A COMMITMENT to reduce crime has seen Oxenholme Railway Station awarded a Secure Station re-accreditation as part of a partnership between the British Transport Police, Virgin Trains and the local community.

In a passenger survey carried out during the re-accreditation process at the station, more than 72 per cent of passengers surveyed felt safe or very safe. None of those surveyed felt unsafe or very unsafe.

Two years ago Oxenholme was averaging one crime in every 21,000 passengers but in the past year the number of passengers has increased dramatically and yet the crime rate has fallen to one crime every 57,000 passengers.

To receive the Government-sponsored award, the station design and layout is assessed by a British Transport Police Crime Reduction Officer, who suggests improvements to help reassure passengers as well as deter crime.

Below average Red Rose tax increase COUNCIL taxpayers in Lancashire will be paying a below-inflation increase of 2.5 per cent when their bills arrive in April. Lancashire County Council's cabinet met to agree the increase, which will have to be ratified by a full meeting of the council on February 17. Cabinet member for resources County Coun Tony Martin said: "This increase will be among the lowest in the country and will represent the fourth year in succession that we have delivered a below average increase."