A Fleetwood councillor has proposed new plans to prevent fly-tipping in Fleetwood streets.

Fly-tippers left piles of rubbish, garden waste and even old mattresses in alleyways behind Park Road, Addison Road and Wyre Street this week, much to the horror of nearby residents.

Town councillor Rita Hewitt said: “The rubbish in that area is unbelievable and I think the only way we can stop it is to put gates up at the end of the alleyway to stop people driving through and fly-tipping. Rubbish is a big problem in Fleetwood and it’s getting out of control.

“It is especially bad behind Wyre Street, where there is empty land covered in rubbish, mattresses and all sorts.”

She added that she hopes to successfully campaign for Wyre Council to install gates at the entrance of the alleyways behind Park Road, Addison Street and Wyre Street to stop fly-tippers gaining access to the dumping hotspots.

She said: “The council can pick up the rubbish, but removing it doesn’t fix the problem in the long-term.

“That’s why it’s important that we have some gates put up as soon as possible in the area.”

Wyre Council said there have been 826 cases of fly-tipping across the borough between April and September this year, down from 943 on the same period last year. A council spokesman said: “We are aware of the problems in these locations and our area officer has been talking to local residents about how to tackle it. Rubbish is often left by people living nearby or is a result of bins not being managed properly, which means alley gates would not solve the problem. If anyone does see somebody dumping rubbish, we encourage them to report it so our local area teams can investigate quickly.”

See wyre.gov.uk/householdwaste

A car smashed into the front of two homes in Fleetwood.

The incident happened at around 2.15pm yesterday in Belmont Avenue.

A silver-grey Audi A3 collided with the front doors of two terraced houses causing significant damage to the building and vehicle.

Both front doors were caved in and brickwork between the two houses was smashed.

The front of the Audi also sustained significant damage and at least one person was seen running from the crashed car.

Fire crews and police attended the scene.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service sent two fire appliances from Fleetwood to the scene.

Crews assisted in removing the car from the property and members of the urban search and rescue team made the building safe.

Lancashire Police said a quantity of what is suspected to be cannabis had been found inside the crashed car.

A 37-year-old man from Fleetwood was arrested on Clifton Road at around 3.10pm on suspicion of possession of a class B drug.

Ah, 2016, you still have a month and half to go and already you have proved yourself a tricky,memorable , cruel companion.

If you were a film, you would be a blockbusting tear-jerker of an epic with teasing, rare, highs and record lows.

You were not simply content with a methodical killing -off of of those public figures held dear - starting strongly in January with David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Victoria Wood,

Other much-loved national heroes have fallen victim to the curse of this traumatic year.

Terry Wogan. Paul Daniels. Mohammed Ali. Prince. Ronnie Corbett. Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden) and Kenny Baker.

The list goes on and on.

2016 teased us briefly with a few Olympic and Paralympic highs and Wimbledon victory.

But eradicating a generation’s role models and heroes was not enough.

The rocky road to Brexit was loaded with explosive moments, entertaining in its incoherence and baffling in its results, the real fallout of which we have yet to experience as we embrace our island mentality and put up the barriers to all comers.

Segueing beautifully into Brexit, which saw the nation split in half about our future role in Europe, panic briefly ensued as news of a supermarket war with suppliers saw a brief run of the nation’s most loved or hated kitchen cupboard spread - Marmite.

Panic buying saw shelves emptied as an already Brexit-battered public took to the ground with their quintesentially British toast toppings.

Meanwhile around the world new cases of Ebola emerged and a number of terrorist attacks, including the bombing of Istanbul airport, saw lives lost needlessly.

But 2016 was - is - far from done.

Here in Britain we have been watching with a sense of impending inevitability as the US election came to a close.

Much as the Brexit result shocked the establishment, so did the emergence of Trump, as president.

Where the US shook its head as we made a collective decision to leave the European Union, we shook ours as they elected a man with little or no political experience and shaky opinion of women, minorities and immigrants to run, arguably, the most powerful country in the world.

Frankly, after all we’ve put up with from you 2016, we seriously need inspiration.

Which is when we need our talented idols of screen, music and comedy idol to give us hope, sing us through the bad times and entertain us happy again.

Shame they’re all dead.

A motorist has been taken to hospital with suspected chest injuries following a crash on a major Fylde coast route.

The incident happened on the Fleetwood-bound carriageway of Amounderness Way at just before 1pm on Friday.

