The decision to close two Wyre police stations has sparked fury amongst members of the public.

Cleveleys and Poulton stations will be axed while the front counter at Garstang will be closed.

The announcement comes after three months of consultation on plans which should save cash-strapped Lancashire Police £890,000 a year.

Police chiefs are hoping to move the inquiry desk from Poulton into the town’s Civic Centre.

The closures come after months of consultation and campaigning.

Lancashire Police chiefs say they have been forced to close front counters and sell off buildings as part of a bid to save £42m over the next four years.

Wyre Council leader Peter Gibson is unhappy at the decision to close Poulton station and put a counter service into Wyre Civic Centre because, he says, no discussions with police over such a move have ever taken place.

He said: “Our area now has just Fleetwood for a front desk, which is not particularly central to Wyre. After that we have to look at Lancaster. The distances involved are tremendous.

“When you consider they have kept open Lancaster, Morecambe and Carnforth in the rest of the division, it seems grossly unfair.

“And at no point have we sat down and talked about hosting officers at the civic centre. We will facilitate them if that’s what they want – it would have been nice to have had a conversation beforehand.”

John Bailie, from the Concerned Residents of Poulton group, said: “The community needs that on the spot visible protection. Keeping the front counter is nowhere near enough, and certainly not having it at a somewhat removed location.”

All the front counters will be closed on June 1, next year.

In Cleveleys, Coun Penny Martin said: “A police station is a sign the police have some faith in the community.

“It’s certainly going to leave a big hole. It will be a massive loss to the town.”

Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said the force examined the “operational impact, strength of public concern, footfall and the availability of alternative venues” in making decisions.

Mr Finnigan added: “We’re determined to continue to deliver top quality services, that’s what my staff are all about. I don’t see that we’re going to step away from that.”

THE LATEST row over a popular market has seen stall holders hit out at those who claim they are harming business in the town.

At a meeting last week shopkeepers in Poulton said their stores had been left almost deserted since the arrival of the town’s weekly market.

They spoke of fears businesses could be destroyed by the stalls offering discount goods just yards away from their doors and said they would rather see it forced to sell specialist goods only.

But stall holders say they are not offering any knock down prices and businesses need to work with the market not against it.

Market trader, Kevin Tully, of Bathtime Soaps, said: “I think we need to work together because the footfall going through the market is phenomenal.

“It is full, I have never seen that before, it is proving the best market we have ever traded at, but we all need to work with each other.

“We have spoken to local cafe owners and they say business is booming, the market is bringing people to the town who may not usually have visited.

“I sympathise with shop owners who have to pay rent but this is a good thing for Poulton.”

Paul Higgs, who runs a pet stall at markets across the North West, said shop owners should offer discount prices on market day to compete.

He added: “It could work for everyone, on Monday the market was heaving, locals are really happy to have it in what is a market town.

“I work in markets in Fleetwood, Cumbria and Morecambe and have never had this response from local businesses.

“I am not selling at discount prices, my prices remain the same wherever I sell and I take away a profit, but traders have to understand this market is a great opportunity for them as well, as it is new.”

The Monday market was started by Wyre Council as a way of bringing more shoppers to the area and has proved popular with locals.

It was originally planned as a Wednesday market but was forced to switch days as it clashed with the weekly market in Great Eccleston.

Wyre Council has said it will evaluate the success of the market over the coming months but added there had been a lack of engagement from traders with regard setting up a trade association.

It had hoped to set up a trade association before the market opened to avoid clashes between shop owners and stall-holders.

IT’S all smiles at Flakefleet Primary School thanks to the findings of Osfted inspectors in their latest report.

The 400-strong pupil school has, in headteacher Mike Barnes’ words, ‘improved 100 times over’ since the Ofsted report two years ago.

Inspectors found the school, in Northfleet Avenue, had made good progress, strengthening in many areas whilst maintaining good standards throughout.

Mr Barnes said: “We are really, really pleased with it .

“It showed that hard work from staff and pupils has paid off, it really is excellent.

“The inspectors said there was a lovely atmosphere in the school as well, which we are proud of.”

The overall effectiveness of the school scored a two – which means it’s a good school.

In the report it told how parents and carers are right to value the education their children are getting at Flakefleet.

