UNTIDY LAND by RAINHILL STATION
 With all the proposed improvements to the historic Rainhill Railway Station, and the probable move of the Railway Museum within the next 12 months, the station aspect is spoilt by this stretch of untidy land by the platform close to the bus stop. We have had a land search completed to identify the owners of this land and have requested an enforcement order to clear all the bottles, cans and associated litter, and make the site much more presentable.
New Neighbourhood Inspector for Rainhill
 Debra Rayment, the new Dedicated Neighbourhood Inspector, briefly called into the latest Ward Committee to introduce herself. She succeeds Tim Kelly who has held the post for the last 15 months. Debbie, as she likes to be called, said she was looking forward to working with local residents with a view to making a positive impact within the local community. She has been made aware that the three priority "targets" most important to local residents as decided at the last Police Forum were: 1. High profile police presence in the Martin Close area to combat any antisocial behaviour. 2. Discouraging illegal car parking outside schools at opening and closing times. 3. Maintaining regular checks of local shops at closing times, especially those selling alcohol.
CONTROVERSIAL PLANNING APPLICATION REJECTED
A planning application which would have seen the demolition of a large Victorian house replaced by 3 smaller houses has been rejected by St Helens Planning Department. "Turris Heah" is sited at the head of St James Mount in the centre of Rainhill. Local residents were strongly opposed to the development and a large number of objections were submitted to Planning Department outlining their reasons against the application. Cllr Steve Glover said, "This application was one of several over the last couple of years which has attempted to replace one large house with 3, 4 and even 5 new dwellings"."An interim planning policy was introduced in 2005 in an attempt to halt this type of "infill" development but was never renewed. We have constantly requested that a new policy be introduced and one has finally been put out to consultation".
RAILWAY MUSEUM ON THE MOVE
 The railway coach that has served as the site for our railway museum is to retire very soon. Much needed repairs to the carriage do not make economic sense and the ability to provide disabled access cannot be addressed properly.
Work has been going on in the background for the last couple of years to find an alternative site. A consultation exercise has now been completed with Rainhill Railway and Heritage Society, Rainhill Civic Society and Rainhill Parish Council along with the Ward Councillors.
The obvious site for the museum, an unused section of the railway station building, has been fully investigated and looks ideal. Network Rail have been negociating with St Helens Council and funding streams have been explored.
A cafe bar, run alongside the exhibition with the owners taking responsibility for the museum security, appears to be a very high risk option. A "Real Ale" bar appears a much more business like option. This would link alongside several other real ale bars on the Transpennine Real Ale Trail from Liverpool into Yorkshire.
Come back regularly to check on further updates.
Local "ACTIVIST" moved to Cheshire...!!!
 The recent leaflet from the LibDems fails to inform you that their local "Activist" is spending all her time in Cheshire...!!! See: http://www.cheshirewestlibdems.org.uk/page8.htmlWe want to assure all Rainhill residents that your local Labour Ward Councillors are committed to Rainhill and only Rainhill. Our priorities are supporting Rainhill Village residents - not Cheshire West residents. Can you believe anything in print from the LibDems...??
LOCAL RESIDENTS HIT BY LATEST SCAM
 A Rainhill resident has been a victim of the latest telephone scam and has asked me to warn other residents. A "missed call" on his mobile prompted a return call to a 076 phone number - which was mistakenly thought to be a mobile connection. It was in fact a premium rate number...!!! Cllr Steve Glover said, "I checked out the PHONEPAYPLUS website, the official watchdog, and there is a clear warning on there about this scam"Check out: http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/output/news/premium-rate-regulator-warns-no-tolerance-for-076-scams.aspx
Parish Chairman visits Rainhill Childrens Centre
 Parish Chairman John Kelly was recently invited to attend the Children's Centre at Deepdale Drive to check out the facility. He was greeted with a large number of local kids who were busy with block building and pastry making amongst many other activities.
The Centre, along with one in Eccleston, is a satellite of the Happy Elephant Sure Start Centre based in Thatto Heath.
