After a difficult year last year, people were hoping that 2021 would look a bit different but sadly, a lockdown and restrictions have meant it has looked very similar. But what have been some of the biggest stories for East Lancashire this year? Abigail Beaney looks back at another rollercoaster year...
JANUARY
Burnley College tutor died from coronavirus aged 42
A ‘BEAUTIFUL, kind and caring’ woman who devoted her life to others died at the age of 42 after contracting coronavirus.
Donna Coleman, who was a tutor and programme leader at Burnley College, was diagnosed with Covid-19 just before Christmas 2020.
The much-loved sister, daughter and friend appeared to be recovering from the virus before she took a bad turn and was rushed into Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Barnoldswick pub hit the market with new agents appointed
NEW agents were appointed to sell a portfolio of pubs across Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Owners of the properties Authentic Alehouses went bust in March of 2019 and at the time had seven venues located along the M62.
There were five left to shift - including the Fountain Inn in Barnoldswick - specialist business property advisors, Christie & Co were re-instructed to market the portfolio of businesses on behalf of joint administrators, Simon Bonney and Michael Kiely of Quantuma.
Issa brothers revealed huge expansion plan for Stanley House hotel
THE LEISURE firm owned by billionaire brothers from Blackburn revealed plans for a ‘once in a generation’ transformation of the flagship hotel and spa.
Monte Leisure said they would set out to create 70 more bedrooms at Stanley House in Mellor, expand its spa and leisure facilities and build a banqueting hall for weddings and other events with outdoor gardens.
The planning application also included an extension to the hotel entrance and restaurant and expansion of the car park to 400 spaces.
FEBRUARY
Go Fund Me page for Darwen 90-year-old on Evicted! Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords
A GO Fund Me page was set up for a 90-year-old to help clear his debts after his son duped him into being his guarantor.
The 90-year-old from Darwen appeared on Channel 5’s Evicted! Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords where it appeared his son asked him to be his guarantor on a property, who then refused to pay rent.
This left Alan in huge arrears as he struggled on his pension to pay back the money.
Villagers took over landmark East Lancashire pub
VILLAGERS clubbed together to buy their local pub which was under threat of closure.
A local consortium bought the Barley Mow, Barley, in the shadow of Pendle Hill, which closed in June 2020 after the previous owners, The Seafood Pub Company, went into administration.
It was acquired from the administrators by Barley residents who said they would operate the pub through their company PTL Property Limited.
Ex-Mayor apologised after being fined £200 for breaching covid rules
THE EX-MAYOR of Blackburn with Darwen had to apologise after it was revealed he was handed a £200 fine for breaching Covid restrictions.
Iftakhar Hussain was the Mayor when he said he attended an address for as short period of time on February 13 and had only gone ‘to open the door to the house so some food could be delivered’.
Police handed fines to nine people, amid claims a ‘wedding’ was taking place. Iftakhar Hussain thanked police for their diligence and accepted his mistake in attending.
MARCH
Confusion after man set up living space, complete with weights machine and hearse, under M65 bridge
PEOPLE were left puzzled after a mystery man set up a motorhome under a bridge, and made himself comfortable by moving several fixtures and fittings - including a weights machine and a funeral hearse - onto the site.
The man, who people believed had previously been living on a piece of land in Lower Darwen, was residing in his motorhome under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services for several months, according to residents.
Dog rescue bought 46-acre site to rehabilitate dogs to find their forever home
A DOG RESCUE bought a 46 acre farm to become a rehabilitation site for foreign street dogs.
Dogs 4 Rescue, which is based in Salford, purchased Clough Bottom Farm near Accrington to rehabilitate the stray dogs to help them find their forever home.
Director Emma Billington of the not-for-profit company has said that their site in Salford will be used as a re-homing site while the Accrington farm will be used to home up to 80 dogs while they are cared for and rehabilitated to prepare them for adoption.
Deal struck for six Seafood Pub Company venues
A DEAL to purchase six pubs previously operated by the Seafood Pub Company was agreed.
