Issue 21 September 2009 (PDF 6.3Mb) - Knowsley Council

Knowsley 

Issue 21 – September 2009 

News 

KIRKBY 

L32 

MARKET 

Kirkby traditional, open air market. 

Open every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 9am – 4.30pm 

• Free car parking • over 100 stalls • food • fashion 

• household items • bespoke gifts • greetings cards 

and much more... 

06 


where opportunity 

knocks 

03 

Digital switchover 

08 

Opportunities 

through Transform

We have some really talented and outstanding young people in Knowsley. 

This edition’s ‘opportunity knocks’ section (Pages 6-14) celebrates their 

recent exam successes and some fantastic arts and musical achievements. 

Plus, we take a look at the recently opened Centres for Learning across 

the borough and what they really think of them... 

Knowsley, 

where opportunity knocks 


Welcome to the latest edition of 

Children’s 

When you read this edition 

you’ll see how the 

community, especially 

our children and young people, 

are grasping those opportunities. 

For example, our sustained 

investment in education is once again 

being rewarded through improved 

exam results across the borough. 

News too on the latest Centres for 

Learning that have opened. 

www.knowsley.gov.uk 

News 

“ 

Welcome to the latest edition of Knowsley News, 

which is full of positive stories looking at some 

of the great opportunities that are being made 

available to Knowsley residents. 

The children and young people 

look like they have had fun along 

the way too – reflected in their smiles 

when they attended a graduation 

ceremony at Liverpool Hope University, 

or when they met an Olympic legend 

and a radio superstar. 

Future opportunities are highlighted 

through updates on regeneration 

projects in Halewood and Stockbridge 

Village and progress reports on our 

work to make Knowsley a safer, 

cleaner, and greener borough. 

I hope you enjoy reading this edition. 

Cllr Ron Round 

Leader of Knowsley Council 

“ 

Your views 

If you have any comments or 

would like to write a letter for 

publication, please contact the 

editor, Steve Roberts. 

Knowsley News 

Knowsley Metropolitan 

Borough Council 

FREEPOST LV6600 

L36 6AB 

telephone: 443 3066 

email: 

knowsleynews 

@knowsley.gov.uk 

Knowsley News is also available 

in other formats including Braille, 

large print and audio tape. If you 

are registered blind or visually 

impaired you should receive an 

audio tape version of the magazine. 

Telephone customer services 

on 443 4031 

or email 

customerservices 


in this issue: 

What’s hot 02 

02 Swine flu – what you need to know 

02 The year ahead for Scrutiny 

03 The Digital Switchover comes 

to Knowsley 

03 Knowsley’s social revolution 

04 A healthier, happier Knowsley 

04 Thumbs up for council services 

05 Blooming lovely 

05 Knowsley News survey results 

Opportunity knocks 06 

Lifestyle 20 

What’s on 27 

07 

14 

Students graduating 

from Knowsley’s first 

15 Halewood transformation continues 

University 

15 Stockbridge – regeneration update 

Knowsley News is 

produced by Knowsley 

Metropolitan Borough Council 

four times a year and distributed 

to all households in the borough. 

The next edition will be published 

in December 2009. 

Designed by 

origincreativedesign.com 

Printed by The Website on Signa 

Coat Silk: 100% waste paper 

(secondary fibre), mainly from 

household collections, minimum 

50% post-consumer waste, no 

chlorine bleaching in production 

process. 

06 Knowsley’s first children’s graduation 

06 Top marks for Knowsley’s students 

07 Westvale Youth Centre 

07 Celebrating young talent 

08 Transform – bringing learning 

to life 

12 Disabled children aim high 

13 Knowsley apprentice – they’re hired 

14 Going for gold 

14 Radio City Sound Academies 

Regeneration 15 

In focus 16 

16 Cleaner, safer, greener 

16 Beating the recession 

17 Recycling made easy in Knowsley 

18 ‘Bag it and bin it’ 

18 Sshhh!!! 

19 Knowsley, a safer place 

to live in 2009 

20 Knowsley summer fun 

Your neighbourhood 21 

21 South Huyton 

22 North Huyton 

23 South Kirkby 

24 North Kirkby 

25 Halewood 

26 Prescot, Whiston, Cronton 

and Knowsley Village 

Going 

for gold 

20 

Contents 

03 

The Digital Switchover 

comes to Knowsley 

Westvale 

Youth 

Centre 


summer fun 

01


What’s hot 

Swine flu 

what you need to know 

The Digital Switchover 

comes to Knowsley 

Swine flu has been hitting 

the headlines for the last few 

months. Below are some 

questions and answers which we 

hope you find useful:- 

What are the symptoms? 

The symptoms are similar to 

seasonal flu including fever, 

sore throat and fatigue. 

What should I do if I’m displaying 

the symptoms? 

Stay at home. Call the National 

Pandemic Flu Service, which allows 

you to assess your symptoms and 

access anti-virals if required, or 

read advice on symptom-relief. 

Log on to 

www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk 

or telephone 0800 1 513 100 

(for treatment requests only) 

between 8.00am – midnight. 

A textphone number is available 

on 0800 1 513 200 

The year ahead for 

Scrutiny 

It’s been a busy couple of months for 

Knowsley’s Scrutiny Committees as they 

have worked to set their work plans for 

the coming 12 months. Here’s an 

overview of what they will be looking 

at in the year ahead... 

Children, Young People & 

Families Scrutiny Committee 

– Investigating the options and 

support available to those not 

in education, employment or 

training (NEET) 

– Improving young people’s 

health, with specific reference 

to sexual health and teenage 

pregnancy 

You will need to find a flu 

friend – a member of the 

family, a neighbour or a 

friend. They could pick up 

your anti-virals if you need 

them, or any other medicine, 

or do any essential food 

shopping. 

What can I do to prevent 

swine flu? 

Maintain a good hygiene 

routine to help prevent the 

spread of flu – regular and 

thorough hand washing, cover 

your mouth and nose when 

coughing and sneezing, use a 

tissue and bin it immediately 

after use. Remember, catch it, 

bin it, kill it. 

Further information 

Log on to www.nhs.uk or 

telephone the Swine Flu 

Information line on 0800 1 513 513 

for the latest updates. 

Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee 

– Monitoring the delivery 

of Knowsley’s Sustainable 

Community Strategy 

– Looking into ways to better 

support those claiming benefits 

Economic Development and 

Environment Scrutiny Committee 

– Reviewing the provision and 

quality of affordable housing 

in the borough 

– Looking at what we are doing 

to improve employment and 

training options across Knowsley 

Health and Well-being 

Scrutiny Committee 

– Looking at the factors contributing 

to cardiovascular disease in women 

– Reviewing the support and 

advice available to families 

dealing with obesity 

Safer, Stronger Communities 


– Reviewing the delivery of key 

enforcement priorities including 

environmental crime, loan sharks 

and underage drinking, etc 

– Ways to encourage positive 

participation in cultural activity 

T 

he digital switchover in the 

Granada TV region is about to 

begin. It will happen in 2 stages: 

Stage 1 

4 November 2009 

BBC2 analogue signal will be 

switched off. 

Stage 2 

2 December 2009 

All other remaining analogue channels 

will also be switched off. 

Knowsley’s 

social 

revolution 

These changes will affect every 

household and business in Knowsley 

who will, by the end of the year, be 

able to receive a new, stronger digital 

TV signal. 