One set of parents told them that since their daughter had started at Flakefleet, she had come on leaps and bounds, growing in confidence.

Similar comments were made throughout the report.

One important attribute to the school was the attainment of pupils at Year Six when they leave for high school.

The report said it was steadily rising reflecting good progress throughout the primary years.

It was also noted that pupils do well because of good and sometimes outstanding teaching through an ‘engaging curriculum’.

Other key points included:

> Pupils enjoyed lessons because teachers made them fun.

> The school’s curriculum had many strengths. The use of ICT was particularly strong, with a wide range of good quality resources that were used imaginatively.

> Team work was strong because of the dedicated work of all the whole school.

Flakefleet has recently enjoyed a Lowry Day in which pupils studied the work of Salford artist L.S. Lowry and they are now looking forward to their latest project – Dark Day, an exercise in which they will try and use no electricity in the school for a full day.

It’s all part of an idea by the school’s eco-group.

TALENTED young footballer Spencer Phillips certainly made an impression in his latest endeavour.

But this time it wasn’t just on the pitch that he impressed.

The seven year old excelled in front of the cameras after he won a small acting role in a film about footballing legend Sir Matt Busby.

The film team were so impressed with his screen presence they gave him a larger part with some of the best lines in the whole film.

The funny and touching movie is called Theatre of Dreams and stars Scottish film star Brian Cox as Busby, the legendary former manager of Manchester United.

Based around Busby’s later years when he had retired from the game, the film shows how he gets involved with some talented. but cheeky, young footballers after they steal his wallet!

Likened to film hit Billy Elliot, it is expected to be released in cinemas across the country next summer after filming was wrapped up in August.

Spencer, who attends Norbreck Primary School, became involved in the making of the film after attending a football presentation event at Thornton Little Theatre.

Theatre boss Karen Roberts was involved in the film through her work with the Paul Nicholas School of Acting, and was on the lookout for youngsters who could play football.

Proud mum Samantha, of Leys Road, Bispham, told the Weekly News: “Spencer has been involved with Blackpool Rangers and, funnily enough, the Manchester United School of Excellence.

“He was attending a presentation which just happened to be at the theatre and Karen saw him with a trophy and asked if he wanted to be in a football film.

“We made a one minute video showing his football skills and sent it on to the film makers. Spencer was invited to an audition in Manchester and was told they wanted him in the film.

“At first he had just one line and his character didn’t even have a name, but they seemed to like him so much his role got bigger and they ended up calling his character Spencer. It was a great experience for him, filming around Salford.”

Now Spencer and his parents look set to be attending a couple of glittering film premieres next year.

The company behind controversial plans to extract gas from under Lancashire are due to start ‘sonar’ studies of farmland in Wyre early next year.

Cuadrilla Resources, which is searching for gas reserves locked in shale at a site near Hesketh Bank, Southport, will have engineers carrying out searches on land across Wyre from February.

The process is called ‘fracking’ and has proved controversial, with exploratory drilling this year being linked to tremors on the Fylde coast.

A spokesman said it was speaking with local landowners to secure access on to sites of interest.

He said: “It is a feasibility study to look for areas where there is a large amount of shale to add to data we have already collected from our exploratory drilling.

“There will not be any work starting until the start of the year.”

The company has carried out exploratory work at Singleton and Weeton on the Fylde coast and currently has a drilling rig on farmland between Hesketh Bank and Banks.

Meanwhile, a public meeting is being staged at Poulton on tonight (Monday November 28) to allow residents to find out more about the process.

The question and answer session is being held at the church hall, Vicarage Lane, Poulton, near to the Thatched House pub, beginning at 7pm.

It has been organised by a group of residents who are concerned about how the process may affect the local environment.

One of those involved is Lynda Lancaster, of Wrea Green, who said: “One of my concerns is the possible pollution of water.

“There is no guarantee that the frack fluid involved in the process will not contaminate the underground water as only 50 per cent of the 1,000 gallons of water it takes to track one well comes back up.

“Some local farmers use borehole water. The cows drink the water and we drink the milk, so there could be wider implications in this process.

“I think people will need to know the full consequences if full gas production is granted.

“That is why we are organising this meeting, then people will be able to make up their own minds.”

