SATA, Ashton’s own theatre group, chose Lancashire classic Hobson’s Choice as its play for the spring season. Performances took place between the 24 - 26 April and the theatre group certainly couldn’t have chosen a better play to entertain the Ashton audience.

The group brought 1880s Lancashire to life convincingly on stage, offering a hugely entertaining evening of gentle humour. To recreate Victorian Salford, the stage was filled with period design. Wonderful costumes added to the authenticity of the production with the bustles, in particular, being a sight to behold.

First night triumph

ashtononribble.com’s reviewer went to the first night, which was a triumph. If the cast was nervous it certainly didn’t show. The leading lady, playing Maggie Hobson, was magnificent and her sisters were played with panache.

Hats off to the actor playing the father of the play, Henry Horatio Hobson. He played a miserly old beggar almost suspiciously well. All roles were well drawn with everyone pulling together to create a splendid production of Harold Brighouse’s play.

As if the evening wasn’t Lancastrian enough, during the half-time interval a local Lancashire delicacy was on offer: pie and peas. A group of morris dancers entertained everyone as they ate their food.

Excellent evening

All in all it was an excellent evening out, and another sign that the SATA theatre group really is going from strength to strength.

Thanks to the ashtononribble.com reader who supplied this review. If you want to write articles for ashtononribble.com, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Larches and Savick’s PACT (Police and Community Together) meetings give local people the opportunity to discuss their concerns with the police. Larches and Savick’s next meeting with the police will take place on 6 May. The meeting will take place at Sure Start on Ainsdale Drive, Savick, at 6.30.

April’s police priorities in Larches and Savick, according to the PACT [Police and the Communities Together] website, included:

• Setting up of a street drinking ban on Larches and Savick
• Ribble link: to set up a partnership between PACT, British Waterways and PCC to improve the Ribble Link area
• Clean up of the area around Ashton School and Leighton Road

For more information, add your comment to this article or visit Pact’s website: http://www.pact-preston.co.uk

If you have any more details about the information in this article, please let us know at editor@ashtononribble.com. Thanks!

After the winter break, Ribble Steam Railway, next to Preston docks, is now open every Sunday.The steam train museum makes an ideal afternoon out, giving you the opportunity to view lots of steam trains and carriages in a huge display area. Other exhibits put the trains in context whilst a cafe is available if you want refreshments.

The highlight of the museum, however, is a trip on the museum’s working steam train. The train takes you along the old dock train track, following the Ribble towards the bottom of Fishergate Hill.

More information? Visit the Ribble Steam Railway’s website.

Why isn’t your organisation or your business mentioned on ashtononribble.com?

Why have your views not been represented here?

Because you haven’t got in touch with us!

This website is a community resource designed to share information - any information - about Ashton-on-Ribble. The website is run voluntarily by local members of the community entirely with the aim of promoting Ashton-on-Ribble.

What else is missing? Do you have some interesting historial fact to share? Do you know of an enjoyable spot in Ashton that we haven’t mentioned? Is there an item of news about Ashton that you could share with us?

We want to grow, and we can only do that with your help.

e-mail us at editor@ashtononribble.com.

Let the residents of Ashton know if you spot any new shops, or other businesses, that are opening up in the area by writing to ashtononribble.com. We will happily give the new shop a plug to help kick start the business. Write to us at editor@ashtononribble.com.

At ashtononribble.com we keep our ears to the ground to try and find any new local shops. You, however, are the ears and eyes of Ashton, and without your help we can’t always spot new developments in the area. Write to us, therefore, if you spot anything you feel we should be promoting.

Thanks for your help!

Plans have recently emerged to float lots of homes off Preston docks. The plans, if they come to fruition, could also include a major watersports centre, offices and restaurants. These ambitious plans promise a cutting edge, environmentally friendly community for Ashton. One of the developers, according to www.lep.co.uk, stated: “It is obviously a very exciting development opportunity”.

The idea has, however, been greeted by a wave of apathy on local websites, with one reader of http://save-the-ribble.blogspot.com stating: “I do find such pie in the sky and ill thought out proposals with a simple aim of making a short term commercial gain for the proposers rather wearisome.”

Another comment on www.lep.co.uk states: “Hope the project sinks! Another jumped up stupid proposal me thinks!”

What do you think?  Add your comment below.

(Photo: Preston docks, currently one of the most picturesque parts of Ashton, but for how long?)

St Walburge’s church is opening its doors every Saturday until September. The open days give the public the chance to have a look inside Ashton’s iconic church and learn a bit about its history.

The church will be open from 9am to 3pm.

With local elections coming soon, leaflets are being posted through everyone’s doors encouraging everyone to vote. We’ve already reported on some issues identified by Labour leaflets, here are some issues identified by the Conservatives:

• Anti-social behaviour and under-age drinking
• Speeding traffic, increase in density of traffic and of heavy goods vehicles passing through the ward
• Dog fouling
• Grog spots, fly tipping graffiti and general issues with litter
• Waste collection

What do you think? What can be done to improve Ashton?

Add your comments below.

These are the 2008 dates for St Andrew’s craft fairs and table top sales.

All events take place on Saturdays Table top sales

26 April/ 20 Sept/ 18 Oct/ 15 Nove

Craft fairs

13 Sept/15 Nov

Recent craft fairs have included stalls selling goods as wide-ranging as fudge and glass sculptures. Book your table early if you create your own speciality goods and would like to sell them to the public.

The table top sales have a much more open remit. You can hire a table and sell anything you want. So if you want to sell your old books, or want to downsize and make some money by selling off a few possessions, give yourself an extra incentive for a clear-out and book your table early.

According to a local Labour leaflet, there have been lots of developments in the Tulketh ward in recent months. Here’s a round-up of some of the main issues in the Tulketh area.

Shelley Road: Local councillors have campaigned on the issue of the high rent increase for residents who back on to the canal. British Waterways have just announced that they are going to review their policy.

Plungington Hotel Bowling Club: This organisation was recently awarded £500 to pay towards the cost of a lawn mower. Bowling is available to all residents in the area.

Carphone Warehouse: Councillors are working to make sure that workers’ voices are heard in this large organisation; it is also hoped that Carphone Warehouse will help towards improving the litter problems in the local area.

Inkerman St and Balcarres Road: The alley between these two streets is soon to have its own gates. Graffiti has also been targeted and removed.

Kimberley Road: Houses are being built on the former car park on Kimberley Road. The area had become a meeting point for groups of youths, which caused local residents some concern. It is hoped that the new houses will help to solve the problem.

Anything to add? Let us know what you think are the main issues in Tulketh.