For more information about this and 

to find out what you need to do to 

be prepared, call the helpline 

on 08456 50 50 50* or log on 

to digitaluk.co.uk/Granada 

*Calls are free for customers within inclusive calling plans. Call charges from other 

providers may vary. The standard business hours for Digital UK’s contact centre are 

9am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on a Saturday. Opening hours will 

be extended during switchover in each area. 

You can now get news, 

information and events 

listings from Knowsley Council 

while chatting to friends online. 

We are using social media sites 

Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube 

to connect with residents and give 

them the chance to contact us in a 

way that suits them. 

You can view photos and videos 

from across the borough on Flickr 

and YouTube, and find information 

about us on Facebook. By following 

us on Twitter, you’ll be the first to hear 

breaking news, events and get up to 

the minute information in the event 

of school closures or emergencies. 

And we’ll be pleased to hear feedback, 

suggestions and comments – just log 

on and tell us what you think. 

Find us online: 

www.twitter.com/knowsleycouncil 

www.youtube.com/knowsleycouncil 

www.flickr.com/knowsleycouncil 

You can find the council on Facebook 

by searching for Knowsley Council 

And of course on our official site 


Electoral 

Register 

All residents are reminded 

to supply information for 

the Electoral Register. 

The Annual Update Forms have 

been delivered to all residential 

properties in Knowsley over the 

last couple of months and must, 

by law, be completed and 

returned. 

Any changes must be confirmed 

in writing and posted back in a 

prepaid envelope. If there are no 

changes, this can be confirmed 

by freephone or via the internet. 

If you have not responded, 

canvassers will soon be calling 

at your property to obtain the 

information. 

If you do not supply the 

information required, you will 

not be able to vote in the Local 

Elections in May 2010 or in the 

next General Election. 

If you require any assistance 

completing the form, please ring 

the helpline on 443 2222 

02 www.knowsley.gov.uk 

03


A healthier, 

happier 


NHS Knowsley and Knowsley Council 

won the ‘Reducing Health Inequalities 

Achievement’ at the Municipal Journal 

awards in recognition of our 

outstanding work to improve the 

health and quality of life of Knowsley 

residents. 

Rosemary Hawley MBE, Chair of NHS 

Knowsley, said: “We are immensely 

proud of the groundbreaking 

partnership that exists between 

NHS Knowsley and Knowsley Council 

which enables us to put the needs 

of our communities at the heart of 

everything we do.” 

Thumbs up for council services 

“Health is a major 

determinant of people’s 

quality of life, and by supporting 

residents to live healthier 

lifestyles, it enables them to 

maximise their quality of life. 

This is a priority issue for the 

council and its partners, and 

we should all be proud that 

the progress we have made 

has been recognised. 

“ 



Blooming 

lovely 

Visitors flocked to the eleventh 

annual Knowsley Flower Festival 

to enjoy one of the finest displays 

in recent years. 

While the rain in June and 

July may have dampened 

the enthusiasm of the 

average gardener, the specialist 

growers seemed to be reaping the 

benefit of a wetter-than-average 

season. 

More than 18,000 people visited the 

festival which is one of the largest 

free horticultural shows of its kind in 

the North West. Highlights of the day 

included the winners of both novice 

and expert gardeners who had 

submitted their prize 

winning blooms. 

What’s hot 

Knowsley residents have 

given the council’s refuse 

and recycling collections 

the highest satisfaction ratings 

in the country. 

The information was collected as 

part of the Government’s Place 

Survey, which asks residents how they 

feel about the services they receive, 

and what they think of their area as 

a place to live. 

How did you rate the following services: 

Refuse collection 

92.9% 

very or fairly satisfied 

(highest in the 

country) 

Doorstep recycling 

89.9% 


(highest in the country) 

Libraries 

82.4% 


(2nd highest in the 

country) 

The overall winner of the flower show 

was Chris Bright from Widnes who 

picked up the best-in-show award 

for her fuschias. 

More than 100 classes were on 

offer at the festival. Visitors were 

given the opportunity to 

sample their talents at 

floral art arranging vases of flowers 

to growing vegetables and potted 

plants. 

Other attractions included displays 

from Hawkeye Falconry and the H&M 

Dog Display Team, the Youth Arts 

Friendship Field and the Craft 

Marquee. 

“ 

We strive to provide 

excellent services which offer 

genuine value for money. 

The results of this survey are 

important, as they give us your 

perspective on how well 

we are doing. 

“ 



Keeping public land 

clear of litter and 

refuse 

73.9% 


(4th highest in the 

country) 

Knowsley News survey 

In the last edition, we asked for your views on 

Knowsley News. Thank you to everyone who responded. 

Here’s what you said... 

As expected, the 

survey also recognised 

some of the key 

challenges and issues 

that we are working 

hard to address with our 

partners. For the full 

results, please go to 

www.audit-commission.gov.uk 


It is important that we keep in contact with residents to see how our 

services can be improved. Every three months, we will be speaking 

to 600 residents to see what we can do better, and how we can help 

improve your quality of life. 

We asked... 

Do you enjoy reading Knowsley News? 

Do you find it easy to read? 

Do you think it is well designed? 

Do you think it includes interesting and useful information? 

Which sections do you like to read? 

You said... 

96% said yes 

96% said yes 

91% said yes 

92% said yes 

Your neighbourhood and What’s hot 

We also asked for suggestions on ways in which we could improve future editions. We were delighted to 

find that many of you felt that Knowsley News couldn’t be improved, but the comments from those of you 

who did make suggestions will be incorporated into future editions. Thanks again! 

05


Opportunity knocks 

Knowsley, where opportunity knocks 

Knowsley’s first 

children’s graduation 

Pupils from five primary schools donned caps and gowns to attend 

their own special graduation ceremony at Liverpool Hope University. 

Knowsley’s first Children’s 

University saw pupils from 

Halewood, Malvern, St 

Brigid’s, St Laurence’s and St Mark’s 

awarded certificates for their 

attendance and participation in 

a range of after school activities, 

from sign language and visual arts 

to drama and family cooking. 

“ 

By hosting the graduation 

ceremony in a university, 

it shows the children that taking 

a degree is an option for them 

and gives them a taster of what 

it would be like to graduate, 

perhaps inspiring them to go 

on to higher education in 

the future. 

“ 

Cllr Graham Wright 

Knowsley’s Cabinet Member 

for Children’s Services 

“The Children’s University is a great 

idea, it has inspired my child to try 

even harder, and the graduation 

ceremony is a great thing to boost the 

children’s self confidence,” commented 

parent Nicola Stringer. “I really enjoyed 

today,” added Bethany Christian a pupil 

at St Brigid’s “the best part was 

throwing our caps in celebration!” 

Top marks 

for Knowsley’s students 

Pupils across Knowsley have 

been celebrating. For the 11th 

year running, the number 

getting five GCSE passes at A* 

to C has gone up. Around 62% 

made the grade this year, 

which is an improvement of 

4.5% on 2008. 

A level passes were achieved by 

96.6% of students – that’s up 3% 

on last year – and primary pupils 

beat the Key Stage 2 national 

average for the first time. 

Knowsley’s overall success is 

down to a great deal of hard 

work from our young people 

with support from their parents, 

coupled with a wide range of 

support from dedicated school 

and local authority staff. 

Congratulations to everyone 

involved! 

Charlotte Lynch performs on electric guitar at the Westvale Youth Centre launch 

Celebrating young talent 

Meanwhile, budding young film 

makers from Huyton were joined 

by TV soap stars for the Knowsley 

premiere of their award winning 

anti gun and gang crime film and 

educational pack. 