She added: “Tracking is a process which requires minimal legislation and it is likely to expand rapidly in the next 10 years.”

A FORMER community warden has received a military medal in recognition of his service out in the Far East half a century ago.

Derek Mayes, 70, of Wharfedale Avenue, Thornton, served in the Royal Navy between 1959 and 1964, during which time he was stationed in Malaya.

Derek served in the wireless department aboard a minesweeper support ship HMS Woodbridge Haven.

In appreciation of the sacrifices made by the British and Commonwealth forces, a number of medal presentations have been staged, including an event in Warrington last week.

Derek was there to proudly receive the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal, translated as Service to Malaysia Award.

He said “It was a long time ago, of course, but obviously I was very proud and delighted to go down and receive it.”

Derek and his former colleagues received the award from Brigadier General Othman Jamal, the defence attache to the Malaysian Embassy.

Born in London, Derek has spent much of his adult life on the Fylde coast. He was a dog handler with Fleetwood Police and later worked for Wyre Council.

A SUPERTRAM glided into Fleetwood this week on its inaugural run to the port.

Albeit just for engineering and testing reasons, the gleaming state-of-the-art tram was a sight not to be missed.

The fleet of 16 trams will come into service with Blackpool Transport next Easter.

Blackpool Transport’s director of tramways Dave Hislop said: “We were completing gauging trials, checking the legalities of the system – the platforms heights, distances between platforms and the trams. A government official was there to witness the checks and all was correct.

“There is still the section from Fisherman’s Walk to Euston Park to complete but that won’t be done until late February, early March.

“We had some positive comments from people, they were very happy to see things moving forward.

Town Council chairman Alan Marsh said it was great to see the new trams in Fleetwood but the port was crying out for trams to be running sooner.

He said: “I certainly think they are magnificent and larger than I first envisaged.

“They are superb and will allow more people to come in and out of our fabulous town.

“But we are desperate to have trams running, we need them as quickly as possible, the sooner the better,”

The Bombardier Flexity 2 light rail vehicles are part of a £100m upgrade of the famous tramway.

It marks a landmark for the 126-year-old tramway which was threatened with closure without the £100m investment which has also seen the track refurbished.

The work needed to upgrade the system came with much upheaval in Fleetwood. Traders suffered and battled to save their businesses from closure whilst the work was carried out. There is still work to be completed in Fleetwood over the coming months including work on the overhead lines and the completion of the sub station. Tram enthusiast David Hunt added: “It’s wonderful to have the most modern tram in the world making its debut in Fleetwood.”

Among the innovations introduced on the Blackpool tram are conventional wheel set bogeys designed to offer a smoother ride.

A SOLUTION to a traffic nightmare in Queens Terrace has been found.

Work on the new supertram service in the town means around 12 buses per hour park outside Queen’s Terrace, causing noise, fumes and disturbance.

Buses even do U-turns in the road to use what has become an unofficial terminus.

But a solution has been found following a meeting between local councillors and Lancashire County Council officials.

Resident Sue Kershaw, who has led the campaign to curb the buses, said: “It’s wonderful news – everyone in the block will feel the same way.

“People will be over the moon because we will be able to sleep a little better. “We have taken letters to County Hall pointing out the upset and inconvenience it is causing to everyone. It’s very good they have been able to sort it out.” The problems have been made worse because Queen’s Terrace, a listed building, cannot have double glazing.

Local councillors have been told the Blackpool Transport number 14 bus will follow the same route as the trams, going in a loop around Fleetwood Bowling Club, avoiding Queen’s Terrace completely.

The number one will end its journey at Freeport rather than travelling up Dock Street to Queen’s Terrace.

Chairman of Fleetwood Town Council, Coun Alan Marsh, said: “The arrangements have to be confirmed by county, but we had a very good meeting and it looks like there is a solution for people living in Queen’s Terrace.”

County Coun Clive Grunshaw said: “This will alleviate all the problems that we have been encountering and is probably the best solution.

“Some parking will be lost on the northern edge of the short section of Pharos Street to make this route viable.”

County Coun Tim Ashton, the county council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We had a very productive meeting with Blackpool Transport and Fleetwood Town Council.

“We put forward a scheme to relocate bus parking to Bold Street next to the tram terminus.

