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Ciillierne Advertiser it Times, September JOth, 1993 Clitheroe 22321, (Editorial) , 22323 (Advertising). Burnley 422331 (Classified) Letters Desecrating our :i*- . . . . . _


NOW that the fall of the year approaches, here is an open letter to all you rambleoiers, drivers, hikers, organis~Jed walkers in the countryside, og


o


u(«.ii «.vi.cx iu <m _yuu ”— •


dmr lovers etc. Thank


■’ ' ‘


gates left open, stock missing and let on to roads, birds’ nests robbed and destroyed or deserted. This is a list of some of the birds and wildlife


Thank you for a trail of worried sheep and lambs,


which have disappeared in my area, some through changing farming methods, but mostly through the influx of people: skylark, piper, snipe, woodcock, gar­ den warbler, storm cock, tree creeper, kingfisher, goldfinch, woodpecker, bullfinch, jay, partridge, pheas­ ant, grey and yellow wagtail, nuthatch, coal tit, song thrush, long tailed tit, little owl, bam owl, peewit, curlew, hare, stoat, weasel. Yes, we have plenty of crows, magpies, grey squir­ rels — they thrive watching you country lovers who


Our present cross potent


reminder AS one of the angry (and now apparently “disgust­ ing and ungrateful”) villag­ ers of Great Mitton, will you allow me to express a personal opinion about the cross base and the points raised by Mrs Bailey, of Billington.


before such a project is u n d e r ta k e n by any archaeological group, research is done into the history of the cross and that any interested parties (in this case the parish council, local people, Rib­ ble Valley Borough Coun­ cil and the county archae­ ologist) are consulted.


I would assume that,


have happened. I am sure that if this project had been completed in this dis­ courteous manner in any other village or town (even Billington), there would have been a s im i la r outcry.


This does not seem to


cross was destroyed at a very troubled time in our history. I t was a time when Englishmen killed Englishmen and families ana communities were divided by religious and political beliefs. No doubt there were many ugly inci­ dents in our lovely valley, including the destruction of many of the crosses.


Mrs Bailey says this


been restored but not all. Surely, in its unrestored state, Mitton’s cross is a more potent reminder of that unhappy time. To the people of Mitton this base will never be just “a piece of stone with a hole in it.” They have always been aware of its history and significance. For those who were bom in the par­ ish, it has always been a part of their lives and, in some cases, of their fami­ lies, for many generations before them.


Of course, some have


when the bus shelter was vandalised on several occasions, but the parish council always arranged to have it repaired and one of those villagers with whom Mrs Bailey is so dis­ gusted very public spirit- edly gave his time and rep a ire d i t . P assing cyclists and other visitors were never aware that it had been damaged.


Yes! we did complain


offer support to a group which wishes to restore crosses to the bases in the area, but be sure that the one you support is respon­ sible and courteous enough to consult other people who also have an interest


Certainly, Mrs Bailey,


in those bases. Otherwise, another vil­


lage may be surprised to find that there is an unex­ pected and uninvited addi­ tion to the village green or roadside verge.


ANNE MAUDSLEY, Great Mitton.


W e l l d o n e ,


r a m b l e r s I SHOULD like to con­ g ra tu la te Clitheroe Ramblers on th e ir organisation of the Woodland Walk protest


find a nest or hide, then, when you have gone, follow your tracks and take the eggs or the young. Easy!


stock from most vulnerable fields at weekends and public holidays, go round and close all the gates and repair the fences after your influx. Closing gates after large parties is always the worst. They seem to like to cause as much trouble as possible.


I know an essential job for farmers is to move


to go to work, school, church and shop, not for town and city people to use and desecrate the countryside.


In passing, most footpaths were for local people


right to exercise them wherever it says public foot­ path” and too many of us have heard the phrase. “Why can’t I exercise my dogs? They won t hurt


It is not the case that those with dogs have a


anything.” Famous last words. COUNTRYMAN.


Tom deserves ten out of ten for effort


MY wife and I feel that the Mitton Green cross.


All right, it is obvious that due to environmental


problems the cross will have to be removed, but to portray Tom Duxbury as a


“former stone flagger” who has just come along and “stuck in two pieces of waste stone, which look like pavement edgings and look appalling,” is comple­ tely foreign to Tom s nature and only proves that they don’t know the man.


irrelevant, but having known Tom for 60 years, I also know that he and his parents have always been devoted to the Ribble Val­ ley, to the extent that Tom’s parents christened one of their sons Chat- burn. He unfortunately was killed during the war.


