This week we open Boundary Mill, visit Fisher More School, wave Dorothy off, congratulate the Life Savers and walk in Lothersdale

Monday 17 March
Up bright and early to get to the opening of the new Boundary Mill Store in Colne at the end of the M65.

Boundary Mill 1000 space car park, gets ready to fill up rapidly

We were met by Richard Bannister the owner who showed us around. The store is well designed and will bring in millions of shoppers into Pendle. We visited all of the new departments and the impressive warehouses on two floors.

We are shown around Discover Pendle

We also had time to have a quick look into the new Discover Pendle which is close to the entrance. This is to promote the wide range of facilities and events which we have in Pendle.

We meet the Boundary Mill managers

This will really put Pendle on the map. At 10.00am we joined Richard and his wife together with Steven Barnes – Pendle’s Chief Executive to perform the opening of the new mega-store. As we got ready to cut the ribbon to open the doors started moving at the back of us, so shoppers eager to pick up a bargain started to charge past.

Richard shows us his wonderful new store

We then managed a quick cutting of the ribbon and saying a few words before standing back so that the shoppers could get in. Afterwards we went into the restaurant for coffee and to look at the great view of proud Pendle Hill from the new balcony. That must be the best view from any store in Britain. Richard then gave us a quick tour to of his new office suite on the top floor with yet more views of Pendle and surrounding countryside. As I was going around on the tour, I asked shoppers where they had come from and they told Cheadle, Wigan, Bolton as well as more local towns. From Richard’s office we saw the 1000 space car park start to fill up rapidly.

The new restaurant has great views of Pendle Hill

Boundary Mill will bring millions more people in to Pendle. We will encourage these visitors to see a bit more of what Pendle has to offer with our great countryside and lovely villages. Lots of tourism and other businesses could benefit greatly from this development.

We get ready to cut the ribbon quickly, so that the shoppers can get in

The site also has Banny’s fish and chip restaurant, which will rival Harry Ramsden’s as a destination. I was told that they sold over 1000 portions of fish and chips on the first day. Afterwards I went onto Fresh Radio news to give them a bit of a run down of the opening.


Tuesday 18 March
Up early again to visit Fisher More School in Colne. We were shown around the school by the Head teacher Mr Bowhills. We went into most of the classes and had a quick look at what they were doing.

The students show me how to make pasta

We were really impressed with the friendly feel to the school and you can see that the students were enjoying being there. We also met the head boy and girl to tell them a little about what the Mayor does and for a chat about their plans for the future. My son Alex was a student here some years ago and enjoyed their excellence at sport. They also presented me with a copy of the interview which we had had on our visit to FMFM school radio, a couple of weeks back.

Congratulations to the young chess players of Fisher More

Afterwards we gave out the Chess prizes from the competition held at the Town Hall last week.
In the afternoon after a quick call into the office I went to the Public/Private Partnership Board meeting in the new Number One Market Street in Nelson.
After tea I went back to Pendle Town Hall for our regular monthly group meeting.

Wednesday 19 March
In the afternoon we went to see Dorothy Carthy a long time resident who had been Barlick Town Councillor and a Pendle Councillor for many years and was leaving to live nearer to her daughter in Scotland.

Dorthy chats with Marjorie, Margaret and me

We had a very pleasant chat over a cup of tea and cake about the changes that Dorothy had seen to the Town. The photographer from the local paper turned up and here’s the information that I also supplied to the press.

A farewell ceremony was held recently at Robinson Court for Dorothy Carthy, a well-know resident of Barnoldswick who is leaving the Town.
The Mayor of Pendle, Coun Allan Buck together with the Chairman of Barnoldswick Town Council, Coun. Margaret Bell and Coun. Margery Adams wished Dorothy a fond farewell. They presented a picture of Pendle Hill painted by a local artist to reminder her of the wonderful countryside in these parts. Dorothy, who is leaving the town to be able to live nearer to her daughter in Scotland, served as a Liberal member on both Barnoldswick Town Council for over 10 years and on Pendle Council for 4 years. Her father and her grandfather were also well know-known local councillors. She first started work as a school secretary at Gisburn Road School and after teacher training went on to become the Deputy Head Teacher. She was also a founder member of the Barnoldswick History Society and was involved in lots of local organisations. Dorothy promises to come back to visit Barnoldswick.

Thursday 20 March
Peter, my plumber turned up to see what I needed doing to change a couple of our bathrooms. As plumbers and Peter in particular, are really hard to get hold of, I needed to “get him booked in” for the alterations.
At tea time it was back to the Town Hall for an ELEP meeting. This is the group of East Lancs. local councillors that join together to oversee local government procurement. Savings to date this year are over £130k.

The Pendle Life savers show off their trophies for the press photographer

Afterwards we held a reception for Pendle Life Savers who have swept the board with Lancashire Awards. We had our photographs taken by the press before having a few drinks and nibbles.

I congratulate the Life Savers for their dedication

Here is what I said;

We are here today to honour the success of The Pendle Life Saving Group with Tommy Morgan, Kevin Wilding and the young people who teach essential Life Saving Skills to the people of Pendle at Pendle Leisure Centre.

At this year’s Lancashire Branch of the Royal Lifesaving Societies A.G.M. held on Saturday 10th March at Police Headquarters in Preston they won 6 out of a possible 9 Trophies which is a really fantastic achievement.

The Trophies that they won are:

1) Maude Russell Rose Bowl, for gaining the most points by one organisation (points awarded for different categories of life saving awards taken during year)

2) North Lancashire Branch Shield, Most Awards gained by one organisation

3) T. Preston Trophy, most life-support Awards

4) Dennis Wilson 1 trophy. Most Open Water Awards

5) Rothervend Trophy, Most Bronze Medallion Awards

6) Dennis Wilson 2 trophy, most Awards of Merits.

Tommy and Kevin, the two main Instructors, together with the new young life savers at the Leisure Centre Colne have kept the classes going for quite a number of years. All being volunteers they have given their time freely on Sunday early evenings to help train our life savers in Pendle.

In Pendle we have a long tradition of Life Saving but without the long standing commitment of Kevin and Tommy this essential training could have folded on a number of occasions.

To win against all the "bigger Authorities" of Lancashire is a massive credit to both of them and the rest of there team, they are indeed a credit to Pendle.

Friday 21 March
Its Good Friday today and as we didn’t have any Mayoral events to attend we went a great walk around Lothersdale.

A couple of pictures of our Pendle Hill - it looks wonderful all year round

The day was very cold and the North wind was blowing hard promising snow to follow.

A new born lamb checks us out

Setting off from the hidden little village of Lothersdale we climbed over Elslack Moor and got some great views of our local hills and the Yorkshire Dales.

Great views of the Yorkshire dales

We saw lots of new born lambs, curlews, grouse and pheasants. Part of the walk was on the Pennine Way, which eventually brought us back to Lothersdale, where we had an excellent pint and a good butty at the local pub.

An old boundary stone to Colne spelt in the old way without the e

On Sunday the snows came so I took this photo looking towards the three peaks from my front door.