“All partners are happier with this new location, which should be better for local residents, businesses and those using the bus, tram and ferry services.”

A MOTHER who set up a group for children with disabilities is celebrating its first anniversary.

Christine Anderson was desperate to find a way to give her eight-year-old son Christopher, who has spina bifida, more confidence.

He was out of school as the family, from Thornton, tried to find somewhere suitable to cater for his complex needs.

She was frustrated by the lack of facilities for Christopher and other wheelchair users.

Then she set up a new group to transform the lives of both disabled and able-bodied youngsters, called the Cheetahs.

News of the organisation’s work has now spread and film crews from Channel 4 visited last Friday to feature the group in a programme about disabled sport.

The club now has 20 wheelchairs for its members, who take part in sports from hockey to basketball – with both disabled and able-bodied youngsters competing in wheelchairs.

Christine said: “It’s been an incredible year. I’m still in shock, and can’t believe how many people want to be a part of it and get so much from the club.

“A year ago, I was desperate to build Christopher’s confidence and show him how able he is. He is now happy and doing so well at St Michael’s on Wyre Primary School.”

The Cheetahs celebrated the first anniversary with a big party at the Thornton YMCA Sports Centre.

Christine added: “I walked into the party and stood in shock.

“The sports hall had been decorated, there was a DJ, a buffet prepared by the parents, a clown, face-painting, magician, and a huge birthday cake.

“The parents and volunteers had done it all. We have such a great group of families, and I couldn’t believe they had done it all.”

She added: “Christopher loved the party and raised £122 in raffle ticket sales on the night, making sure everyone bought a ticket.

“And on Saturday morning, he and his nana, who had a hip replacement this time last year, went off on a sponsored walk – stopping at the Bourne Poacher pub en route – and raised another £116 towards The Cheetahs’ holiday next summer.”

For details, call 07891 367 389, email christinecheetahs@btinternet.com or visit {http://www.thecheetahs.co.uk|www.thecheetahs.co.uk|www.thecheetahs.co.uk}.

Funding which could lead to an extra platform at a Fylde coast train station has been secured.

Lancashire County Council has promised to release £15,000 towards a grip survey, costing £30,000, which will assess the feasibility of a new line and platform at Poulton station.

It is part of plans for a railway line between Poulton and Fleetwood stopping at Carleton, Thornton and Burn Naze.

But proposals for the much anticipated line came to a halt while county councillors deliberated on whether the funding was available.

And despite Wyre Council pledging the other £15,000, the Poulton and Wyre Railway Society were forced to wait.

But this week it was announced funding for the “vital” survey will be released.

Coun Don MacNaughton, chairman of Wyre Council’s Rail Link Task Group, said: “It is vital frankly, we were at a hold until we could get that survey done.

“We can’t get the line into Poulton until it a feasibility study has been carried out.

“Another factor is the line through Poulton is going to be electrified and if we don’t have regard to that there could be physical alterations made to the line which would make it impossible or very expensive for us in the future.

“We know it is possible to have another line through Poulton, there used to be an Isle of Man platform taking people to the Isle of Man steamers.

“But this survey will make sure every box is ticked and will look at electrification and signalling.”

Coun MacNaughton said residents could expect to see a new platform from where a shuttle service to Burn Naze would run in the next two years.

He said: “Initially the railing stock may not be up to main line standards and Northern Rail will not even let rolling stock like that touch their own metal.

“So we will be looking at a local service with frequent stops along the way so a maximum number of people can benefit from it.

“Two years is probably the earliest we could expect to see any work at the station, but this is a huge step forward.

“I’m meeting with National Rail next week to hopefully find out when the survey will start.”

A long-established club for gardeners and growers is being uprooted from its Thornton home of more than half a century

Thornton Cleveleys Horticultural Society has until May to close its hut after Wyre Council served the group notice to leave. The council needs to use the site when work begins on the new £1.5m waste depot with recycling facility at Copse Road, Fleetwood.

Amateur dramatic society, The Windmill Players, has also been forced to leave the site.

Horticultural Society chairman, John Horrocks, said the group, which has used the site on Fleetwood Road South to sell gardening goods since the 1950s, is now desperately trying to sell off stock before the move.