Hard hitting ‘Take the Rap’ is aimed 

at preventing young people’s 

involvement in gun and gang crime 

Christine Tremarco and Margi Clarke with 

Take the Rap young film makers 

Westvale 

Youth 

Centre 

“ 

Westvale Youth Centre offers 

young people a great place to 

socialise, get advice and support 

while also providing exciting 

activities to get involved with. 

Cllr Graham Wright 

Knowsley’s Cabinet Member 

for Children’s Services 

and can be watched on 

www.youtube.com/knowsleycouncil 

The short film, which was produced 

by volunteers on the Youth 

Development Programme and 

youngsters from the Page Moss area, 

scooped two prizes at the North West 

Clapperboard awards earlier 

this year. 

Mixing it up at Westvale 

“ 

Young people in Kirkby have been 

socialising and enjoying a range 

of activities at the recently opened 

Westvale Youth Centre. 

The brand new centre, which 

opened in June, was designed to the 

specifications of the young people 

who use it. With its games 

area, chill out room and coffee 

bar the purpose built facility 

gives youngsters somewhere to 

relax with friends or take part in the 

many activities on offer. 

From DJ mixing and animation on 

the new suite of computers to 

healthy eating, sports, gaming and 

pamper sessions, there’s something 

for everyone. 

Aged 11 to 19? 

Find out more about Youth 

Service activities where you 

live by contacting: 

Prescot Area Office on 

443 4542 or prescot.area.team 


Halewood, Whiston and Cronton 

Area Office on 443 2161 

Kirkby Area Office on 443 4409 

or kirkby.area.team@ 

knowsley.gov.uk 

Huyton Area Office 443 5338 

or huyton.area.team@ 

knowsley.gov.uk 

You can also find out what’s 

going on where you live by 

following www.twitter.com/ 

plingsknowsley or visiting 

PLINGS on the council website. 


07


Five down, two to go! 

Five of Knowsley’s Magnificent Centres for Learning are now open, with two to go! Over the summer 

months, school staff and members of the Future Schooling in Knowsley team were busy unpacking 

materials in three new Centres for Learning: 

Enjoy your new 

community facilities! 


Knowsley Park – which replaces 

Prescot and Higher Side secondary 

schools, serving Prescot, Whiston 

and the wider community. 

Kirkby Sports College – which 

replaces Ruffwood and Brookfield 

campuses. 

Huyton Arts & Sports Centre for 

Learning – replacing Knowsley Hey 

and Bowring secondary schools. 

All centres were ready to open their 

doors to students at the start of term 

in September. Students were well 

prepared as they had already seen 

Halewood Centre for Learning earlier 

in the year. Here’s what they thought 

about their new centres: 

“When I entered the form rooms 

I was surprised to see all the 

classrooms run off one big one and 

to get to your next lesson you don’t 

have to walk all the way to another 

building. I was even more surprised 

to see that there were outside spaces 

to work. I was so excited to think that 

in September I would be working in 

a Centre for Learning like the one 

I was stood in.” Kayleigh Cogley, 

Kirkby Sports College Centre for 

Learning. 

“The new centre is bigger, better 

and more fun than anything you 

have seen before. Yes, you might 

think schools are really boring, but 

this is not a school – it’s a Centre for 

Learning,” Dylan Joinson, Knowsley 

Park Centre for Learning. 

“The Centre for Learning is for the 

community. Everything is changing, 

including the way we learn. It is going 

to be better for us all,” 

Elle-Jo Bulger, Huyton Arts & Sports 

Centre for Learning. 

The countdown is now on for the 

completion and handover of the two 

remaining Centres for Learning by the 

end of the year – All Saints Catholic 

Centre for Learning in Kirkby and 

St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic 

Centre for Learning in Whiston – 

as part of Knowsley’s Future Schooling 

programme to replace all of its 

existing secondary schools in the area. 

Christ the King Catholic and Church 

of England Centre for Learning was 

opened in January 2009, followed 

by Halewood Centre for Learning, 

which was handed over by Transform 

Schools in March 2009. 

Now that five out of seven Centres for Learning have opened, 

communities have been enjoying using the facilities on offer 

at very generous discounts. 

T 

his summer communities in 

Halewood and North Huyton 

enjoyed a packed Summer Fun 

programme of activities at their 

centres, with the chance to win 

mountain bikes for all the family. 

Activities available at your centres 

range from dance classes, soccer 

coaching, musical theatre, adult 

education, cooking, sign language, 

cake decoration, beauty therapies, 

wheelchair basketball, judo taster 

sessions, basketball, badminton, 

climbing wall, trampolining, arts 

& crafts. The list is endless – please 

ring 443 4687 to see what’s available 

in your area or visit our website 


There will also be a chance to use 

the facilities for free at the Open 

Days later in the year, look out for 

further details. 

Open Days 

Kirkby Sports College Open Day 

2 October, 3.30pm – 6.30pm 

Knowsley Park Centre 

for Learning Open Day 

22 October, 3.30pm – 6.30pm 

Huyton Arts & Sports Centre 

for Learning Open Day 

16 November, 3.30pm – 6.30pm 

08 www.knowsley.gov.uk 09


Bringing learning 


Up, up 

and away! 

to life 

The Diploma is a brand new 

qualification for 14 to 19 year 

old learners that really does 

‘bring learning to life’. 

There will eventually be 14 new 

diplomas (pre 16) and 17 (post 

16) by 2013 when all learners 

will be entitled to study the diploma 

of their choice. In Knowsley we 

currently have six fantastic diplomas. 

Learners in all Centres for Learning 

can access at least one of them. 

They are: 

1 Creative and media – explores 

the world of film, TV, radio, drama, 

dance, music, visual art, 

photography, graphics, animation 

and much more. 

2 IT – looking at how a business 

is run, how the IT industry works 

and multi-media IT. 

3 Engineering – explores all aspects 

of engineering from electronics 

and maintenance to exploring 

engineering innovation. 

4 Hair and beauty studies – 

the opportunity to explore how 

products are developed and tested 

and understand what is involved in 

running a salon or spa. 

5 Hospitality – learners will have 

the chance to spend time in our 

own real restaurant and see and 

contribute to how it is run! 

6 Business, administration 

and finance – learners will be 

a member of their own events 

management team and explore 

the world of business in a real life 

working environment. 

In September 2010 Knowsley will have 

four more new diplomas available: 

1 Sports and active leisure 

2 Retail business 

3 Construction and the built 

environment 

4 Society, health and development. 

In the construction and the built 

environment diploma pupils will 

study three elements – design, 

create and value, and use of the built 

environment as well as undertaking 

a period of work experience and 

developing their English, maths and 

ICT skills. 

Knowsley Community College and the 

new Centres for Learning will work in 

partnership with construction 

employers such as Balfour Beatty to 

deliver the diploma, giving those who 

study it an excellent standard of 

education as well as work ready skills 

when they enter the world of 

employment – putting them one step 

ahead of their peers. 

If you would like more information 

please contact: 

Klare Murray on 443 5729; 

email: 

Klare.murray@knowsley.gov.uk 

Local youngsters from 

Simonswood Primary 

School, All Saints Catholic 

High and Kirkby Sports College 

helped launch 800 balloons in 

a race for a new charitable 

partnership – ‘Building Better 

Futures’. 

Building Better Futures was 

created by Balfour Beatty in 

association with The Prince’s 

Trust and Action for Children 

to help disadvantaged young 

people. The aim is to raise at 

least £500,000 by the end of 2009 

and Balfour Beatty has pledged 

to match every pound raised. 

