Paul Faulkner
@paulfaulkner1980.bsky.social
(Broadcast) Journalist. Local Democracy Reporter, Lancashire Post.
O2 Media Awards NW finalist (Best TV Journalist category 2018 & 2017); Royal Television Society NW finalist (Best Regional Story category 2016).
linkedin.com/in/paulfaulknerjournalist
O2 Media Awards NW finalist (Best TV Journalist category 2018 & 2017); Royal Television Society NW finalist (Best Regional Story category 2016).
linkedin.com/in/paulfaulknerjournalist
The process to determine the futures of the council-run premises will proceed as planned - in spite of calls for a change of course. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
'Give care home residents peace for Christmas': update on under-threat Lancashire facilities
A controversial review that has placed a question mark over the futures of five Lancashire care homes will not be cancelled, the politician leading the process has said.
www.lep.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 2:47 AM
The process to determine the futures of the council-run premises will proceed as planned - in spite of calls for a change of course. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The county council's ruling Reform group argues that larger local authorities have the best chance of protecting services - but opposition politicians warn that the new councils would be too remote from the residents they are there to serve. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Plan to split Lancashire along North-South divide to be put to the government
Lancashire County Council will tell the government that just two new local authorities should be created to replace the 15 that currently exist across Lancashire, as part of a radical shake-up being o...
www.lep.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 10:47 PM
The county council's ruling Reform group argues that larger local authorities have the best chance of protecting services - but opposition politicians warn that the new councils would be too remote from the residents they are there to serve. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Refreshing - if alarming - to see the supposed wonders of AI taken to their logical conclusion.
I don’t know what the answer is either. We’ve built a world that seems unsustainable from almost every angle.
I try to keep some historical perspective since every generation complains about change, but genAI does seem like a bad shift. What happens when most people simply don’t know anything?
I try to keep some historical perspective since every generation complains about change, but genAI does seem like a bad shift. What happens when most people simply don’t know anything?
My students don’t even bother to remove “ChatGPT said…” from their assignments half the time…
We are doomed.
We are doomed.
November 21, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Refreshing - if alarming - to see the supposed wonders of AI taken to their logical conclusion.
The request will be made in the name of stability during a major local authority shake-up in Lancashire, with Chorley's leader arguing that any change to "the cast list" would risk derailing an already complex process. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Chorley Council asks government to cancel local elections in 2026
Chorley Council is to ask the government to cancel the local elections due to take place in the borough next year.
www.lep.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 AM
The request will be made in the name of stability during a major local authority shake-up in Lancashire, with Chorley's leader arguing that any change to "the cast list" would risk derailing an already complex process. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
A union official says young people already have enough screens in their lives - and that they cannot build a proper relationship with their teacher via another one. www.lep.co.uk/education/sc...
School staff to strike over 'virtual' teacher based 300 miles away from their Lancashire pupils
Staff at a Lancashire secondary school have voted to go on strike after the introduction of a ‘virtual’ maths teacher - based 300 miles away in Devon.
www.lep.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 AM
A union official says young people already have enough screens in their lives - and that they cannot build a proper relationship with their teacher via another one. www.lep.co.uk/education/sc...
The plan is to head off health problems before they begin - or at least prevent them from getting worse. But there's a warning it will take a whole-society effort to realise the vision. www.lep.co.uk/health/unsus...
'Unsustainable' pressure on services prompts push to prevent ill health in Lancashire
The demand on public sector services being generated by poor health in Lancashire is “not sustainable” unless action is taken to reduce the number of people falling ill in the first place.
www.lep.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:17 AM
The plan is to head off health problems before they begin - or at least prevent them from getting worse. But there's a warning it will take a whole-society effort to realise the vision. www.lep.co.uk/health/unsus...
He suggested the party was keeping quiet about the tougher approach it ultimately wants to take. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform UK Lancashire councillor suspended after 'hardline' immigration comment
A senior figure in the ruling Reform UK group on Lancashire County Council has been suspended from the party after leaked messages he sent on WhatsApp suggested Reform was keeping quiet about the more...
www.lep.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:04 AM
He suggested the party was keeping quiet about the tougher approach it ultimately wants to take. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Dozens of Lancashire schools in the most deprived areas of the county are eligible to take part in the first wave of the nationwide scheme.
www.lep.co.uk/education/ke...
www.lep.co.uk/education/ke...
