SCARE MONGERING or just OUT OF TOUCH?
 Don't be misled by anyone showing you "THE LATEST SCAM" which is again doing the rounds. The newsletter above is freely available in one St Helens ward and is TOTALLY UNTRUE.
Here is a statement from PhonepayPlus, the Service Regulator: " PhonepayPlus, the phone-paid services regulator, is aware that a chain e-mail about an alleged postal scam is being circulated on the internet. The email refers to the Royal Mail, Trading Standards and ICSTIS (PhonepayPlus’ former name).
PhonepayPlus appreciates that recipients of the email may want to find out more information about the alleged scam and has therefore issued the following statement:
• The chain email refers to a service that was shut down by us in December 2005.
• We subsequently fined the company that was operating the service, Studio Telecom (based in Belize), £10,000.
• The service is NO LONGER running and has NOT been running since December 2005.
• The email refers to a £15 charge for simply being connected to a recorded message. This is NOT TRUE – a £15 connection charge does NOT exist. The service in question actually cost £1.50 per minute and lasted six minutes, making a total cost of £9 if callers stayed on the line for the full six minutes.
• You do NOT need to contact us, or the Royal Mail, about this service as it was stopped almost two years ago.
• If you receive a copy of the email warning you about the alleged scam, please do NOT forward it to others. Instead, please forward this statement from PhonepayPlus.
• Please go to www.phonepayplus.org.uk/pdfs_news/ConsumerGuide.pdf for useful information about how to recognise phone-paid services and understand what they cost, and some simple tips to help you enjoy using services with confidence.
• For more detailed information about our work, please visit www.phonepayplus.org.uk.
19 October 2007 "
DRAMA AT THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING
 Last Wednesday a number of council workers, mostly who work to clean up and dispose of our household waste and litter, turned up on the steps of the Town Hall and later attended the Meeting in the Council chamber. They had come to listen to the politicians.With the continuing disruption of refuse collections, the Labour Group, through Cllr Doyle asked searching questions to the Lib Dem / Tory alliance. What's the current state of the emptying of roadside bins? Cllr. Kavanagh said there was " very little disturbance...!!!" Tell that to the residents of Rainhill.
How many brown bin rounds are there and how late are these rounds now running? Cllr. Kavanagh said there were 60 rounds and " only 2 were not being completed." Oh really...!!! The disruption centres around the Phase 1 pay agreement of protected allowances that certain employees of the council had agreed with the then Labour controlled council which was to continue until Feb 2009. Under the present regime, that agreement has been broken and council employees will lose the protection from Feb 2008.Cllr Rimmer asked What's the number of employees served with Formal Consultation - Proposals to Mitigate Removal of Protected Allowance? Cllr Spencer said that number was 136. Number of employees who had accepted the offer? Cllr Spencer said 4. Number of employees affected by Revision due to Enhancement? Cllr Spencer said nil. Number of employees remaining with potential loss of earnings? Cllr Spencer said 133 Cllr Spencer then stated that the council had a good working relationship with its employees. I looked round to the responses of the dozen or so workers who had attended to council meeting, I don't believe they agreed...!!!
REPORT FROM THE INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANELThis report was submitted by the council with the following recommendations: (1) A new Special Responsibility Allowances of £4,527 be given to Chairpersons of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels - all held by Labour councillors. (2) Special Responsibility Allowance of £4,527 - raised from the present £714 - for the Council's representative on the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority - currently a Lib Dem councillor. The Labour Group made an amendment to SCUPPER the increases - Cllr Rimmer stated that her group would not be part of increased allowances to Labour members, whilst the council were in the process of taking money off loyal council workers.
Cllr Mike Doyle welcomes Esther Rantzen to Rainhill High
Esther Rantzen CBE officially opened the Rainhill High Arts College recently. The college has been named after her late husband Desmond Wilcox. He was an award winning broadcaster and television producer, and a prolific campaigner for heart charities. He was a patron of Wessex Heartbeat, which raises money for vital equipment at the Southampton hospital where he received treatment. He was also chairman of Defeating Deafness, which funds research into hearing disabilities. Councillor Mike Doyle, Chairperson of Rainhill High governors, who welcomed Esther commented, “She spent the whole afternoon with us and gave all her time to the pupils who were a real credit. I am extremely proud of our young people.”