He said: “We will do our best to get rid of as much as possible, we don’t want anything to go to waste as it would cost us quite a bit to dispose of. It is costing us money to do the move, small things like cutting the electric and hiring skips to remove equipment all add up.

“We are just going to sell up, there is nowhere else to go, we have managed to find a buyer for our small garage but we still have a double garage for sale.”

The society, which held its 70th annual flower show last year, will continue with its lectures, exhibitions and coach trips.

Mr Horrocks said: “It is the trade store we will lose. At one time it was thriving but more recently we have not had the same amount of sales we would have had 10 years ago. But this is very short notice to be given to leave.

“It is sad to leave because of the amount of time we have spent here, we have fond memories.”

A Wyre spokesman confirmed: “Thornton Horticultural Society and The Windmill Players have been given notice to leave the site at Thornton. “The council needs to use the site when work begins on the new depot at Copse Road and will do so until the development is complete.”

Stocks of composts, plant pots, fertilisers, bamboo canes, plastic bins/water butts and other gardening related products are going to be sold off at half price.

The hut will be open each Sunday between 10 and noon from Sunday January 22 with a view to open between 10am and noon on Saturday’s as well.

Contact Mr Horrocks on (01253) 825156.

FLEETWOOD’S high street has a new charity shop in the shape of a Salvation Army outlet.

While there are sometimes complaints that charity shops are not always what town centres need, Fleetwood’s seven stores argue that they play a crucial role on the high street.

And they say that they are much better than the grim alternative - empty shops.

The bargain outlets, supporting a range of good causes, have been a growing part of the shopping scene in the town in recent years – and now the Salvation Army, affectionately known as “Sally Ann”, has added to the choice.

After the shop opened its doors on Lord Street last Thursday, shop manager Judith McDonald commented: “We’ve been very busy getting the shop ready for a while now and the response from local residents has been fantastic,

“People have been regularly popping by, keen to see what’s going on and how they can help.

“We’ve already had some very generous donations from locals but we’re hoping to encourage more people to donate their unwanted Christmas presents so we can put them to good use.

“We hope that now we’re open the local residents will enjoy shopping here, as we’ve got some fabulous bargains.”

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Money raised there will help support some of the charity’s projects, such as homeless shelters, substance misuse centres and family tracing services.

Other charity shops in Fleetwood town centre remain confident there is still enough business to maintain the cash flow for all the local good cause outlets.

Sharon Kenny, manager at the Scope shop which supports the disabled, said: “It’s not a problem having another charity shop.

“An empty shop is worse than anything for us and people do the charity run – going round all the shops.

“We have our regulars who come and they always buy. We couldn’t survive without them.

“Sometimes the shops will exchange stock and someone will pass things to us if they think we can get a better price. Fortunately we have some very generous donors.”

At the Wyre Animal Welfare, Judith Davies said: “We aren’t as immaculate as the other shops but they probably get more visitors from out of town and we get more locals

“Here, every penny we take goes to help the animals.”

A CONTRACTOR has been appointed to demolish buildings at the site of a new council depot in Fleetwood.

Demolition contractor approved

FLEETWOOD’S tram system is set to benefit from part of a £2m investment from County Hall.

The cash injection is the latest phase of Lancashire County Council’s total commitment of £15.2m towards the £100m scheme for a new track from Blackpool through to Fleetwood and 16 trams.

The money is part of a £50m legacy fund announced by the county council which has secured the windfall by reducing management costs and making investments in government bonds.

Lancashire Council leader Geoff Driver said: “We’re delighted to announce this massive new investment and determined it will leave a positive, lasting legacy.

“Young people are at the heart of our proposals because they are the future.

“We also plan to direct some of this investment into providing the right infrastructure and other conditions that make Lancashire a good place to do business.”

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The council’s cabinet has laid out a series of legacy projects aimed at improving opportunities for young people and promoting economic growth.

These include a £10m apprenticeship scheme to encourage employers to take on trainees, a £5m investment over five years to support the cost of young people travelling to education, employment and training and £10m to help businesses grow.

Another £6m is earmarked for the Youth Zone programme to provide more activities for young people, £3m for a youth mentoring programme involving armed forces veterans and £1m for refurbishing libraries.

The tramway money is part of a £15m pot for four transport projects in the county.