These facts may seem


this instance, he would feel that he was perform­ ing a se rvic e to the community.


We feel sure that, in


East Lancashire Regi- effort. to


h e r e s ^ o f th ew a r ls a 18 Cleveleys Road, fighter pilot. This is typi- Accrington.


riven by necessity or just pure greed?


I WRITE in reply to Mrs S. Peel, Alan Clarke, F . Braithwaite and “Onlooker” and wish to make the following points: 1. No one from Castle


Cement management has at any time said or written that Castle Cement will close with or without Bell­ man Quarry reactivated. Indeed, it would not be their decision. 2. Peter del Strother to Nigel


has w ri tten


being the “cleanest in town,” I would say what colour is the sky on your planet, Mr Clarke? Grey,


As to 1’imlico Link Road


perhaps? I would suggest Mr


Evans MP: “The security of jobs will be enhanced if the planning application for Bellman is approved. The demand for cement is D u»u umi


pleted by the year 2000. This was CAT front page in 1970 and 1972. Any sign of it yet? Or was it just a


Clarke and ex-Ribblesdale Cement employee Mr F. Braithwaite do some


false promise? Within five years of rob­


research. First of all, Clitheroe


driven by the market ^


job security. I t is impossible to


enhance something which is non-existent, therefore, even with Bellman, jobs will be no more secure. 3. C a s t le Cement


we must comment on your article (16-9-93) on


manner, he would not cal of the man. Armv°the*weelf before war Take the cross down, by r & T d and that he all means, but for good- 'L „ evacuated from Dun- ness sake give Tom Dun­ kirk as^sergeant in the bury 10 out of 10 for


J- H. AND M. TYZZER, Listing building status


AFTER reading the letter from Mrs Anne-Marie Bai­ ley in last week’s issue, I felt that readers should be made aware of the legal implications of the res­ toration” of Mitton cross. The cross base at Mitton (and probably others m


the area) have listed buildihg status. This means that, before any alterations can be made to their appearance listed building consent is required from English


H<U changes are made without this consent, the build­ ing (in this case, the cross base) must be restored to the state it was in when listed.


of the Pendle Archaeological Group, but who did this work as individuals, not as part of an officia group project, were presumably unaware of this listed build


Mr Duxbury and Mr Parker, who are members ing status.


during your interview, in 22 Peel Park Avenue, his usual self-effacing Clitheroe.


We are also certain that, DR M. C. HIGHAM, Ignoring the signs


LIKE the proverbial drowning man, Ribble Valley Borough Council is clutching at straws when it con­ tinues to delude itself and the area s residents on the chance of achieving unitary status under local government reorganisation. Unlike close neighbours Pendle Borough Council,


with an 80,000 population — which constantly warns its electorate of a possible merger with Burnley or even becoming part of a large North East Lanca­ shire authority — Ribble Valley, with a population of only 52,000, persists in ignoring all the signs given


in recent months:


• Amalgamation of police districts. • Magistrates’ court moving to Reedley. • Combining of the two health authorities. • Proposed splitting of Ribble Valley Library


. .. .


di The abolition of the Burnley and Pendle postmark, to be replaced by Lancashire, and the appearance on local television news on September 21st of Pendle s ques­ tionnaire, showing quite clearly its second option — a merger with Ribble Valley — speaks volumes also. Our council persists in stating that there is no


Be warned about


‘bad lads’


WITH reference to last week’s letter, “Warning on TV repair,” I would like to make a few comments.


of some 25 years’ standing, I am fully aware of the various ways in which repair bills can be and are charged to customers.


As a qualified engineer


trade, like any other, has its share of “bad lads” and it is very easy for the ordi­ nary person in the street to be “ripped off.”


