North west news update 8 Jan 2024: New housing estate approved in spite of road fears

Digital reporter Sian Jones with today's top north west news headlines and weather

Transcript

00:00 Hello, my name is Sian Jones and these are the latest headlines from our newsrooms across

00:04 the North West.

00:05 More than a dozen homes are set to be built in Chorley on land no longer needed by a local

00:11 sports club.

00:12 Chorley Council's Planning Committee gave the green light to a proposal to create up

00:17 to 16 properties on a plot next to Chorley Rugby Union Club in Newxton.

00:22 However, the decision was opposed by a third of the councillors sitting on the committee

00:28 who raised concerns over the loss of sporting space and also road safety issues, with one

00:34 member branding the access to the proposed estate an accident waiting to happen.

00:40 Tubic and Skills have been recognised for their work in reducing traffic, creating safer

00:45 and healthier environments for their pupils.

00:47 St John's Primary in Aberynt and St Mary's Primary in Plackbridge have both been awarded

00:53 Very Good, formerly known as Silver, in the Mode Shift Stars scheme.

00:57 This national scheme helps schools to create travel plans, encouraging their pupils to

01:02 arrive by foot, bike or scooter.

01:06 In other news, British Transport Police at Lancaster received a request from police in

01:09 another country to try and locate a wanted man.

01:13 The man had failed to appear in court in Nottingham for a case of threatening behaviour.

01:18 The 55-year-old man was traced to an addressing marker and police arrested him there.

01:26 Councillors are calling for Blackpool Pleasure Beach to go back to the old days when families

01:29 could walk freely around the park without paying an entry fee.

01:33 Current prices start at £27 for a junior and £31 for an adult, with many Blackpool

01:39 residents remembering the days when they could visit the park and pay per ride before introducing

01:44 an entry fee in 2009.

01:48 And finally, police are asking for the public's help after three robberies near to Burnley

01:52 General Hospital in December.

01:55 All three robberies were carried out by an offender riding a bicycle.

01:59 First happened on Ivan Street on December 3rd when a man wearing a dark puffer-style

02:04 jacket grabbed a bag off a woman in her 30s.

02:07 He ran from the scene on foot.

02:10 The weather now.

02:11 A generally dry day, feeling colder in parts with highs of 4 degrees.