Theses are the stories which made the headlines across the Fylde in May 2001

Here are some of the stories from May 2001
The Ivy Tree, FleetwoodThe Ivy Tree, Fleetwood
The Ivy Tree, Fleetwood

Historic building was crumbling eyesore

One of Fleetwood’s most historic buildings was at the centre of fresh legal moves.

The building, once the home of Decimus Burton, the famous Victorian architect who was hired to design the town and port of Fleetwood, was branded an eyesore by neighbours. The old house, which stood at the corner of Dock Street and Warren Street, had a chequered history.

Alleygates, like these, were to be installed on Grange ParkAlleygates, like these, were to be installed on Grange Park
Alleygates, like these, were to be installed on Grange Park
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By the early 1990s, the ground floor had become the Ivy Tree Cafe while the upstairs rooms had been converted into flats. But when cracks appeared in the walls of the 150-year-old property, Wyre Council officials ruled it was dangerous.

Tenants were asked to move out and scaffolding was erected. It later became a crumbling eyesore.

People who lived in the Pennine View apartments on the opposite corner - another listed building which was once the Crown Hotel - believed action needed to be taken.

Mrs Ethel Race said: “We have been forced to get used to the view. Now someone has dumped loads of rubbish inside the hoardings round the scaffolding. It looks worse than ever.”

Freckleton Memorial PlaygroundFreckleton Memorial Playground
Freckleton Memorial Playground
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Alleygate scheme launched to ease anti-social behaviour on Grange Park estate

Grange Park residents were to benefit from a scheme to block alleyways off from drug dealers, burglars and vandals.

The plan - known as alleygating - involved putting locked gates at each end of the alley and issuing all residents with a key.

Simon Charnock, from the Grange Park Home Safe Scheme, said the gates were designed to cut out drug dealing and vandalism in the alleys.

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The back streets are also used as “rat runs” by burglars and other criminals, and the high gates would even stop dogs getting into people’s rubbish bags.

Simon said: “All the big cities have set up alleygating schemes and it has worked in a lot of places. It will never work 100 per cent, but it has generally been a success.

“The residents here are all behind it and we are all confident that it is going to work.”

The first alleygates were due to be installed at the rear of Overdale Grove and Cockerham Walk.

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Park ward councillor Brian Doherty, a resident on Overdale Grove, said he was all in favour of the scheme.

He said: “It has worked very well in Liverpool and cut down on crime there.

“If it works as well here so much the better.

“It should stop people using the back alleys as a way of entering other people’s houses.”

The Home Safe Scheme also launched a free gardening service for the elderly.

Park sabotaged with broken glass bottles

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Police were hunting a gang of vandals who used broken glass to sabotage a children’s play area in Freckleton.

Upturned bottles were hidden in the playground by the wreckers who then smashed the tops to leave jagged glass poking out.

Police believe that drunken youths were responsible for the attack at the Memorial Park on Naze Lane - dedicated to the memory of the children who died in the 1944 Freckleton air disaster.

Sgt Sue Bushell, of Kirkham police, said: “We think it was done by juveniles who had been drinking.

“They ripped down fencing and turned plant pots over, but what they did with the bottles is most disturbing.

“This could have caused some very nasty injuries to young children.”

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