Two cars were involved, one was reported to have spun around in the road close to the Morrisons supermarket.

A black Citroen C1 and a red Citroen DS3 were involved in the collision.

The driver of one of the vehicles complained of chest pains and was taken by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Lancashire Police said one of the cars had sustained ‘significant damage’ in the crash.

A power station which will step in to keep the lights on at times of high demand has been approved.

The new gas powered plant will be constructed at the Hillhouse site in Thornton.

But strict conditions have been attached by Wyre Council, which says the station can only operate for a total of 1,500 hours every year.

The power generation facility will be built on former industrial land on the former ICI site in Thornton.

It will supply the national grid at times when additional energy generation is required to match need, generating up to 20megawatts to supply the local area at peak times.

There were objections to the proposal from residents living close to the Hillhouse site, some of whom were concerned by the additional noise and pollution which would result from the plant.

Making her decision, planning officer Mandy Ramsden accepted there would be peaks in nitrogen oxide output from the plant when it was online but there would be no overall annual change to air pollution levels. She also set strict target for noise which must not exceed current background levels.

Approving the scheme she said: “The amenity of nearby residential property has bee taken in to account and relevant conditions in respect of noise and air quality would be imposed.”

The STOR power plant is expected to be operations for between one and seven hours a day.

It would be surrounded by a 2.4m high metal fence for security reasons.

Traffic is building up on the M55 after a wheelbarrow fell off a flatbed truck and hit the central reservation, police said.

Two lanes were closed after the collision, which is said to have happened westbound, close to junction three for Kirkham, shortly after 8am.

It came amid heavy rain, with one motorist tweeting: “I can categorically tell you it’s horsing it out of the sky just now.

“The M6 and M55 are rivers.”

All lanes are now reopen.

Let’s show the world what it means to be a Lancastrian!

That’s the call today from tourism chiefs as they launch a social media campaign to help raise awareness of Lancashire Day which takes place each year on November 27.

Social media users are asked to illustrate their love of Lancashire landscape, food and culture with photography tweeted on Twitter using #LancashireDay or posting on Visit Lancashire Facebook or Instagram pages.

The campaign runs until November 30, with Lancastrians all over the world encouraged to share their favourite images of Lancashire.

On the day itself, Sunday November 27, Lancastrians out and about enjoying the county, posting their images, may also win spot prizes.

Last year a similar campaign reached over 40 million people in 816 locations worldwide with #LancashireDay trending on Twitter by 9am.

Anna Izza, Head of PR and Communications at Marketing Lancashire, said: “Lancashire Day gives us the opportunity to share these and bring friends and relations, in countries across the globe, a little bit closer to home.”

Town centre parking is always a hot topic.

With out-of-town shopping centres always ram packed, many shoppers cite free parking as one of the major factors as to why they go there and avoid town centres.

If you go to the big cities like Manchester, parking charges have rocketed in recent years, with many traders blaming the cost of parking for driving customers away.

Blackpool Council has joined forces with Blackpool BID (business improvement district) to launch two special deals to lure shoppers to the resort.

The park for a pound scheme includes four town centre car parks – West Street, Central, Talbot multi-storey and East Topping Street for Thursday late night shopping on December 1, 8, 15 and 22 between 5pm and midnight, and all day Sunday November 27 and December 4, 11 and 18.

While it was welcomed, many posters thought it should have been free.

Here are your comments:

If locals shopped in town and supported small shops like mine then there would be more of them. You can’t expect shops if you won’t support them. Also there is all day parking for £3.95 by the Regent, or £5 on Adelaide Street, which is cheaper than using the bus.

Gill Payne

Free, or cheaper than current, car parking charges might encourage us to shop in Blackpool instead of travelling further afield.

North Shore Geezer

This is great news! Preston have really messed up their pedestrianisation of Fishergate, parking is a nightmare. Time for Blackpool to capitalise on that!

Steven Garner

Maybe we should all try and support jobs on the Fylde by carrying out our Christmas shopping here rather than Preston and further afield. The alternative is that we could maybe not support any type of Fylde Coast business.