The winner of the balloon race 

was Merv Nichols from Balfour 

Beatty Engineering Services, 

whose balloon travelled 133 miles 

to Skegness! 

Pictured are local youngsters 

from Simonswood Primary School, 

All Saints Catholic High and Kirkby 

Sports College with Malcolm 

Robertson, Contracts Manager for 

Balfour Beatty (left) and Simon 

McEneny, Service Director for 

Future Schooling in Knowsley. 



Disabled children 

aim high in art competition 

Children and young people 

attending a Special School in 

Knowsley took part in an art 

competition last term to find out 

what interests them and how they 

like spending their free time. 

The competition was divided into 

four age categories, which were all 

inundated with entries of a very high 

standard. In two special award 

ceremonies the lucky winners were 

presented with a certificate and 

treated to Argos vouchers for 

first, second and third prizes. 

Visit the council’s website for more 

information about Aiming High for 

Disabled Children and young people. 

Aiming High art competition prize winners 

from Knowsley Central Primary Support 

Centre: L-R: Daniel Winstanley; Ryan Jones; 

Daniel Clarke; Paris Foster; Jonathan Horton 

and Pauline Coulter, Children and Family 

Services Manager for children with disabilities. 

Knowsley’s team at the 

National Athletics for Disabled 

and Deaf Pupils final at Blackpool 

Ryan Edwards 

Aged 13 

Sporting success 

Disabled sports people from 

Knowsley schools scooped a series 

of medals at the National Athletics 

for Disabled and Deaf Pupils final 

in Blackpool. 

Thirteen pupils went through from 

a regional competition to reach the 

final. The team excelled in the 

wheelchair racing, javelin, long Jump, 

precision club and sprint events at the 

regional contest at Manchester Sports 

Paris Foster 

Aged 6 

Jonathan Horton 

Aged 8 

City taking home 26 medals, 

including 11 gold. 

At the national finals at Blackpool's 

Stanley Park stadium, the Knowsley 

team won 12 medals – four gold, 

six silver and two bronze. The points 

gained helped the North West team 

become outright winners. Knowsley’s 

team was chosen following a series 

of “Talent ID” days. 


First day in work 

for more Knowsley 

Apprentices 

In September more of Knowsley’s 

young residents took their first 

steps on the career ladder and 

started their first day in work. 

This is the second round of recruitment 

for the ground breaking Knowsley 

Apprentice programme. 

During the summer, over 600 

candidates were put through their 

paces with assessment centres and 

interviews to secure their three year 

apprenticeship with a local employer. 

They will now work full time, earn a 

good wage and study towards an NVQ 

qualification. 

19-year old Joseph Birch from Huyton 

secured an apprenticeship at Sterling 

Services, who are based on Knowsley 

Business Park. 

Paul Blennerhassett, Managing 

Director at Sterling Services, said he 

saw potential in Joseph during his 

interview: “Joseph impressed me 

immensely at the interview for his 

knowledge and experience, but most 

of all for his hunger for further 

development. He is really enthusiastic 

about his new role and he is already 

making a vital contribution to the 

company.” 

In addition, we have more than 

40 young people in apprentice 

positions across council departments. 

Family fun days 

Families enjoyed two fun packed 

days in August arranged by Aiming 

High for Disabled Children. 

Children and their parents enjoyed 

live music performances and 

majorettes displays while choosing 

from a range of activities on offer, 

including, wheelchair basketball, 

Ellie Desporti who visited the recent Aiming 

High Family Fun Day in Halewood, is treated to 

a free pampering session 

face painting and therapy and 

pamper sessions. The events also 

provided an opportunity for families 

to find out more about the work of 

Aiming High, including opportunities 

available for disabled children and 

young people to take part in 

activities and take a short break 

from their family. 

I was so pleased when I got the call to offer 

me the job. I really wanted to get an apprenticeship 

so I could go to work and earn my own money. 

I was also really enthusiastic about the chance to 

gain qualifications, and in time a successful career. 

I’m really happy that Sterling chose me. 

Joseph Birch, Trainee Estimator 

Sterling Services in Knowsley Business Park 

“ 

The Knowsley Apprentice is 

all about giving people a chance 

to work, earn a decent wage and 

get a qualification. 

This is the second year we have run 

the programme and we are already 

thinking about the third phase so 

we can give even more people the 

opportunity to get into work. 



12 www.knowsley.gov.uk 13 

“ 

“ 

“


Regeneration 

Going for gold 

Knowsley’s budding athletes found out what is needed to win Olympic gold 

when Lord Coe popped in to see the students and facilities at the Halewood 

Centre for Learning. 

Halewood 

transformation 

continues 

Lord Coe, who won gold in the 

1500m in 1980 and 1984, spoke to the 

students about the opportunities that 

the London 2012 Olympics will bring 

to the region. He was impressed with 

the facilities on offer too. 

“ 

It’s so nice to come into 

a Centre for Learning that 

recognises that sport is an 

essential and intrinsic part 

of the curriculum. 

Lord Coe 

Olympic Gold Medalist 

“ 

One Knowsley resident is already 

making great strides to the 

London Olympics in 2012. 

16-year old Katarina Thompson, 

from Halewood, won the 

heptathlon gold medal at the 

World Youth Games in 

Italy. She achieved 

5,750 points in the competition, 

the second highest in the history 

of world youth rankings. 

Congratulations to Katarina, 

and best of luck to all our children 

and young people who are training 

hard to realise their own Olympic 

dreams. 

The transformation of 

Halewood’s new district 

centre is a step closer after 

the council recently selected Neptune 

as the developers for the scheme. 

The latest proposals will create a new 

modern shopping centre for local 

residents, with international 

supermarket Aldi at the heart of 

the development. The scheme will 

attract other retailers and provide 

space for smaller shops as well as 

improve public transport with new 

bus facilities. 

“ 

I am pleased that the 

scheme is continuing to progress. 

Residents have needed new 

shopping facilities and Neptune’s 

proposals are very exciting for 

Halewood. I am sure residents 

will be happy that we are now 

making some real progress. 

Cllr Graham Morgan 

Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member 

for Regeneration, Economy and Skills 

“ 

Radio City 

Sound 

Academies 

Radio City breakfast DJ 

Simon Ross has been grilled 

by pupils from Knowsley 

during their recent visits to the Radio 

City tower in Liverpool. 

Knowsley Council has teamed up 

with Radio City 96.7 to run a series 

of sound academies as part of our 

Future Schooling in Knowsley 

programme. Pupils from different 

schools, and ages, are working 

alongside one another to learn how 

the radio programmes are put 

together. They also learnt how the DJs 

started their careers, how the adverts 

are written, and how they select 

which songs to play on the radio. 

After their visit, the pupils will work 

with their teachers to create a 

documentary on our new state of the 

art Centres for Learning, which will all 

be open by January 2010. Radio City 

will broadcast these documentaries 

on the radio to around 486,000 

people in Merseyside, and will 

also put them on their website. 

The project has 

proved to be a 

huge success 

with the pupils. 

In fact, quite a few of them have 

said that they are now considering 

a future career in radio. Who knows 

– in a few years time we might be 

listening to some of these former 

pupils on the radio! 

To find out more about Future 

Schooling in Knowsley, log on to our 

website www.knowsley.gov.uk 

or call 443 3232 

Stockbridge Village – 

regeneration update 

As you will all remember, 

the council shared initial 

plans for the regeneration 

of Stockbridge Village with residents 

at the end of last year. Since then, 

we have been working with our 

partners to develop these plans and 

secure the funding needed to make 

meaningful and significant changes 

to the area. 

