Cooper's Commons 15th October 2009
(15/10/09)

Earlier this week I received a ‘leaked’ document in which Lancashire County Council discuss the future of almost 100 primary schools across Lancashire. On this list are 14 schools in West Lancashire that could be affected. I have written to the Leader of Lancashire County Council to clarify the status of the document and to express my concern that they are considering closing these schools purely on financial grounds. These schools are at the very heart of the communities they serve. To close them would be a massive blow to the many children and families in those areas. I will certainly be working with the schools affected to oppose the potential closures.

There is good news on surface water charges for local community, faith and sports groups. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have announced plans for new legislation to allow water companies, such as United Utilities, to run concessionary charging schemes. This means local groups will not have to face large water drainage charges as feared when the changes to the charging system were introduced.

There is currently a moratorium in place for 2009-10 but this announcement will give some clarity for the years ahead. I had been working with local community organisations Defra Ministers, water regulator Ofwat and United Utilities to secure a fairer deal and am delighted that common sense has prevailed. I will continue to work to push ahead for the implementation of the new concessionary scheme. Groups and organisations across West Lancashire can now get on with the great job they do in our communities rather than worrying about ‘unaffordable bills’.

On Friday I had the great pleasure to join parents and grandparents who had brought their babies along to Skelmersdale Library for a Nursery sing-a-long as part of Lancashire’s Bookstart celebrations. There was standing room only for the singing and nursery rhymes and the chance to learn baby sign language. I would encourage any parents to go along for Toddler Time or Baby Bounce and Rhyme on Friday mornings at Skelmersdale Library it was great fun for everybody.

Cooper's Commons 1st October 2009
(01/10/09)

Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College is to receive funding to build a new state of the art college. Last week the Learning and Skills Council announced that the college’s application had now passed the value-for-money test and that funding for the scheme had been approved.

It was a complete shock back in June when Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College was not included on the original list of 13 colleges to receive funding. I fought to get the college reinstated because I always believed there to be an absolute need in West Lancashire for a new college and there was already in place a commitment that needed to be honoured.

Over the following months I held a series of high level meetings with Government Ministers, the CEO of the Learning and Skills Council and Heads of Newcastle and Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College which have now proved to be positive and productive. At the end of August we received the news that the college had been reinstated in the list and had to go through the value for money process.

Now that the funding has been committed, the building can go-ahead as planned for 2010. I hope this fantastic news will demonstrate to the young people of West Lancashire that I am serious and committed to ensuring that they have the best possible opportunities.

I recently visited Skelmersdale College and speaking to the students and pupils I know just how welcome the new facilities will be for them. As well as offering great new education and training opportunities the college will kickstart the regeneration of Skelmersdale and give a huge boost to the local economy.

This week a new dental practice is opening on Ormskirk Road in Up Holland that will offer nearly 5000 extra NHS dental places for local residents. This is in addition to the other 11,700 NHS dental places available through the new £3 million Primary Care Access Centre at Ormskirk Hospital which will be operational by the end of this year. I have been campaigning for the past 12 months to improve local dental services as I believe that no-one should be left without an NHS Dentist and forced to go private.

I would encourage any residents without an NHS dentist to register with the new practice to ensure that they and their families are able to benefit from this investment in new NHS dentistry services. To register you can call the Dental Access Database Team on 01772 777 397.

On Friday I dropped in to Chapel Court as part of the MacMillan ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ to help raise vital funds for the cancer charity. Congratulations to everyone involved in setting up what was a very successful and enjoyable event in a very good cause. Special thanks to Joyce Houghton who has organised this event for many years and is a tireless fundraiser.