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Established for over 35 years


Villages on the A59 should be bypassed


WITH reference to the article headed "Young Lives at Risk" on page 12 of your issue a fort­ night ago, I live on the A59 at Clayton-le-Dale and could have written an identical piece about our section of the road! Many of the thou­


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sands of vehicles which come through Gisburn also come through Cop- ster Green, but added to this are the hundreds of trips which the convoys of cement and quarry lorries make from very early morning to very late at night. They shud­ der and screech when they pull up at the traf­ fic lights, and belch exhaust fumes when they move off again - not to mention motor cyclists who think they are on a section of the Isle of Man TT course. The road here is so


narrow that visiting cars park on the pavement, forcing pedestrians to walk in the road to pass. I agree it is about time


that these two villages were bypassed. The vol­ ume of traffic has not visually reduced on this road, despite the M65 extension being opened. The stretch between


Copster Green and Gis­ burn is a fast one, having been refurbished and partly dual carriage- wayed over the past few years. Did I not read some­


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where in your paper a couple of years ago that our MP, Mr Nigel Evans, was a champion


of small bypasses? Per­ haps county councillors


Albert Atkinson and Chris Holtom would like to get together with the MP, and maybe the Euro MP, to spearhead a bat­ tle to get these two bypasses built - not in five or 10 years' time, but now. Make this our Millen­ nium project.


A. GALLAGHER, Longsight Road, Clayton-lc-Dale.


Anger and frustration at local police radar trap


LAST autumn I too stopped and chal­ lenged the validity of the actions of the police outside Chatburn, and I can fully endorse the anger and frustration of your correspondent of last week. I noticed three policemen manning a


radar trap and was astounded and dis­ gusted to see they were still there some considerable time later, on my return jour­ ney. So I stopped to ask why it took


THREE highly-paid officers to appre­ hend a speeding motorist. I also suggest­ ed that their time would perhaps be bet­ ter spent seeking out drunk and drugged drivers, drug pushers, thieves, stolen cars (of which we have had four), etc., etc., which seem to attract little police atten­ tion. The officers said they were protecting


children. Why then were they not patrolling outside school premises, where it is known that pushers sell drugs to chil­ dren on a regular basis? Many more chil­ dren’s lives are wrecked by drugs than by normal motorists. I suspect that speeding motorists, doing


40 as they approach the sign, are an easy target, no administration required, no effort necessary. These same policemen expect us to sup­


port them. I would suggest that they con­ sider the harm they do to their PR when they deliberately set out to antagonise sensible, socially-responsible people. They do their hard-working, dedicated col­ leagues no favours.


J. HOLT, Manorfields, Whalley.


High time these traders stopped their moaning


CONGRATULATIONS to the council for its approval to the application by Sainsbury's to develop the site in Whalley Road, an area which, without similar financial resources, would have lain derelict for years. The attitude of retailers


to get the application referred to the Govern­ ment, under legislation designed to prevent too many big stores being built, is no credit to the town. I, and many townsfolk,


well remember the days when we had 14 butchers, and a similar number of grocers plying their trades. They didn't complain of unfair competition, they buckled down - improved their service, kept prices as low as possible, and sur­ vived for decades. Admit­


tedly, there were no super­ markets in those days, but each shopkeeper had at least 13 competitors! Our main streets have


many very good specialist shops, supplying quality goods, and determined to stay in business with per­ sonal service and good rela­ tionships with their cus­ tomers — this attitude will always attract customers. The fact that we have


shops of the high quality of Booth's, Tesco, and, hope­ fully, Sainsbury's, is a cred­ it to so small a town, and will be an added attraction to visitors who are used to availing themselves of high-class facilities, and who also appreciate the services of the individual shops so often unavailable in larger towns and cities. The article in last week's Advertiser and Times ends


with reference to the plight of shopkeepers adjacent to the proposed development. Being very conversant with the area, I cannot for the life in me see how any of them will be affected - the majority being fast- food outlets. No longer are the younger generation willing to accept trailing their families around cold wet streets in winter, when they can park and shop in warm pleasant conditions, and rightly sol It's high time our Cham­


ber of Trade realised this, and stopped moaning, or we shall end up with even more charity shops.


GEOFF SAINSBURY, Beverley Drive, Clithcroc.


Is this costly Ribble Valley late-night taxi ride a sting?


