldest shopping centre’ Dozens of apartments could be created within Preston’s Miller Arcade as part of a major redevelopment of the historic city shopping precinct.

The upper floors of the historic building have been vacant for more than a decade. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Town centre revamp means parking spaces will be removed Plans to make Cleveleys town centre a more appealing place to shop will see more than a dozen on-street parking spaces removed – so that pavements can be widened.

It's hoped that widening the pavements will make Cleveleys a more appealing place to shop. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Lancashire motorway potholes 'are a death waiting to happen', councillor claims Lives are being endangered by potholes on a Lancashire motorway, a senior councillor has claimed.

Lives are being put at risk on a stretch of the M65, it's been claimed. www.lep.co.uk/news/traffic...

Town centre to get new one-way system - here's how it will work A new one-way system is to be introduced in St. Annes town centre after getting the green light from highways bosses.

The aim is to better connect the popular seafront spot at St. Annes with the town's main shopping area. www.lep.co.uk/news/traffic...

New houses in the countryside refused permission for one simple reason A bid to build a small housing estate in the Preston countryside has fallen at the first hurdle.

The proposal fell foul of the rules for building in rural areas. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Huge housing estate and sports complex planned for Preston countryside More than 200 homes and a raft of new and upgraded sports facilities could be created on the outskirts of Preston as part of a major residential and leisure development.

The coalition behind the development says it would plug a gap in local sporting facilities and deliver affordable homes.. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Future decided for Preston pub that never reopened after Covid lockdown A once popular pub in rural Preston – which never reopened after the first Covid lockdown – is to be turned into houses.

Business had already been declining - and the pandemic finished it off. But one councillor wasn't convinced the hostelry couldn't have made a comeback. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

'Us Lancashire MPs need to work together to show how much the county has to offer' Lancashire needs to “shout” with a more collective voice about its potential in order to ensure it gets the government and private sector backing needed to realise it.

The county needs to make a more coherent case for its capabilities, the chair of a reformed parliamentary committee says. www.lep.co.uk/politics/us-...

Council housing set to make a comeback in Preston Preston is poised to get its first council houses in more than 20 years – with new-build properties in the north of the city being eyed up for purchase.

A long-held ambition is on the brink of being realised, two decades after the city authority last provided dwellings directly to residents. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Major update on redevelopment of Preston's Disney-esque Park Hotel The long-awaited restoration of Preston’s former Park Hotel finally looks set to get under way after a developer secured the funding to acquire the landmark building.

The landmark building could finally see work begin on its restoration after years of being left to go to ruin. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Appeal hearing into 'worst planning application ever' cancelled A public hearing into plans for a controversial housing development in Leyland has been scrapped.

The planning inspector who will decide whether or not to uphold the refusal of permission for a new estate in Leyland is now going to base their decision solely on written evidence. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

From roads to buses to bicycles: Lancashire set for 20 percent transport fund boost Lancashire will get almost £29m more in transport funding from the government in two years' time than it does today.

The county will also have more flexibility over how the cash is spent. www.lep.co.uk/news/traffic...

What Lancashire council bosses say about having to stage elections after U-turn Two Lancashire councils whose previously cancelled local elections were suddenly put back on the calendar this week have said they are confident they can still deliver well-run contests.

Away from the politics of the move, two local authority chief executives are confident they can deliver the usual smooth electoral contests - largely because they'd never stopped planning for them. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Glorious.

Lancashire council leaders react to shock local election U-turn Political leaders across Lancashire are readying their troops to fight local elections that it appeared were never going to happen.

With the culled contests going ahead after all, the county's politicians have been responding to the sudden reversal. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Lancashire WILL go to the polls this year - local elections back on after government U-turn All of Lancashire’s cancelled local elections are back on after a government U-turn made following “legal advice”.

Here's how the county is affected. Reaction to follow - and there's likely to be plenty of it. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

'We were denied chance to save historic Preston pub - but have high hopes for other city sites' A group that had wanted to save Preston’s historic Tithebarn pub and turn it into a centre telling the story of the city’s past says it was never given a proper chance to make its vision a reality.

A group dedicated to preserving Preston's heritage says it hopes a reset in its relationship with the city council will help ensure no other empty, historic buildings are lost. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

New Preston pub could replace derelict venue as demolition confirmed The demolition of a historic Preston city centre pub will definitely go ahead after a senior councillor said he could not “justify” the cost that would be involved in keeping it standing.

The fate of the historic hostelry has finally been sealed after it was deemed too costly to save - but drinks may yet be served from the site once again. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

Huge increase in SEND school places planned across Lancashire Almost 400 new school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are set to be created in Lancashire.

New and expanded special schools and additional mainstream units are all part of the mix - designed both to improve the education on offer to youngsters with special needs and reduce the cost of getting them to class. www.lep.co.uk/news/educati...

Have your say on Lancashire’s new-look local councils - here are the five options Lancashire has been invited to have its say on the size, shape and number of new councils that are to be created as part of the biggest local authority shake-up in the county for more than 50 years.

The government hasn't sought to shorten the list of suggestions put forward by the county's existing local authorities - and so is now seeking opinions on all five of them. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...

'I started wheelchair curling in Preston - and was competing on world stage 18 months later' Disabled people across Lancashire are being encouraged to think about taking up curling after a wheelchair club in the county was given a cash boost to help it fund the cost of training sessions.

New members are being sought for a team that regularly proves anything is possible - but which has much more to offer than a path to sporting prowess. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...