Recreation Ground

A Working Group, comprising of residents and Councillors, hs been set up to come up with suggestions and designs to improve the Recreation Ground. The designs will, hopefully, include a small number of allotments on the northern boundary to the Field. The Group will look at the current play area and equipment and see whether a recent request for skate park equipment from our younger residents can be incorporated

The entrance area with the five bar gate has been revamped, with a pedestrian gate being installed and two trees which obscure the view of the play area are to be removed for security purposes.

The Council is very well aware of the need to improve the Play Area, however the vast majority of funders require either match funding or a significant contribution for the applicant. The Council has considered cosmetic improvements to the Area but decided it is preferable to retain the funds to support grant applications.

Croston has made it to Facebook

If you want to know what's going on in the village then search for @CrostonNews or go to:

www.facebook.com/crostonnews

It’s the first place to look to find out what’s on in Croston with events, links and local information.

Adactus Housing Advert

10 x 2 bedroom house - £79.35p/w and 14 x 3 bedroom house - £89.13p/w. A small estate charge is to be calculated.

To qualify, applicants need to have:

• lived in the parish of Croston for at least three of the past five years.
• worked in the parish of Croston for at least twelve months
• a parent, grandparent, child or sibling living in the parish of Croston for at least five years.

To express an interest in these properties please log onto www.selectmove.co.uk or telephone 01257 244800

Tree Spree for Croston

The Parish Council is proposing to apply for funding to run a Tree Spree next year. A Tree Spree is not a new idea, put very simply it is a celebration of an areas trees and tree heritage. There are a number of elements to a Tree Spree, these are all highly dependant upon the nature of an area and the opportunities and interests of the community delivering the project.

At first glance Croston is a well wooded, well treed village. However during the 1970s and 80s we saw the demise of Elm trees from our hedgerows, Two recent harsh winters have also made their mark on the local tree population. In addition, we now know that the Horse Chestnut is currently under threat nationally, from Bleeding canker, and could soon disappear from the urban and rural landscape.

Many of our existing tree mature trees, the big ones that we all recognise are all of an even age. What is likely to happen is that all these will mature and come to the end of their natural life at a similar time, so the time is absolutely right to find appropriate sites toplant the next generation.

A key component of the projectl will be to instigate a programme of community based tree planting. The main activity will be to focus planting where trees will be most visible, where the maximum number of people will see and enjoy them. This could be in school grounds, sports/recreation grounds and along main highways and in front gardens. There is a need to restock with a diverse range of trees to provide for the next generation.

To be successful with grant funding our project has to involve local people and we hope to involve as many local people as possible. Involvement in the project could mean help with events and activities, tree planting, delivering leaflets or compiling information.

The Parish Council would like to thank Croston resident, Tim Blythe, who has offered his own time to lead and coordinate this work.  Tim works for Lancashire County Council's Environment Directorate and his expertise in grant funding, environmental planning and community led regeneration will provide a valuable contribution.

Our timetable is for planning work and activities to take place next summer (2012) with actual tree planting taking place during the winter of 2012/13. If you would like to know more, or like to be involved on a working group then please get your details to Tim Blythe either by;

Phone – 603339

email - tim.blythe@lancashire.gov.uk

Post a note at - 7 Out Lane (red door)

Speed Indication Device

 The Parish Council's new SID is up and running and logging information regarding vehicle speeds on three sites around the village. The data provided includes numbers (amount - not registration no's!) speed and times and if the readings reveal problems with speeding they will be passed on to the Police with a request for enforcement action.

County Councillor Mike Otter, Lancashire County Council’s Champion for Parishes, very kindly provided a grant of £550 towards the cost of the Device and the Parish Council would like to thank him for this.

The Council's share in the original Device, which was a basic version and did not record the information, has been sold on to our partner Parish Councils.

County Councillor Mike Otter presenting the cheque to Parish Council Chairman Anne Peet

Have your say on proposals for future development in the Borough of Chorley

Chorley Council is consulting on the Sites for Chorley: Preferred Options Document, which contains the sites and policies the Council is proposing to include within the Local Development Framework.

Copies of the Document, along with all accompanying information can be viewed at:

• www.chorley.gov.uk/planning

• Chorley Town Hall and the Council Offices at Union Street, Chorley (open Monday - Friday 8.45am - 5.00pm).

Closing date for responses is 18 November 2011

Library Services at Eccleston Library

For keen readers who can't wait for the fortnightly visit from the Mobile Library, full library services are offered just down the road in Eccleston.

Eccleston Library is located in the Carrington Centre, The Green, Eccleston. If you are already a mobile library or trailer user, just bring your Lancashire Libraries card with you -otherwise - it's easy to join. Just come along and a card can be issued for you to take books out straight away. Phone 01257 451825 for information.

Also, if you need a bit of help to get online, or would like to keep in touch with family and friends via email or just need assistance to get confident on your computer there is a volunteer in the library on Wednesday mornings who can sit with you for a half hour session to show you how to get over these small problems. This is not a course but can assist you to get your own email account and tackle things like online shopping, booking a holiday, job searching, family history, access to public services etc. There is no charge for this service. You will need your library card or, if you haven't been before, staff will be happy to provide you with a membership to the library which will also enable you to use the other Library services. So, if PCs, keyboards, internet and computer-speak is like an alien language to you, then contact the library to book an informal session and start to use and understand.

Opening hours are:

Monday 10.00-12.30 and 1.30-7.00

Wednesday  10.00-12.30 and 1.30-5.00

Friday 10.00-12.30 and 1.30-7.00

Saturday 10.00-12.30

See more Village Photographs here