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Clitheroe Advertiser and Times


THURSDAY, MARCH 7th, 1991 No. 5,460 Price 28p


THIS morning local Tories are waking up to the fact that they have a stiff fight on their hands as Ribble Valley voters go to the polls today — and it could well be the poll tax which decides where people put their cross. For, without doubt, it is


the poll tax — above all else — which has set the by-election pace. Labour, for its part,


makes no bones about the fact that it wants it scrap­


ping — as candidate Josie


poll tax mess is to abolish it and replace it with fair rates, related to ability to


Farrington put it: "The quick, clean way out of the


pay.” The Liberal Democrats,


through candidate Michael Carr, want to replace it with a local income tax, which he says is “based on the ability to pay, is cheap to run and is, above all, fair.” Conservative candidate


by Leigh Morrissey and Sheila Nixon


Nigel Evans sees the Government’s new relief


scheme as the party saver — and his camp was quot­ ing yesterday a local income tax bill of £1,953.83 for a family of three — a policeman, his teacher wife and State Enrolled Nurse daughter — under the Liberal Democrats’ scheme. But the Liberal Demo­


c ra ts were quick to describe the Tory figures


as “dreamed up, mislead­ ing and a Conservative smear,” giving their ver­ sion of the local income tax. They claim that a married man, earning £15,000, with his wife not working, would pay local income tax of £552, as against £820 poll tax; a pensioner couple, with a standard state pension of £432, would pay no local


income tax; a student nurse earning £6,040 would pay £155, as opposed to £410 poll tax. As d e c i s io n day


approached, the Tories were understandably feel­ ing nervous when reading national newspaper head­ lines yesterday — “Tories in danger of poll up­ set . . .Tactical voting against poll tax could give


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last as Ribble Valley voters deliver their ver­ dict af te r what must surely rank as one of the most intensive political battles ever staged in recent times — nationally as well as locally. It has been a star-stud­


Liberal Democrats a by- election win, survey shows," to quote “The Independent.” Now it is decision day at


ded contest all along the way, with some or the country’s biggest political


names courting the voters- — Michael Heseltine, Neil Kinnock, Paddy Ashdown,- Roy Hattersiey, Cyril! Smith and Chris Patten. And the man in charge


of organising the poll, tne. borough council s chief; legal officer. Mr Paul Tim- son, has summed it up for all of us who have closely', monitored the operation. “I’ve never known any-, thing like it before in the Ribble V a l le y , ” he declared. 9 continued on page 10


Fury over Shop window on by-election ballyhoo Councillor’s report


had the "wrong break­ down of figures” and Coun. Albert Atkinson, Finance Committee chair­ man, added that council­ lors paid for their own drinks. “This was an on-going training exercise,” said


could have been held at the town hall and claimed that poll tax paye rs ’ money had been used. Coun. Mrs Maw said he


incensed that a training weekend at Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping, ended with a bill for £1,024 for cigars, liqueurs, wine and incidentals. He said the seminar


was referring to Clitheroe independent councillor John Cowgill's decision to report the council for allegedly wasting poll tax payers’ money. Coun. Cowgill was


‘mischief making’ THE leader of the Ribble Valley Council has described a councillor’s actions in reporting the authority to the district auditor as “mischief making. ’ Coun. Mrs Sheila Maw


Coun. Atkinson. “We have probably the lowest train­ ing budget in Lancashire for our councillors and officers. With new local government legislation, it is imperative that we have these training sessions.”


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‘Tyred’ out but proud!


staggering 70 laps of a road network starting from their homes. Said Matthew’s


Rupert Hilton (8) and Stephen Blocked (8), all of Westfield Dr ive, arc- keen cyclists and got together for a marathon ride of nearly 15 miles, which has raised £100 for. chairs and mobiles for the children’s unit of Queen’s Park Hospital, Blackburn. Their ride comprised a


THREE young West Bradford boys were so moved by the death of Clitheroe’s courageous little leukucmia sufferer Louise King that they decided to pay their own tribute by raising money for sick children. Matthew Taylor (!)),


mother, Mrs Yvonne Taylor: “Louise was in Rupert's class at SS Michael and John’s School in Clitheroe. The boys organised their own sponsorships, which started with relatives, but then spread as more people heard about their attempt. “All three families arc-


very proud of what the boys have done.” So, too, are Louise’s


parents, David and Catherine King, who are hoping that one of them will be able to attend the presentation of the cheque at Queen’s Park Hospital this week. Picture: “Tyred out”


but delighted with the results of their ride arc, from the left: Matthew, Rupert and Stephen.