RAINHILL in 2024...!!!
 For the residents of Rainhill who don't get the local free papers, a new draft plan for St Helens 2024 has been released. The consultation process for residents has started and details for Rainhill residents to have their say are as follows:Rainhill Library
from
Monday 3rd Dec 2007 until Friday 7th Dec 2007.
See the exhibitions and have your comments relayed back to the council. Unfortunately staff will not be available all throughout the day and I was unable to get a positive response to when they would actually be there..!!RAINHILL is designated as "Rural St Helens" and as such is unaffected by heavy development. Bullet points of concern are:
Development constraint within existing areas & keep green belt.
Farm diversification, e.g. re-use existing buildings, etc.
Safeguard local services, shops and community facilities.
PROPOSED BRIARS HEY DEVELOPMENT CAUSING QUITE A STIR..!!
 As previously published in the blog, there are currently three planning applications with St Helens Council concerning the empty Briars Hey site:1259 BRIARS HEY, MILL LANE - Work to trees. 1262 BRIARS HEY, MILL LANE - Demolition and replace secure unit, demolition and replacements of extension of listed building. New 2 storey detached HMO property, refurbishment of listed building to provide discharge units and office. 1263 BRIARS HEY, MILL LANE - New build 20 bed medium secure unit in the location of the existing medium secure unit, which is to be demolished. New build 40 bed low secure unit attached to existing Grade II listed property. A large number of local residents and parents/carers of pupils of Tower College School have voiced opposition and held several meeting to discuss the applications. The mental health service providers, Raphael Healthcare, have been contacted and have met concerned representatives at Tower College last week.A newsletter published by the group has been circulated and a post box has been installed in the Post Office in Warrington Road to allow residents to make their feeling known. A number of representatives have also met with their local M.P. Shaun Woodward. Local councillors have been contacted by many concerned residents. The current position will be relayed on this blog as and when there are developments.PLEASE NOTE - This planning issue will be reported on this blog in an unbiased and factual way. I, Councillor Glover, have declared a personal and prejudicial interest and will remain detached from any viewpoint. Any contact by concerned residents will be re-directed to either Councillor Doyle or Councillor De Asha.
OUR NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD INSPECTOR
 Inspector Neil Kavanagh has taken over the role vacated by Don Blackburn and now has responsibility for Rainhill policing. Fresh faced he may be, but Neil has 17 years experience in the force and has had spells outside St Helens with Liverpool and the Metropolitan police in London. Your three councillors wish Neil well. Mike Doyle quipped, "Following Inspector Blackburn is a real challenge, after all, in size 13 boots and his larger than life image, he was a formidable ally."
Say hello to Neil if you spot him and welcome him to our village .
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS
  Following the latest Ward Committee public meeting, two areas around the village centre were proposed for urgent remedial action. Local residents will instantly recognise the tattered and bent rails alongside the station, above. The station now has listed status and it is imperative that this grot spot is eliminated as soon as possible. Because this area is also in the centre of the Conservation Area, which is presently being re-evaluated, we have asked that the Conservation Officer from St Helens Council attends the next meeting to assist in progressing this project. WARBURTON HEY has also been identified for possible improvements. The grassy areas close to the pathway suffer from excessive flooding after heavy rainfall and new drainage would remedy the situation. We are also aware from many local residents that the pathways surrounding the grassy areas are also overgrown, have some fly-tipping and also some overflow from a man hole cover. The last particular problem is in an unadopted alleyway which we are investigating a solution to.
|
Don't be misled by anyone showing you "THE LATEST SCAM" which is again doing the rounds. The newsletter above is freely available in one St Helens ward and is TOTALLY UNTRUE.
