Latest news with #HyndburnCouncil
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Accrington to close academy despite council offer
Accrington Stanley have confirmed they will close their academy despite the offer of a grant by Hyndburn Council. The League Two club previously announced it would be forced to close the academy as a cost-cutting measure. That came amid a row with the council over the loss of revenue from the use of club facilities for non-matchday events after the council revoked its entertainment licence following noise complaints from neighbours. The council had offered to put forward the £140,000 which it said in a statement would "be the figure required to keep the academy operational for the next 12 months" but the club has now turned down that offer. "While we genuinely appreciate their offer, a detailed review of the club's financial situation and immediate challenges has made it clear that this support would not address the wider issues we are facing," a club statement said. "During these discussions, the club outlined its ambitions and financial responsibilities, particularly as we look ahead to the 2025-26 season. "After careful consideration, the board has concluded that continuing to operate the academy at this time is not a viable option, even with the council's proposed financial assistance." Accrington finished the 2024-25 League Two season in 21st place and eight points off the relegation places. That finish came as a row with the local council continued late into the campaign, with owner Andy Holt eventually saying he would step down from his position as chairman. He eventually agreed to continue funding the club by up to £250,000 per season. "The enforced closure of our function rooms, rising costs - such as National Insurance and minimum wage increases - combined with no forthcoming resolution to the club's planning issues have placed an ever-growing financial burden on our club and subsequently on our owner who is now in his 11th year of financially supporting Accrington Stanley FC," the statement added. "This situation has compelled the club to reassess its strategy for the upcoming season and beyond. "Despite Andrew Holt's continued generosity, the lack of significant revenue streams to offset these escalating expenses has left us with no option but to implement difficult yet necessary cuts."
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Council offers Accrington academy lifeline
Accrington Stanley's academy could be saved from closure by a grant from Hyndburn League Two club announced last week that it would be forced to close the academy as a cost-cutting came amid a row with the council over the loss of revenue from use of club facilities for non-matchday events, after the council revoked its entertainment licence following noise complaints from council said on Tuesday it would stump up the £140,000 which it said in a statement would "be the figure required to keep the Academy operational for the next 12 months."The council statement, external also said: "Like many, we are deeply concerned about the impact this decision will have on young people and families from Hyndburn. "As mentioned in our previous statement, upon hearing this news we immediately contacted Accrington Stanley FC to ascertain more information on the reasoning behind the decision and to offer the council's support to save the academy from closure."We have therefore asked that Accrington Stanley FC gives urgent consideration to this offer and respond as soon as possible so that we can work together to avoid irreversible consequences."We have also contacted the EFL to express our commitment to the Academy and the club, and to request their support in helping safeguard both."Accrington Stanley have been contacted by the BBC for comment.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Town crier, former MP and veteran councillors set be honoured in borough
Great Harwood's town crier, Hyndburn's former Labour MP and an ex-political leader of the borough are set to be honoured this week. Rawden Kerr, Graham Jones and Peter Britcliffe are among 11 people due to be confirmed as new Aldermen and Freemen of the Borough of Hyndburn when the authority holds its annual council meeting on Thursday. To qualify for appointment as a freeman, the proposed recipient must be persons of distinction or persons who have, in the opinion of the authority, rendered eminent services to that place or area. The new Freemen are Hilary Austin, Stephen Hutchinson BEM, Rawden Kerr, Zack Kerr, and Anne Lincoln. To qualify for appointment as an aldermen, the proposed recipient must have rendered eminent services to the council as a past member of the council, but must not currently be a member of the council. The recipients are Peter Britcliffe, Graham Jones, Abdul Khan and Malcolm Pritchard. The report proposing their names says: "All have lengthy and distinguished former service with the council, or are former Mayors of the Borough, or have been leaders of an opposition group for the relevant qualifying period." It says of the Freemen: "Hilary Austin is the chair for the Church and Oswaldtwistle Royal British Legion Branch and the chair for Accrington and District Royal Air Force Air Cadets. "Stephen Hutchinson is Lieutenant of the Royal Naval Reserve and chair of Accrington and District Unit Sea Cadets. He was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2022. "Rawden Kerr is the Town Crier for Great Harwood and is often called upon to officiate at events, not only throughout Hyndburn, but also in other parts of East Lancashire. "Zack Kerr is a Changing Places ambassador who won the Positive Role Model for Disability Award at the National Diversity Awards in 2021. "Anne Lincoln is a pastor at Clayton Baptist Church whose charitable work supports struggling individuals and families across Hyndburn and beyond." Peter Britcliffe is a former Conservative leader of Hyndburn Council and former borough Mayor representing Oswaldtwistle on the borough and county authorities for many years. Graham Jones was Labour MP for Hyndburn from 2010 to 2019, serving as a party whip, and was leader of the Labour opposition group on Hyndburn Council from 2005 to 2010. Abdul Khan is a former Labour councillor who served as Mayor of Hyndburn in 2022/23. Malcolm Pritchard is a long-serving Hyndburn politician and former Mayor who has represented Labour and UKIP and been an Independent councillor. Each individual honoured will receive a commemorative badge and case at a cost of £393.28 each and be allowed up to eight guests at the Mayor Making event and dinner at a cost of £30 per head for the meal.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Issa brothers' controversial £10m M&S plan for retail park faces new hurdle
