Darwen car parks have reopened after floods

The majority of Darwen town centre car parks have now been re-opened following the recent floods.

Knott Street and Atlas Street are the only ones to remain closed because further investigation needs to be carried out into the culvert.

Councillor Dave Harling, Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “We have worked hard to get the town centre back to normal as soon as possible following the floods.

“We tried to keep as many open as possible. We carried out urgent inspections to check they were safe so they could be reopened. We hope the extension to free parking also helps traders and shoppers in the town.”

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has also temporarily agreed to extend on-street parking and parking on the market roof top from one hour to three hours.

Restriction around disabled parking and those on yellow lines still apply.

Council advice as more flooding alerts are announced across Lancashire

Blackburn with Darwen Council is taking action to mitigate against any further floods later this week.

The Environment Agency has issued an Amber Alert from Thursday evening through to Saturday and is warning about the risk of localised flooding because of surface water and high river levels.

The Leader of the Council Kate Hollern says the Council is doing all it can to prepare and mitigate against any possible flooding later this week.

“Whilst we cannot prevent flooding, we are doing all we can to help residents and businesses in case of heavy rain again. We are giving out hundreds of sandbags to those in the worst affected areas and are carrying out inspections across the borough so that gullies, drains and man holes are clear. The ground is still saturated following the recent heavy rain so it is important we make sure that we are preparing as much as we can.”

The Environment Agency has issued an Amber Alert from Thursday evening through to Saturday and is warning about the risk of localised flooding because of surface water, high river levels and water running off the Moors.

The Council has:

• We distributed more 1,800 sandbags to known flood risk areas during the recent heavy rain
• We are again issuing sandbags to those areas which have been effected by the recent flooding including A666 Bolton Road in Darwen, Duckworth Street, Bowling Green Close, Junction Street and Grimshaw Street.
• We are currently inspecting and cleaning where necessary all gullies, drains and man holes across the borough
• We know the sources of much of the recent flooding and have been checking culverts are free from debris

The Council is also asking motorists to drive carefully on water logged roads. Further flooding was caused during the recent heavy rain by cars driving too fast and causing the water to rise over sand bags.

The Council will keep residents updated using its website and our BWD Winter facebook page. The footpath around the lake at Ashton Park has already been closed because of a potentially dangerous wall.

If residents are concerned flooding, they are being advised to move valuables, food and electrical to higher levels.

The Council is working with the Environment Agency who has a statutory duty to warn and prepare people for flooding. Please sign up the Environment Agency’s Flooding hotline if you are concerned – 0845 988 1188 or Typetalk 0845 602 6340.  

If you think your property is at serious risk of flooding, please call the Council’s hotline on (01254) 585921.

Advice to residents:

Check your insurance cover

• Check your buildings and contents insurance policy. Confirm you are covered for flooding. Find out if the policy replaces new for old, and if it has a limit on repairs.

Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water mains supplies

• Ask your supplier how to do this. Mark taps or switches with stickers to help you remember.

Prepare a flood kit of essential items

• Copies of your home insurance documents. A torch with spare batteries.
• A wind-up or battery radio. Warm, waterproof clothing and blankets.
• Warm, waterproof clothing and blankets. A first aid kit and prescription medication. Bottled water and non-perishable foods.
• Baby food and baby care items. Keep your flood kit handy.

Start preparing today before a flood happens

Know who to contact and how

• Agree where you will go and how to contact each other. Keep a list with all your important contacts to hand.

Think about what you can move now

• Don't wait for a flood. Move items of personal value such as photo albums, family videos and treasured mementos to a safe place.

Think about what you would want to move to safety during a flood

• Outdoor pets; cars; furniture; electrical equipment.

Blackburn with Darwen residents star in new NHS YouTube video

Blackburn with Darwen residents are the stars of a new YouTube video telling people about changes to the NHS and what it means for local health services.


They helped to script and film the video, ‘Your NHS – in your words’, to try to explain the complex changes that are happening as a result of government reforms – and tell people about the opportunities to get involved.


The changes are happening nationally and the video describes the three new organisations or groups that have been set up in Blackburn with Darwen as a result:

• The new GP led Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which will be responsible for planning and buying health services and will take over from the Care Trust Plus from April 2013. Local residents will sit on the CCG Board.
• The Blackburn with Darwen Health and Wellbeing Board, where GPs, the Council and community will work together on health issues. Local residents will be involved and there will be a public questions session at the start of every meeting
• The creation of local Healthwatch, an independent consumer group where people can find out about health and social care services. Residents can join Healthwatch if they want to influence services.