Wrighty

Make it free like most other places do at Christmas

Simon Hayes

Well done, anything that helps local shops has to be welcomed

Chick McDonald

Well I did a craft fair at the Winter Gardens two weeks ago and it cost me £12 to park my car. For the day. I’m a local and I don’t go to Blackpool because of this
Linda Deacon

How about you do it all year round..after all it is the locals that keep you in jobs out of season by shopping in the stores

Michelle Burton

Why can’t it be cheap parking for residents in Blackpool anyway, even during the season? It is cheaper most of the time for us to shop out of Blackpool

Colin Wadsworth

Postage cheaper than the parking so why go to the shops? Shop online. Started doing my weekly shop online. No petrol and not putting loads of tempting things in my basket. I avoid Blackpool as much as I can.

Gemma Holden

You need to get into town first and it’s much easier heading in the opposite direction. The council (not individual parties as they’re all to blame) have made a mess of the road network in this town.

OldBlokeUK

You are really spoiling us Blackpool Council.

Darren Dale

As a visitor to Blackpool every year I find that £12 a day to park is a rip off during the holiday season.Visitors bring in a lot of money to the shops, clubs and restaurants so a fairer charge should be made all year round.

Lorraine McLeod

Free in Bolton for Christmas, but a pound is better .

Vera Yorke

Parking should be free! We pay for cars/insurance/road tax and then spend to keep these shops in business, we live in an era where we just get robbed on a daily basis in my opinion.

Bryan Hall

The Government has set out its preferred route for the northern section of HS2.

Phase 2 of the high speed rail project will see the line run from Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds.

The plan does not include a new station in Sheffield, after proposals to run trains to the Meadowhall shopping centre were shelved.

Ministers have suggested that HS2 should serve the existing Sheffield city centre station, but critics have warned this would mean a new housing estate in nearby Mexborough would face demolition.

The Government has claimed that passengers travelling on the East Coast and West Coast main lines will benefit from more services and extra seats once HS2 is up and running although the current estimate for completion of all of phase 2 is not until 2033.

Phase 1 of the £55.7 billion HS2 railway is due to open in December 2026 and will see trains travel at high speed between London and Birmingham before running on from Birmingham on the existing West Coast Main Line.

A second Y-shaped phase will open in two stages. Phase 2a from the West Midlands to Crewe will launch in 2027 and phase 2b, from Crewe to Manchester and from the West Midlands to Leeds, South Yorkshire and the East Midlands, will open in 2033.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Our railways owe much to the Victorian engineers who pioneered them, but we cannot rest on their legacy when we face overcrowding and capacity problems.

"HS2 is an ambitious and exciting project and the Government is seizing the opportunity it offers to build a transport network fit for the 21st century, one that works for all and makes clear to the world that Britain remains open for business.

"The full HS2 route will be a game-changer for the country that will slash journey times and perhaps most importantly give rail passengers on the existing network thousands of extra seats every day. They represent the greatest upgrade to our railway in living memory.

"But while it will bring significant benefits, I recognise the difficulties faced by communities along the route. They will be treated with fairness, compassion and respect and, as with Phase 1, we intend to introduce further compensation which goes over and above what is required by law."

Former Chancellor George Osborne said he "strongly" welcomed the Government's "renewed commitment" to the second phase of HS2.

He added: "Now let's commit to HS3, the high-speed rail link across the Pennines, so we have a coherent plan to speed journeys across the North.

"We need certainty about the route and effective compensation to help communities directly affected by HS2, including those in my Cheshire constituency.

"Hinkley, Heathrow and HS2/HS3 are the three projects we spent years laying the groundwork for. Time for talking over; now time for delivery."

Bosses at Marks and Spencer have moved to deny media speculation about which of the high street giant’s store are earmarked for closure.

They confirmed today that 60 stores would be affected in a huge five-year shake-up designed to cut costs and boost profits but added that more food only stores would be opened.

Thirty will close while another 30 could see changes such as a cut back on clothing to concentrate on food.

But bosses refused to confirm or deny that a list of stores likely to be targeted, which includes the stores in Blackpool and Preston, published by retail analysts was correct.

The list from the Local Data Company pinpoints stores which it believes are vulnerable, either by being in a poor trading area or where there are more than one M&S open.

It’s blog also says that the company may look to move off the high streets and concentrate on out of town shopping centres in what would be a major blow to traditional town centre by losing a legendary British name which acts as an anchor for other shops by attracting shoppers.

The list also includes stores in Blackburn, Bolton, Barrow, Liverpool, Manchester, Warrington and Carlisle.

Blackpool’s store, on Victoria Street, is said by LDC to be vulnerable because it is one of the towns where the high street has suffered “serious decline.”