Controversial proposals for a £10.1million Marks and Spencer food hall on the Issa brothers' Frontier Park will be debated again on Wednesday after hitting a major High Court hitch in September. The legal block meant the planning process for the retailer's new outlet to replace their existing store in Blackburn town centre had to be rerun from the start. Now a revised application from Monte Blackburn, the property arm of Mohsin and Zuber Issa's business empire which owns Frontier Park just across the border between Blackburn and Rishton, is back before Hyndburn Council's planning committee. In April, it granted planning permission for the outlet near the M65's junction six after overturning an officer's recommendation to reject it on the grounds of the economic benefits that would arise from the development. A new planning officer's report to Wednesday's meeting urges the councillors once again to refuse it. The April approval was given despite a last-ditch attempt by Blackburn with Darwen Council to offer land at the cleared Thwaites Brewery site originally earmarked for a new Morrisons supermarket as an alternative. READ MORE: Yobs cause 'significant damage' at Accrington school in cruel vandalism over Easter READ MORE: Council urges residents to 'collect evidence' to end Fleetwood stink saga Later Tesco launched a judicial review of the decision which Hyndburn Council opted not to contest resulting in the planning permission being quashed by the High Court. Monte and M&S have submitted new evidence to Hyndburn Council addressing the High Court decision and urging approval for the proposal. M&S bosses made clear this week that they will not renew the lease for their existing 1980s all-purpose store in Blackburn town centre's King William Street, which employs 75 staff, when it expires in September 2027 regardless of the final Hyndburn decision. Despite the revised proposals a planning officer's report to Wednesday's meeting once again recommends rejection. It says that: 'The proposed development would result in the loss of land allocated as a Strategic Regional Employment Site without sufficient justification which would be detrimental to the economic and social wellbeing of the area and contrary to policy which seeks to safeguard employment opportunities and support the local economy. The council considers that there are preferable sites which are available, suitable and viable. 'It is not considered that the benefits of the development would outweigh the harm arising.' Tesco has submitted a new objection to approval saying on four grounds including the proposed M and S store's impact on Blackburn and other nearby town centres. Blackburn with Darwen Council also submitted a new objection which says: 'The latest information, submitted by the applicant at a very late stage, unfortunately does not overcome the concerns which have previously been raised. The case remains that the application site is an isolated out-of-centre location which clearly cannot be supported as there is a preferable site available within Blackburn town centre.' The Hyndburn planning officer's report says on the new application says of the Thwaites brewery option: 'On the basis of the available evidence, the site is considered to be available and suitable for the proposed development.' Alex Kenwright, Development Director at Monte Blackburn said 'We have continued to work with M&S, Hyndburn Borough Council and other stakeholders on this planning application since it was submitted in 2022. We are hoping that councillors come to a similar but more robust positive decision this week, as they did last year when the application came before the planning committee. 'There are clear economic benefits to the local area if this development can be delivered and a clear downside if it is refused.' An M&S spokeswoman said: 'We're investing in our stores to bring customers modern spaces where they want to shop, and our proposed location is the best option in Blackburn. As the current store cannot offer the customer experience we strive for, we will not have a store in Blackburn if our plans are refused.' The last M&S store in Hyndburn, in Accrington, closed in 2016. Subscribe to our daily newsletter LANCS LIVE NEWS and get all the biggest stories from across Lancashire direct to your inbox
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plan for Oswaldtwistle woodland battery farm set to be approved
A controversial battery storage farm in woodland in Lancashire is set to be approved by (North) wants to build the complex near Oswaldtwistle, near the M65 and Lottice Brook in the east of the Salford-based firm's application to Hyndburn Council for approval of the 60-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land at Knuzden Moss Farm off Stanhill Road will be debated by the authority's planning committee on proposal has generated 38 objections amid concerns about damage to moorland, road safety and traffic, and the site's impact on wildlife including bats. The plant would see energy stored in batteries and put back into the National Grid at times of high demand. 'Green energy' An officer's report recommends that it should be approved with 21 conditions including a time limit of 40 years (or the end of electricity supply to the National Grid), the submission of emergency and safety plans and steps to protect amphibians, reptiles, hedgehogs, bats and wild document said: "Current government guidance indicates that energy storage facilities such as the one proposed form part of the government's energy strategy to support the transition to low carbon and renewable energy sources."Whilst the proposed development would not benefit the local community directly through the provision of low cost energy for example, it would provide a benefit to the wider network to ensure that network capacity can meet demand as the country relies more heavily on green energy." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