Check out all the facilities which are on offer: http://www.sthelens.gov.uk/openfile.htm?id=1235
LOCAL PLANNING ISSUES
APPLICATIONS RECENTLY REVIEWED2009/0812 Lloyds Pharmacy, Warrington Road - various sign postings - Granted0823 17 Lawton Road - Single Storey Rear Extension - Granted0835 38 Fairlie Drive - Porch and Canopy over Garage - Granted0821 533 Warrington Road - Rear Extension - Granted0838 39 Sandhurst Road - Side and Rear Extensions - Granted0911 The Rocket - Boundary fence and lighting - Granted0928 1 Fairlie Drive - Rear Extension - Granted0935 52 View Road - Work on Trees - Granted0930 53 Deepdale Drive - Porch and WC - Granted0950 Turris Heah, Mill Lane - Removal of 2 Decayed Trees - Granted0955 Plot 1 Sandstone Close - Work to trees - Granted0932 3-5 The Meadows - New Detatched House and Bungalow - Withdrawn0947 Rainhill Ex Serviceman's Club - Retention of 2 Portakabins - Granted0993 25 Honiston Avenue - Rear Conservatory - Granted0998 Wylde Cop, Mill Lane - Felling of 1 tree - Granted0931 Land to rear of 25 Ellaby Road - 3 Terraced Dwellings - Granted1038 6 Knowsley Road - New Access, Double Gates and Hardstanding - Granted1040 Warburton Hey Development Modification - Granted1053 17 Manor Avenue - Side and Rear Extensions - Granted1054 16 Lawton Road - Conservatory and Side Extension - Granted1012 Blundells Lane Golf Club - Extension to Greenkeeper's Shed - Granted1081 Stephensons Day Centre - Cycle Shelter and Tool Storage Shed - Granted1094 7B Owen Road - Garage Conversion - Granted2010/0008 Rainhill park - Children's Play Area - Granted0019 29 Cartmel Drive - Rear Extension - Granted0043 3 Goldsworth Fold - Resubmitted Application 2009/0500 - Refused0027 4 Wensleydale Avenue - Side Extension and Garage - GrantedRECENT SUBMISSIONS1087 Fairchilds Farm - Orangery Extension0010 Turris Heah, Mill Lane - Erection of 3 Detatched Houses0037 3 The Meadows - Alterations to application 2008/12200071 14 Trent Place - Change to Helena Housing Welfare Office0091 Orchard House, Mill Lane - Application for Certificate of Lawfulness for proposed use.0093 Longton Lane School - Adventure Play Trail0097 13 St James Road - Side and Rear extensions0116 Land fronting Oak Tyres, Warrington Road - CCTV Installation0118 26 Lincoln Place - Front Extension0130 Land between Vincent Rd and Warburton Hey - Approval of reserved matters0143 3 Owen Road - Amendments to previous applicationCOMPLAINTS RECEIVED00028 152 Two Butt lane - Unapproved Development00034 644 Warrington Road - Unapproved Business Usage00036 Cedric House Nursing Home - Non-compliance with Enforcement Notice00043 Briars Hey, Mill Lane - Use of building as an office00081 Land to Rear of 70 - 104 Deepdale Drive- Untidy Land
HELPING TO STOP SPEEDSTERS
 Three VAS (Vehicle Activated Signs) are now in place along Warrington Road. Their positions are: Close to the Stoops Garage coming into the village; Close to Whiston Hospital coming into the village; and before the High School on the outbound stretch of roadway. We have requested the police to also maintain their mobile speed cameras operations on the Warrington Road. The possibility of a further VAS for Rainhill Road was investigated but no suitable location was available.
Changes to the Concessionary Travel Pass Scheme
 The Government has announced that from April 6th 2010 the age at which you become eligible for an Elderly Person's Travel Pass will increase and will no longer be on your 60th birthday. If your 60th birthday falls between 6th April 2010 and 5th April 2015 you will be affected. A helpline website is available: http://pensions.direct.gov.uk/en/state-pension-age-calculator/home.aspor by ringing Merseyside Ticket Unit on 0151 236 6056 UPDATE 29th March"Changes of the scheme will not effect Merseyside" said Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel. "We will continue to provide free transport on buses, trains and ferries after 9.30am for the over 60's as we have done for the past 22 years"The additional costs, which are believed to me minimal, will be funded by Merseytravel.
Another Grade II listing in Rainhill
A little known tunnel under the Liverpool to Manchester railway has been given the listing for its' architecture. Built in the late 1820's, the 104ft long tunnel goes under the earliest locomotive passenger line in the world. It was built to accommodate a tramway which linked Sutton Colliery with a weighing machine and coal stockpile on the Liverpool to Warrington turnpike road. Bourne's Tunnel as it is known, has a mysterious background. Nobody is quite sure who designed the tunnel, or indeed who was responsible for its' finely engineered construction.
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With all the proposed improvements to the historic Rainhill Railway Station, and the probable move of the Railway Museum within the next 12 months, the station aspect is spoilt by this stretch of untidy land by the platform close to the bus stop.