Today an M&S spokesman said they were disappointed with the media speculation adding: “I can confirm that we will close 30 stores. 60 is the number affected but with that we will be closing 30 stores and there are locations where we will have stores that we will convert to a food store.

“45 will be converted or downsized to Simply Food stores. The list that has appeared is pure speculation. It is not based on any M&S data and we have not published any locations.”

Matthew Hopkinson, director of the Local Data Company, said in a blog :“There are 35 towns and cities that have more than two M&S stores. If one removes the large urban centres such as London, there are 22 towns where one might question the need for two stores.”

Asda has announced it is capping its petrol prices at 110.7p per litre, with diesel at 112.7p from Tuesday.

These cuts were swiftly followed by its ‘big four’ rivals - Tesco cutting petrol and diesel prices by up to 3p per litre on Monday afternoon, and Morrisons and Sainsbury's making similar announcements.

The cost of fuel had already fallen slightly last week, bringing to a halt the recent steep rises. Before the supermarket announcements, Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures showed that unleaded petrol stood at 116.5 pence per litre - 0.1 pence per litre more than the previous week - with the cost of diesel similarly having dropped - by 0.1 pence per litre to 118.9 pence per litre.

Alzheimer's and dementia are now the biggest killer in England and Wales with more than 1,100 people dying from the disease each week, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics revealed people losing their lives to dementia and Alzheimer's now account for 11.6 per cent of all deaths.

This is more than double the figure from five years ago thanks to longer life spans and better detection and diagnosis.

The many forms of cancer are still the largest collective killer, accounting for 529,655 or 27.9 per cent of deaths registered in England and Wales in 2015.

However, dementia and Alzheimer's are the biggest individual killer, accounting for 61,686 deaths in 2015, and overtaking Ischaemic heart diseases for the first time.

Women are more likely to die from Alzheimer's than men, with the disease accounting for 15.2 per cent of female deaths, up from 13.4 per cent in 2014. For men, the figure is 11.6 per cent.

Ischaemic heart diseases is the second most common cause of death, followed by cerebrovascular diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases and lung cancer.

For women over 80, dementia and Alzheimer's accounted for 21.2 per cent of deaths.

Alzheimer's develops slowly over several years, according to Alzheimer's Research UK, and typically starts with memory loss before getting worse over time. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for two-thirds of cases in older people.

There have been similar increases in the number of deaths from dementia and Alzheimer disease reported in other countries including Finland, Northern Ireland and Australia.

Elizabeth McLaren, head of Life Event Statistics at the ONS, said: "In 2015, dementia and Alzheimer's disease became the leading cause of death in part because people are simply living longer but also because of improved detection and diagnosis.

"An updating of the international rules for determining the underlying cause of death is also a factor, with the increase in cases attributed to these conditions accompanied by falls in other causes."

Organisations yesterday (Mon) called for further research into Alzheimer's and dementia after figures revealed the disease is now the biggest killer of people in England and Wales.

More than 60,000 people lost their lives to the cruel disease last year, with the condition now accounting for 11.6 per cent of all deaths.

Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer's Research UK, wants investment in treatment and prevention programmes to stop or slow the diseases which drive the condition.

She said: "These figures once again call attention to the uncomfortable reality that currently, no-one survives a diagnosis of dementia.

"Alzheimer's Research UK's Christmas awareness campaign, launching on Wednesday, recognises this truth, that dementia is affecting increasing numbers of people and turning lives upside down.

"Some of the increase can be explained by a rise in diagnosis rates and a change in the way dementia is recorded on death certificates, offering a more accurate picture of the impact of dementia.

"With growing numbers of people living with dementia, we urgently need treatments that can stop or slow the diseases that drive this devastating condition.

"Today's report shows the potential for medical research and public policy to make a positive impact on the health of our nation.

"Thanks to better treatments and prevention programmes, deaths from many other serious conditions have been steadily dropping: now we must do the same for dementia.

"Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing, it's caused by diseases that can be fought through research, and we must bring all our efforts to bear on what is now our greatest medical challenge."

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court from November 15.

Ashley Robinson, 19, drunk and disorderly, failing to answer bail

A drunken teenager lost everything after he was arrested for being drunk and bounding around in the middle of the road.

Ashley Robinson was kicked out by his parents, ditched by his girlfriend and lost his job.

Robinson, 19, of Kent Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and failing to answer bail.