Keir Starmer urges schools to help struggling families by opening free breakfast clubs
Dozens of primary schools across Lancashire will be eligible for government funding to set up free breakfast clubs for their pupils next year - and the Prime Minister has made a direct appeal to them ...
www.lep.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Dozens of Lancashire schools in the most deprived areas of the county are eligible to take part in the first wave of the nationwide scheme.
www.lep.co.uk/education/ke...
www.lep.co.uk/education/ke...
The council argues that the connections between the areas make the merger a perfect fit - and come with opportunities to boost regeneration and tackle deprivation. But the resort's proposed partners don't feel the same way. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Blackpool unveils plan to merge with Preston and Fylde
A new council that merged Blackpool and Preston into the same area would help boost regeneration and tackle deprivation in both places.
www.lep.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The council argues that the connections between the areas make the merger a perfect fit - and come with opportunities to boost regeneration and tackle deprivation. But the resort's proposed partners don't feel the same way. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
What are set to be the final polls for the two councils in their current form might never happen, as leaders cite the need for continuity and stability during Lancashire's local government shake-up. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Preston and Chorley's 2026 local elections in doubt amid 'cancellation' plans
A question mark has been placed over the local elections scheduled to take place in Preston and Chorley next year after the leaders of the councils for the two areas said they were likely to back a mo...
www.lep.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 8:38 AM
What are set to be the final polls for the two councils in their current form might never happen, as leaders cite the need for continuity and stability during Lancashire's local government shake-up. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The Commons Speaker and Chorley MP has approached a senior cabinet member about the question mark hanging over a home in his constituency - although a final decision on the future of the facility is still several months away. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Sir Lindsay Hoyle gets the government involved in bid to 'save' care home
The Commons Speaker and Chorley MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle has brought the case of an under-threat care home in his constituency to the attention of the government.
www.lep.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 8:34 AM
The Commons Speaker and Chorley MP has approached a senior cabinet member about the question mark hanging over a home in his constituency - although a final decision on the future of the facility is still several months away. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Locals persuaded councillors that the bedsit-style development wasn't right for their close-knit area. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Decision on 'nightmare' Preston HMO with room for 18 people amid community concerns
Plans to turn a vacant property in a protected part of Preston into a home for up to 18 people have been rejected by councillors.
www.lep.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Locals persuaded councillors that the bedsit-style development wasn't right for their close-knit area. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The most widely-backed option amongst Lancashire's existing councils for the the shape of the shake-up to come gets its first official seal of approval - with reassurances that savings estimates won't become targets and neighbourhoods will still have a voice. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
'Historic' moment as South Ribble agrees Chorley and West Lancashire merger plan
South Ribble Borough Council has become the first local authority to formally back a plan to create four new councils to cover the whole of Lancashire.
www.lep.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 11:51 PM
The most widely-backed option amongst Lancashire's existing councils for the the shape of the shake-up to come gets its first official seal of approval - with reassurances that savings estimates won't become targets and neighbourhoods will still have a voice. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The county council believes bigger will be better when it comes to redrawing the local authority map in Lancashire. All the details of a blueprint born out of what has been characterised as a balancing act between meeting need and harnessing opportunity. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Lancashire's North-South divide: council plan to cut the county in two
Just two new councils should be created to serve the whole of Lancashire when the county's 15 existing local authorities are abolished, Lancashire County Council is set to argue.
www.lep.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The county council believes bigger will be better when it comes to redrawing the local authority map in Lancashire. All the details of a blueprint born out of what has been characterised as a balancing act between meeting need and harnessing opportunity. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
A senior politician says a review of 10 care facilities across Lancashire should aim to answer how - not whether - they can be kept open by the county council. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
'We can save these care homes': Lancashire councillor pushes for rescue plan
Lancashire County Council should commit to exploring how - rather than whether - it can continue to operate 10 elderly care homes and day centres which have seen a question mark placed over their futu...
