Welcome to the midweek digest: Blackpool women fight back and rogue trader jailed
The Lancashire Lead - May 8, 2024
Hello and welcome to the first midweek edition of The Lancashire Lead. I hope it’s a pleasant addition to your inbox as the newsletter moves to twice-weekly.
The plan is to send a shorter news digest each Wednesday to help you keep up with what’s happened so far that week. Then, the fuller Sunday edition will be delivered as normal with more features and original writing.
This first midweek edition comes at a strange time - following an overnight by-election count which attracted national interest and then a bank holiday where things generally slow down a lot. It was a long weekend that also included birthday and football celebrations for me but it’s good to be back in the swing of things after finally catching up on some sleep.
Don’t forget that as well as The Lancashire Lead, The Lead also published original, in-depth journalism with dedicated titles for Blackpool and Hyndburn. This week has seen a report of a former Conservative candidate for Hyndburn convicted for electoral fraud and a must-read piece from Reclaim Blackpool on the fears of women caused by the Young Farmers DIY AGM.
“Now is the time to prioritise people over profits. Blackpool locals often express their dissatisfaction that tourism is treated with more importance than the people who live here. Young Farmers’ weekend is the embodiment of that.”
Reclaim Blackpool
There’s still much more to come in this week’s newsletter so use these links to sign up for the Blackpool and Hyndburn editions.
Once again, I’d like to say thanks to all those who’ve subscribed, shared or given feedback - I’m always keen to hear from you at jamie@thelead.uk
🚨 Amy Farnworth has the powerful story of Josie Clark, a woman who was sexually abused as a child while under the care of Blackburn with Darwen Council. Ms Clark says she believes the authority failed in its duty to protect her (Lancashire Telegraph).
🟠 Chris Webb, the new MP for Blackpool South, has taken his seat in the House of Commons and sworn an oath of allegiance to the King (Standard).
👮♀️ A superintendent who became the face of the Nicola Bulley investigation has been made Lancashire Constabulary’s Operations Manager for Preston (Lancashire Post).
🌯 The popular Foodie Friday events at Rawtenstall Market have been suspended amid reports of underage drinking (LancsLive).
📻 Tributes have been paid to former Rock FM presenter Brian Moore after he died aged just 52 (LancsLive).
"Of all the presenters I've worked with, Brian was such a gentle, kind-hearted man. He raised huge amounts of money for Cash for Kids, and he'd do anything. It's really sad and too early."
Sally Aitchison remembering Brian Moore
🚓 A Morecambe man who travelled to Lincolnshire to take part in hare coursing has been handed a criminal behaviour order and fined thousands of pounds (Lancaster Guardian).
🏏 An all-women’s cricket team made history as they won their first match in the men’s Lancashire League (LancsLive).
🔨 In Blackpool, a rogue trader ruined homes and lives as he conned victims out of more than £200,000 for dodgy, unsafe and incomplete work (LancsLive).
🚌 Drivers will be given a grace period when a stretch of Corporation Street in Preston becomes bus-only with warnings handed out to first offenders (Blog Preston).
♟️ It’s fair to say there’s been a mixed reaction to one Levelling Up plan, which involves new chess boards being installed in various parks at a cost of £2,500 each (chess pieces not included). Daniel O’Donghue reports the “government's hope is that the funding will help England create more grandmasters and return the country to a higher position in the world rankings” (BBC).
✂️ Congratulations to the Fulwood salon which has been named the best in Lancashire and the North West (Blog Preston).
🏠 More than 250 houses will be built in Garstang after planning permission was granted by Wyre Council. That comes with the condition the developers pay £2.8m into a fund for community use (Lancashire Business View).
🚂 The East Lancashire Railway group says it needs £1.3m to maintain a viaduct which leads trains towards Rawtenstall (ITV).
Thanks for reading and please do share this so others can find The Lancashire Lead too. I’ll be back in your inbox on Sunday morning with another full edition.