He was fined £40 and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police patrolling Market Street on September 4 at 12.40am saw Foster shouting at two women.

When he was asked to calm down his behaviour became more erratic. He walked into the middle of the road, bounced up and down and kept hitting his chest.

He shouted at another woman then tried to run from a police officer, but tripped and fell to the ground.

Michael Woosnam, defending, said his client had no recollection of what took place that night. The consequences of the night were he lost his home, his girlfriend and his supervisor’s job. Robinson said since then he had not drunk alcohol.

The day he was due to come to court he did arrive at the courthouse but got so worried about the outcome of his case as he waited that he left.

John Williams, 55, breach of a restraining order

A man became unwell at court and was not able to attend a hearing about his case.

John Williamson, 55, of Armitstead Court, Fleetwood, is charged with breaching a restraining order by texting and calling a woman he was banned from contacting.

He is also accused of breaching a conditional discharge imposed for an offence of threatening behaviour.

Williamson was bailed by Blackpool magistrates.

Kevin Marshall, 43, assault

Tension between a couple caused by the wife being the breadwinner exploded in front of their four children.

A blazing row started between househusband Kevin Marshall and his wife after he took £60 from their joint account.

His wife was pushed against the wall and he then spat in her face.

Marshall, 43, of Southdown Drive, Thornton, pleaded guilty to assault.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with 100 hours unpaid work for the community and ordered to pay £100 cost with £85 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Adrian Hollamby, said the couple, who had been married for 11 years, argued over Marshall taking money from their account on October 26 about 6pm.

He went through the front door then barged back through it and his wife was pushed again the wall. He then spat in her face in front of all the children who were watching and screaming and crying.

Steven Townley, defending, told magistrates: “Over the years she has been the breadwinner and he has not worked, but looked after the children.

“He says this caused friction as he had to account for every penny he spent and was constantly reminded by her that she earned the money.”

The day of the offence he needed £60 to pay a speeding ticket but he was embarrassed to tell his wife what it was for.

Elizabeth Jowitt, 27, assault

A carer accused of punching a man she was looking after three times in the face has made her first court appearance.

Elizabeth Jowitt, 27, of Boothroyden, North Shore, pleaded not guilty to assault.

The prosecution opposed an application for bail for Jowitt made by defence lawyer Brett Chappell.

Jowitt was bailed until January 20 for trial by Blackpool Magistrates.

She must live at her address and not contact the complainant or enter Blackpool’s Milbourne Street.

Patrick Swayze, 54, assault

A man call Patrick Swayze who is accused of assaulting his estranged wife failed to attend court.

Swayze, 54, of Gorton Street, Blackpool is alleged to have committed the offence on September 6.

Defence lawyer Howard Green said it believed Swayze had moved from Gorton Street and may not have received notification of the hearing.

Blackpool Magistrates issued a warrant with bail for Swayze.

Tracey Simmonds, 42, drunk and disorderly, resisting arrest

A woman has pleaded guilty to driving an Audi A6 on the resort’s Travelodge car park without insurance.

Tracey Simmonds , 42, of Boscombe Road, South Shore, also admitted breaching a conditional discharge for being drunk and disorderly and resisting arrest.

She denied failing to provide a specimen for alcohol testing and her case was adjourned for trial by Blackpool Magistrates.

Helen Orme, 36, criminal damage

A woman accused of causing £3,000 of damage to a former partner’s Audi A5 car has made her first appearance at court.

Helen Orme, 36, of Browning Avenue, Lytham, is alleged to have caused £2,762 of damage to the vehicle on August 30. She was bailed by Blackpool Magistrates.

Mark Kirton, 32, harassment

A man accused of stalking a woman by sending her 52 Instagram messages and posting a letter at her home has appeared atc ourt.

Mark Kirton, 32, of Whitley Avenue, Blackpool, pleaded not guilty to harassment between October 4 and 20 this year.

He was bailed until January 6 by Blackpool Magistrates.

Kirton must contact the complainant or enter Albany or Highfield Road as conditions of his bail.

Shane Finn, 30, possession of cannabis

A man was stopped twice in two day by police who when they searched his car found small amount of cannabis inside the vehicle.

Shane Finn, of Gordon Road. Fleetwood admitted two offences of possessing cannabis when he appeared before Blackpool Magistrates.

he also admitted a bail offence and giving a false name to an officer when he was stopped.

Finn, 30, who does pub work, was given an eight week curfew and ordered to pay £170 costs.