The Alma Inn in Laneshawbridge, the Derby Arms in Longridge, the Farmers Arms in Great Eccleston, the Fenwick Arms in Claughton, the Forest Inn in Fence and the Fleece Inn in Addingham were all bought by The Oakman Group.
The Seafood Pub Company’s remaining two Lancashire venues, the Assheton Arms in Downham and the Oyster and Otter in Blackburn were not part of the deal.
APRIL
Burnley actor 'over the moon' at landing Emmerdale role
AN ASPIRING actor landed himself a role on a popular TV soap.
Josh Moodie, from Burnley, appeared in two episodes of Emmerdale.
The young actor, 20, played a cheeky teenager called Davy in the first big role he had been cast in.
Peaky Blinders filming scenes in Rossendale
FILMING for hit gangster TV series the Peaky Blinders got underway in East Lancashire.
Film crews set-up camp close to the Lee Quarry in Rossendale with rumours rife that members of notorious Shelby clan would be filming in the county.
Cillian Murphy, who plays the show’s main character Thomas Shelby, was pictured in Bolton as filming for the eagerly anticipated series six continued.
THE WIFE of Zuber Issa gave a rare interview and spoke about the first time she met her husband and how the EG Group owners began their journey.
The rags to riches story of brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa from Blackburn featured on BBC Radio 4’s 'Profile' series.
The brothers became national news after buying the supermarket giant, Asda in 2020.
They added the fast-food chain, Leon, to their portfolio.
MAY
Asda customer says 'contaminated' fuel cost him thousands in garage bills
AN ASDA customer claims that contaminated fuel bought from the supermarket has cost him and another motorist thousands of pounds each.
Chris Pilkington says that the fuel, bought from the Accrington branch in Hyndburn Road, damaged both of their vehicles and has cost them dearly in garage bills.
However, the supermarket chain say they investigated Mr Pilkington’s complaints and that they have received no other the complaints about contaminations from other customers who were served with the same fuel.
Illegal lockdown wedding at restaurant had 65 guests and 10 staff present
POLICE found a wedding reception with more than 60 guests in full swing at a restaurant in February.
The event, on February 21, when all indoor mixing between different households was prohibited, took place at the Hot Chilli restaurant, Dunscar Business Park, Egerton.
Bolton Council published police reports into the incident which showed officers who attended had to call in reinforcements to issue penalty notices to 37 adults.
Blackburn mum-of-six was 'forced to live upstairs in rat-filled home'
A MUM of six spoke of how her family has not been able to use the downstairs of their house for six months due to it being uninhabitable.
The woman, who wanted to be known by her first name Lubna, lives on Hardman Street, Blackburn, in rented accommodation with her children aged from six to 16, and moved in in 2013.
Since then, she says, she has made numerous complaints to her landlord, and pest control had been out several times to deal with rats.
JUNE
Butlers Arms Pleasington closed as staff were 'at breaking point'
A PUB owner said his staff hit breaking point after being shouted at by impatient customers, forcing him to shut for two weeks.
A number of workers at The Butlers Arms in Pleasington were told to self-isolate and the small staff team who continued to work were shouted at by customers about the speed of service.
Owner Michael Hales made the decision to close for his staff's wellbeing after seeing them struggling to deal with a small number of difficult customers.
Angry Blackburn residents' anger after funfair set up outside homes
CONCERNED residents were left demanding answers from the council after a funfair popped up right outside their homes.
The funfair by Cowies started on the evening of June 24 in Manxman Road, Blackburn, and many who live on the road are angry that homeowners were not consulted.
Cowies told the residents that they had already received permission from Blackburn with Darwen council to hold the fair.
Iconic East Lancashire pub taken over by familiar face – who vowed to make it best in country
A MICHELIN-starred chef vowed to make an East Lancashire pub the best in the country – 17 years after he first opened the doors to the business.
Nigel Haworth first took-over The Three Fishes in Mitton in 2004, transforming it over the course of a decade from a derelict shell into one of the UK’s most iconic pubs – winning multiple awards for its food and service.
Come back tomorrow for the top stories in East Lancashire from July to December.
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