Unfortunately the TV


strong wish for a return to Yorkshire. Why then should it seek to meet Craven District Council and Pendle Borough Council (Policy and Resources meet­ ing, August 10th, 1993) if this is against the areas


wishes7The recent Mori Poll figures are not represwita- tive of Bowland, as the poll was based on the WHOLE of Pendle and Ribble Valley. A grand total of 435 peo­ ple were asked “How strongly do you feel that you belong to Yorkshire?” Out of this 435, only 63 of the people questioned lived in the rural area of BOTH Pen


die and Ribble Valley.


the day; residents must ensure their voice is heard and the sooner RVBC makes known its second best choice for the area, the better. The public will then have a chance to comment before the submission to the


I agree with RVBC’s -plea that apathy could lose . . . Commission in December.


ing but no promise was forthcoming. In fact, the meeting was apparently not a public one, as one person was prevented from speaking by being rudely interrupted. I t must have been something RVBC did


I did ask for this at the Newton-in-Bowland meet­ . _ . , . not wish to hear.


At the Clitheroe public meeting, questions and edm- ments were timed — all this when attendances were


. ,. , j


low and few people wished to speak at all. Whatever eventually transpires, the Commission


JOAN PARKINSON, Campaign for Re-entry into Yorkshire, Waddington.


Ill-considered reform


at Stocks Reservoir. The crowd of walkers


IT is strange that our Ribble Valley chief executive is claiming “a genuine consultation exercise when at nine of its lOnublic meetings about “unitary status


came from far and wide. John Whitehead, the chairman, gave an excellent speech fol­ lowed by Michael Hmd- ley, Euro MP, and Michael Carr, both a c t i v e r a m b l e r supporters. Chris Hall, of the


“ iv ti,p Ribble Valley’s case was heard. Congratulations to Chipping Parish Council for


ensuring that Lancashire County Council also had a sneaker at the Chipping meeting on August 23rd. POur notes taken at that meeting show that I:he


London headquarters, underlined the point that where Forestry Commission land had been sold to private owners, 80% of it gave no guaranteed access to


footpaths.!


So the people who did five or eight miles


.


in Gisburn Forest had b e t te r cherish th a t glorious day.


C. S. COURSE, K i r m o o r R o n d ,


Clitherde-v , , \ ,


vices such as the analyst, the libraries and the recoid 0fR


ut the Government, in its wisdom, wants to abol­ ish two-tier systems. The Local Government Review


C


• lie Some of these, such as the poll tax, have already done the U-turn, others are queuing up for it. Is this sensible government?


seems to be yet one more in a long senes o f ° P " sidered “reforms” which are being foisted on the pub-


ARTTltlRAND MURIEL LORD,


'. Nan KingTs Farm, Chipping. 1


services which are best carried out by Ribble Val­ iev and some which should be left to county. If LCC WL abolished, we should have to invent something verv much like it which could co-ordinate the poli­ cies of the boroughs and continue the specialist ser­


Ithe 14 borough or district councils. t has always seemed to us that there are som


countv council is neither wanting to abolish the Ribble Valley nor to become a huge unitary authority. It hopes to retain the present two-tier system, with modifications to allow some of its services to be passed


and the Secretary of State will have been left m no doubt about Bowland’s wishes.


of the bodged-up repair work and the amount charged on some of the items which come to us for repair, after being looked at by so-called TV engi­ neers, they would think twice before walking into the first corner TV shop.


If people could see some


anyone requiring televi­ sion or video repairs, or anything else for that mat­ ter, is ask your friends and relations to see if they can recommend someone reputable. It’s a pity that the disreputable “bao


The b e s t advice to


lads” can’t be exposed. Be warned.


STEVE WESTELL, Westell Electronics, Whalley.


Fact — or


just a load of old tripe?


THE other day I was stopped in Castle Street and was asked


a piece o f information about


our town. I was asked if I knew


whether tripe had ever been prepared in the Pimlico area or Black Horse area. I was stumped by the request and said 1 had no idea, but would ask around. This morning, I asked


mW<.


requirements and we can- work on Pimlico Link not make guarantees on Road until


------—-


was held to ransom by Ribble Cement Ltd and R. Briggs (Tarmac). The companies would not start


quoted 400 jobs in Jan­ uary, 1993. Seventy were made re d u n d a n t by March, with 28 more going in October. Four hundred minus 98 does not make


400.