Cllr Bill Weightman commented: 

“Developing a project of this size in 

the current economic climate is an 

ambitious challenge for us and it is a 

fantastic achievement for all involved 

that the funding for this project is 

already secured. 

This development has the potential 

to transform Stockbridge Village 

and for that reason we are grasping 

this opportunity and working hard 

to ensure we deliver the 

improvements that the community 

wants and deserves.” 

The large scale plans to regenerate 

Stockbridge Village include the 

provision of a new swimming pool 

and leisure facilities, community ‘hub’ 

building, library, primary school with 

family centre and nursery, outdoor 

play area, all-weather pitches, 

improved retail facility and well lit 

and connected centre for the village. 

The physical development is part of a 

wider initiative by the council and its 

partners to deliver significant social 

and economic improvements to the 

Stockbridge Village area. 

We will be providing regular 

updates on progress in Knowsley 

News and keeping residents 

informed throughout the 

development process. 



In focus 

Cleaner, 

safer, greener 

Knowsley has launched Merseyside’s 

first Cleaner, Safer, Greener Charter. 

The charter is a commitment 

from the council, local service 

providers and the public to work 

together to improve the appearance 

and quality of local streets and open 

spaces, and tells residents what they 

can expect from service providers. 

Developed in partnership with Keep 

Britain Tidy, the charter is aimed at 

tackling environmental issues 

including litter, graffiti, fly-tipping, 

dog fouling, street lighting and 

community safety. Following the 

launch of the charter at Sawpit Park 

Beating the recession 

The council is providing a wide 

range of services and support to 

help you through the credit crunch. 

It recently organised the ‘Knowsley 

Credit Crunch Roadshow’ which 

travelled across the borough and 

helped more than one thousand 

residents with advice on everything 

from coping with debt to starting 

a business. 

One family is now much better 

off to beat the recession thanks to 

Knowsley News. After reading 

one of our recent articles, a lady 

contacted us to see if her family 


in Huyton, each Knowsley resident 

received a summary leaflet giving 

invaluable information about key 

service providers and contact 

information. 

The leaflet also called on locals to sign 

up to an online pledge to make their 

neighbourhoods cleaner, safer and 

greener. 

Full copies of the charter can be 

viewed at Knowsley’s one-stop shops 

and libraries and at 


was entitled to any financial support 

and benefits. A benefits adviser visited 

the family and was able to advise 

them that they were entitled to 

council tax benefit, child tax benefit, 

pension credit, winter fuel payments 

and even a free travel pass. 

The family is now better off 

by more than £90 per week 

and received backdated 

payments of over £5,000. 

Green Flag success 

Meanwhile eight of Knowsley’s 

parks have received prestigious 

Green Flag awards which 

recognise and reward some of 

the best parks in the country. 

McGoldrick Park, Sawpit Park, 

King George V Playing Fields and 

Court Hey Park in Huyton, along 

with St Chad’s Gardens and 

Millbrook Park Millennium Green 

in Kirkby and Henley Park and 

Knowsley Cemetery, Whiston, 

all impressed judges with their 

excellent facilities, including well 

managed green space, signage 

and amenities. 

If you would like to book a free 

benefit health check, contact the 

council on 443 4042 or 290 7408 

Recycling rewards 

Four more Knowsley residents have 

once again scooped £250 each – 

thanks to their success in our 

Recycling Rewards competition. 

Patricia Woods, of Penmann Crescent, 

Halewood, Paula Murphy, of Paignton 

Close, Huyton, Mrs M Lewis, of Calgarth 

Road, Huyton, and Melanie Fuller, of 

Georgian Close, Halewood are the 

latest lucky winners in our easy-to-enter 

competition, which rewards residents 

who use their grey bin to recycle paper, 

Use your grey bin for: 

– Food and cereal boxes 

– Cardboard 

– Phone books 

– Food tins and drink cans 

(place lids inside cans) 

– Glass bottles and jars 

– Plastic bottles 

– Envelopes (please remove 

windows) 

– Papers, newspapers 

and magazines 

(please do not place items in plastic 

bags and remember to rinse bottles, 

jars, cans and tins). 

cardboard, plastic bottles, glass 

and cans. 

Since its launch in the January edition 

of Knowsley News, the competition – 

offering prizes totalling £3,000 in gift 

vouchers – has attracted a bumper 

response from thousands of 

householders across the borough. 

A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who 

took the time to enter – and recycle 

for Knowsley. 

Recycling made easy 

in Knowsley 

Knowsley’s latest campaign emphasises just how easy 

it can be to do your bit for the environment. 

Since the introduction of the grey bin 

recycling service last year, residents 

have recycled more than a quarter 

of their household waste. 

But Government targets, rising waste 

disposal costs and pressure on landfill 

sites means more needs to be done. 

Start recycling today... it’s so easy! 

Use your blue bin for: 

– Lawn mowings 

– Finished flowers 

– Prunings 

– Hedge clippings 

– Leaves 

– Shredded paper 

Use your maroon bin for: 

– General waste and items 

that cannot be recycled. 

Food waste 

A new food waste recycling 

service is coming to Knowsley 

soon! Sign up today by calling 

443 2400 or log on to 


17


In focus 

‘Bag it and bin it’ 

Knowsley Council will be making sure local dog owners 

won’t be caught short when it comes to disposing of their 

pets’ waste. 

Dog walkers are now able to use ALL of the borough’s 800 litter bins 

to dispose of their bagged dog waste. At the moment residents are 

limited to using the 107 dog waste bins located in parks. 

Sshhh!!! 

A new campaign is being 

launched in Knowsley to 

encourage customers in pubs, 

bars and restaurants to keep 

the noise down when they are 

outside. 

Knowsley Council is asking people 

to show respect for local residents 

by not making too much noise 

when they leave the premises 

or go outside to smoke. The 

Environmental Health team is 

visiting all licensed premises in 

the borough and giving out 

posters and beermats bearing 

the message ‘Leave Quietly’. 

“ 

This campaign is all about 

showing respect for local 

residents who live close to 

licensed premises. It is not fair 

for them to have their peace 

disturbed by people making a 

lot of noise, often late at night, 

as they leave pubs, bars and 

restaurants or go outside to 

smoke. We are not trying to stop 

people enjoying themselves, we 

are simply encouraging them to 

show consideration for people 

who live nearby. 

“ 

Cllr Ken Keith 

Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member 

for Corporate and Customer Services 

The Safer Knowsley Partnership is keeping up 

the work to make Knowsley a safer place to live. 

The Partnership’s action results include: 

400 

Over 400 arrests for 

a variety of offences 

3500 

Over 3500 stop checks 

£1.8m 

Over £1.8m of drugs 

taken off the streets 

80 

More than 80 search 

warrants issued 

50 

More than 50 

vehicles seized 

350 

More than 350 fixed 

penalty notices issued 

Knowsley, 

a safer place 

to live in 2009 

60 

More than 60 skips 

of rubbish removed 

90 

Truancy checks 

resulting in 90 

children being 

returned to school 

or home 

Existing dog waste bins will be replaced by general litter bins – 

with posters and bin stickers reminding residents how to 

dispose of their dog waste responsibly. The campaign 

will highlight the fact that if it is properly bagged, dog 

waste does not need to be separated from normal waste. 

It is hoped the new ‘Bag it and bin it’ initiative will 

help reduce the amount of dog waste on the streets. 

