Weir, Lancashire
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}
{{infobox UK place
|country= England
|coordinates = {{coord|53.723|-2.197|display=inline,title}}
|official_name= Weir
| population =
| population_ref =
|shire_district= Rossendale
|region= North West England
|shire_county= Lancashire
|constituency_westminster= Rossendale and Darwen
|post_town= BACUP
|postcode_district= OL13
|postcode_area= OL
|dial_code= 01706
|os_grid_reference= SD870252
|static_image_name= Weir - geograph.org.uk - 81830.jpg
|static_image_caption= Children playing on Weir Park
|london_distance=
|map_alt= Weir is in the south-eastern part of Lancashire, close to the eastern boundary of North West England. On this map Weir is about one-seventh in from the eastern edge and one-third in from the southern edge.
|pushpin_map = United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale
|pushpin_map_caption = Location within Rossendale
}}
Weir is a village to the north of Bacup in the Rossendale borough of Lancashire, England, and immediately south of the boundary with the Borough of Burnley. The village had a population of 1,251 at the 2011 Census.{{Cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-northwestengland.php?cityid=E34001047|title=Weir (Lancashire, North West England, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics and Location in Maps and Charts|website=www.citypopulation.de|access-date=2016-04-15}} Anciently, Weir constituted a hamlet, but later emerged as an outlying suburb of Bacup town after the Burnley Road turnpike was built through the settlement at the end of the 18th Century.
Village
Weir straddles the A671 road and is located by Deerplay Moor, the source of the River Irwell, and adjacent to the parish of Cliviger. Weir is serviced by Northern Primary School in Broadclough,{{cite web | url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2106394 | title=Bacup Northern Council School }} has a church and community centre (the [http://www.weirbaptistchurch.com/dcc.html Doals Centre]), an award-winning cafe-bar ([http://www.annascafebar.co.uk/ Anna's]), and a Riding Centre ([https://weirridingcentre.com/ Weir Riding Centre]). Weir was previously serviced by two pubs, the Weir Hotel and the New Deerplay in nearby Cliviger (once the 12th highest pub in England at 1,310 ft{{Cite web| url=http://www.garydickson.co.uk/pubs.html|title=Highest pubs in the UK|website=www.garydickson.co.uk|access-date=2016-04-19}}). These pubs are set to become business and residential developments.{{cite web|url=https://publicaccess.rossendale.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=PT3OORNDJS500&activeTab=summary|title=Change of use of Public House|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Rossendale Borough Council|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}{{cite web | url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/13637142.Closed_hilltop_pub_set_to_be_converted_into_four_houses/ | title=Closed Hilltop Pub Set To Be Converted Into Four Houses | publisher=Lancashire Telegraph}}
Weir has an active voluntary group, Weir Pride,{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/1544797832444634/|title=Weir Pride|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-09-17}} which holds monthly meetings and arranges litter picks, floral displays and planting around the village, as well as organising community activities and an annual village fete.
Weir has a football team named A.F.C. Weir, formed in 2010, who compete in the Burnley Miners Burnley and District Sunday league.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/burnleysundayleague/TeamFixtures?age=22&division=13649&team=172364|title=Burnley Miners Burnley and District Sunday League - Fixtures and Results|website=www.leaguewebsite.co.uk|access-date=2016-04-15}} Their highest finish was second in the 2013/14 season. They also won the Harry Briggs memorial trophy that season, beating Craven 4–0 with two goals each from Luke Dempsey and Ryan Nuttall, Weir goalkeeper Stewart haslam picked up man of the match. They play their home games at Towneley Playing Fields.
There have been several attempts to further develop Weir. The land on the boundary of Weir, adjacent to Broadclough Farm has had several attempts at development including a 61 home plan{{cite web | url=http://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/local-news/plans-build-61-homes-rejected-1707815 | title=Plans Build 61 Homes Rejected | publisher= Rossendale Free Press}} as well as an 80-bed residential care unit.{{cite web | url=http://www.rossendale.gov.uk/planningApplication/3069 | title=Specialist Dementia Unit Refused | publisher= Rossendale Planning Department}} However to date these have been refused the main concern being loss of the open moorland and countryside surrounding the village.
In June 2014 the police announced they would be monitoring the road between Weir and Bacup (passing through Broadclough) as it had become an accident blackspot.{{cite web | url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/northwest/4699614.Woman_cut_free_after_Bacup_crash/ | title=Woman Cut Free After Bacup Crash | publisher= The Bolton News}}{{cite web | url=http://www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/2012/12/rtc-in-weir-bacup-at-1604-hrs/ | title=RTC in Weir Bacup at 1604hrs | publisher= Lancashire Fire and Rescue}}
Politics
It is part of the Rossendale and Darwen constituency, with Andy MacNae having been the Member of Parliament since 2024.
Notable people
Michael Carr, a Liberal Democrat politician and former Member of Parliament for the Ribble Valley, is a resident of Weir.{{cite web|url=http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/1999/11/16/750676.html | title=Villagers face new moor mine battle | work=Lancashire Evening Telegraph | publisher=Newsquest Media Group | date=1999-11-16 | accessdate=2008-09-29 }}
Gallery
File:View of Weir Lancashire.jpg|alt=View over Weir|View over Weir
File:Weir Lancashire.jpg|alt=View over Weir|View over Weir
File:Entering Rossendale on the A671 Burnley Road. - geograph.org.uk - 504489.jpg|alt=Approaching Weir from Burnley|Approaching Weir from Burnley
File:Weir Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 378807.jpg|alt=Weir War Memorial, Deerplay Moor|Weir War Memorial, Deerplay Moor
File:Wesley Terrace, Heald Lane, Weir, Lancashire - geograph.org.uk - 1258137.jpg|alt=Traditional housing in Weir|Traditional housing in Weir
File:Lynn Court, Weir - geograph.org.uk - 827482.jpg|alt=Modern housing in Weir|Modern housing in Weir
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Weir, Lancashire|Weir}}
{{Rossendale}}
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