Credit Union opens in Bo’ness

A NEW branch of the district’s credit union has opened in Bo’ness.

Savers and those looking for affordable loans can access the service from an office in the One Stop Shop in East Pier Street every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon.

Bo’ness Labour Councillor Adrian Mahoney – who attended this week’s launch – said he was very supportive of the project.

"This new service allows people to access good quality financial services, in particular affordable loans for vulnerable people who could turn to high interest lenders. I’m really pleased to see the project setting up in Bo’ness and wish the credit union every success."

See Oscar films and much more

OSCAR-NOMINATED movies, special events and fun films for children dominate the new season at the Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness.

Scotland’s first purpose-built cinema rounds off a year since re-opening with a packed programme that offers something for everyone.

Brochures for the new season are now available from the venue and local outlets – or by visiting www.falkirk.gov.uk/hippodrome

Going to the Hippodrome? There’s an App for that

FILM fans now have a new way to get the low-down on the Bo’ness Hippodrome.

The Hope Street cinema is one of the many picture palaces featured in the new downloadable Orange Wednesdays App – a small add-on program available for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.

Movie times, high quality trailers and reviews are all on offer . . . at the touch of a button.

The App has been produced by the mobile phone giant to tie in with its cinema sponsorship, which offers two-for-one ticket deals at venues across the country, including the Hippodrome.

Bo’ness Labour councillor Adrian Mahoney – who is leisure convener for Falkirk Council – has downloaded the App to his own iPod Touch.

He says: “It’s a great way to find out what’s on at the Hippodrome. The technology automatically works out your nearest cinema and offers movie times and trailers for each venue. So people in Bo’ness will be automatically offered information on the Hippodrome.

“You can also check out Orange’s 2-4-1 offer, which runs at the Hippodrome on Wednesdays, giving two cinema tickets for the price of one.

“The app is free to download and use – although you will need a mobile signal or wi-fi to access the content. Just visit the Apple ‘App Store’ and search for Orange Wednesdays.”

The Apple link-up complements Orange’s film website – www.orange.co.uk/film – which features its very own Hippodrome page (see http://web.orange.co.uk/p/film/cinema/hippbo)

More information:

You can see Orange’s own press release  at

http://newsroom.orange.co.uk/2009/11/03/orange-wednesdays-app-now-available-from-app-store-2/

** More traditional movie fans can also access Hippodrome listings in the Bo’ness District News section of the Journal and Gazette, in some national newspapers, and by picking up leaflets from the venue and local outlets, including Bo’ness Library.

New cycle racks for town centre

NEW cycle racks are to be installed in Bo’ness town centre – following a plea from Bo’ness Community Council.

The new racks will be installed near Bo’ness Bus Station, near Salmon Court and yards from the revitalised Hippodrome Cinema, close to Market Square.

The work is expected to be carried out by contractors working for Falkirk Council in the next few months, and will complement a range of new signage being installed around the town centre. Pavements and bus shelters have also been upgraded as part of the recent improvement works.

Bo’ness Councillor Adrian Mahoney, the convener of leisure, tourism and community at Falkirk Council, said: “The idea of new bike racks came from Owen Griffiths, a member of Bo’ness Community Council. I was pleased to pass on his request to staff and look forward to seeing the new racks being installed.”

Councillor Mahoney said the bike racks – or ‘hoops’ – are being provided in stainless steel and should match in with other new street furniture in the town centre. “Officers choose the locations to be close to shops and other facilities and to maximise security for bike owners. The foreshore area was felt to be a bit too remote at this stage.”

He added: “Tesco hasn’t been included in this phase of works – but perhaps the firm will consider putting in its own bike racks as part of a future project.”

The Council has recently published a new paths leaflet, detailing areas to walk and cycle around Bo’ness. The town is also on a national cycle route, promoted by the cycling charity Sustrans (http://www.sustrans.org.uk/)

Councillor Mahoney added: “The new bike racks tie in well with developments around the town centre. New bus shelters have been added in recent months, and paving around the town is being replaced. We’re also installing new signs to help pedestrians find key buildings.

“Hopefully all these improvements make the town centre a better place to visit for locals and tourists alike.”

Council expands recycling in Bo’ness

LABOUR-led Falkirk Council is expanding its recycling service in the Bo’ness area. From March, residents will be able to use a new black box and textile recycle sacks to recycle even more materials. The sacks and black boxes will be collected on the same day as blue bins are uplifted in Bo’ness (every fortnight).

Leaflets giving more information on the new, expanded service are being distributed over the next few weeks. An awareness van will also be visiting the area to allow residents to speak to staff.