This latest initiative is part of Knowsley’s 

‘Big Deal’ clean-up campaign, which has 

seen us taking a much tougher 

stance to tackling environmental crimes 

such as littering, fly tipping, dog fouling 

and graffiti. 


The Safer Knowsley Partnership 

has targeted crime in several 

areas, including Page Moss, 

Southdene, Halewood and Longview, 

with more areas planned for the 

coming months. 

Knowsley is one of 60 Pioneer Areas 

in Britain tackling crime and disorder 

and is committed to several initiatives. 

– Community Payback, where 

offenders are sentenced to 

physically demanding, highly visible 

work in the community. Langton 

Road public open space was cleared 

by Community Payback in July 

following a public vote. Other areas 

will also benefit in time. 

– Community Crime 

Champions are also 

being recruited and 

trained in how to hold 

the police and other organisations 

to account on crime and disorder. 

– Police and Communities Together 

(PACT) meetings have also started 

that residents can attend to help 

develop policing priorities and 

influence possible projects for 

Community Payback. 

For more details on any of these, 

contact Louise Thomas, 

Neighbourhood Crime and Justice 

Coordinator on 443 3945 

19

Lifestyle 

Your neighbourhood 

South Huyton 

McGoldrick Park 

flower planting 

The Big Lunch, 

Balmoral Way, Prescot 


summer 

fun! 

Knowsley flower show 

Knowsley flower show 

Despite the mixed weather, 

there have still been plenty 

of reasons to get outside and 

enjoy the summer in Knowsley. 

Here , s just a few... 

Do you recognise anyone? 

Blooming lovely 

Good neighbours in Prescot 

Summer fun! 

St Margaret Mary’s 

planted feature 

Environmental workers from 

Knowsley Council refurbished the 

Peace Garden at St Margaret 

Mary’s primary school. The school 

hold an annual remembrance 

event involving veterans of World 

War II. Local war veterans joined 

Alan Smith from Knowsley Council 

environmental teams as the 

garden was rededicated, followed 

by a special service in the school. 

Flags were lowered and ‘the last 

post’ was played to remember 

those who had fallen. 

Street 

Champions 

Interested in your local area? 

Want to see things done? 

Then why not become a 

Community Champion? 

If you would like to report 

issues in your local area to 

do with street cleansing, 

community spaces, green 

spaces, or community 

safety, you can become 

a Community Champion. 

Contact Steve Gow 

on 443 3848 or 

Tommy Dunn 

on 443 3047 

Friends of McGoldrick Park and 

the Pride Team planted an 

array of flowers to brighten up 

their local area. What was once an 

overgrown and neglected shrubbery, 

has been transformed into a colourful 

display of beautiful flowers, provided 

by Knowsley Council’s Neighbourhood 

Management team. All involved 

worked really hard and were very 

pleased with the end result. 

The Big Lunch, 

Balmoral Way, Prescot 

Good friends in Whiston 

Summer sports in Huyton 

Feathery friends 

Did you know? 

You can drop in to the South 

Huyton office to tell us about 

incidents of anti-social behaviour, 

litter problems or anything else 

you think we could help sort out. 

You will find us at the One Stop 

Shop, Municipal Buildings, 

Archway Road, Huyton L36 9YU 

A new bike for 100% attendance 

Melissa Lowry, a year four pupil 

from Roby Park primary school, has 

been rewarded with a brand new 

bike for achieving 100% attendance 

in school. 

Melissa had to endure 

two floods in her home over the 

past 18 months, but still managed 

to get to school on time every day. 

Knowsley Council’s Travel Plan team 

donated a helmet, high visibility 

jacket and a bike lock to ensure 

Melissa is safe on her new bike. 

20 www.knowsley.gov.uk 21



North Huyton 

South Kirkby 

Hip 

birthday 

bash 

Brookside Community Primary School 

celebrated their 40th birthday with a 

‘60s style street party. Staff and pupils 

dressed up in ‘60s gear and played 

games from the era, including oranges 

and lemons. 

Pupils enjoyed a research session 

on family and school life back in 

1969 and a competition to match 

the Sixties baby pictures to the 

relevant member of staff. 

Crime crackdown 

in Southdene 

Police seized £1.8m of cocaine, 

£20,000 worth of counterfeit 

cigarettes and 1,800 

counterfeit DVDs, CDs and games 

in a week of action in Southdene. 

The week included a blitz on 

everything from crime and anti 

social behaviour to truancy, littering, 

flytipping, vandalism and drug use. 

£1.8m 

of cocaine 

seized 

1,800 

counterfeit 

DVDs seized 

102 

arrests 

18 

vehicles 

seized 

Twelve search warrants were 

executed, there were 102 arrests, 

18 vehicles seized and 52 children 

were found to be absent from school. 

The operation was organised by the 

Safer Knowsley Partnership, based 

on the priorities of local people. 

Coffee morning 

thanks flood-help 

volunteers 

A special coffee morning was 

held at Trinity Church to thank 

those volunteers who supported 

residents during the July floods. 

Representatives from Knowsley 

Council, KHT and United Utilities 

met the volunteers to praise those 

who went out of their way to help 

affected residents. The volunteers 

were awarded certificates for their 

efforts. 

Volunteers Matty Wade and Caroline 

Cashman, pictured with Sheena Ramsey, 

Chief Executive of Knowsley Council (centre) 

Rangers award success 

Stockbridge Junior Rangers 

have won an award for their 

contribution to wildlife and nature. 

They were awarded the ‘Ethical 

Kids Award’ as part of the Observer’s 

Ethical Awards. They beat off tough 

competition nationwide and were 

awarded joint first place. The group 

won £1000 per year for the next 

three years towards their 

funding. The group meets 

fortnightly and learn 

about trees and insects, 

as well as building bird 

boxes and bat houses. 

Knitting together 

the generations 

A local knitting group is going 

from strength to strength. 

Resident Mary Edgar is now 

running a second knitting group, 

based in Longview shops. 

The group knit clothing and 

accessories for babies and young 

children, which are donated to 

the Women’s Hospital to sell. 

All money raised goes towards 

buying machinery for premature 

babies. The group has even 

attracted children who go along 

in the school holidays to 

learn a traditional skill. For more 

information, please contact 

Mary Edgar on 07845 419766 

Did you know? 

You can call in to the North 

Huyton office to tell us about 




You will find us at the River Alt 

Resource Centre, Woolfall Heath 

Avenue, Huyton L36 3YE 

Kirkby 

in bloom 

Residents both young and old 

spent their summer brightening 

up Kirkby by planting, painting 

and pruning. 

Members of the community 

networks in Kirkby worked 

tirelessly in Towerhill, Northwood, 

Southdene and Westvale. It was 

also a great opportunity for people 

from different generations to work 

together and get to know their 

neighbours. The Kirkby Street 

Smart/Dream Team project was 

jointly funded by Knowsley Council 

and Knowsley Housing Trust. 

New health 

group in 

Southdene 

A new Health Group is operating 

at Southdene Community Centre 

every Thursday from 12 noon to 

3pm. Residents can drop-in to 

receive information on health 

issues in the area. Various 

activities will also be taking place 

during this time, including tai-chi, 

salsa dancing and a Women’s Self 

Help Group. Tea and coffee and 

other refreshments are also 

available. 

Have your say 

on play 

There’s still time to have your 

say on the new Play Pathfinder 

play spaces, which will offer the 

latest outdoor play equipment. 