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COMIC RELIEF is back a week tomorrow and organisers want Ribble Valley people to play their full part in the national effort which raises millions of^iounds for charity. facky fund-raising


election slip-up


Vote denied to 143


DEMANDS for a High Court injunction to cancel today’s by-election were made by angry Ribble Valley residents on Tuesday.


more than 100 residents in the village — described by the association as 15% of those eligible — have no vote in an election where fierce controversy over the poll tax was con­ sidered likely to seriously dent the traditional Con­ servative vote. The mistake could have


particularly serious impli­ cations if there is a close result and with so much media interest in the by-e- lection could not have come at a worse time for the Ribble Valley Council. Urgent talks have been


Ribchester Residents’ Association was called on Tuesday evening to dis­ cuss whether to apply for an injunction. At the latest count,


missed off the electoral register include the chair­ man of the local Conserva­ tive Association. A special meeting of


Ribchester and Rimington have been disenfranchised following a computer error. In Rimington, those


MR NOBLE


complaints to Mr Timson, who had arranged for two council staff to carefully recheck the register. Letters of apology were


- • - i


taking place between act­ ing deputy returning officer Mr Paul Timson, residents’ association chairman Mrs Maureen Crowther and residents’ sp o k e sm an Mr Ron


the association agreed to ask Ribble Valley’s new


Williams. Following the meeting,


MP to give priority to an attempt to have the law changed so that, in the event of anything similar happening again, those left off the electoral register through no fault of their own would have recourse to a vote. Mr Williams, whose


vote, while others had received two polling cards. In one case, a Dutch national who had no right to vote had been put on the register. Residents had put their


At least 143 villagers in


22 at Rimington and 121 at Ribchester — have been omitted from the electoral list, representing .2% of the total 64,889 electorate. Among furious residents


Home Office about the matter, but described the response — he was told that members of the public should check the draft r e g i s t e r — a s “uncharitable.” A total of 143 voters —


accepted that it was their responsibility. He had spoken to the


included on the recently published draft register, but members of his com­ mittee and at least 10 vil­ lagers have also been left


whose names have been left off is Mr Martin Noble, chairman of the Gisburn and Rimington branch of the Conserva­ tive Association. His wife’s name was


t§ MR COSGROVE


this week sent to all resi­ dents known to have been missed off the list by Mr Timson; who is also Ribble Valley Council’s chief legal officer. His letter explained w h y t h e e r r o r h a d


ideas are wanted and hun­ dreds of red noses will be available from local chari­ ties such as the Oxfam Shop, in Market Place, Clitheroe.


name is included on the register, emphasised that the decision not to seek an injunction was far from unanimous. “Residents are very bitter indeed and some individuals are still contemplating pursuing that course of action.” He said many people had been left without a


occurred and the proce­ dure necessary for getting back on the register. Each resident also received a form to fill in and return to ensure being able to vote at the May local elections. Mr Timson said he


shared the residents’ con­ cern. The mistake was not made by the council, but by an outside body helping to compile the list. The council, however, still


House, Rimington. Also left off is outfitter Mr Henry Cosgrove, of Overvalley, Rimington, who said he had never missed voting in nearly 40 years of loc al and national elections.


whole families have been deleted or, say, a group of names with the same ini­ tial letter. The people omitted are a random selection with mostly dif­ ferent addresses.


“I t is not as though


error is to question what kind of clerical staff we em p lo y o u t of our increased poll tax.


“To say this is a clerical


ter like this so that I can­ not vote is very frustrat­ ing, after all the work I have put in trying to get Conservative candidate Nigel Evans elected,” said Mr Noble, of Oaktree


“To be left off the regis­


Father’s sad story sparks off enquiry


A CLITHEROE father this week said he was relieved at news that an official enquiry is to follow a television team’s investigation into claims of alleged assaults against hospital patients — including his daughter.


enfranchised villagers be recompensed for the ineffi­ ciency of top management at the Ribble Valley Council.