www.lep.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM
A senior politician says a review of 10 care facilities across Lancashire should aim to answer how - not whether - they can be kept open by the county council. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Councillors made their feelings clear in a wrangle over the difference between green belt and grey belt. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
'Grey belt? You couldn't get any more green': Chorley village housing plans rejected
Plans to build more than a dozen homes across two sites in rural Chorley have been kicked out by councillors amid a wrangle over the difference between green belt and grey belt.
www.lep.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Councillors made their feelings clear in a wrangle over the difference between green belt and grey belt. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
One of Preston's most eye-catching residential schemes appears to be on indefinite hold - upending a planned return to council housing in the process. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Major update on huge housing estate planned near Preston city centre
Ambitious plans to build almost 400 new homes on the outskirts of Preston City Centre appear to have been put on long-term hold.
www.lep.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 8:15 PM
One of Preston's most eye-catching residential schemes appears to be on indefinite hold - upending a planned return to council housing in the process. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Bemoaning - but preparing - for the demise of the borough as as a standalone council area. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
'We don't want the end of South Ribble - but it's happening': councillors prepare for the future as part of larger area
Councillors from across the political divide have declared they would rather the forthcoming abolition of South Ribble Borough Council was not happening.
www.lep.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Bemoaning - but preparing - for the demise of the borough as as a standalone council area. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The view was that forthcoming local authority mergers should bind together the fewest number of places possible. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Burnley and Pendle residents give verdict on 'monster' East Lancashire council
Four in five residents across Burnley and Pendle say that if their local councils are to be axed, they should be replaced with one that covers no more than half of East Lancashire - in what one leadin...
www.lep.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 AM
The view was that forthcoming local authority mergers should bind together the fewest number of places possible. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The long-running saga over the historic site has come to a conclusion that campaigners insist could have been avoided, but which the city council says was inevitable once public safety was called into question. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Preston city centre pub to be demolished amid claims it 'could have been saved'
The fate of a former Preston pub has been sealed after plans to flatten it were given the go-ahead.
www.lep.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 AM
The long-running saga over the historic site has come to a conclusion that campaigners insist could have been avoided, but which the city council says was inevitable once public safety was called into question. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The site's past history meant the proposal was given the green light. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
New Spar convenience store and petrol station plans for Preston decided
A former car showroom on the outskirts of Preston is to be converted into a convenience store and petrol station – in spite of objections from dozens of locals.
www.lep.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:48 AM
The site's past history meant the proposal was given the green light. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The residential area was deemed unsuitable for the venture. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
'Detrimental': Preston social club's plans to put 32 storage containers on car park
A bid to install dozens of storage containers on the car park of a Preston social club has been blocked.
www.lep.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 AM
The residential area was deemed unsuitable for the venture. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The authority says the quality of people's care experience will play a part in its final decision about the future of 10 facilities across the county, as opposition politicians line up to condemn the prospect of closures. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
'Be emotional': council's advice to supporters of under threat care homes and day centres
The quality of the care provided by 10 residential homes and day centres whose futures have been thrown into doubt will be a factor in determining whether or not they remain open, it has emerged.
www.lep.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
The authority says the quality of people's care experience will play a part in its final decision about the future of 10 facilities across the county, as opposition politicians line up to condemn the prospect of closures. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Lancashire looks to be in the final throes of its near decade-long internal debate over an elected mayor, as it faces the prospect of becoming the only place in the North of England without one - and so bowing to the inevitable. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Lancashire 'losing jobs to Greater Manchester' as county inches towards a mayor
Lancashire could finally be on the path to getting an elected mayor - if the government can persuade the county’s leaders that the role would bring with it “clear and substantial benefits“.
www.lep.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Lancashire looks to be in the final throes of its near decade-long internal debate over an elected mayor, as it faces the prospect of becoming the only place in the North of England without one - and so bowing to the inevitable. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
The door seems to have been left open - locally and nationally - to the cancellation of at least some of the seven polls due to take place across the county next year, ahead of a huge council shake-up. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...
Uncertainty over whether local elections will go ahead in these parts of Lancashire in 2026
The government could be asked to cancel some of the local elections scheduled to take place in Lancashire next year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands.
www.lep.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The door seems to have been left open - locally and nationally - to the cancellation of at least some of the seven polls due to take place across the county next year, ahead of a huge council shake-up. www.lep.co.uk/news/politic...