Ex-Forces staff to help revive area
EX-SERVICES personnel are volunteering in an exciting environmental project to upgrade Abbey Lakes in Up Holland.
West Lancashire Borough Council’s parks and countryside ranger service is working in partnership with the veterans charity EDs Place to provide the scheme.
Volunteers will undertake a programme of practical works with the rangers to improve the Abbey Lakes site.
Volunteers will be clearing existing paths and building new ones, repairing fishing platforms, tree management, drainage works and de-silting streams.
They also plan to assess the quality and quantity of fish in the lake with the help of the Environment Agency, with the aim of establishing a fishing club for the volunteers.
The scheme started at the beginning of this month and is to be operated over the next three months.
If successful, this could become an ongoing project.
The project started after EDs Place, a community-based organisation which provides help and support to ex-Forces personnel, approached the authority to see if some its volunteers could get involved with the lake.
Some of the ex-services personnel are interested in fishing and were aware of the lake.
Cllr Yvonne Gagen, West Lancashire Borough Council portfolio holder for leisure, said: “We are always looking for volunteers from the local community to get involved with our parks and countryside sites.
“This is a great scheme and the rangers are looking forward to working with the volunteers on this exciting new chapter for Abbey Lakes.”
Cllr Terry Devine, West Lancashire Borough Council’s Armed Forces champion, said: “The exservices personnel who are volunteering on this scheme will benefit by learning new skills, and getting involved in a community based project and Abbey Lakes will benefit from their valuable contribution.”
EDs, based in Wigan, provides ex-Forces personnel and their families with accommodation and compassionate and transitional support as they integrate back into civilian life.
Jason Lloyd, the founder of EDs said: “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with West Lancashire Council to bring Abbey Lakes back to life, for the benefit of our community.
“Our heroes deserve our support and we wish to celebrate their achievements.
“Projects like this really do benefit all concerned.” WEST Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper is urging all A-level students in West Lancashire to take part in the Political Studies Association (PSA)’s Schools’ Video Competition, now in its seventh year.
A highlight in the PSA’s calendar of activities to engage young people in the study of politics, the annual film competition, sponsored by YouGov, is open to post-16 students studying during the academic year 2017-18.
Ms Cooper said: “We cannot undervalue the importance of engaging young people in politics.
“I’d encourage all West Lancashire A-level students to take part in this competition and submit their ideas and videos and wish them well in their endeavours.”
This year’s competition asks students to explore the question: “Fake News: Is this the end of facts?”
Groups of students are invited to submit short videos on this subject, examining what “fake” news is, what effect it may be having on the political landscape and what it means for expert opinion and “factual” knowledge.
The CEO of the Political Studies Association, Phil Sooben, said: “The high levels of political engagement displayed by young people during this year’s snap election demonstrates an increased interest in and awareness of current political issues.
“This year’s PSA student video competition on ‘fake news’ is a unique opportunity for A-level students to add their voice to an important discussion.”
Shortlisted groups will be invited to Speaker’s House in the Palace of Westminster to discuss the ideas raised in their video with a panel of politicians, journalists and academics.
Previous jurors include Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Victoria Derbyshire.
The winners of the Schools’ Short Video Competition will receive their award at the PSA’s Annual Awards Ceremony in Westminster on Dec 5.
Full competition details and how to enter are published on the PSA’s website at www.psa.ac.uk