The consultation day on the 

Webster Park space took place in 

Southdene Community Centre 

and included demonstrations of 

Tai-Chi and Salsa. The consultation 

event at Field Lane was supported 

by the Play Rangers and sports 

workers who provided games 

and activities. 

To find out more and have your 

say, contact Daniel Wilson on 

443 2484 

Did you know? 

You can call in to the South 

Kirkby office to tell us about 




You will find us at the One Stop 

Shop, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby 

L32 1TX 


23



North Kirkby 

Festival fun 

Kirkby’s annual festival at 

Millbrook Park pulled in 

the crowds yet again this year. 

Halewood 

A safe oasis 

Dads zone 

A dads and tots session has started 

at St Mark’s Church in Northwood 

every other Saturday from 10am to 

12pm. The group gives local dads a 

chance to meet each other and 

Reward for residents 

Environmental improvements 

by residents in Pentland Road, 

Northwood, have made the area 

a cleaner and more pleasant place 

to live. 

As part of a Street Smart initiative, the 

North Kirkby Neighbourhood Network 

worked with Knowsley Housing Trust’s 

tenancy involvement team to organise 

activities including painting, 

planting and litter picking. 

enjoy time with their children in a 

safe and fun environment. For more 

information and details of the next 

session contact Dave Tully on 0794 686 

4749, or call kirkbytots@hotmail.co.uk 

As part of KHT’s advantage scheme 

residents who took part were 

rewarded with vouchers to be spent 

at a number of local shops. 

Local resident Carol Birchall said: 

“We are made up with the 

improvements to the green space. 

The kids will be able to play in a nicer 

environment and hopefully it will 

stop some people from dropping 

litter and letting their dogs foul.” 

Attractions included street cage 

soccer, circus skills workshops, a 

birds of prey display, arts and crafts, 

and the chance to try MCing. 

There were also a number of 

performances from local groups 

including a play, Spirit of the Stone, 

which starred many local young 

people. Kirkby Festival is organised 

by Knowsley Arts and Heritage 

Service. 

Offenders pay 

back to community 

Almost one and a half tonnes 

of rubbish were removed from 

Langton Road Public Open Space 

in Shevington by offenders as 

part of the Community Payback 

scheme. 

The site was chosen for the work 

in a public vote as part of the new 

national initiative which is being 

piloted in Knowsley. As well as the 

massive litter pick, shrubs were cut 

back and the grass cut to make the 

area more accessible for local 

people. 

Work is underway to encourage 

more people to make use of 

Halewood Park. It is a 

beautiful oasis of green in the heart 

of Halewood and a group of 

councillors, residents and council staff 

meet regularly to think of ways to 

increase its use. They are concentrating 

on ensuring people feel safe in the 

park and have things to do but they 

would like suggestions from residents 

on what they would like. 

If you have any ideas or would like to 

get involved, contact: Great Outdoors 

wildflowers. The Doorstep Green 

bloomed over the summer with this 

spectacular wildflower display. Paid for 

by the Big Lottery Fund, this is part of 

a programme of over 90 projects in the 

North West to increase exercise, 

encourage healthier eating and 

promote mental wellbeing. 

Halewood 

allotments 

Given the current economic 

situation there has never been 

a better time to grow your own 

fruit and veg, as well as it being 

healthier for you! 

The first allotment site in 

Halewood is now blooming 

into life, converted from a 

disused garage site. With the 

help of the Community Payback 

team, the site is now fully 

occupied by a mixture of local 

groups and residents. 

Change at the 

Children’s Centres 

This year has been a busy one 

for the two Children’s Centres 

in Halewood. 

Cherry Tree Children’s Centre is 

benefiting from a £1m investment 

from the Learning & Skills Council 

and Knowsley Council. This will 

transform it into a joint Adult 

Education and Children’s Centre, 

due to open in September. 

At Oak Tree Children’s Centre, 

staff from Halewood Family 

Centre are moving in and working 

alongside existing officers to 

provide a more comprehensive 

and effective service for families. 

Did you know? 

You can drop in to the North 

Kirkby office to tell us about 


litter problems or anything you 

think we could help sort out. 

You will find us at The Barn, 

Shevingtons Lane, Kirkby L33 1XA 

Did you know? 

You can call in to the Halewood 

office to tell us about incidents 

of anti-social behaviour, litter 

problems or anything else 


You will find us at New Hutte 

Neighbourhood Centre, Lichfield 

Road, Halewood L26 1TT 


25


Prescot, Whiston, Cronton and Knowsley village 

What’s on 

What’s on in October and November... 

Prescot and Whiston team 

are England champs 

MFC – A team of Prescot and 

Whiston youngsters – have 

become football champions 

of England. 

They won the national Under 16s 

Boys Championship at Doncaster 

Rovers Football Club, the other Under 

16s team came third, as did the Under 

Police and 

Community 

Together (PACT) 

PACT brings together local 

residents and organisations 

involved in the area to fight crime 

and improve the environment. 

Meetings will be held on 

22 September at Cronton 

Community Centre at 7pm, 

23 September at Knowsley Village 

Primary School at 7pm and 

30 September at Prescot Leisure 

Centre at 7pm. 

14s who also won the Fair Play 

Award. They will now go through 

to play in the Coalfield Regeneration 

Trust Home Internationals 

Tournament in September, playing 

against national champions from 

Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The team 

will also be VIP guests at the Scotland 

World Cup qualifier. 

National status for 

Prescot Museum 

Prescot Museum has been officially 

‘accredited’ by the Museums, 

Libraries and Archives Council 

(MLA), proving it meets tough 

national standards. Prescot 

Museum staff are planning a tour 

of some of the exhibits and displays 

so that more people can see them. 

From left 

to right: 

Tom Molloy 

Rob Westhead 

Jack Cooper 

Jack Smith 

Sam Humphreys 

Tom Byrne 

Lewis Arnold 

and at the front 

is Dean Marnell 

MFC was created through Game On – 

a project funded by Knowsley Housing 

Trust and the Coalfields Regeneration 

Trust, to provide young local people 

the opportunities to play and coach 

football. Free football sessions are 

held at Prescot Leisure Centre on 

Saturdays from 6pm to 9pm. Contact 

Chris Nevinson on 443 4793 

Whiston clean-up 

A staggering twenty five tonnes 

of rubbish were shifted in a 

community clean up by the Pride 

Team in Littlecroft. Local residents 

took the opportunity to clear out 

their gardens, sheds and lofts. 

If your area could use a community 

clean up please contact Steve 

Gowland on 443 4672 

Did you know? 

You can call in to the Prescot, 

Whiston, Cronton and Knowsley 

Village office to tell us about 




You will find us at George Howard 

Community Centre, Lickers Lane 

Whiston, Prescot, Merseyside 

L35 3SR 

Thursday 1 October 

Knowsley Reading Day 

A celebration of reading for all the 

community. Includes visits from 

authors, poets, performances and 

presentations in a variety of local 

venues. 

Contact: Pam Jones at the Library 

Service on 482 1304 

Sunday 4 October 

Knowsley Walking Festival 

Venue: Various starting points in 

Kirkby, Halewood and Stockbridge 

Village 

Why not take part in this year’s walking 

event? The event celebrates Mental 

Health Awareness Day by joining forces 

again to promote healthy bodies and 

minds in Knowsley. 

Contact: Carol Winstanley 

on 285 6003 

Monday 5 to Saturday 10 October 

Children’s Book Week 

Venue: All libraries 

A series of events aimed at encouraging 

children up to the age of 12 years to 

enjoy what libraries have to offer, 

including book events, author and 

illustrator workshops. The events will 

take place in all libraries to celebrate 

National Children’s Book Week. 