Howard Green, defending, said Finn was a casual user of cannabis and his life style had settled down after he met his current partner.

One of the highlights of Blackpool’s entertainment calendar has edged ever closer with the arrival of the BBC at the Tower Ballroom.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to the Tower on Saturday night, for what is usually one of the most anticipated episodes of the series.

The BBC crew arrived in the town at around 8.30am yesterday, with a truck full of television equipment, ready to set the ballroom up for Saturday’s live show.

For Kenny Mew, who took over as general manager at Blackpool Tower in the summer, this year’s show has an extra personal significance.

He said: “I’ve had the privilege of working every Strictly live performance at the Tower, I’ve been here 20 years.

“But now to head the team, it’s a really proud moment for me. I’m really excited.

“The BBC know exactly what they’re doing, they’re going to come and deliver an amazing show and for me to be responsible for that, it’s going to be a proud moment.”

But he knows the annual arrival of the Strictly stars brings a welcome boost for the wider resort too.

He added: “In terms of exposure, 13m people are going to see the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Saturday evening, sat in their front room. It’s the best advert for Blackpool and the Tower. It’s massive.

“People come all times in the year and want to see the Ballroom. People who wouldn’t usually if it wasn’t for Strictly, people want to see it and want to come to the resort. It shows the whole country what Blackpool has to offer.”

One celebrity who won’t be performing at the Tower is Daisy Lowe.

The model was voted off after her salsa to Deee-Lite’s Groove is in the Heart failed to impress the judges.

She said: “I would be lying if I didn’t say I was really disappointed. I was nervous, but we loved the dance and that’s all that matters.”

Strictly Come Dancing returns at 6.55pm on Saturday.

Two men employed by Fleetwood Town are alleged to have invented “ghost” supporters to carry out a fraud.

The charges relate to the period between July 1, 2015, and March 2016 at the League One club.

David Holloway was an operations manager at the club and David Hart worked in the ticket office.

Holloway, 30,of Rossall Grange Lane,Fleetwood and Hart, 49, of Eamont Place, Fleetwood, are charged with fraud on Fleetwood FC by making out false ticket refunds to fans who did not exist.

Blackpool Magistrates heard that both men no longer work for Fleetwood FC.

Holloway is alleged to have carried out illegal transactions amounting £4,696 the figure facing Hart is £3,857.

Both men were sent for trial at Preston Crown Court where they will appear on December 14. They were both bailed.

Lancashire’s subsidised bus services could be thrown a 12-month lifeline, despite the county council’s need to cut public spending.

County Coun John Fillis, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, is considering extending the council’s tendered public bus service contracts for a further 12 months – until March 31, 2018.

The council says this is “to allow more time to explore and evaluate potential alternative public transport solutions.”

The move would end uncertainty for residents across Lancashire about the future of many local bus services – at least for the next financial year

A new Assessment and Priority Policy for Public Transport is also being drawn up to guide future decisions.

A county council legal notice advises this will be used “to aid decision making on any future support and implementation of public transport in Lancashire.”

A decision is expected on December 8.

Coun Fillis said: “The county council is currently facing an unprecedented financial challenge which means that within a couple of years it is unclear how we will fund even statutory services, so we are having to take increasingly difficult decisions. However, I am aware of the importance of public transport, so I have asked officers to produce a revised Assessment and Priority Policy for Public Transport which should help the council to take a wider range of factors into account when making decisions about which services to support.”

He continued: “I have also asked officers to continue looking at alternative ways of delivering public transport in the county and I will consider whether to extend funding for the existing LCC tendered bus service for a further 12 months to allow that to happen.”

Having physiotherapy for an ankle sprain is a waste of time - and no better than managing the injury at home, say scientists.

A study found almost half of patients had not achieved an 'excellent recovery' six months later.

The ankle is held together by bands of elastic fibres called ligaments and a sprain occurs when one or more of these ligaments are stretched beyond their normal range.

In a severe sprain the fibres tear.

Most sprains are mild or moderate and the common injury leads to a high number of A&E visits with the pain lingering for up to seven years.

But clinical standards for the treatments are not well defined and there is a lack of high quality evidence on role of physiotherapy

So in the largest study of its kind researchers lookled at 503 patients aged 16 to 79 who were taken to two hospitals in Kingston, Canada, between 2009 and 2013.