52,000 Ribble Valley resi­ dents work a t Castle Cement? I estimate 200 or


4. How many of the , Y e m e n i , : x c b u i i m i c


mission would be granted for the removal of Chat- burn Old Road. This is verified in a "Clitheroe Advertiser and Times” report, the following being a quote from a 1970 council meeting:“The council do not like the companies’ statement that they will not pay for the link road unless they get permission to quarry Chatburn Old Road. Coun­ cil would wish the planned development to be linked to the life of the plant; that when the old road has


knew per-


less. A good number of the been worked out, then the workers and drivers do whole works should be


----------------- — - ■ - - r —


not want this quarry dismantled, extension.


5 The existing quarry eroe District should not be “The residents of CUth-


complex is a massive eye- faced in this generation sore in this valley. As to and the next with the the “wildlife” in the quar- shocking dereliction which ries, presumably it is all at present defaces this on a high calcium diet, beautiful part of the Rib- since the only food source ble Valley today, and that is limestone.


forward by Alan Clarke cerned that the present are correct. But, and I day public and future gen- quote- “During the next 10 erations will not tolerate years or so the amount of further disfigurement of Bellman stone is unlikely our local landscape.” to exceed 200,000 tonnes Ribble Cement Ltd and por annum. After that, Tarmac built the link road when Lanehead is largely from Pimlico to Chatburn below 47m AOD (above Road at a cost of towards sea level) the quantities a six figure sum,” but the will rise to about 550,000 council paid for the rail- tonnes p er year and way bridge at a cost of remain at a high level £50,000. They also paid for thereafter.” (See Environ- the Chatburn Road junc- mental Statement section lion, the A59 junction, the page 5, para 3.6).


G The traffic figures put over to the companies con- somehow it will be got


1, 10~


i0 years or so, nearly Ribble Cement Ltd for the three times Mr Clarke’s land from Chatburn Road


This means that, after bridge and £250,000 to Bellman Quarry road


traffic figures will be using to the A59, which was not Pimlico Link Road. Purely “given,” as Mr Braith-


for Castle Cement’s bene- waite stated, fit everyone will have to The companies con- tol'erate an extra 20 trucks cerned made a tidy profit going one way and then from Pimlico Link Road returning each hour. Why and got Chatburn Old can they not use the exist- Road for the winning of ing Tarmac quarry road, half a million tons of free which runs from Bellman stone into the bargain. Quarry to Bankfield The planning application Quarry, which was always for Pimlico Link Road is used in the past?


to quote working hours as main road in this area 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days without a footpath, or a week in the environmen- could it be buried under tal statement. But again, the 12 inches of dust that Castle Cement is pulling has accumulated on the the wool over everyone’s sides? eyes, as the actual work- In late 1971, RCL, Tar­ ing hours on the planning mac and Horrocksford application are in fact 7 Lime Company entered a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days six landscaping schemes, (Environmental Statement including a lake to be com-


Mr Clarke is also correct cles, yet it is the only for “pedestnans and vehi-


and O ver G arage 'OORS


Section 14).


How could they afford pay cut?


IN reply to S. Peel’s let­ ter, may I make a couple


of points. Why should someone in


Billington be concerned with a huge hole being dug


in Clitheroe? She won’t be able to see


it and why should she be bothered about Clitheroe being a ghost town? She lives in Billington and pro­ bably shops in Blackburn. She then starts to crit­


most nights and for a frac­ tion of the money the Cas­ tle Cement drivers get. He worked very hard, too, and I know what I’m talk­ ing about.


other end of Clitheroe, but I wouldn’t want a huge hole suddenly appearing in my back garden.


By the way, I live at the GUNGE.


icise B. Ware’s letter for “untrue” facts about Cas­ tle Cement’s drivers. If they are not, or never


have been, overpaid, how can they afford a £5,500 per year pay cut? The strike, which lasted


w


for a day, was a pitiful protest and the new con­ tracts, which “none of the drivers” were signing, were refused by only two drivers, to my knowledge. As soon as the new con­


So if your husband is complaining, why did he oicrn'l Thorn is nlentv of


. sign?


work for those who are willing, isn’t there?


e e p y


driver for 20 years. It made him ill, sleeping out


My father worked as Deal severely


a friend of mine who goes about our town with his business. He said he did not really know, but he remembers a tumble-down hut by the river’s edge in Brungcrley Park. Could this be the


“spot?” Any help from our readers would be appreciated. Some person might


MR METHUSELAH.


solve this; someone who has been longer in this town than I have.


