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i . TiVi 1 Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


Massive profits leap for Ultraframe — and workers are on to a winner, too


"CUSTOMERS continue to perceive conservatories as desirable, cost-effective home improvements," says the annual report of


,£lm.-a-week turn o v er Utraframe pic. The company, floated on


the Stock Exchange four months ago, increased its profits by 68 per cent in the year to the end of Septem­ ber.


has a controlling interest. Profits to September 1996


were £7.36m, but 1996-7 totalled £12.8m. Earnings per share went up from 6.1p to 9.5p. An interim dividend will be declared to be paid in August and there will be a final one for the year paid in March next year. In their reports, chairman Mr


Don Greenhalgh and managing director Mr Ian Robinson seek to explain the company's success.


have a stake in Ultraframe and few have sold many of their shares yet. The firm is one of the best examples of a management offering a large proportion of its company to the workforce - though the Lancaster family still


Very nearly all the employees


They emphasise, its careful expansion forward and the way it will keep ahead of competitors in an expanding market at home and overseas. "The improved result was


controls" go back many years at Ultraframe, remarks Mr Green­ halgh. They remain as important as ever in the company's smooth progression from a well run inde­ pendent business to a strong pub­ lic company which is raising its profile both at home and abroad. Managing director Mr Robin­


gh, welcoming new shareholders and paying tribute to the loyalty and enthusiasm of the workforce. "Strict financial and operating


son describes how the company has increased efficiency of opera­ tions at all levels, with specialised


attributable to three major fac­ tors - strong organic growth, improved operating efficiencies and continued product innova­ tion," summed up Mr Greenhal­


profile and sheet-cutting machines, computer-aided mate­


rial use choices and improved office systems. "Our customers are already enjoying the benefits that these new products offer in reducing site installation times", he says.


Parish council plans fund to fight mine plan


cil is too - it is planning to


WOULD-BE Rimington zinc mining firm Auvista Minerals is not the only organisation prepared to spend cash on its venture. The village's parish coun­


TIM PROCTER REPORTS


put money in the 1998-9 budget, effectively as a fighting fund in the almost certain event that members will strongly resist any bid to mine.! The Rimington and


Middop Parish Council has a solid record of well-organ­ ised opposition to threats to the area's well being. It looks certain that members will live up to it on this lat­ est occasion. "It seems very likely that


the issue last month, coun­ cillors felt it wise to ensure that money would be avail­ able for public meetings, posters and other expenses if needed." The issue will be top of the agenda at the meeting


any planning application will be opposed," says clerk Mr David King. "When they discussed


■ next" m o n t h /—- — But Mr King is keen to


point out that it will be some considerable time before Auvista will be able to decide whether to apply for mining permission or not. He says that the pre­ sent drilling, scheduled to go on for another week or even longer, is only the first phase of exploration. As we reported last week, compa­ ny geologist Mr Mark Davey has said it could be years before there is any further work. Mr King told us: "The


the only consent the com­ pany needed was to draw


off water from nearby stream. Local people believe that


meeting with parish coun­ cil officials and emphasises to everyone that the com­ pany would not wish to disrupt the area. The drilling does not need planning permission -


veins visible on the surface, or even just below it, can­ not give a true picture of what is further down." Mr Davey has had a


the strength of the opposi­ tion to even small scale mining would defeat any planning application. But the company might seek to use only a few vehicles and people, the same numbers as a farming operation. Given Government policies to make the best use of nat­ ural resources, Auvista might well be confident it could win, subject to strin­ gent conditions. Certainly it would be


INGS END


■ Open Adit (drift) * Vein * Vein - Inferred a Strata! dip ■ Footpath* ■ Inhabited buildings


unlikely to seek permission for operations on the scale of the 1880s, when there were shafts and drifts. Sev­ eral hundred tons of barytes was dug out every year and as many as 40 people were employed.