Results showed 43 percent (90/208) of participants in a physiotherapy group and 38% (75/195) in a control group had not reached 'excellent recovery' by six months.

They were randomly assigned to the control group where they received only usual care whereas the others also got up to seven 30 minute sessions of physio.

Dr Brenda Brouwer, of Queen's University in Kingston, said: "While there was not a clinically important effect with the standardised physiotherapy regimen provided to our participants, there is potential for the investigation of alternative interventions that would reduce morbidity in patients with these injuries."

Usual care consisted of medical assessment and a one page written summary of instruction for basic management of the injury at home.

Recommendations focused on ankle protection, rest, ice, application of compression bandage, elevation, use of painkillers, graduated weight bearing activities and information about expected recovery.

Participants were required to complete a questionnaire assessing recovery at one, three and six months.

Questions focused on pain, symptoms, function in activities of daily living, function in sport and recreation, and quality of life.

Dr Chris Bleakley, of Ulster University, reviewed the study for The BMJ and said the randomised controlled study is "an important addition to the evidence base."

He also calls for patients, practitioners and researchers to consider other rehabilitative exercises that can influence treatment success.

Clinical benefit of rehabilitative exercises might depend on the nature, intensity, and duration of treatment, he says.

The maximum of seven lots of 30 minutes of supervised physiotherapy in the latest study might be a "lower dose" when compared to other studies.

He also says there's an "urgent need to diversify the exercise content of treatments beyond the ankle," such as the knee, hip, and in the torso, which can be implicated in long term problems.

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court from November 16.

David Holloway, 30, and David Hart, 49, fraud

Two men employed by Fleetwood Town are alleged to have invented “ghost” supporters to carry out a fraud.

The charges relate to the period between July 1, 2015, and March 2016 at the League One club.

David Holloway was an operations manager at the club and David Hart worked in the ticket office.

Holloway, 30, of Rossall Grange Lane, Fleetwood and Hart, 49, of Eamont Place, Fleetwood, are charged with fraud on Fleetwood FC by making out false ticket refunds to fans who did not exist.

Blackpool Magistrates heard that both men no longer work for Fleetwood FC.

Holloway is alleged to have carried out illegal transactions amounting £4,696 the figure facing Hart is £3,857.

Both men were sent for trial at Preston Crown Court where they will appear on December 14. They were both bailed.

James Edward Rogerson, 26, causing death by driving without due care and attention

A man is to face a trial at Preston Crown Court over the death of a pensioner.

James Edward Rogerson is accused of causing the death of pedestrian Roy Leadbetter by driving without due care and attention.

The 26-year-old, of Game Farm, Station Road, Singleton, is alleged to have struck the 60-year-old decorator on March 18 on Garstang Road East, Poulton, while he was driving a Nissan Navarra car.

Mr Leadbetter, from Fleetwood, died from serious head injuries in the Royal Preston Hospital the day following the incident. Rogerson entered a not guilty plea to the charge in an appearance before Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

He is next expected to appear before Preston Crown Court on December 7 for a case management hearing after the bench committed the case to the higher court.

He was given unconditional bail.

Robert Whyte, 43, possession of indecent images of children

A father-of-one has been sent for Crown Court trial accused of four offences of the illegal possession of indecent images of children – some of it at the highest level.

Blackpool Magistrates sent Robert Whyte, 43, for trial at the higher court. He was bailed.

Whyte is accused of downloading photos and video clips between 2014 and 2016 in Blackpool. He is now living at The Square, Whittingham near Preston.

Martin Basnett, 55, assault

A 55-year-old Blackpool man has denied assaulting his partner.

Martin Basnett is charged with assaulting her at their home on Central Drive,Blackpool.

Basnett was bailed on condition he does not contact his alleged victim.

Blackpool Magistrates ruled that Basnett’s trial will take place on January 17.

Jack Staff. 21, assault

A man acting as a knight in shining armour to his girlfriend ended up punching a shopworker in the face.

Jack Staff went to escort his partner from work after she complained another worker had made unwanted advances towards her.

Staff, 21, of Branstree Road, Mereside, pleaded guilty to assault.

He was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 compensation with £85 costs plus £20 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said the victim said he had previously been in a relationship with Staff’s girlfriend.

Staff had gone into Sainsburys, Talbot Road, where the victim worked and after words were exchanged between them he was escorted out by security officers and told not to return.

