FURTHER CUT TO BUS SERVICES
 With many more residents in Rainhill qualifying for Free Bus Passes we are concerned that the current bus service is inadequate particularly at the South end of the Village. We believe that if the passes are to be effective then we need a bus service to match. Your Labour councillors have written to Merseytravel asking for a review of the current bus services. We are shocked to find out that the 109 service which links the village with St Helens Town Centre is also to be withdrawn from March 25th. I have emailed Merseytravel to demand to know why this further reduction in service is deemed to be necessary.
Feel like we do about this cut in services ??? Then sign this on-line petition -
http://www.petitiononline.com/Rain109/petition.html
WORK ON RAINHILL STATION FINALLY UNDERWAY
 Merseyrail's promised access for disabled persons at Rainhill station has finally begun. The photo taken today from the footbridge clearly shows where the access opening will be. We have been campaigning for this for years and although the work was originally promised for completion before last Christmas, seeing is believing!!! The National Labour Government awarded Merseytravel £28,000 for improvements to Rainhill Station to include a new ramp (disablement friendly), disabled parking spaces and signage. Under the "Access for All" fund, the village station is one of four on Merseyside to have been identified and awarded funding. We, your local councillors, together with Cathy Wilson, ex Parish Council Chair and Disability Discrimination Act Champion, after years of campaigning, look forward to finally see our historic station freely accessible to all. UPDATE: On 15th March we learned that the historic Rainhill Railway Station - site of Stephenson’s Rocket locomotive trials of 1829- has been declared a Grade II listed building. The station now has special protection.
OK WHAT'S YOUR VIEWS
 Well, it's not going to go away!! It's in the local papers every week so what's your comments. Which will be the first pub or restaurant in Rainhill to impose the ban. Will all the local taxi drivers comply and not smoke when they have a fare ?? There will be 2 undercover "agents" within St Helens who will monitor " Smokefree" and have the powers to hand out spot fines of £50. Premises (pubs, clubs, bingo halls, public meetings, etc) will be expected to keep records of people found smoking and the outcomes of these incidents which they will be expected to manage. Premises will be harshly dealt with if they run foul of the law and could receive fines of up to £2500. But what's the chance of getting caught by these two plain clothed officials - not high I would suspect. And I suspect there will be a few flared tempers too!!! A lot of common sense is perhaps needed and a little time to adjust. National Government tells us that this major piece of Public Health legislation will save many lives and the health of many thousands will be protected. Is this a price worth paying?
THE POLICE ARE COMING !!!
 The next police and community forum meeting is next week Thursday 22nd March 2007, venue is St Ann's Millennium Centre, View Road, in the heart of the village.
It's your chance to meet police officers from various areas and departments, residents from Thatto Heath and Eccleston had also been invited.
Starting at 7.30pm, all local residents are invited to hear feedback from your local constables and to discuss policing issues. If you do have a pressing issue, come along and explain. After all, it's YOUR police service.
PARISH PRECEPT DOWN AGAIN
 The "snapshot" above was taken from this website 12 months ago. We can now confirm that Rainhill Parish Council has set a precept which is MINUS 4.3%, beating our previous record. We are again the only parish in St Helens to reduce its funding.
We want to especially thank David Blanchflower for his excellent work as parish clerk.
WARD COMMITTEE set for 14th MARCH
We welcome all local residents to come along next Wednesday at 7.00pm to the Village Hall and contribute to the issues which, generally speaking, involve the environment and health and safety of the Village.
COUNCIL RATE INCREASES AGAIN SET AT 2.5%
At the Full Council meeting last night, the Tory lead Liberal Democrat controlled council maintained the rate rise for St Helens of 2.5% which has existed for the past five years. This was possible because measures had been already taken and set in place by the last Labour Council. However, because of large numbers of serious residents complaints, we did propose an amendment to spend monies from Capital Funding (which would not affect the rates) to include: £500,000 towards improving car parking in localities and residential areas.£500,000 towards improving street lighting in residential areas.£500,000 for footway reconstruction in residential areas.These were REJECTED by the Lib Dem / Tory Alliance.
SAINTS DISPLAY THEIR RECENT HAUL
 We were proud to honour Victorious members of St. Helens Rugby League Club at a civic reception in the Town Hall on Tuesday night. Valley Brass Band gave a real northern atmosphere and everyone thoroughly enjoyed, or should I say "gloated" in the successful ether that was present.
The quadruple champions - winners of the World Club Championships 2007 and winners of the Super League Grand Final, Challenge Cup and Super League in 2006, also swept the board with individual honours and left very little pickings for other teams. St Helens and Great Britain full-back Paul Wellens was crowned Super League Man of Steel. Paul, 26, also won the players' player award and was named as full-back in the Super League Dream Team for the second successive season. Saints boss Daniel Anderson was named Super League coach of the year in his first full season in England. And prop James Graham, 21, completed a Saints hat-trick by claiming the young player title. Not forgetting: BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year
BBC North West Sports Awards 2006
1. Rugby Player 2006
Paul Wellens, St Helens Rugby League Club
Charlie Hodgson, Sale Sharks Rugby Union Club
Sean Long, St Helens Rugby League Club etc. etc.
 Cllr Joe DeAsha is shown in the Town Hall with the full St Helens Rugby squad in the background.
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