Retail blow for Botany Bay

	Nov 11, 2020

	Good afternoon Today the news desk has been busy covering fires with reports including this bedroom blaze in Preston overnight. For all breaking news please keep an eye on our live blog today, it is continually updated. Since we last spoke the biggest story to break has been the announcement that ambitious plans to build a retail centre at Botany Bay rivalling the hugely successful Bicester Village have been shelved - with Covid blamed. This is a huge blow for the Chorley area and Lancashire as a whole and controversial because planning permissions for a huge homes development sat side by side with it. New plans have been mooted for an industrial/office development with no retail element and will go to public consultation. Meanwhile, it looks like Lancashire's courts are struggling massively with a huge 140,000 case backload. Our courts and crime reporter Stef Hall has been looking at the issue in depth, finding victims of crime are waiting up to three years to see justice done. Police have been tackling knife crime with Operation Sceptre and they have also revealed Preston's most anti-social areas. I hope you are all coping with this second phase of lockdown - it's tough on us all. Feel free to email me and let me know how you are getting on - my email is [email protected] As always, thanks for your support and if you would like to subscribe to the website and help support local journalism (this also gives you access to online puzzles and critically is ad-lite) then please click HERE. Enjoy your Wednesday, KInd regards and stay safe, Nicola Here are some more of today's top stories ...


	Group fined £1,000 after 'partying all night' at Lancaster home despite lockdown

	Five people have been fined £200 each police responded to reports of a house party in Lancaster.

Lancashire university students 'set to return home after lockdown'

Plans to create a travel window for students to return home for Christmas are "riddled with holes", the Government has been told.

New financial help for Wyre businesses now on offer

Business in Wyre forced to close under coronavirus restrictions can now apply for help.

Lucky number for birthday girl Alisha is 11

Happy birthday to Alisha Eyre-Hoyle, who turns 11 today – the 11th day of the 11th month - which of course is also Armistice Day.

Boutique Lancaster agency’s Advent of Change Christmas designs help raise £75k for charity

Lancaster-based Utter Creatives landed their biggest success to date when they won the job of designing this year’s prestigious Advent of Change advent calendars and their range of Christmas fundraising merchandise.

This is every confirmed case of Covid in the North West on Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Another 2,796 people have tested positive in the North West, bringing the region's total number of cases to 249,719 as of Wednesday, November 11, 2020.

Five brides whose 2020 weddings were postponed say 'I do' to virtual wedding celebration at work

When five brides-to-be from a Lancashire law firm had to postpone their 2020 weddings due to the coronavirus pandemic, their employers decided to do something about it.

Modern and stunning stylish countryside home with contemporary interior design and masses of space up for sale

Homes don't get much better than this.

Former Preston North End defender released from hospital after being knocked unconscious

Former Preston North End defender Nicky Hunt has been released from hospital after suffering a head injury playing for Darlington on Tuesday night.

Midfielder Ryan Ledson targets an immediate upturn in Preston North End's form on home turf

Ryan Ledson has his focus locked on a big improvement in Preston’s home form after the international break.

Preston North End transfer target saw exit 'blocked', ex-Liverpool man tipped for second-tier move - Championship gossip

Preston North End's frustratingly inconsistent run of form continued last weekend, as the Lilywhites were defeated 2-1 by Rotherham United at the New York Stadium.

View more news