■ Skeleron Wood


A * Ashworth* shaft C * Ox Close shaft P - P u d s e / i Bell Pits (I5SA-I429) V V > Whalley's shaft (1920)


Y ■ York fc Lancaster Lead Mine (1874 * 1892) S ■ Possible site for smelt mill


THIS plan of the silver, zinc and lead mining area at Skeleron has been drawn by Rimington parish clerk Mr David King. He has gone to some trouble to collect data from various sources, ranging from old books to the Internet to compile a detailed briefing for councillors on the whole issue. The sketch is just part of it. "S" on the lower left-hand side is believed to be the site of a smelt mill on the banks of Ings Beck.


Duo joining forces to make sure no one in Sabden falls foul of the law


Other villages may follow if ‘Dog Watch’ scheme succeeds


)OG owners in Sab- len are to come m d e r 'sc ru t in y as iart of a scheme to to p them falling


oul of the law. Village residents,


mgered by increasing md persistent dog ouling with its threat ,o public health, have von the support of )oth the parish and itibble Valley borough :ouncils, which are oining forces to help ;hem tackle the prob-


em. Starting on Monday,


(Vesley Street through to Stubbins Lane will be lesignated a "Dog Watch


\rea". For the next sue to eight


weeks, Ribble Valley Bor- jugh Council’s deg warden ind pest control officers Mrs Penny Evans and Mr lohn Brennan will step up


village patrols. They will target all


those seen out with dogs to warn them of dog fouling legislation, which makes it an offence not to remove faeces from footpaths, verges and municipal open


spaces. Primed to take action if


their warnings are unheed­ ed, they are also leafleting homes and erecting street signs with parish council


help. They want householders


to put dog watch stickers in their windows and to report on neighbours who fail to scoop poop. Said Mrs Evans: "We


want the public to police themselves. Dog fouling is a very frustrating problem. We receive many calls for help, but we all need to join together to tackle the


issue. "However, we have


found that by concentrat­ ing our efforts on a desig­ nated area for a specific period of time, we can raise public awareness and achieve a clean up." Employed by RVBC's


Mayor keen | ..to strike up the


town band


CLITHEROE Mayor Coun. John McGowan is calling on local musicians who may be interested in re-forming the old town band. He first expressed an


than a quarter in the year reflects increased demand and a strong customer base, says Mr Robin­ son. The use of standard modular constructions in conservatories and roofs for homes has declined in favour of more emphasis on individally designed ones, increasing the average size and cost of jobs. "Limited market penetration"


The sales increase of more


patent applications have been lodged. "All products undergo rigorous


testing both in-house and at spe­ cialist centres to prove their integrity and longevity," he points out. , Continued success remains


by portal frame products in the leisure and commercial markets was tackled by the formation of a stronger sales and tendering


dependent on the abilities and skills of employees, who have shown "great dedication" in com-, pleting the additional workload imposed by the flotation process. "I am confident tha t the


team.There has already been a 50 per cent increase in enquiries. Research, development, inno­


results of their continuing hard work will be appreciated by all


vation and new product intro­ duction has continued, says Mr Robinson, and high quality new products will be attacking vari­ ous market sectors. Some 22 new


/ RIMINGTON TO


our new shareholders," says Mr Robinson. The company’s annual meeting


•will be on March 3rd at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.


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interest in creating Clitheroe's own band at the beginning of his jnayoral year last April and plans are now under way to assess public opinion on the subject. Clitheroe will be hosting


£ n


environmental health department, the officers have won praise for their dog watch scheme, which was launched last year. Its success was proved


five concerts this year and it is felt that, as other musi­ cians will be playing here, it would be nice to have the town's own band playing alongside them. Local people who have a knowledge of the previous town band and who would like to form another are being encouraged to con­ tact Town Clerk Mr Peter Roberts with their views. If sufficient interest is gen­ erated from the public, a meeting will be called to get all the interested par­


by trial in Henthorn, Whalley and Barrow, and with the government set to introduce new spring legis­ lation to increase dog foul­ ing penalties, other coun­ cils nation-wide have been looking to the Ribble Valley for advice on creating their own similar clean up pro­ grammes. (260198/8/14)


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ultimately be looking for sponsorship and it is possi­ ble that the town council itself will provide some financial backing. Anyone wanting to get


ties together. The new band would


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involved with the forma­ tion of a new town band can contact Mr Roberts at Clitheroe Town Hall, 9 Church Street, Clitheroe, tel: 01200424722.


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