The issue with the proposed 80 bedroom old people's home for mental and dementia problems is not whether it be a hotel or the aforesaid, it is the problem with traffic already at saturation level.
A building of this size will dominate a largely residential area and dwarf nearby homes in the village and the 24/7 noise pollution, lights, coming and goings in a residential area on two lanes (not roads) in and out.
We have been informed that the owner of this firm from Yorkshire has purchased this land and has never even been to even look at the site or attended any meetings within the village of Eccleston to see what a disruption this would cause.
I do know for a fact that residential homes in the area are still under-subscribed and others have closed down. I do feel that people out of our area will be coming to this home and causing even more traffic problems at the weekends.
The entrance out of Lawrence Lane is a hazard now, so this will only make it worse and if people use the other lane, Parr Lane, it is already a single track due to the high number of residents and cars.
Let's remember there are only 16 allocated car parking spaces to this proposed 80 bedroom home.
If this project was passed, it would be opening up a quiet residential cul-de-sac where children play out safely at the moment and the frontage of this home will be directly facing all these homes.
Why this has been put facing this way is very odd, as the main gates and entrance to the old hall have always been from Lawrence Lane and using this original entrance would only have another old and unused building and a business shop front facing it with no residential houses affected.
Let's remember that part of this site is meant to be a designated play area for the children of Eccleston village.
This money-making, cram them all in approach must not be allowed from a business firm not even in our county.
I believe this building would affect the whole village of Eccleston which due to the increase of traffic is already comparable to a small town. This is yet another green area in our village to be built on, with again no thought or consideration for the people of Eccleston village.
Hazel Burgess
The Croft
Eccleston

Turned
full circle?
As a recently retired NHS employee of more than 30 years' service, I wish to give the following details.
In 1974 a new authority was set up to provide the health care systems for the whole of Lancashire after county re-organisation. This was called Lancashire Health Authority and was based at the old Park Hotel, Westcliffe, Preston.
This authority was then divided into geographical areas, and Chorley came under Preston Health Authority.
Just before the 1983 General Election, and thanks to the late Ian Sellers and others, Chorley and South Ribble split off to form Chorley Health Authority and remained like that until the mid-1990's when it became Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust (still combining both the primary care establishment and Chorley Hospital).
In 2001 primary care was granted trust status in its own right, and Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital became an acute trust, combining with the Royal Preston Hospital to form the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust, which in April this year was granted Foundation status.
Now it appears that the 'wheel having gone full circle' has come back to a possibility of combining all PCTs to provide one PCT for Lancashire. In other words, Lancashire Health Authority to Lancashire PCT (Health Authority) in 31 years.
Paul Helm
Address supplied

Support the
Appeal
I am writing to you as Chorley's first citizen to request support from the general public for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
The Royal British Legion will always be there not only to help servicemen affected by the world wars and conflicts over the years but also those injured or traumatised in more recent operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia or Iraq and to support their families during the difficult transition back to civilian life.
The Poppy Appeal is the primary source of funds to maintain the legion's welfare and benevolent schemes and is helping more than 300,000 members of the ex-service community each year.
Many of those who traditionally volunteer their services to the British Legion Poppy Appeal are themselves becoming elderly and many more volunteers are needed each year to replace those too old to continue.
Anyone over 16 years of age can help, they only need to ring freephone 0800 085 5924. This would be the most positive way of saying 'thank you' to those who, 60 years ago, helped to win the freedom we now enjoy.
Last year the Poppy Appeal received generous support from the public raising £23,529,386 which was a record collection. This was due largely to the invaluable effort provided by the many thousands of volunteers and the generous support of the local community. I would like once again to ask for their continued support for this year's appeal.
Coun Mrs Marie Gray
Mayor of Chorley

n As Mayor of South Ribble, I urge everyone to give generously to this year's Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Not only do they continue to help those affected by World Wars, but those injured or traumatised in more recent operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Iraq.
Many of those who traditionally volunteer their services are themselves becoming elderly and I know that the Legion are desperately in need of volunteers. If you can help in this way, please call them on 0800 085 5924.
I am sure they would delighted to hear from you.
I hope you will join me in wearing your poppy with pride.
Coun Mrs Dorothy Foster,
Mayor of South Ribble

Cruelty goes
on for sheep
The trade in live sheep exports, which has been dormant for the last nine months has resumed again through the Port of Dover.
Investigations into live animal transport on the continent have revealed consistent breaking of the rules on journey times, frequent failure to provide water as required and often slaughter performed illegally, without stunning, at journey's end.
During transportation large numbers of animals are crammed into overcrowded vehicles and often receive no proper food, water or rest during their long journeys.
These animals can become increasingly exhausted, dehydrated and stressed, and many are trampled to death by their companions.
It is widely accepted that animals should be slaughtered as near as possible to the farm of rearing. I believe there is also no good reason to transport animals on long journeys simply for further fattening.
Long distance transport not only inflicts serious welfare problems on animals, but also risks spreading infectious diseases such as foot-and-mouth and classical swine fever over long distances.
It you are concerned with the suffering of these farm animals, further information can be found on Compassion in World Farming's (CIWF) website www.ciwf.org.uk.
CIWF totally condemns the live export trade and advocates a trade in meat to avoid unnecessary suffering. For further information about this please contact 01730 264208 or e-mail compassion@ciwf.co.uk
R Hammonds
Millfield Road
Chorley


Knit while at
the office
Make a Difference Day, the biggest single day of volunteering in the UK, is taking place this year on Saturday October 29.
Chorley & South Ribble Council for Voluntary Service will be opening its Chorley office at Astley Hall Farmhouse on Hall Gate, Astley Village, between 11am and 3pm for people to come and find out all about volunteering in the area.
For those people who would like to get involved in something there and then, we will be knitting premature baby coats.
Volunteers can either take away a pattern and return the completed garment at a later date, or knit a few rows while at the office and a member of staff will complete the garment.
Volunteers can also come along to the Leyland Office at 78 Towngate on Thursday, October 27, between 9.30am and noon if that is more convenient.
Gael Finch
Volunteer Recruitment Worker
Chorley & South Ribble CVS
01257 263254

I signed the
petition
There is concern by the market toilet attendants and others, rightly I think, over the reduction in staffing when the toilets reopen after alteration.
The attendants in their job have to show a certain sensitivity, care, proficiency etc and they have the right to proper working conditions.
They have sensibly organised a petition, suggested initially, I understand, by some members of the public. I too have signed it, over the council policy.
Officials, presumably to make savings, have decided that at any one time only one attendant shall be on duty to attend both male and female toilets.
The workload however, would apparently be too much for one, plus importantly it is morally wrong, in the interests of public decency, for a female, possibly a young lady, to enter the male 'sanctuary'.
You also get difficult types there at times, drunks, hooligans, vandals, the violent and the drugged. It would be ludicrous, irresponsible etc to expect a lone female to deal with those.
Vincent Bell
Bolton Road
Chorley