He demanded that dis­


Special Hospital” on Chan­ nel 4’s “Cutting Edge” on Monday evening, snowed an interview with domes­ tic appliance repairer Mr Cyril Darnell, of Peel Park Avenue, concerning his daughter, Gillian (28), who is at Ashworth Hospital (South) in Moss Side, Liverpool.


enquiry” has been insti­ gated by the Special H o s p i t a l S e r v i c e Authority in London. The TV programme, “A


A “full and searching


On Tuesday morning, the hospital authority’s


Ri verdeat h inay be accident


THE father of tragic Clitheroe teenager Steven John Berry, whose body has been found in the river, spoke this week of his son’s zest for life and his conviction that his


death, was an accident. M r N o r m a n B e r r y


Royal Grammar School student had been missing since December 28th ana his disappearance trig­ gered off a huge search, with police frogmen check­ ing large stretches of the Ribble. His body was identified


by clothing and an inquest opened in Preston on Tuesday. His father, Norman, is a


former secretary of Ribble Valley Football League and a cricket umpire with the Ribblesdale League.


ven’s body was discovered in the estuary of the River Ribble on Thursday eve­ ning by a wildfowler. Tne popular Clitheroe


believes th a t his son slipped and fell in while running along the river bank. Eighteen-year-old Ste­


Steven


At his home in Shireburn Avenue, he spoke of the love of sport he shared with his son. “Steven was very keen


on soccer and keep fit,” he said. "A proud moment came when he was picked to play for his school and then went to Holland with an under-16 side. The plaques and medals he gained with his football were all proudly displayed in his room.”


exams and was due shortly to take his A-levels in maths, physics and geo­ graphy, in the hope of going to university to s t u d y f i n a n c i a l management. His father spoke of the


would obtain his grades, ■I


levels he was doing a lot of homework. They all talked at school of the cramming n e c e s sa ry to g e t to university. “He was confident he


tremendous pressure of all his son’s studying. “In the final year of A-


athletic build made him a natural at sport, but he w a s a l s o g i f t e d academically. He had done well at


for me at golf when he was little and he was a great Nottingham Forest sup­ porter. Brian Clough was his hero," said Mr Berry. At school, Steven’s tall,


his fondness for physical fitness, with weight train­ ing equipment, barbells and a rowing machine crammed in. “Steven used to caddy


His room also showed


foul day, but he was well wrapped up. I believe he was taking the path dose to the river on his way home when he slipped in. “With the trainers he


and walking on Pendle Hi; and on .the day he disap peared had been out “rough walking” locally. Mr Berry said: "It was a


. . . . - - - Tijj


what he could and not to worry about it,” Mr Berry added. Steven enjoyed running


complained of being fed up with doing nothing but homework without a break. He had been feeling a bit low, but had not been suffering from black depression. "I told him just to do


so getting into university did not present any partic­ ular problem to him. “More recently he had


mer who could ' swim a mile at the age of eight, but he would be able to do


was wearing this could easily be done. The river was full and the clothes he was wearing would quickly' become waterlogged. “He was a strong swim­


competitive performer at 9 continued on page 10


interest was sport and in soccer he represented the school at all age levels. “He was also a very


acting CRGS headmaster, recalled Steven’s full involvement in all aspects of school life. He said: “His particular


kindness and compassion shown.” The funeral service is expected to be on Monday at Trinity Methodist Church, Clitheroe, prior to cremation at Burnley. Mr Peter Houldsworth,


as acquaintances are now real friends. The police have done an excellent job and I was delighted at the speed with which the mountain rescue teams searched Pendle Hill. “I will never forget the


wanted to thank everyone in Clitheroe and other parts of the Ribble Valley for their support. • “People I used to know


nothing ag a in s t the current.” Mr B e r ry said he


chief ex e cu t iv e, Mr Charles Kaye, said in a statement: “Arrangements will be made for a full and searching enquiry of all


WITH the Ribble Valley by-election arousing both national and local interest, a Clitheroe shopkeeper has created his own very special “election display.” Renowned for his artistic and varied window dress­


ings, Mr Chris Leeming, of Coneron and Leem- ing, Moor Lane, has created a grand display that has certainly left the candidates “reeling.” The revolving display, which is totally unbiased


1 E F


and took three days to create, has two sides, the first dedicated to the election build-up and the second


sel has revolved fully, revealing a painted statement declaring that “When the ballyhoo is over and the winner takes his seat, there’s nothing like a mug of tea and a little bite to eat.”


paperwork from each of the candidates. Ho


lowever, the story is not complete until the carou­


backdrop of Castle Street and the’Castle itself, with a whole host of paperwork, rosettes and election


representing the aftermath. On the election side, the display shows a painted


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the incidents described and the makers of the pro­ gramme will be asked to assist the enquiry by mak­ ing available the informa­ tion they have gathered. The results of the enquiry will be made public.” The authority was set


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a p p re h e n s iv e when Twenty/Twenty Television Productions approached me in July last year to make the programme, but Gillian wanted the pro­ gramme shown and I could only back her bravery. She is due to be moved shortly to a rehabilitation centre in Wakefield."


Said Mr Darnell: “I was 9 continued on page 10


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