News
Updates from OWL
OWL Research Confirms Demand for Student Housing in Ormskirk is Falling
Research by Our West Lancashire showed occupancy levels below 80% and many properties for sale or empty Our West Lancashire have released the findings of recent research carried out based on door to door visiting around 130 student properties in the…
OWL table No Confidence Motion after Pool Closure Proposals Move Forward
Our West Lancashire have tabled a motion of No Confidence in Council Leader, Yvonne Gagen and Lead Member for Leisure, Carl Coughlan after Labour councillors voted last night to press forward with plans to close Park Pool in Ormskirk and Nye…
Labour propose to build 605 new houses in West Lancashire every year – the fightback starts now
On 30 July as many of us were in holiday mode, the Labour Government released their proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This document guides how councils have to prepare their local plans. The changes for West Lancashire…
Our West Lancashire gain seats from Labour and Conservative and post a Record Number of Votes
Our West Lancashire, the Independents on West Lancashire Borough Council are celebrating after gaining seats from Labour and Conservative in Thursday’s local elections and recording their highest ever number of votes. In Burscough Bridge and Rufford, Paul Hesketh unseated Conservative…
West Lancashire Council lose almost £400,000 of grant funding for Ormskirk Town Centre
Our West Lancashire are calling for answers after mismanagement by the Labour-run Borough Council has resulted in Ormskirk Town Centre losing out on £382,000 of Heritage Action Zone allocated funding from Historic England. This is around half of the original £755,000 awarded…
Ormskirk Town Centre Business Directory Launched
Our West Lancashire have today launched an online business directory for Ormskirk Town Centre. Adrian Owens, OWL Chairman said the idea came from comments OWL hear from residents frequently. “People will say to us they didn’t know they could get that…
Are Vital Ormskirk Town Centre Road Repairs being delayed because they would Show Derby Street Bridge Plans to be Unworkable?
Our West Lancashire write to Lancashire’s Highways Chief asking for road resurfacing in town centre without further delay Council Independents, Our West Lancashire have today written to Lancashire Highways Chief, Councillor Rupert Swarbrick calling for urgent road resurfacing to take place…
GARDEN WASTE CHARGE PETITION – TELL LABOUR “NO”
Stop the 50% increase in garden waste charges to £45 The Labour cabinet has passed proposals to increase garden waste charges to £45 this year. The proposal now goes to a final vote on 28th February. So now is the time to tell…
FINALLY! – Bus Station Toilets to Open but OWL Criticise Councils’ Performance
UPDATE: 31st January 2024. Unfortunately the saga continues. Will any cabinet member get a grip of this? Statement from WLBC officer: “I engaged a contractor before Christmas and they set to work on rectifying the outstanding defects. Most of these are…
Our West Lancashire’s Helping Hand this Christmas
On the back of Our West Lancashire’s success getting the council to restore funding for the Christmas tree outside the parish church in Ormskirk along with funding for Skelmersdale’s Christmas lights; OWL have now gone a stage further by helping residents…
New Polling Station ‘Not Wanted by Public and a Waste of Money’
Our West Lancashire have criticised Labour councillors for ploughing on and foisting a portable cabin polling station on voters in Ormskirk at the cost of £3000 in the face of public opposition branding the decision a ‘waste of money’. Labour councillors…
Ormskirk OWLs Welcome Additional CCTV cameras to be Installed in Town Centre
Three New CCTV cameras to be installed at corner of Railway Road/Leyland Way; corner of Moor Street/Knowsley Road and on path between bus and rail stations Ormskirk activists for Our West Lancashire, the Council Independents, Gordon Johnson and Janet Ingman have…
Call for Visible Police Presence in Ormskirk
Our West Lancashire have called for a visible police presence in Ormskirk saying recent incidents risk damaging Ormskirk’s reputation as a safe town. Janet Ingman, an OWL activist in the town said, “People I speak to see low level crime going…
The Path to Nowhere is Finally to be Connected
Our West Lancashire’s Councillor Paul Hesketh has welcomed news that the linear park path between Ormskirk and Burscough is finally to be connected after the Borough Council confirmed that the project is moving ahead. OWL had previously dubbed it the “path…
OWLs are Flying Again
Council Independents, Our West Lancashire are celebrating after achieving a clean slate and winning all three council seats in yesterday’s Rural South ward election. The election had been delayed from May following the unexpected death of OWL Councillor, Ian Davis. The…
Battle against Medical Waste Incinerator continues after Government declines to intervene
Our West Lancashire have greeted the news that the Government has declined to intervene in the decision on whether a medical waste incinerator goes ahead with great disappointment. The incinerator, to be located in Simonswood, would use an untested pyrolysis treatment…
Ormskirk’s Historic Alleyways to be Improved – Project saved after OWL Intervention
Ormskirk Town Centre’s historic alleyways are to be improved as an £107,000 project is saved after an intervention by Our West Lancashire. Overspends on the unpopular ‘pagoda’ removal at Wheatsheaf Walk and on the Ormskirk bus station development had threatened this…
The Path to Nowhere – Sums up the Disjointed Planning at the Borough Council
The new cycle and pedestrian route between Burscough and Ormskirk is being held up by delays at the Borough Council preventing its use by walkers and cyclists. Most of the route between Ormskirk Rail Station and Abbey Lane in Burscough is…
Labour have Lost Control of Council Finances
Council spent £1.4 million on agency staff and £245,000 on consultants in past year as deficit balloons to £1.8 million Council Independents, Our West Lancashire say that Labour have lost control of West Lancashire council’s finances after a budget was only…
West Lancashire’s Roads are in the Worst Condition in the Whole County, New Figures Show
Our West Lancashire have reacted angrily to information that shows that once again West Lancashire has the worst-maintained roads in Lancashire. 500 road defects were reported in January alone from road users in the Borough. OWL activist in Ormskirk East, Janet…
