Our West Lancashire

12/06/2026

What’s happening in West Lancashire this weekend?

🎾 Saturday 13th June sees Ormskirk Tennis Club’s Family Fun Day, featuring a family treasure hunt, bouncy castles, and plenty of tennis-themed games for all ages.

🎉 Also on Saturday, from 2pm–4pm, is Bickerstaffe School Treat Day. Dating back to 1877, this much-loved tradition begins with Morris dancing and Maypole dancing, followed by races for children of all ages.

🎵 If live music is more your thing, E-Rooms in Skelmersdale is hosting an Open Mic Night from 7pm–11pm. Bands are welcome to plug in and play, making for a fantastic evening of local live music.

🛍️ On Sunday 14th June, Ormskirk Artisan Market returns to the town centre, bringing together independent traders, artisan food producers, and a wonderful community atmosphere.

Have a great weekend, West Lancashire!

11/06/2026

£6 that could save your child's life.
17 people died in the late May heatwave through drowning. Equip your children to know what to do.
West Lancashire Borough Council is running dedicated Drowning Prevention classes, designed to teach essential water safety skills and help keep everyone safe around water this summer 🌊☀️
📍 Session Details:
✅ Sunday 14th June – Nye Bevan
✅ Saturday 20th June – Park Pool
⏰ 10:00am – 12:00pm (sessions every 30 minutes)
👦 Must be 8 years and over
These sessions are a great way to build confidence in the water, learn vital lifesaving skills, and understand how to stay safe whether you’re at the pool or the beach 💦
Spaces are limited, so be sure to book your place!
https://bookings.westlancsleisure.co.uk/stellar3/stellar3/ #/bookClass/select/-1/9

07/06/2026

Latest OWL e-newsletter out today. Subscribe here https://www.ourwestlancashire.com/get-involved/sender-dot-net-mailing-list/

05/06/2026

Well done Lancashire Trading Standards. If you have a concern about the legitimacy of any local business, contact your OWL county councillors Adrian Owens or Gordon Johnson and we will ensure a full investigation takes place.

A shop owner has been jailed after Trading Standards officers uncovered an illegal to***co and v**e operation in St Annes.

05/06/2026

What's On this weekend
Tonight (Friday) at The Civic in Ormskirk Britain's Got Talent star, Logan Paul Murphy plays The Beatles and Elton John. There's just a few tickets left available here https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/select/jxbwvgbdrqwd

Upholland Community Hub makers market takes place on Saturday 10am-1pm at St Thomas the Martyr Church in the village. Dog show starts at 12. Lots going on, free raffle entry, free kids max brick building activity, and the cafe will be open for breakfast butties and hot drinks. Free entry, all welcome.

Meanwhile in Hesketh Bank The Great Becconsall Bark Off takes place on Saturday 11.00 to 4.00pm. Book online at: https://buytickets.at/becconsall/2212699 or pay on arrival. Doggy competitions, have a go classes, Woodland Animal Sanctuary, Kissing Booth and stalls in the marquee.

Sunday sees Rufford Village Hall host the Rufford Antique; Vintage and Collectors Fair between 9am and 3pm.

02/06/2026

Last week, 15 year old Chiedza Nyanjowa, from Cheshire tragically died after getting into difficulties in the water at Formby beach.

When our pools were threatened with closure we highlighted the lifesaving role they play. So we are delighted that the Ormskirk and Skelmersdale pools have responded to residents who approached OWL and will take part in Drowning Prevention Week from 13-20 June. Watch out for further news from the council, but all swimming lessons during that week will incorporate dedicated water safety and life-saving awareness elements, ensuring that this important messaging reaches a wide range of participants.

In addition, the Council will be running bookable water safety-focused sessions for children at Park Pool on Saturday 20 June, alongside plans to introduce additional family-focused sessions to encourage wider participation and learning. It is hoped that these activities can also be held at Nye Bevan Leisure Centre.

29/05/2026

An interesting BBC article on one of West Lancashire's salad producers, Bryan's in Tarleton. We are the salad bowl of England, yet as a country we are only 65% self-sufficient in all food and 77% self-sufficient in the food we can produce domestically — excluding items like bananas, coffee, and tropical fruits that cannot be grown in the UK climate.

So why are Government forcing 3 and a half times as much housebuilding onto our fields as was the case 2 years ago while reducing housebuilding targets in Liverpool?

A farm sold over 300,000 bags and bowls of salad in a single day as hot weather drove demand.

29/05/2026

Another exciting weekend of activities in West Lancashire and nearby:
- Meet the Bees, Bugs and Butterlfies in Halsall
- Enjoy a traditional Steam Rally in Eccleston
- Pop over to Southport and visit the Model Engineering Club at Victoria Park, Rotten Row PR8 2DA for a whole day dedicated to diesel locomotives, with visiting locos to ride on - take a picnic and watch the trains go by!
- Enjoy the pop up art exhibition in Coronation Park on Saturday 30th May at the bandstand AND if you are a a local school, youth group or community organisation you can collect donated art materials to support creativity in our community.
- On Saturday 30th May from 12.30-2.30 Hope Street are offering activities for children aged 3+ to give parents a much needed break
- Pop into our beautiful Parish Church on Saturday and discover some fascinating history and interesting tales.

If you know of other activities taking place this weekend please post in the comments. Have a wonderful West Lancashire weekend!

22/05/2026

There’s plenty happening across West Lancashire this Bank Holiday weekend!

🎶 Skemfest takes place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May, hosted by Buffs Community Club and E-Rooms. Expect live music from talented local performers and entertainment for the whole family.

🛍️ On Sunday 24th May, the Ormskirk Artisan Market returns, bringing independent traders, artisan food, and family-friendly activities to the heart of Ormskirk town centre.

🏏 Burscough Cricket Club is hosting a Bank Holiday Festival from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th May, with an action-packed weekend of live cricket and entertainment.

🦆 If Hook-a-Duck is more your thing, the Saracens Head in Halsall is holding a Duck Race and Family Fun Day on Monday 25th May.

Wishing everyone a fantastic Bank Holiday weekend!

21/05/2026

Result!

The first full council meeting of the municipal year is done — and we’ve already delivered on some of our election pledges.

✅ Scrapping plans to move the council offices from Ormskirk to Skelmersdale.
This proposal, brought forward by the previous administration, would have meant borrowing £10 million to relocate council facilities despite the council itself ceasing to exist in just two years’ time.

✅ Removing Lead Member roles from the committee structure.
Replacing these positions with committee chairpersons will save around £20,000 from the Members’ Allowance budget.

✅ Introduction of public question time at full council.

Some have already labelled yesterday evening’s events as an “OWL coalition with the Conservatives”. That is simply not the case.

OWL and the Conservatives have agreed a council structure and a set of core policies to ensure the effective running of the council over the next two years. The majority of the policies agreed are existing OWL policies, and on all other matters we remain free to vote in the way we believe best reflects the views of our residents 🦉