Clithcioe 2232Jf (Editarial)t 22323 (Advertising). Burnley ¥22331 (Classified) Letters
Traitors to the Ribble Valley *
with Ciaten, but to combine with Craven to form a new authority would be foolish.
A,
"’'t*!, kathanne Dyson in last week’s ) Jn,d Times that we have a natural affinity
Craven is at least twice the size of Ribble Valiev in area and a combined Craven/Ribble Valley would be
tive centre in the event of such a merger and I can not see many people in favour of that.
unwieldy, particularly for people living in areas such as LongrulRe. I suppose that Skipton would be the administra
ing the decision and I do not think the Conserva tives voted politically, lioth the Gisburn and the Bol- ton-by-Rowland representatives know how foolish the
I do not think politics should be involved in mak
idea of a combined Ribble Valley/Craven is, so obviously would not vote for it. 1 think we should stick out very strongly for Rib
ble Valley unitary status. We are not alone in these circumstances. I can think of two other authorities in the north of England with small populations who do not wish to be carved up and dismembered. Craven is one of these. Its residents do not want to
ven councillors at the meeting. If this were to happen, it would be the start of the carve up of the Ribble Valley. Let us not show our naivety in encouraging Craven to think we are an easy option.
ft Are our needs being sacrificed?
obvious to say that there is a significant amount of
IT is stating the blindingly
local concern about the use of Cemfuel in the cement kilns in Clitheroe. It seems to me that this is largely due to a yawning chasm of non-information. I accept, as a scientist,
of analytical chemistry to use a blank determination to check for any spurious
ing the cooling process. It could be argued that
that there are no absolute certainties in this life. You could say that the one cer tainty is that everyone who is born will, at some
point, die. However, if you had put your shirt on
either Enoch or Elijah, the bookies would have been laughing all the way to the bank with your money! What does concern me is
effects. In the case of the k iln s , th is r e q u i r e s detailed measurements of the emissions to be made under realistic conditions when both normal fuel and Cemfuel are being used.
the lack of evidence show ing that the use of Cem fuel produces no signifi c an t 1 y m e a s u r ab le increase in the risk to the population compared with such risks as may, or may not, accrue from the use of more conventional fuels in th e m a n u f a c tu r in g process. It is sound analytical
procedures in any branch
kilns are operating at their specified temperatures, then all organic substances will decompose under those conditions. What is less sure is what recombi nations will take place as the decomposition/combus- tion products move up the kiln, up the stack and out into the atmosphere. The molecular energies at the combustion temperatures are nearly six times their room temperature values. These levels are in excess of many of the normal acti- vation/reaction energies in normal chemical reactions. This means that the possi bility must exist of "com plex” molecules being formed, particularly dur
It is true that, if the Why do so many hide
behind nom-de-plumes? YOUR letters columns offer an excellent forum for the debate of local and national issues, always in te re s t in g and often
entertaining. It th e re fo re seems
almost churlish to suggest a criticism, but do you really have to publish so many letters without giv ing the authors’ true identities?
THE appeal by the West Bradford contributor as to the showing of respect for trees opens many reasons why, in Clitheroe, we seem bedevilled by those at present in power to issue felling notices on
Lack of concern over trees
trees.They do this on the assumption that it is possi
ble to forecast which tree is dangerous and which is
not — a popular attitude among those who some how find easy access into positions of running Clith eroe awl district. The fact is, it is impossi ble to make sueh a
forecast. Only recently, three
trees in the Waddington Road area, not on any list, were felled by wind. The tree spirits must surely have been having a
laugh there. The unholy terror and
lack of concern shown by authorities towards trees (a handful of healthy hard woods were felled near Chatburn a short whije ago because they were in the way) is not shared by country persons whose caring attitude would not
on very rare occasions, "name withheld by special request" might be justifi able to preserve essential privacy or personal safety. However, to allow writers to hide behind pretentious nom-de-plumes amounts to being unnecessarily eco nomical with the truth. A letter in your last
One can imagine that,
the probability of any “dangerous” molecules being formed would be vanishingly small, but then so was the probabil ity of the creation of the first complex molecules on earth at the dawn of crea tion — and that happened. What is needed is some
and the gases could then be passed through a gas chromatograph. There are practical difficulties, as th e re a re with any research, but in principle the analysis could and should be made.