MAYBE it's me at fault because it is so long since I used a taxi, but I would like to thank the driver who recently charged me £2 for a ride of just slightly less than one mile. It lasted about two and a half


minutes about 10-45 p.m. last Saturday night, allowing for getting in and getting out, and payment. The experience con­ vinced me I will not be using a taxi for a longer period than


before! The driver was not going out


Latest recruit local champion


CITY quality with Clitheroe sense and service is the winning combination embodied in a local law firm, whose lat­ est recruit is destined to become a new


local champion. Already one of the area's most successful legal


practices, Houldsworth Taylor has built its rep­ utation on efficiency and professionalism, but not at the expense of client care. Now, having attracted its newest recruit from


a prestigious London law firm, it believes its unrivalled team of legal experts can offer the most complete legal service anywhere in the


area. After 12 years in the capital, litigation spe­


cialist Mr Anthony Phelps LL.B. has returned to his Lancashire roots as head of the practice's litigation department, which offers clients advice and assistance in personal injury claims, contractual disputes, landlord and tenant mat­ ters, employment law and commercial disputes. Having already championed the cause of indi­


viduals, trade unions and professional bodies, including the Police Federation, Mr Phelps' appointment is regarded as a unique bonus for the practice and the Ribble Valley. Said senior partner Mr John Houldsworth:


will make appointments outside normal office hours when necessary, as well as send its solici­ tors out on home visits. For visitors to its attractive, award-winning


listed building offices at Pullman House, in Duck Street, Clitheroe, there are childcare facilities and wheelchair access. The high level of care and support offered to


clients is also extended to staff. The practice has 14 employees, four of whom are fee-earning solicitors, but all members of the firm are encouraged to undertake continuing education


and training.


of his way; after I flagged him down he was on his way to pick up another fare about 20 yards from where I wanted him to


drop me off. Am I being unreasonable, or


was the £2 charged a sting? I can get 13 large sliced loaves of bread plus change back from my £2 at a local supermarket. What do other readers think?


FOOT SOLDIER AGAIN, Clithcroc.


Environment Agency claims disputed by campaigners


I HATE to be a party pooper, but the clean bill of health claimed by the Environment Agency for its telephone hotline last summer, and which last week you headed "Air toxi­ city levels were not exceed­ ed in 90 samples", was made possible only by declaring "spurious" (false, counterfeit, according to the dictionary) on the grounds of contamination the result of the sample taken in the through lounge of this house on August 16th, 1997. For the record, foul


smells IN our house and those of our neighbours had been reported a few days into the Cemfuel ban of August lst-18th, 1997, especially in the early mornings. This was before the Woone Lane Environ­ ment Agency hotline office opened at 8-30 a. m. and were particularly awful on the 16th. We reported them to the national hot­ line at 6 a.m. and to Woone Lane at 11 a.m. after fail­ ing to make the house hab­ itable again by leaving doors and windows openl Even so, the sample still


contained levels of toluene in excess of those permit­ ted, and other substances, for which, according to the contamination ruling, WE were apparently held responsible! What contam­ ination, I ask; and what might the level have been if we hadn't opened the win­ dows; and what was it that invaded our house? I'm sure it is not the


first time that something has been declared invalid,


Put up sign to warn the dog owners


I WOULD like to support the letter in your newspaper regarding dog fouling. It is a continuing problem which I think I


may have solved, outside my house anyway. I telephoned Ribble Valley Borough Council,


who contacted the dog warden, who with my permission put a fairly big sign on my wall and, fingers crossed, I haven't had any fouling since the notice went up. On the way to work though, right in the path,


yes, you've guessed it, dog faeces. Hoping this letter may help other readers


with this continuing problem. CONCERNED GRANDPARENT.


rather than face the conse­ quences, and it won’t be the last.


Your readers may recall


that August 16th was also the day on which the Bal­ moral Estate, Clitheroe, was showered with dust, dust which the residents said came from the tall Castle Cement chimney and which the Environ­ ment Agency decided, after much deliberation, had "come from a cement works" but was unable to say which one. Oh dear, oh dearl Finally, your readers


might like to consider the Environment Agency's enforcing of the "haze and odour” notice which came into force on April 1st, for which Castle Cement has had almost two years to prepare, which says there shall be no PERSISTENT haze OR odour present at ground level outside the site boundary which causes offence. At first sight, the agency


seems to be doing a fine job, following up com­ plaints with a spot and a home visit for, I under­ stand, 24 hours of the day during this month of April. But its definition of "per­ sistent”, which it has flatly refused to reveal, raises sus­ picions as to motive. And what will happen after April 30th? Without wishing in any


way to decry the staff, I think they may have been briefed to interpret "persis­ tent” as "continuous". Experience to date sug­ gests that they expect any haze or odour to offend CONTINUOUSLY for an unspecified period, with anything under two hours classed as "intermittent". "I suggest that a more accurate definition would


be that used by the police about crime figures, where­ by the persistent burglar was defined as the one who offends, goes away, then offends again, just as the haze or odour may offend, go away, and offend again. Not that they don't


offend continuously - know what I mean?