On September 26 at 6pm the victim saw Staff in the shop and told him to leave. Staff said: “Who is going to make me” before punching the victim twice in the face cutting his lip.

Joseph Brogden, 30, drunk and disorderly

A man shouted at two officers that he hated the police and then called them pigs.

Joseph Brogden, 30, of Withnell Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly.

He was fined £40 and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said a police sergeant and constable were patrolling the resort’s Market Street on October 30, when Brogden started yelling insults at them.

He was told to calm down and go away but carried on shouting. He resisted when he was arrested. At the time of the offence he was on licence from prison.

Tony O’Donogue, 30, drug possession

A father-of-three was found unconscious in his ca with a bag of 112 Diazepam tablets.

O’Donoghue, 30, a waste management worker, of Hamlet Road, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to illegal drug possession.

He was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs with £20 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates who ordered the destruction of the drugs.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said police were called to Broadway, Fleetwood, on September 6 at 11.45pm, where a member of the public said O’Donoghue was collapsed in a car. Police found the drugs, which were worth £112, in a bag in the car.

Gerry Coyle, defending, said over summer his client had become hooked on crack cocaine. This wrecked his long term relationship with his partner, the mother of his three children. They had broken up and he had gone to live with his father.

Linda Spruce, 63, drink-driving

A care worker had drunk a bottle of wine before she crashed her car into a parked vehicle.

Linda Spruce was almost three times over the limit after the accident and a member of the public confiscated her keys.

Spruce, 63, of Marlborough Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was sentenced to a 12 months community order with an eight weeks curfew from 9pm to 6am, banned from the road for 24 months and ordered to pay £85 costs plus £85 victims surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Presiding magistrate, Ann Digman, told her: “This was a very serious misjudgement on your part.”

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said, police dealing with an incident on Bloomfield Road on October 29 at 9.20pm were approached by a member of the public who said a Toyota had collided with a parked car further up the road.

A breath test showed 92 micrograms of alcohol in Spruce’s body – 35 is the limit.

The northbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am on Sunday (20 November) and again on Friday 2 December. The southbound carriageway will be closed overnight on Monday (21 November) and again on Saturday 3 December. Diversions will operate via the M55 at Broughton and A6.

The bridge which carries the M6 over Westfield Brook, between junction 32 of the motorway at Broughton and junction 33 at Galgate, is being repaired in a £50,000, 2 week project.

MORE TOP STORIES:
Life terms for drug dealers who murdered 'innocent' boy, 16, on canal towpath
Police watchdog seeks to have own report on Taser death overturned
Man facing murder charge after shooting

"The work includes improving the bridge deck waterproofing and other measures to extend the life of this important structure. Work has been planned to minimise disruption to drivers’ journeys.

"Full closures of both the northbound and southbound carriageways between junction 32 and junction 33 will take place between 8pm and 6am on nights at the start and end of the scheme as traffic management is installed and removed.

"The northbound carriageway will be closed overnight on Sunday (20 November) and again on Friday 2 December. The southbound carriageway will be closed overnight on Monday (21 November) and again on Saturday 3 December. Diversions will operate via the M55 at Broughton and A6.

"Lane 3 closures along both northbound and southbound carriageways will be needed at times."

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000 for further information.

The Winter Garden’s musical production of Great Expectations has been cancelled – less than four weeks before the show was due to open.

The stage adaptation of the Dickens classic had been due to run for four weeks over the Christmas period but has now been axed at short notice due to worse than expected ticket sales.

The venue has promised to refund anyone who had bought tickets to see resort favourite Maureen Nolan and pop singer Adam Rickitt star as Miss Havisham and Pip, respectively.

Producer Peter Frosdick said: “It is with a heavy heart that we’ve made the decision to cancel this year’s planned production of Great Expectations.

“Unfortunately ticket sales have not been as I had anticipated they would be.

“I have worked with the Winter Gardens on a number of shows and look forward to doing so again in the future.”

Winter Gardens managing director Michael Williams added: “We are disappointed Great Expectations will not now run at Blackpool this December but that decision has had to be made.

“Peter Frosdick has put on some fantastic shows in Blackpool but it would appear that despite everyone’s best endeavours we have no option but to cancel the show.

“All patrons will receive a full refund and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“2016 has been a phenomenal year for the venue with a wide array of fantastic shows on offer for everyone and we look forward to welcoming many thousands of people to all our shows and events in 2017.”

Ticket holders seeking refunds should contact the seller for information.