Bearing in mind what has happened in the recent
controlled, and indepen dently-monitored research into what is actually com ing out of the chimney stack. What the public needs is to be shown that, beyond any reasonable doubt, there is no hazard emanating from Castle Cement’s use of Cemfuel. As I tell my A-level p h y s ic s students, this means that there is no evidence within the reasonable limits of experimental accuracy. There are techniques
that could be used. The effluent gas could be drawn off, passed through an appropriate filter to remove particulate matter for consequent analysis
past, with, for example, the discovery of the car cinogenic nature of many organic solvents such as benzene, toluene and tetrachloromethane, then surely it is not unreason able to require of any industry that proof is given of the actual safety of any new process before its unconditional use is sanctioned. I am not a Luddite, just a concerned member of the local com munity who is seeking reassurance that our needs are not being sacrificed on the altar of Mammon.
R. J. WARMER, Darkwood Crescent, Chatham, Clithcroc.
Why do they not believe HMIP?
1 DON’T know how many of your correspon dents who have written about Cemfuel are qualified to make a sensible judgement about such a technical matter. 1 do know we have qualified people employed by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Pollution, whose job it is to keep our environment as clean as possible.
HMIP, I’m sure your cor respondents would be cla mouring for one. Now we have one. they don’t want
issue launched a distinctly personal attack on a named individual, the author lurking behind a c o w a rd1y pseudo n y m. Surely, in this age, where every secret is laid bare by the media, your read ers are entitled to know exactly who is saying what and about whom'.'
MARTIN SINKER, Craignmre, Easthaiu Street, Clitheroe.
case of "my mind's made up, don’t confuse me with
to believe him. Could it possibly be a
the facts"?On the question of the town's bunker, another £10,000 is to be spent to deal with a damp problem apparently overlooked only a short time ago. Not so much a bunker, more a bottomless pit.
Has Ribble Valley
against a Lockerbie-type disaster happening to Clitlieroe or the even
I WRITE in replv to the letter of Mr Pickup in last week’s "Clitlieroo Advertiser and Times.
Information not withheld
eroe town councillors has withheld anv information from Mr Pickup, nor have they asked the town clerk
1) None of the W Clith-
to do so. 2) F o i l o w i n g M r
Pickup’s accusations, I have sought advice which confirms that correct pro-
come amiss here, for it is so easy to tick a box on a form and condemn because of some supposed, latent, terrifying power. Country people look on
trees as a natural hazard, like kicking horses, biting dogs, stinging wasps and the like, and do not fear them merely accepting their place in the order of
things.In this age of statistics, could some official say how many trees have fallen on Clitheronians in, say, the
and district. SINCERETAS
on the morning following the town council meeting at which the minutes are approved, copies of those minutes are sent to any of the local press not present at the meeting, to the Lancashire Association of Parish and Town Councils, to Clitheroe Library and to Ribble Valley Borough Council. Such minutes are, of course, available after their approval for inspec tion and copying by any member of the public at Clitheroe Town Hall.
3) The procedure is that,
4) This is precisely the same procedure that took
Please let train take the strain
fut u repl; ins'fo rC I it h eroe station, anew bus station, Uixi rank and eventually the relocation of the torn
, three amenities, together with the .ulway on,
are to be grouped together at last. ‘ - seven! eating the relocating of die bus termmu* to seye d years, to be s i t e d 'exactly in this area, nearer the
town centre and the station. „,.vit.nmr,„nl m,.vbe full information is available for ^ e buses and trams,
thip . S ^ ^ o ; ; r l\ to ,k 'o fX pollution problem and u-se the facilities now b e in g offeredbefore they decline even more than they have ah cad>.
A LOCAL TRAVELLER. i ,r.ivp us important information about the
place during the three years that Mr Pickup was a member of the council and which he did not at that time challenge.
c e d u r e s h a v e b e e u followed.
obviously have to be approved by council, but I can not foresee any prob lems and, as I wrote in a previous letter to you, I shall be happy to support such a move.
5) Any change will
in his quotation from Paddy Ashdown, who wrote: "The Liberal Democrats are committed to the decentralisation of decision making, and it would be inappropriate for
(i) Mr Pickup is selective If wc did not have an greater odds against such
a disaster knocking out the council offices, where pre sumably we already have a comprehensive communi
cation system? A £10,000 wager at such
odds would enable Ken neth Clarke to abolish both income tax and VAT for many years to come. Be realistic, councillors.
Cut our losses and fill it in.
R. HONEYWELL, Wallaford. S:ilthill Road, Clitberoe.
number of vociferous people who want to go back to Yorkshire.
