| |
Pontins: Ten Grand? 3 February 2012
 We look at how the quashing of the Pontins planning application happened, Why it was quashed, and how much the mistakes
might have cost Fylde Taxpayers.
We also wonder who actually knew about it, and where we go from here with the Pontins site.... |
|
The Final Act? 2 February 2012
 Fylde's amateur dramatics groups and Lowther Pavilion users see some welcome movement on the Lowther Gardens Trust impasse.
But is it enough? And if it is, will the plaster that's being applied to the fractured skull solve the long term problems? Sadly we don't think so.... |
|
Melton Grove at Audit 27 January 2012
 Fylde's Audit Committee consider the Council's recommendations about Melton Grove. A good meeting, but
officers seem to be taking control of this item. An independent expert from Blackpool is being brought in to advise the Committee. We ask whether another whitewash is being lined up?.... |
|
Consequences 25 January 2012
 Fylde Council meets. Cllr Mulholland and others launch an assault on a former Director of Clifton (Lytham) Housing Association
to prevent her from representing Fylde on an external organisation claiming he was "horrified" with her answers about Melton Grove.... |
|
Tax Con: 3rd Time Lucky 24 January 2012
 Fylde finally approved a Tax Con at its 3rd attempt. It will see the tax we pay go up by 4.99% on last year
and set a precedent for bigger rises in the future. Yet FBC will say they're freezing Council Tax again this year, so how can that be, and which Councillors voted for the tax rise.... |
|
Enterprise Zone 23 January 2012
 Fylde Cabinet hears about plans for an Enterprise Zone at BAe in Warton. It will be an important development for Fylde so we
have a look at what's involved. We find there's good news and less good news, and we have a few worries about the speed it's being pushed through..... |
|
No Solutions 22 January 2012
 True to his word, Fylde's new Chief Executive, supported by David Eaves, has abandoned plans to create FBC Solutions Ltd, an
arms length commercial contracting company. It's an excellent decision. We bring readers the rise and fall of FBC Solutions Ltd, which is now at a sticky end..... |
|
Exclusive. Pontins Puzzle 21 January 2012
 The Northern Trust applications for homes on the former Pontins site gets into a muddle and becomes a puzzle. A mystery
planning application appears with no descriptions, legal judgement being hidden from view (and possibly hidden from councillors). We ask what's going on?.... |
|
Wesham (Again!) 13 January 2012
 To Wesham again, to a public meeting to hear about Metacre's new plan to build on farmland north of the settlement. Looks a
lot like Phase 1 of a salami-slice scheme to us. We met some old friends and noted opposition to development has not diminished. Pikestaffs are being prepared.... |
|
Exclusive. Flooding Bombshell 11 January 2012
 We hear of a new flood assessment that will re-classify half of Queensway as Flood Zone 3 (unsuitable for
housing). Councillors seem to have been told about the report and asked to endorse it, without actually being given a copy! It could be cock-up of course, but it sounds more like conspiracy to us. We call on FBC to come clean.... |
|
Queensway Inquiry Mk2 10 December 2011
 We report the first day of the second Queensway Inquiry where new evidence will be presented to try to persuade Rt
Hon St Eric Pickles to change his mind and agree the scheme. We hope he's not going to do that..... |
|
Ring out the old: Ring in the New 28 December 2011
 Fylde's Chief Executive Philip Woodward retires. New broom Alan Oldfield takes over. We review events of
Mr Woodward's reign, and look where the 'new man' is likely to take us. Oh yes, and we've another report from our friend the Blue Mole.... |
|
Stage Wrong? 25 December 2011
 Fylde's Scrutiny Committee excludes the public from hearing about the mess it's getting itself into with the Lowther Gardens
Trust. We ask if this is a comedy turning into a tragedy. We also examine moves 'offstage' with the Friends of Lowther Pavilion and the users of the pavilion.... |
|
Two Fracking Views 20 December 2011
 Friends of the Earth held a meeting in St Annes about shale gas drilling and fracking. We
publish the views of two readers who attended the same meeting but formed different opinions. We also restate our own view that it's too soon to make a call on this issue at the moment..... |
|
Queensway Second Inquiry Due Soon 18 December 2011
 The second Queensway Public Inquiry starts on 10 January at Lowther Pavilion. We explain some of the
issues, and highlight some of Kensington's latest tactics which include a huge public survey that's probably going to show at least what appears to be, a lot of public support..... |
|
Shale Gas Inquiry 5 December 2011
 We report the Scrutiny Committee meeting that received the interim report of their own Task and Finish Group on Shale Gas exploration in Fylde.
To be honest, it wasn't the impartial clear collation of evidence we'd hoped to see. What we did see was some of the worst bully-boy chairing Fylde has experienced..... |
|
Melton Grove at Council (again) 2 December 2011
 Council receive the Scrutiny Committee report into the sale of Melton Grove. Powerful speeches by
Councillors record the scandalous behaviour of the Council's officers, and the incompetence of both Board Members and the Cabinet. We can only agree. So what's going to happen next?.... |
|
Curtain Up: Light the Lights 23 November 2011
 We shine our own spotlight on what's happening at Lowther Gardens Trust, and in particular what's happening
with the Pavilion. We find that all's not well. Few, if any have a grasp of the objects of the charity and that's the sole reason the Trust should exist. There's trouble brewing.... |
|