The video can be viewed on the CCG’s newly launched website at www.bwdgpnet.org.uk. The website also includes information about the CCG and its members, links to practice websites and patient groups, as well as details of local health events and ways people can have their say about local health services. The CCG is also on Twitter - @BwDCCG  - and wants to hear from residents about their experiences of local health services.


The film features Brian Willliamson, a Blackburn resident, alongside the canal. Paula Blackburn was filmed talking about NHS changes at Shadsworth Leisure Centre. Zarka Khan and her son Hamza appear at Seventrees Children’s Centre and Rufus and Poppy Aindow were filmed in Belmont skate park. Pupils at St Francis Primary School also feature in the podcast.


Chair of the CCG, Dr Chris Clayton, said: “We spoke to local people and found out that although many had heard about NHS changes in the media, they didn’t know what this would mean for local services.


“We asked them to help us make a film so that they could describe the changes in their own words and also reassure people that they will still be able to visit their pharmacy, GP or hospital when they need to.


“We want to make sure local people are at the heart of everything we do because they use the services and are the real experts -  and this film is just the beginning.”

Marley Revisited, Darwen - 30th June

Re-live the legendary venue with original dj's Claudio Bellusci and Dale Jones 30th June The Belgrave Live Music Cafe Bar, Darwen


Special drinks offers on the night:-

Jager/Vodka/Glitter/Cherry/Skittle bombs - £3 each or 2 for £5
5 bottles of Bud/Becks/Corona/Resolution/Holsten Pils/Sol for only £12
2 bottles of Koppaberg/Magners/Crabbies for only £7

Car Boot Sale, Darwen THIS SUNDAY!

Blackburn with Darwen gets ready for a right royal knees up

Blackburn with Darwen Council is urging people to get their street party applications in by the end of the week to be in time to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.


Residents have until Friday, May 25 to submit an application to close a road. The Council will waive any road closure fees on non classified roads.


Over the Jubilee weekend the borough is expected to come alive with street parties and events celebrating the Queen’s 60th year on the throne.


Only eight road closures have so far been put in place as the majority of party organisers are holding events at community venues or on open spaces.  


It is expected scores of street parties will take place with over 60 people attending the free street party workshops that were run by the Council, giving people guidance on anything from marketing to working with partners.
And funding for Jubilee events under the Council's Your Call scheme, which saw volunteers given grants for street parties were given to 26 community groups.


They include the Friends of Darwen Cemetery, the Residents of Sunnyhurst Association and the Cleaner, Greener Griffin Group.


Events taking place over the weekend include music and fairground rides in the town centre on Saturday, June 2, organised by the Royal Society of St George supported by the Council.


There will also be in Blackburn Market, a tea towel/bunting making workshop from midday until 3.30pm.
On Sunday, Blackburn will take part in the BIG Lunch, an annual celebration, which now in its fourth year is aimed at bringing communities together.


This year the event will be supported by the Council and Blackburn Cathedral and will have a Jubilee theme.
It will see the Cathedral grounds decorated with bunting, arts workshops taking place and a commemorative tree planting by the Royal Society of St George. 


In addition, town hall square will reflect the celebrations as the town hall is to be lit in the colours of the British flag over the weekend and the floral planting planned for the square will have a Jubilee theme. 
Executive member for Leisure and Culture, Councillor Damian Talbot, said: "We want as many people as possible to get involved with the Jubilee and are doing everything we can to support the events that are taking place as well as holding some of our own.


"It's a fantastic opportunity to encourage community spirit by people coming together meeting neighbours they've not met before or finding out about community groups they could join and of course enjoy a day to remember."


For more information visit www.blackburn.gov.uk/diamondjubilee

View Old Maps Of Darwen Online

If you've ever wondered what Darwen looked like in the 1800's etc you should check out Old Maps Online where you can browse maps of Darwen an d surrounding areas over the last millennium!

As you explore different areas of the UK different map results corresponding to the area you're hovering over will appear making the site very easy to use. Interesting to view old maps of Darwen online.

Online Storage by Google Drive

Looking for somewhere to store your files online? Perhaps you've heard of services like Dropbox before?

Well the good news (especially for people who like Google "products") is that they now offer 5GB of free space to store your precious files online.

Maybe you already use Google Docs for composing and storing word processor documents etc but with Google Drive's new tools you'll be able to store a range of different files online.

Why not give it a try? Google Drive