You’ll be able to use the new black box to recycle:

• glass bottles and jars;
• small electrical items (any item with a plug or circuit board) such as toasters, kettles, hairdryers, games consoles, irons etc; and
• batteries (watch batteries, mobile phone batteries, laptop batteries and household batteries (A, AA, AAA, C & D).

You can use special textile bags to recycle:

• clothing;
• shoes (tied into pairs);
• bags;
• belts;
• blankets;
• quilt covers, pillow cases and sheets; and
• duvets.

You can also find out more by visiting www.falkirk.gov.uk/recycling or call 01324 504444.

Adrian spreads the word

BO’NESS Labour Councillor is the chairman of the Forth Valley Tourism Partnership. He has helped launch a new tourism e-newsletter for tourism businesses in the area. You can read the newsletter yourself on this site too.

New Council leader

Labour Councillor Craig Martin has been appointed Leader of Falkirk Council, succeeding Councillor Linda Gow who stood down last week.

Bo’ness Labour Councillor Adrian Mahoney has taken over from Councillor Martin as Convener of the Economic Strategy and Development Committee. He also retains his current role as Convener of the Leisure, Tourism and Community Committee.

The appointments were confirmed at a meeting of the full Council today (Thursday).

Branch meeting on February 11

THE Bo’ness Branch of the Labour Party is holding its next members’ meeting in the smaller community room upstairs at Bo’ness Library on Thursday, February 11, from 7.30 p.m. All local party members are invited to attend. (Please note that this replaces the scheduled meeting for the end of January, which will not take place). Find out more about the party online at www.bonesslabour.org.uk  – or email: info@bonesslabour.org.uk

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Advice on offer as snow continues

SNOW and cold weather continues to cause problems for people across the Falkirk Council area. The Council is updating its website daily with the latest information, including advice on roads and travel.

Today (Tuesday), Robert McMaster, head of roads at the Council, said: “A band of powdery snow giving deposits of one to two inches passed over the Falkirk area overnight.  This snow, allied to temperatures of minus 9 degrees caused difficult driving conditions particularly in the west of the area.  Gritting teams were out treating Primary one roads and footpaths from 5 am. Teams from roads, building maintenance and grounds maintenance are working to treat footpaths and roads within the area.  Grounds maintenance will be filling grit bins, building maintenance are tackling footpaths around the high flats, and roads teams will tackle complaints with particular attention to access to shopping areas and schools.”

Keep up-to-date at www.falkirk.gov.uk

The Met Office also posts regular updates – and weather warnings – on its website. Visit: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ta/ta_forecast_weather.html

The Direct Gov website is also providing useful advice in the bad weather http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_174618

Bin collections

BIN collections are trying to get back to normal, with blue and green bins being collected on a fortnightly basis. So if your blue wheelie bin would be put out this week – put your blue bin out as normal (and green bin next week).

If the bin isn’t collected on time, due to bad road conditions, leave it out. Spare crews are going round trying to catch up with collections, so may come round to get it.

Falkirk Council’s neighbourhood services director Stuart Ritchie said: “As you know most main roads are snow/ice free. However most of the side roads (where the majority of our bins are collected from ) are more difficult to access due to snow/ice. It is also worth bearing in mind that crews have to walk on the pavements/roads pulling and pushing bins and its not just an issue of vehicular access.”

Cold weather payments

If you’re on a low income, a Cold Weather Payment may be available to help you for each week of very cold weather in your area. You may be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment for each week of very cold weather in your area if you get Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance with a support or work related activity component in the main phase. 

The Met Office have notified the Department for Work and Pensions that 2 periods of very cold weather have occurred in the EH51 (Bo’ness) postcode area between 1 November 2009 and 30 December 2009, triggering Cold Weather Payments. The Direct Gov website has more information on this, plus a postcode checker, to see if you’re eligible.

Portions of this material © Crown Copyright.

Big movies for the New Year at the Hippodrome

NEW Year brings new movies, big name stars and possible Oscar contenders to the historic Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness.

Scotland’s first purpose-built picture palace welcomes 2010 with a glittering programme that promises something for everyone.

Councillor Adrian Mahoney, the convener of leisure, tourism and community at Falkirk Council – which runs the cinema – said: “The Hippodrome is a fantastic facility, showing great films, using the latest technology in a lovingly-restored building.

“If you haven’t made a visit yet – make it a New Year’s resolution to go. The Hippodrome can brighten up the dullest winter day . . . or evening.”

Films bidding for honours in the Golden Globes – often seen as indicators for the 2010 Oscars – are peppered throughout the programme.

George Clooney’s ‘Up in the Air’ – nominated for six Globes – opens on February 20. Clooney stars as a smooth talking management consultant hell bent on building up 10 million frequent flyer miles. It’s in the running for Best Picture and Best Actor awards.