Agenda item
Announcements
a) Mayor
b) Leader of the Council
c) Chief Executive
Minutes:
The Mayor made the following announcements:
1) Hyndburn’s Green Spaces
The Mayor announced that he was proud that the Council was working in partnership with Hyndburn Prospects Foundation. Hyndburn had rich heritage of improving its open spaces. In the 1970s, extensive tree planting was undertaken on the Coppice. Since then a vast woodland had matured. Across the Borough there were woodland walks and splendid recreational facilities. The Borough boasted 11 Green Flag Awards for its parks and open spaces. It had excellent sports and leisure facilities, including those operated independently such as the Accrington Stanley Community Sports Hub. These assets had helped individuals to maintain their health and wellbieng during the COVID pandemic. Prospects Foundation was currently involved in the Brooksdie Restoration Project, also known as Bury Meadows, in Stanhill Village.
There were lots of other activities taking place in the Borough to support its rich heritage and history. The refurbishment of the Accrington Pals Memorial Gardens was just one such example. The area had an amazing history of enterprise, particularly in respect of the cotton industry. The following individuals had been central to Lancashire’s textile industry:
- Robert “Parsley” Peel (1723 – 1795) – calico printing
- Frederick Steiner (1787- 1869) – steam printing
- William Blythe – chemical company for the textile industry (founded in 1845)
- Thomas Hargreaves (1771 – 1822) – owner of Broad Oak Printworks
- Frederick Gatty (1819 - 1888) - khaki dye
- John Mercer (1791 – 1866) – inventor of mercerised cotton.
Hyndburn today could benefit from reinvigorating its identity and perhaps could learn from its past. After all, the industrial revolution started in this area. The Mayor suggested a theme of ‘How could Hyndburn be more colourful in 2025?’ to launch its Culture and Heritage Strategy.
The Leader of the Council then made the following announcements:
2) Accrington Victoria Hospital
A letter had been received from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) following the motion submitted by Councillor Paul Cox at the last Council meeting.
The Chief Executive of the Trust. Martin Hodgson, had acknowledged the Council’s letter and thanked the Council for its comments about the future of Accrington Victoria Hospital. The letter explained the background to the closure of the building and the transfer of its services to other sites. The building had been in a poor condition and was no longer fit for purpose. The heating plant had also failed. The moves were in accordance with appropriate risk assessments and all clinical services would be retained in Accrington and would not be diminished.
The Council’s suggestions about future investment in the hospital building warranted some further consideration. The Trust had invited Council representatives to join a Steering Group meeting due to be held in February. Councillor Dad confirmed that Councillors Fisher and Whitehead would attend this meeting along with Sarah Smith MP. Ideally, the Council would like to see all services returned to that site in a new campus, along with improved services generally in Accrington.
Councillor Dad added that he had visited the minor injuries unit at the Acorn Primary Care Centre earlier today. The building was now fully equipped to deal these types of injuries. However, the Council would continue to pursue bringing the Accrington Victoria Hospital site back into use, and the health services being returned there.
3) Hospitals Shuttle Bus
The Leader had written to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust to express the Council’s concerns, following the announcement that the Trust would cease to fund the shuttle bus between Burnley General and Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospitals. Residents were concerned about the loss of this service and, accordingly, the Council had raised this matter with the Trust.
4) Israel/Hamas Conflict
The news of the ceasefire in Gaza, which took effect on Sunday 19th January 2025, was extremely welcome. The conflict had caused unimaginable suffering to countless individuals. A collective commitment to peace should bring about an end to the continuation of numerous lives being lost, families torn apart and children blighted by war. It was hoped that the calm would prevail and that this would lead to the release of hostages and prisoners alike.
Thanks was due those who had made this situation possible through the power of dialogue and diplomacy. There was now a need to take this initiative forward by addressing the root causes of the conflict and considering the possibility of a two state solution, which might provide lasting peace for generations to come.
There were no announcements from the Chief Executive on this occasion.