with culprits MOST people in Chatburn are distressed and worried about what is going on in


the village. We have a lovely play­


WESSEX ELLARD • HENDERSON • CARDALE CATNIC GARAD0R ’ HORMANN


P H O N E f o r f r e e c o l o u r b r o c h u r e a ? P R I C E F I S T


G uardian G arage D oors T e l 0 2 5 4 7 0 2 9 9 9


bing “Chatburn Old Road for the winning of 500,000 tons of stone,” RCL capac­ ity went up from 800,000 tonnes to 1,060,000 tons. It now swallows 2.2 mil­ lion tons per year. Kiln number one, commis- sioned in 1936, had a capacity of 75,000 tonnes per year. The situation now is


Time to sa y stop


I TOOK my children up to the Castle keep on Sun­ day. I was left with two impressions; one was tne


taste and nasty smell — like bad eggs hung in the air.


ried on the wind right over Clitheroe from the taU chimney at the cement works. It was the only chimney working, so I wondered what it must be like on a busy


It was easy to see where it was coming from, car­ . • r m


day. Is that Cemfuel really safe? The other impression, as I gazed over Clitheroe, was the vast distance from that same tall cement


W t lb L l IC V d s l t l l a l i U l U , n u w i n it* * . *-'***••'-


works chimney over to the A59 bypass. Standing there, I wondered if the people of Clitheroe really know what they are allowing in the immediate


. .


countryside. From the River Ribble to Chatburn Road, the land


has already been gouged. With the sight of the smoke hanging over Lhth-


the bypass. TOURIST.


similar to th a t of the 1970s, except that Castle Cement’s lever is jobs, because of the recession. But what about the


Yes, we need a pelican crossing


MY sister and I agree with Amy Carr’s letter about a pelican crossing on Well Terrace. We have to cross that road every day and we


future? Within 10 years it will have replaced the la­ bour-intensive, worn-out wet process with a more energy-efficient dry kiln. This will lead to further job losses and increased capacity. The Castle Ce­ ment-owned Padeswood Quarry in North Wales has over 400 years’ stone and is only 60 miles away. It also imports cement


now.“This enables it to sup­ ply customers in the South West of England more economically and effi­ ciently through imports of cement from its sister companies in Scandina­ via.” This is a direct quote from a Castle Cement


booklet.Since Ja n u a ry , the q u a r ry proposal has already" stepped 300 yards nearer to Chatburn and th e re a re d e f in i te ly designs on the Worsaw Hill complex. Is it neces­ sity or just pure greed?


“NO WOOL OVER MY EYES.”


Lots of pots


A BURNLEY potter of 20 years’ standing is to exhi­ bit at Clitheroe Library. Mrs A. Harris, who con­


centrates on small domes­ tic and ornamental items decorated with country scenes, will show her work from Monday u n t i l October 30th.


Car phone


A VODAPHONE was sto len from a car parked at Gisburne Park, Gisburn, between 11-150 and 11-45 a.m. on Sunday. The unit, which is \


Popular make, is valued at £400.


< $ don’t like it because it is so busy.


LAURA ANI) LOUISA GORST, York Street, Clitheroe.


eroe and the smell of bad eggs in the air, I won­ dered if it is not time to say “STOP” to the destruction, before it can claim Bellman Farm as well, right over to


^ Top brands at rock bottom prices


Small deposit reserves any cycle


Regular payments ease burden later


► No self assembly nightmares


<► After sales service $ ^ Over 200 cycles in stock A.E. HARGREAVES


Moor Lane and Woone Lane. Clitheroe


Tel: 22683


TH E ] *


tracts were signed, you lost job security and gained lower wages, longer hours and virtually a new job.


_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


BAILEE


S T A C K S & S T A C K S o f q u a l i t y c a r p e t s


. . . Massive stocks to clear at rock bottom prices .


DOMESTIC


COMMERCIAL in d u s t r ia l


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7


'*#&£& & “Meat T H E C A R P E T M A R K E T


ing field, which is well- kept and maintained by volunteers, and yet we have had serious damage to six of our gravestones in the churchyard. We feel that the culprits


THREE VILLAGE RESIDENTS.


I


Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday


should be severely dealt with.


ts _ _ OQCft *«Awiri[ini<;H S TR E E T . S K IP TO N - T E L : 0756 792960


»v.


t ■ ■ t i— ■


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