They are helped in their desires by the very small
I deem them traitors to Ribble Valley and we should have no truck with them.
be part of an authority centred on Harrogate and would love to take adjoining portions of Ribble Valley if it would help their case, hence the presence of Cra
Before 1974, it was the administrative centre for Clitn- eroe Borough Council, Clitheroe Rural District Council
Clitheroe is the natural centre for the Ribble Valley. ... . ,, .,
and Rowland Rural Council. Let it remain so.
CHARLES CLEGG, Pendleton Road, Wiswcll, Clitheroe.
Ensured Craven
option included I WRITE in defence of the Ribble Valley councillors representing Gisburn and Bolton- by-Bowland who have been subjected to totally unwarranted attacks by Mrs Katharine Dyson, of Bolton-by-Bowland, in her letter published in the “Clitheroe Advertiser and Times” last
ough councillor to identify at all times with the view point of his/her parish council, although on numerous occasions their opinions may coincide. The borough councillor must take into account the views of the entire Ribble Valley public, not merely those of two or three parishes in a particular geographical area. Between late August
week. It is not the job of a bor
whether your correspon dent, Mrs Dyson, has attended any of these in the south and west of the borough. What the two council-
Clithcroe Advertiser & Times, February 17th, 1001/ 11 ]
W e f by hooligans who pushed on to bus
AFTER visiting relatives in Clitheroe on Tuesday of last week, I was waiting for a bus to Langho at the Salford shelter in Clitheroe, along with three other elderly people, at about 3-30 p.m. Just before the bus was due, a crowd of children from Ribblesdale High School
attention. The following morning we saw all the pupils and found out who the main culprits were. We sent letters to every parent and warned the children that there must not be any recurrence. “I do object to any comment about dis
"The incident was brought to my
arrived and pushed themselves forward to get on the bus first. When I remon strated with them, 1 was met with foul- mouthed abuse, which continued after we had all boarded the bus. An elderly lady on the bus was almost in tears. I realise that, once outside the school
precincts, these hooligans tboys and girls) are not the responsibility of the education authorities, but perhaps it does say something about the discipline (or lack of it) of these ‘enlightened’ times.
SADDENED, (Langho).
• Glynne Ward, the head of Ribblesdale High School, replies:
cipline in school. We have worked hard to ensure a very high level of discipline at Ribblesdale. Last year 11 HMI OFSTED inspectors spent a week at the school. In their report, we were compli mented on the behaviour of the children. The inspectors said: ’The school is an orderly community and good standards of behaviour and discipline manifest themselves in pupils’ enthusiastic approach to work. Pupils are usually courteous and pleasant in their dealings with each other and with members of staff.’ “Any member of the general public is welcome to come into school unan
nounced and see for themselves. Sadly, there are occasions when children do let us down.”
H o te l g o - ah e a d i s o u t r a g e o u s
and early February, Rib ble Valley Council has arranged 40 public meet ings from Longridge in the west to Gisburn in the east and from Mellor in the south to Slaidburn in the north. I very much doubt
1 o rs , now u n ju s t ly accused, have done is to help to ensure that a Cra ven option is included among Ribble Valley's v a r io u s options for detailed consideration, which was not the case at the time of the council’s first consideration in November, 1993.
COUN. PETER EVANS, Wilpshire Ward, 7(i Knowsley Road, Wilpshire, Kibble Valley.
Wrong to change
system that works I WOULD like to respond to the letter from Mr Earnshaw, in the “Advertiser and Times” of February 3rd, asking my views on proposed boundary changes to the Ribble Valley.
Environment Minister Mr David Currie on this mat ter and 1 asked him to pay heed to the wishes of Rib
ble Valley residents. I have myself received
1 recently spoke to change a system which
works and in which most people have faith — the local authority is efficient, with one of the lowest
more letters on this sub ject than on any other issue since 1 entered Parliament. While we must await
council tax rates in Brit ain, and provides an excel lent range of services. We should be very wary
My record unimpeachable
the report of the Local Government Commission, inv personal belief is that the Ribble Valley Council should not be merged with other councils, unless there is a very good reason. It would be wrong to ,
1 1 1
REGARDING “Emigre,” my anonymous c r i t ic , who continues such unwarranted verbal savagery on the fate of Roefield Leisure Centie, the more he writes I begin to understand why he slues away from
ual’s political affinity will be that of another crypto Tory alias Liberal Demo crat and probably profes sionally employed in education. The Liberals on the
I believe this individ
of Clitheme local govern- real ability to delivei (i.e. ment are abject failures, political eunuchs), with the town virtually cut off from further enjoyment of any improved or new services. Liberals only raise taxes and expectations with no
RON PICKUP. 9 Lingfield Avenue, Clithcroc.