The £50m includes £10m in savings made on administration and management costs and a £40m cash boost from investments made in government bonds.

Chief executive Phil Halsall said: “We shifted a lot of the council’s funds into gilts which offer good security in a turblent financial climate.

“This has enabled the council to sell on its gilts and generate this huge one off windfall.

“That can now be pumped back into local services in Lancashire.”

PARISHIONERS at a crumbling Fleetwood church have had to find an alternative place of worship.

The congregation at St. David’s Church have been forced to quit the church after maintenance costs became too high.

And the future of the 55-year-old building is uncertain – it could even face demolition.

A leaking roof, problems with the electrical system and other concerns have led to the congregation sharing the facilities at St. Edmund’s RC Church on Melbourne Avenue.

Soaring repair costs topping £100,000 meant that continuing in the building was beyond the pocket of the 50 to 60 people who attend services.

Vicar Canon John Hall said: “The structure is sound but we have roof problems and the electrics are in a very bad way.

“For 18 months we have had major problems and the decision to move out was made about 12 months ago.

“Now we are out we can consider the future.

“Anything is possible but we have not come to any decision yet.”

He had been unable to get a safety certificate for the electrics and so was unable to get public liability insurance.

Windows and doors at the church are in a poor state of repair and Canon Hall added that problems had come about because of poor maintenance over the years.

He added: “I don’t think it was built to stand the test of time.”

Demolition for a new church or sale to developers were among the options being considered.

He said parishioners had settled in we at St. Edmund’s.

He added: “I think people were a little apprehensive at first but eventually people lapped it up and we have been very warmly welcomed by St. Edmund’s.

“We have known we were moving for 12 months but when we took the final service then reality kicked in.

“At the same time we knew we were going and people in their hearts and minds had said farewell to the building. Now it’s

A CLEVELEYS man who failed to stop for police and went on to crash his car into a tree – leaving one teen passenger with spinal injuries– has been jailed for 18 months.

Alexander Saxon, 20, who was banned from driving, was seen behind the wheel by officers on November 4 last year at the Wyre roundabout, heading towards Windy Harbour. He failed to stop and officers followed his MG ZR towards Bilsborrow.

Saxon then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree on St Michaels Road. Saxon, who had picked up two teenage passengers earlier in the day, suffered minor injuries in the crash; a 15 year-old girl was also injured and a 16-year-old girl suffered spinal injuries.

Saxon, of Wolsey Close, Cleveleys, appeared at Preston Crown Court last year where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance. Appearing before the court again last week, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was disqualified from driving for five years.

Sgt Alan Baron, road policing, said: “Saxon put the girls’ lives in danger by driving irresponsibly. One of the youngsters suffered quite serious injuries.”

A MAJOR £100m proposal to strengthen worn out sea defences in Fleetwood and Blackpool has received a boost.

Government environment chiefs are now considering plans which would help protect thousands of homes and businesses in both Anchorsholme and Rossall.

Environment Agency funding has still to be approved, but the two Fylde schemes have been placed on the agency’s ‘indicative list’ which means they will be considered in the next wave of coastal defence projects.

Blackpool and Wyre councils have now joined forces to seek tenders for the work which will cover an area historically hit by flooding.

Rossall’s coastal defence scheme – which could cost around £60m alone – will involve the reconstruction of a 1.9km length of sea wall and landscaping. The existing defences have been assessed as having an estimated lifespan of less than five years.

At Anchorsholme, Blackpool’s engineers have determined the existing sea wall is in a “progressive mode of failure”. The proposed scheme will involve the reconstruction of a 1km length of defences.

Wyre Council leader Peter Gibson said: “It’s early days and nothing is definite but we are hopeful after being placed on the indicative list which means the scheme is being considered.”

Coun Roger Berry, Wyre’s cabinet member with responsibility for coastal defences, said the scheme would provide a “fantastic opportunity” to not only protect homes but create jobs.

He added: “If the scheme gets the go ahead it will make a tremendous difference to the area and help protect quite a number of homes.There is also the opportunity to create jobs and employ local people.”

Both were keen to stress the project was more than just a sea wall and they would endeavour to model an “aesthetically pleasing” scheme as they did with the multi-award winning new Promenade in Cleveleys.