Contact: Kate Deegan-Spragg 

on 443 4295 

Tuesday 6 October to 

Sunday 3 January 

Megaphones and magnetos: 

A history of the British motorcycle 

Venue: Prescot Museum 

This nostalgic exhibition charts the 

origins and development of the British 

motorcycle industry. The displays will 

include a range of riding gear, 

photographs, magazines, owners 

manuals, trophies and other assorted 

memorabilia, as well as a selection of 

motorcycles. 

Contact: 430 7787 or visit 

www.prescotmuseum.org.uk 


National Poetry Day 

Venue: Various libraries 

A celebration of poetry, both locally 

and nationally, which will include the 

launch of the Creative Writing 

Competition 2009. 

Contact: Sue Stone on 443 5001 


Birdwatching Walk 

Venue: Acornfield Local Nature Reserve 

Time: 10am to 1pm 

An informative ranger led walk looking 

at birds inhabiting our woodlands at this 

time of year. 

Contact: Kevin the Ranger 

on 07810 054 159 

Saturday 17 October 

Lantern Making Workshop 

Venue: Halewood Park 

Time: 1pm to 3pm 

Have a go at making your own festive 

lantern sculptured from natural 

materials. Experienced artists will be 

on hand to offer their guidance and 

encourage your creative flair. 

Contact: Rangers on 488 6151 

Saturday 17 October to 


Conker competitions 

See below for the venues 


Try your hand at this age old game. 

All conkers will be supplied by the 

Rangers. Please arrive before 1pm 

for registration and ring the relevant 

number at the venue: 


Court Hey Park 

Contact: 443 3682 


Sawpit Park 

Contact: 443 3682 


Stadt Moers Park 

Contact: 489 1239 


Henley Park 

Contact: 489 1239 



What’s on 


Seed Gathering 




Trick or Treat 

Venue: Stadt Moers Park 


Friday 6 November 

and Friday 13 November 

Stars in your skies 

Time: 7.30pm to 9.30pm (both events) 

Meetings in Knowsley 

28 September to 30 November 

We will be collecting and propagating 

tree seeds to ensure our woodlands 

are there for future generations to 

enjoy. Tree growing kits provided so 

come and do your bit for the local 

environment. 


Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 

Half Term at the Wildflower Centre 

Venue: National Wildflower Centre 

Time: Workshops 1pm and 2pm 

(charges apply) 

Celebrate the magic of autumn during 

half term at the National Wildflower 

Centre. We have a week of fun 

activities for the Big Draw. 

Contact: 738 1913 to book a place 


Halloween Horrors 



A spooky afternoon of family fun 

making ghostly ghouls, batty bats and 

wicked witches ready for Halloween. 



Come to the park on Halloween and 

hunt for treats on the ‘Terrifying Treat 

Trail’ and you may even meet a ghost 

or ghoul on the way. 


Saturday 31 October to 

Sunday 15 November 

Feed the birds 


Help keep our feathered friends full 

and happy over the coming winter 

months. All bird feeding materials 

provided. Please contact the relevant 

venue for further information: 


Venue: Copthorne Adventure 

Playground 


Contact: 07810 054 159 

Saturday 7 November 

Venue: Court Hey Park 


Contact: 443 3682 




Contact: 488 6151 


Venue: McGoldrick Park 


Contact: 443 3682 


Venue: Stadt Moers Park 


Contact: 489 1239 

Liverpool Astronomical Society will be 

giving an illustrated talk about the 

many wonders of the solar system, 

followed by a night of star gazing using 

powerful telescopes. For further details, 

please contact the relevant venue: 


Stadt Moers Park 

489 1239 


Halewood Park 

488 6151 

Thursday 19 November 

to Friday 27 November 

Christmas celebrations 

for all the family 

Thursday 19 November 

Huyton 


Kirkby 


Prescot 


and Saturday 5 December 

Mad Hatters tea party 

and Santa’s grotto 

Venue: Coach House, Roby Road, 

Bowring Park 

Time: 12 Noon to 4pm (both events) 

A treat for the whole family but 

especially the little ones. An 

enchanting experience in the historic 

Coach House of Bowring Park. 

Tea party, grotto and present £2.50 

Contact: Friends of Bowring Park 

on 482 1116 

Please contact democratic services for 

confirmation of times and venues on 

443 3502 

Council 

Wednesday 28 October, 6pm 

Cabinet 


Wednesday 11 November, 2pm 

Planning Committee 

Thursday 15 October, 6pm 

Thursday 12 November, 6pm 

Licensing Committee 


Appeals Committee 

Tuesday 3 November, 10am 

Standards Committee 


Useful 

numbers 

Anti-Social Behaviour Helpline 443 2000 

Benefits (housing and Council Tax) 

443 4042 

Births/deaths/marriages 443 5210 

Business rates 443 5210 

Business services (advice, funding, 

recruitment and training) 477 4000 

Children’s Information Service 443 5633 

Citizens Advice Bureau 0845 122 1300 

Complaints and compliments 443 4031 

Consumer Advice/Trading Standards 

443 4737 

Joint Cabinet/PCT meeting 


Halewood Partnership Board 

Tuesday 13 October 

South Huyton Partnership Board 

Wednesday 14 October 

North Huyton Partnership Board 


South Kirkby Partnership Board 

Tuesday 20 October 

Prescot, Whiston, Cronton, Knowsley 

Village Partnership Board 

Wednesday 21 October 

North Kirkby Partnership Board 


Council Tax 443 4476 

Council Tax and Benefits 

Fraud Hotline 0800 073 111 

Crime Stoppers 

0800 555 111 

Dangerous buildings/structures/trees 

443 2380 

Education general enquiries 443 3232 

Fire/Police/Ambulance (emergency) 999 

Government’s Consumer Direct Service 

08454 04 05 06 

Highways (including footways and 

street lighting) 443 2400 

Highways Emergency 443 2800 

Homelessness 290 7190 

Housing repairs 290 7375/449 3958 

Job vacancies 443 5000 

Knowsley Community Messaging 

777 6217 

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) 

General Enquiries 290 7000 

Housing Repairs 0500 96 96 94 

Knowsley Council’s bulky 

household waste service 443 2400 

Area Partnership Board 

Co-ordinating Group 

Monday 2 November, 4pm 

Economic Development and 

Environment Scrutiny Committee 


Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny 

Committee 

Tuesday 17 November, 6pm 

Children, Young People and 

Families Scrutiny Committee 

Wednesday 25 November, 6pm 

Safer, Stronger Communities 


Thursday 26 November, 6pm 

Scrutiny Coordinating Committee 


Knowsley Council general enquiries 

489 6000 

Knowsley Hate Crime and Domestic 

Violence Helpline 0800 953 4433 

Merseyside Fire and Rescue 

switchboard 296 4000 

Merseyside Police switchboard 709 6010 

NHS Direct 0845 4647 

Pest control 443 2455 

Planning enquiries 443 2380 

Refuse collection 443 2400 

Schools admissions and exclusions 

443 5733 

School attendance service 443 3279 

School bus passes 443 5609 

Social services and homelessness 

07659 590 081 

Traffic signal faults 443 2349 

Truancy Hotline 0800 073 6161 

For more information visit 


or email 

customerservices@knowsley.gov.uk 

29

Issue 21 September 2009 (PDF 6.3Mb) - Knowsley Council

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