• This correspondence is now closed.
town council do not object to public financial support of the recreation centre at Roefield. their substantive argument being that the Ribble Valley Council should bear the greater portion of any council tax charge, on the basis that it pays all the net costs in providing similar services in Longridge and Clith- e r o e — h e n c e m y re fe re nee to t h e se services. A second hunch of mine
Be on your guard against callers JUST to warn people not to answer the door unless
thev know who is calling.
door asking' me about double glazing. 1 was completely taken unawares and foolishly
I luul a young man of scruffy appearance at my
said come back tomorrow when my husband is in. After realising I had told him 1 was in on my
immediately. WORRIED.
is that other Liberal activ ists in Clitheroe refer to the costs of providing recreation facilities as financial losses, which con firms my jaundiced opinion
me to comment on or become involved in an issue which is best dealt with at local level by the locally-elected representa tives of the local people.
Nevertheless, you have raised an impor tant point."
of Lancashire County Council, I proposed a motion outlining ways of b r in g in g more open government to the county
7) At my first meeting
council. The motion was defeated by the ruling
Labour Party.
COUN. IIOWEL JONES, Clitheroe Town Council, Warwick Drive, Clitheroc.
• This correspondence is now closed.
of the misinformed non sense views of Emigre. Finally, 1 am more
nisant than most local ticians of the fickle nature of uninformed electorates and console myself in the teachings according to St Luke, chapter 23, v 34. My record of securing
r v .
own. 1 sat worrying all night. I realise now 1 should have telephoned the police
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IT is ironic that officials can “rubber stamp” our countryside “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” with attendant restrictions on devel opment, and yet can also flout their own poli cies (e.g. Ribble Valley Rural Areas Local Plan) by giving the go-ahead to excessive development, such as lit the Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping.
really unspoilt jewel in the tele. The clients will borough's crown, which hardly be coming to reflects Lancashire farm- explore the delights of the cen ing life as it has been for Trough of Bowland.
opment on this scale, ignoring the pleas and objections of THREE par ish councils, is outrageous.
turies. To allow devel- If the project is suc-
roads which were m s for horse and cart.
The local valley is a nient for the likely clien-
cessful, there would be up act.oulllable to their "pub to 150 cars (plus helicop- ,ic Can they t lheni
which I received from the Ribble Valley Borough Council gave me the impression th a t they wished to be more
The recent "Charter"
ters) converging on this eXp]ajn why they contra- once tranquil valley. :
their occupants can swim, hold conferences, work
And what for? So that
out, eat, sleep . . . all of which could be done in a more appropriate subur ban location, more conve-
beauty?
CLARE HYDE, Moor Hey Cottage, Knowlc Green.
by authorising major development in an area of o u ts tan d in g n a tu ra l
ene their own legislation
Less buzz from Ron,
please I LIKE reading your letters page, but could we have less oxygen of publicity to that buzz ing bumble bee, Ron Pickup? T h e r e are more
important matters. The local g o v e r n meat reorganisation is going to cost us Ribble Valley inhabitants very dear if we aren’t careful.
CATHIE S. COURSE, Kirkmoor Road, Clitheroe.
IN DISTRESS? SUICIDAL?
NEED HELP? Ring the
SAAITAS i
of carving up the area in such a way that locals, who ore at present fully a t t a c h e d to t h e i r authority, would feel themselves on the fringe
of a new one.
NIGEL EVANS, Rilible Valley Ml*, House of Commons, London.
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C a ll o r W r i te lo :
15 MARK ET SQUARE, NELSON
105 NEW PARK STREET, I H IAC KU U KN •
for Clitheroe anil the rest of Ribble Valley is unim- ' " Where is your ’s record of service
take much notice of real achievements of defeated councillors is the fault of the candidate. In Clitheroe’s recent
to Clitheroe? That the electors fail to
elections, the citizens were convinced the Liberals provided a soft option to replace discredited sup porters of a corrupt Tory Government. The Liberals at all levels
Information on grave
MANY years ago I saw a slide show on burial cus toms. One slide showed an elaborate grave/tomb. The inscription was of one Anne Crowshaw, aged 19. The approximate date was 1790s, I think. The tomb was in a graveyard in Whalley, possibly the abbey. Could anyone give me any information on
this? MAUREEN BARLOW (nee CROWSHAW), Pcnsarn, Ceirchiog,
Ty Crocs, Anglesey.
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