J. D. MORTIMER, Green Drive, Clitheroe.


Egg-citing time at school


PUPILS have had an egg­ citing time at Sabden County Primary School.' For the past three weeks


they have been waiting egg-spectantly for a clutch


of hen eggs to hatch. A power cut left young­


sters and staff "shell­ shocked", as it meant there was doubt over whether the eggs would have been


Thankfully, 18 fluffy yel­


low chicks emerged from the clutch of 30 in the mechanical incubator. "Everyone is very


pleased. The children have loved it. It led to a lot of questions, such as why their eggs at home did not hatch," said head Mrs San­


dra Dundon. The hatchings have


formed part of the pupils'


school work. Before the Easter holi­


days, the chickens left school for a new home on a local farm.


Naturalists


brave weather MEMBERS of Clitheroe Naturalists' Society braved the cold northerly wind on their first walk of the sum­ mer programme, which


started from Wiswell on Good Friday. After a stiff climb to the


wireless mast on Wiswell Moor, the group of 17 sought shelter in the disused quarry for their lunch before descending to Moor Lane and Read Old Bridge, via Read Wood. After another climb to Portfield, the party had a pleasant surprise to find many bluebells in flower in Spring Wood, an early, but welcome sight. In all, 20 different flowers


were noted and the walk ended in Whalley. Mrs M. Nutter proposed a vote of thanks. The next walk will be on


Saturday to Whalley, departing from Clitheroe at 10-30 a.m.


Bridge winners


AN Easter celebration bridge drive was held at Pendle Club, Clitheroe, when the winners were Mrs D. Hinde and Miss A. Yates, with Mrs A. Butler and her partner in second place.


a new Three members of staff are also working


towards Legal Executive qualifications. Its support staff, such as receptionists and


secretaries, all hold level three NVQ certificates in customer care, computer skills and manage­


ment. The firm's other partner is Mr Philip Taylor.


A specialist in advising the elderly, his domain of expertise includes the legal implications sur­ rounding probate, trusts, inheritance tax and wills. Married with two children, he rejoined the


firm in 1996 from a leading Cheltenham prac­ tice, having served his articles with Mr Houldsworth some years previously. Added Mr Houldsworth: "Reputation is key


to a law firm and, at Houldsworth Taylor, we have all worked hard to ensure ours is second to none."


IT Advertisement feature t-A i- ■:


r . QUALITY of life and sense of community were


"There are few solicitors working locally with Anthony's experience. Having him here is there­ fore good for the practice and for Clitheroe." He added: "Anthony's appointment repre­


sents our commitment to our clients and their current and future needs. We aim to be the best and, to do this, we have to have good lawyers, but being the best lawyer in the world is no good if people don't like you. "Our team is therefore carefully selected and


we pride ourselves on being approachable and flexible. We like to think of ourselves as com­ bining enthusiasm and modern practices with traditional values." As evidence of this, the firm offers free initial consultations for personal injury claims, and


factors in Anthony's decision to bring his family and legal expertise northwards. Living at Withgill Fold, near Clitheroe, he is married to Nichola, who is also a solicitor and who lends her expertise in commercial property law to the prac­ tice when the demands of bringing up three young children, the youngest of whom was born on April 1st this year, so permits. A keen Blackburn Rovers fan, Anthony


enthused: "The Ribble Valley is a beautiful place to live with friendly people and superb country­ side. From a legal standpoint, however, the chal­ lenge is most definitely as interesting and rewarding as in the big city."


HOULDSWORTH TAYLOR te , m fijil V.: f 11 .1* lj ■lAjii b


Pullman House, 2 & 4 Duck Street, Glitheroe. Telephone: (01200) 422152 Fax: (01200) 428983 *. J. i ♦S/' r 1


INVESTOR IN PEOPLE m i IN-I


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