Anchorsholme councillor Tony Williams said: “We have been lobbying the Environment Agency for several years to take a more urgent look at our failing sea defences.

“Anchorsholme is a recognised flooding area.”

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THIS is Domino.

She is four months old and is cheeky and mischievous but very friendly and lots of fun.

Domino simply needs a kind owner who will give her a good home.

A home check and adoption donation will be required but Domino will be neutered when ready micro-chipped and vaccinated.

Fylde RSPCA, who are currently looking after Domino, have lots of other domestic pets, including dogs, cats and other animals, who are looking for good homes.

Some have already been taken in by new owners as a result of our Rescue Me feature.

For more information on Domino the little cat call Fylde RSPCA on (01253) 873616 or to see more homeless pets please visit the website at www.rspca-fylde.org.uk.

A DECISION over the Fleetwood Pier site could be delayed until April.

The proposed plans for a hotel were to go before Wyre’s planning committee, but now the plans are to be changed.

However when the controversial plans are considered, a meeting will still be held at the Marine Hall to allow maximum public participation.

A scheme for the hotel has been with Wyre since November.

But Stephen Kilmartin, of SDMK Design, which drew them up, said they would now be amended.

He declined to say what would be changed.

But he did say: “It was a decision made by us after we met the local authority to discuss a lot of objections and concerns that have been raised.

“We want to attempt to address those concerns.”

Objectors who will speak at the planning committee are being co-ordinated by Fleetwood Town Council.

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Council chairman, Coun Alan Marsh, said: “If the plans are going to change, we will have to look at it again.

“We have a number of people ready to speak at the planning committee.

“We would have been ready next week.

“I was going to speak on the economic impact and there were people from the civic society and others who were ready to speak.

“We will be ready when they bring it on.”

A planning application from Simmo Developments was turned down in November 2010 at a meeting at the Marine Hall.

It was said the four-storey artdeco-style project would have been “alien and incongruous” and “overbearing” for nearby properties.

There was also a lot of conconcern over provisions for parking.

Simmo put in a fresh plan a year later for a two-storey building with 18 bedrooms rather than the 42 in the original plan.

Chairman of the planning committee, Coun David Henderson, said: “I can confirm the plans will be amended.

“The soonest it will be considered now is April.

“We want to give adequate time for the plans to go on display in the public library where people can have a look at them.

“The planning meeting will be at the Marine Hall again. “It’s only right and fair thing to do.

“If you have a big application where there is a lot of interest you must give it proper justice.

“We are going to show the people of Fleetwood our concern and that we want it aired properly – there are so many people who have shown interest.”

Fleetwood Pier burnt down in September 2008.

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Campaigners have vowed to continue their fight against a shale gas drilling company set to expand its operations in the south.

Until now Cuadrilla Resources has only been operational in Lancashire, with three sites on the Fylde coast in Weeton, Singleton and Westby, and a fourth site in Southport.

Cuadrilla has stressed it remains “fully engaged” in Lancashire, but it has now been granted permission by West Sussex Council to conduct exploratory drilling in Balcombe, near Haywards Heath.

Fracking – the process of pumping water deep underground to fracture rock and release gas - is currently suspended on the Fylde after a series of earthquakes, and the company has no plans, or approval, to frack in the south at present.

But that hasn’t stopped anger growing among residents in Sussex.

The process of fracking appears to be causing concern in those communities close to where operations have been planned,

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Vanessa Vine, who started Facebook group No Fracking in Sussex, said: “If we don’t collectively learn from the irreversible havoc that hydraulic fracturing has already wrought elsewhere, then this suicidal, ecocidal insanity is heading for everybody’s doorstep.

“By Cuadrilla’s own admission, its technology has caused earthquakes in Lancashire.”

The growing anger in Sussex comes as Cuadrilla Resources has applied for more time to drill on its site at Grange Road, Singleton.

The company has applied to Lancashire County Council for permission to remain on the site until July 2013, an additional 18 months.

A Cuadrilla spokesman said the application had been made because of the delays caused by the suspension of the fracking process.

The spokesman said: “Normally you would drill and then a few months later you do your fracking and then you leave. Obviously we had the slight interregnum around the fracking process.”

Consultation on the plans ends next week.

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