Some time ago, with the help of the "Parish Champion", the Catterall, Kirkland and Pilling Partnership purchased a number of Speed Identification Devices which they planned to use across the three Parishes. The scheme was unfortunately subject to delays beyond our control, but I am pleased to say that they will soon be in operation at various locations on Garstang Road and Cock Robin Lane. This will hopefully help to reduce the problem of speeding cars.

Finally, may I add my personal tribute to Councillor Neil Thompson who we lost just before Christmas. Neil was a great servant of this Parish over many years and will be sorely missed.

The known documented history of the Village of goes back nearly 1,000 years. It is first mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086. The Parish name is much older; literally the name means ‘Cats tail’ and derives from the old Scandinavian name Katter Hall. There is a place with the same name in Norway.

This part of Lancashire was heavily settled by the Vikings in the two hundred years or so before the Norman Conquest of 1066. A number of other names in the area show Scandinavian traces – Landskill, a minor name in Calder Vale, Barnacre, which means long sheiling or summer pasture. Just down the road from Catterall near Claughton Hall a Viking age burial was found in the nineteenth century. The finds included items such as a sword, axe, spear head, bronze caskets etc. These are in the Harris Museum, Preston. This is the only Viking burial site in Lancashire.

The Parish once covered a much larger area including parts of Barnacre and Calder Vale until 1877. The hamlet of Calder Vale developed from the mill founded in 1835 by Johnathon Jackson.

A hundred years ago in the early twentieth century the population if Catterall was 317. Catterall covers an area of approx. 1743.5 acres.

A roman road used to run through the middle of Catterall – North/South – the site to the East of Garstang Road.

Early name changes;

Catrehala – 1272

Kater Halle – 1277

Caterale – 1292

The area of Garstang South, which includes Catterall, has recently acquired a further Police Community Support Officer, bringing the total for the area to three. You may have seen PCSO Geoff Mole around the Parish over the past few weeks... The Parish Council welcomes this move to strengthen Community safety.

P C Simon Jones holds his PACT meetings on the first Monday of the month at Catterall Village Hall from 7.00 pm. Residents are encouraged to attend to report problems or concerns they have with in the Village.

At the end of July, staff, children and parents were sad to say goodbye to Auntie Brenda. She had been a part of our pre-school for many years, not just as supervisor but also as a committee member and parent.

In November we had our Ofsted inspection and were delighted with the outcome. We received an overall good, with 3 outstanding in ‘Helping children to be healthy’, ‘Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe’ and ‘Helping children to achieve well and enjoy what they do’.

A ‘Sure Start Grant’ from Lancashire County Council enabled us to have 3 children’s toilets and washbasins installed just off the main room. This means that the pre-school is now self-contained during session times. The grant has also covered the cost of 2 awnings and a new gate and fence, which gives the children free access to the outdoor area.

With the help of our County Councillor Val Wilson, we have received a Local Grant from Lancashire County Council for £293.69, which will be used to purchase a new carpet.

Cock Robin Pre-School currently have a waiting list for children who would like a place in September. For further information or to arrange a visit with your child,

Please ring Jill on 0771 389 3986

On Tuesday afternoons between 1.30 and 3.00 pm parents, carers and children are welcomed at the Under 5’s Group. They are able to share a range of toys and resources for the cost of £1.00 per child.

For further information please contact Elaine or Jill on 0771 389 3986

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The Councillors would like to hear residents’ views on the proposal to erect a temporary 60 metre mast to measure wind speeds at Dew Lay Cheesemakers.

Please contact one of the Councillors on the back page with your comments.

For any person in charge of a dog to allow the dog to foul the footway of any highway or any public place or a grass verge adjacent to the road.

To allow a dog to be on the road unless that dog is on a lead and under proper control.

To allow dogs to foul on the grounds of the local Playing Field and Play Areas.

For a dog to be in a public place and not wearing a collar and tag giving the name and address of the owner.

Please use the dog bins provided;

Catterall Playing Field, Village Hall car park, Stones Lane

Or TAKE IT HOME!!

