Our West Lancashire

24/06/2026

Officers at Lancashire County Council seem intent on frustrating the scrutiny process on the proposed move of children's A&E from Ormskirk to Southport.

There are many unanswered questions, but Reform UK seem unwilling to call health chiefs before the Health Scrutiny Committee and put them on the spot.

OWL's Gordon Johnson made the case for this at County Hall on Monday, but as so often at Preston HQ our concerns here in West Lancashire were dismissed.

Why are our local Reform councillors not insisting the County Council Health Scrutiny Committee does the job it has in law when hospital changes are proposed?

24/06/2026

𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗿𝗲: 𝗯𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

We are expecting very high temperatures over the coming days and are working closely with our waste collection crews to minimise disruption to services.

Due to the extreme heat, crews will need to take more frequent breaks to stay safe and hydrated. This may result in delays to collections and in some cases bins may not be collected on their usual scheduled day.

Residents are being advised to:
• Continue to present their bins at their normal collection points
• 𝗧𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿
• To leave them out, where possible, if they have not been collected

Click here for further information on delays - https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/refuse-recycling.aspx

23/06/2026

𝗧𝗮𝘄𝗱 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗧𝗩𝗗) 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹'𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘀 £𝟮.𝟴𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸. 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲.

It has never paid a dividend to the Council in spite of repeated promises over the years to do so. It introduces a complex, opaque and expensive way of building council houses. The council built council properties in the past directly without this arrangement and could do so again.

We have now asked officers to launch an urgent review of the loan and are seeking repayment of some of it. A more fundamental review of TVD has also now been commenced. The days of overpromising are over.

19/06/2026

Traditional Summer Fair fun to enjoy this weekend in Newburgh with stalls, a dog show and lots of other attractions.
Get over to Mere Brow and enjoy the scarecrow festival too - lots of stalls and 25 scarecrows to find!
Want to learn more about our lovely town? Book the heritage walk online and meet in Coronation park bowling pavilion at 1pm - costs £10.
Have we missed your local event? Please tell us in the comments and have a wonderful weekend!

12/06/2026

What’s happening in West Lancashire this weekend?

🎾 Saturday 13th June sees Ormskirk Tennis Club’s Family Fun Day, featuring a family treasure hunt, bouncy castles, and plenty of tennis-themed games for all ages.

🎉 Also on Saturday, from 2pm–4pm, is Bickerstaffe School Treat Day. Dating back to 1877, this much-loved tradition begins with Morris dancing and Maypole dancing, followed by races for children of all ages.

🎵 If live music is more your thing, E-Rooms in Skelmersdale is hosting an Open Mic Night from 7pm–11pm. Bands are welcome to plug in and play, making for a fantastic evening of local live music.

🛍️ On Sunday 14th June, Ormskirk Artisan Market returns to the town centre, bringing together independent traders, artisan food producers, and a wonderful community atmosphere.

Have a great weekend, West Lancashire!

11/06/2026

£6 that could save your child's life.
17 people died in the late May heatwave through drowning. Equip your children to know what to do.
West Lancashire Borough Council is running dedicated Drowning Prevention classes, designed to teach essential water safety skills and help keep everyone safe around water this summer 🌊☀️
📍 Session Details:
✅ Sunday 14th June – Nye Bevan
✅ Saturday 20th June – Park Pool
⏰ 10:00am – 12:00pm (sessions every 30 minutes)
👦 Must be 8 years and over
These sessions are a great way to build confidence in the water, learn vital lifesaving skills, and understand how to stay safe whether you’re at the pool or the beach 💦
Spaces are limited, so be sure to book your place!
https://bookings.westlancsleisure.co.uk/stellar3/stellar3/ #/bookClass/select/-1/9

07/06/2026

Latest OWL e-newsletter out today. Subscribe here https://www.ourwestlancashire.com/get-involved/sender-dot-net-mailing-list/

05/06/2026

Well done Lancashire Trading Standards. If you have a concern about the legitimacy of any local business, contact your OWL county councillors Adrian Owens or Gordon Johnson and we will ensure a full investigation takes place.

A shop owner has been jailed after Trading Standards officers uncovered an illegal to***co and v**e operation in St Annes.

05/06/2026

What's On this weekend
Tonight (Friday) at The Civic in Ormskirk Britain's Got Talent star, Logan Paul Murphy plays The Beatles and Elton John. There's just a few tickets left available here https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/select/jxbwvgbdrqwd

Upholland Community Hub makers market takes place on Saturday 10am-1pm at St Thomas the Martyr Church in the village. Dog show starts at 12. Lots going on, free raffle entry, free kids max brick building activity, and the cafe will be open for breakfast butties and hot drinks. Free entry, all welcome.

Meanwhile in Hesketh Bank The Great Becconsall Bark Off takes place on Saturday 11.00 to 4.00pm. Book online at: https://buytickets.at/becconsall/2212699 or pay on arrival. Doggy competitions, have a go classes, Woodland Animal Sanctuary, Kissing Booth and stalls in the marquee.

Sunday sees Rufford Village Hall host the Rufford Antique; Vintage and Collectors Fair between 9am and 3pm.

02/06/2026

Last week, 15 year old Chiedza Nyanjowa, from Cheshire tragically died after getting into difficulties in the water at Formby beach.

When our pools were threatened with closure we highlighted the lifesaving role they play. So we are delighted that the Ormskirk and Skelmersdale pools have responded to residents who approached OWL and will take part in Drowning Prevention Week from 13-20 June. Watch out for further news from the council, but all swimming lessons during that week will incorporate dedicated water safety and life-saving awareness elements, ensuring that this important messaging reaches a wide range of participants.

In addition, the Council will be running bookable water safety-focused sessions for children at Park Pool on Saturday 20 June, alongside plans to introduce additional family-focused sessions to encourage wider participation and learning. It is hoped that these activities can also be held at Nye Bevan Leisure Centre.