Wyre Borough has taken a much stronger stance on this issue of late, with the issuing of fixed penalty notices. One persistent offender in Fleetwood was fined £1800!

Lancashire’s Road Safety Group is urging the county’s drivers and riders to raise

driving standards and take more care on the roads this year.

Neil Cunliffe, Road Safety Group manager, said: "Driving is an everyday activity for thousands of people and one which is far too often taken for granted. If people took more pride in their driving skills then our roads would be safer for everyone as poor driving affects more than just the individual."

The Road Safety Group offers a number of driver training programmes to assist motorists and motorcyclists develop their skills. We are urging all drivers to make a pledge to become a safer driver this year.

Social events approaching include the School Easter Egg bingo on the Friday 14th March, The Church Spring Fair at St Helen's School on the afternoon of Sat 15th March and the Easter Supper with band on Friday 28th March in the Parish Room. If you would like Easter to mean something a bit special this year why not just come along to one of our Catterall house groups, phone Cllr. Val Wilson 604035 for details and for info. on venues - brews and biscuits guaranteed even in Lent!

In the meantime please see the noticeboard for further details on any of the above and remember that an English Parish Church is there for the whole community, regardless of denominational affiliation - did you know that every Catterall resident has a legal right to Baptism, Marriage and even burial in the churchyard at St Helen's. Hope you have a good Easter, why not do the circular walk to the Parish Church over the holidays - perhaps taking in a stop at the Horns Inn or the Punchbowl for good measure!

The Reverend Andrew Wilkinson, Vicar for Catterall.

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The local branch of the charity Medicine & Chernobyl will once again be bringing a party of 15 young children to this area from Belarus for respite holidays. A total of eight children are actually staying with host families in the Parish during July.

For further details, or if you are interested in helping or becoming a host family, please call Val Wilson on 01995 604035.

The multi-use games area is now fully operational and appears to be getting a lot of use. This facility can be booked in advance for a small fee. For details please contact the Parish Clerk on 600689. Please use this facility and at the same time respect it.

A second CCTV camera is currently being installed in the Parish. Planning permission has been granted for a camera to be installed in the grounds of the Pickerings Hotel which will monitor the Cock Robin Lane and Garstang Road areas. We know that such a move meets with the approval of a majority of residents and hope that it will contribute to improved community safety. Grants towards this project have been received from the Wyre Community Safety group, Regenda and the Parish Champion, CC Albert Atkinson

The Precept is part of your Council Tax bill that all households receive and it comes directly to the Parish Council to spend within the Parish. This year shows an increase of £4,600 (22%) over last year. The Parish Council also receives income from contracts and funding is sought to assist with carrying out projects within Catterall

The itemised precept for the year 2008 - 2009 is;

The precept is the amount needed to carry out the specified work above.

Estimated Income £11,804.36

Estimated Payments £37,375.20

Band D payments will be about £33.82. (Increase of £6.08 that is 17 pence per week)

Catterall Parish Council has an office in the Village Hall, Garstang Road and this is open to residents, who are welcome to visit the Village Hall and look at planning applications in Catterall. You are equally welcome to raise any concerns or comments you have about the Village. The minutes of Parish Council meetings are also available for inspection.

1, Stone Cross Gardens, Catterall. PR3 1YQ Tel. 604035

51, Meadowcroft Avenue, Catterall. PR3 1ZH Tel. 602260

16, Duckworth Drive, Catterall. PR3 1YS Tel. 600663

‘Brighouse’, Stones Lane, Catterall. PR3 0HA Tel. 604415

‘Avonlea’, Garstang Road, Catterall. PR3 0HD Tel. 603741

30, Duckworth Drive, Catterall. PR3 1YS Tel. 604588

31, Boyes Avenue, Catterall. PR3 0HB Tel. 603763

18, Nightingale Way, Catterall. PR3 1TQ Tel. 600677

31, Boyes Avenue, Catterall. PR3 0HB Tel. 603763

1, Stone Cross Gardens, Catterall. PR3 1YQ Tel. 604035

C/o Constituency Office, Great Eccleston Village Centre,

59, High Street, Great Eccleston, PR3 0YB Tel: 01995 672977