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[ Lycra louts", the headline used in last | week's Clitheroe Advertiser and Times to describe the introduction of spot-fines for the offence of cycling on pavements, seems to be an over reaction and will be offensive to many cyclists. The report which followed quoted a
in the Ribble Valley "POLICE crackdown on danger-riding
‘How can you justify Morally bankrupt
such an attack?’ WITH reference to a letter from Ms G. Hulbert, which was printed in last week's Advertiser and Times, I have subsequent ly written to her in the following terms: "I refer to your contribution to the let
| alised by such insensitive headlines. It is understandable for some cyclists to
. police spokesman describing dealing with pavement cycling as a "well recognised dilemma" about which police "would use their discretion." This does not justify your extreme headline sentiments. Most cyclists are law abiding citizens and are not an inferior group to be margin-
o o o o
| space in your columns to support the cause of cyclists, encourage the development of
feel safer on pavements. Dangers in the Ribble Valley include being ignored by some motorists, being cut-up and even struck by overtaking cars, thorns on roads left by inconsiderate machine-cutting of hedges and the few designated cycle routes being blocked by parked cars. I am sure you would be able to devote
| safe cycle routes and help people to cycle sensitively. This could include educating other road users into respecting cyclists, of all ages, as usually responsible and equally valuable members of the local community. Cycling can be an environmentally- friendly, fun and healthy way to exercise,
get to work and to school. A friendly, positive and constructive
| become a high profile Ribble Valley activi ty, resulting in all local residents enjoying a healthier and safer environment.
FRANCIS LAYCOCK. O The reference to "Lycra louts" was
-"fill*
made in a Lancashire Constabulary press release and was not a phrase coined by our reporter - Editor.
Do not abuse the cycle’s qualities
THE term "Lycra louts" seems to have become the general description these days for people who endanger pedestrians by riding cycles on pavements. The Lycra top and shorts have long been
o o o o o o o - o October 16th, 8 days September 18th, 2 days
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used by club and racing cyclists and, apart from a few, this has never made them a danger to anybody. They are very compe tent cyclists and most certainly have more regard for the machine on which they ride, and its wheels, than to bump up and down
pavement edges. I t is probably correct that the word
"louts" is used, but because some of them have taken up the Lycra sports top, because of the advertising on it, this is no excuse to tarnish a whole sport in the way that seems to be implied by some. As a volunteer instructor in the Safer
sional integrity. Since you do not know me, I fail to
ters page of the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times edition of August 5th, in which you impugn my personal character and profes
understand how you can justify such an attack and can only assume that your actions are based on what has appeared in the press and that your motivation is a belief that Coun. John McGowan is entire ly blameless in this affair. "Because of the proliferation of mislead
My views are not
editorial policy WITH reference to the letters in last week's newspaper from Jo Harding and "Panoptic Resonance", your readers may recall that I have also, in the past, challenged your pol icy on pseudonymity in general, and the correspondence generated (unceasingly, it sometimes appears) by the inaccurately named "Democrat" in particular. The problem, of course, is not essentially
with characters like "Democrat" or any other presumably bitter person who feels the need to hide their identity from your readers (yet still has an urge to be pub lished), but lies solely with your morally and intellectually bankrupt editorial poli
ing and one-sided reporting of this issue, the town council has taken the unusual step of making all the relevant documents available for public inspection. I would therefore invite you to visit Clitheroe Town Hall to examine the evidence and to ask me or the other town councillors for your ward any questions that you may have. The town hall is open on weekdays between 9
a.m. and 1 p.m. In the meantime, I would be obliged if
you would refrain from making any further derogatory statements about me."
JOHN WELLS, Town Clerk, Clitheroe Town Council.
respect of cyclists may help cycling to MP consistent on
the housing issue POOR Tim Procter, slated right, left and centre for suggesting that Nigel Evans was "talking down" the Ribble Valley. If con troversy was what Tim sought, he got it in spades, but he’s backing a loser this time! We all know Nigel's genius at jumping on
cy-Morally bankrupt: I t allows, in fact encourages, people who do not have the courage of their convictions, not to put their names to what they choose to write and, furthermore, what they sometimes write is pretty appalling stuff. Yet you give them carte blanche to say virtually what they like without the concomitant respon sibility of identification. That is unreason able. Of course, whilst the majority of pseudonymous letters show no discernible need for any secrecy whatsoever, there are
why they don't want their identity to be known - their views are simply outrageous, and their arguments often puerile. I have to say that "Panoptic Resonance"
welcomed by some WHATEVER happened to constructive criticism and reasoned debate? . True to form, not one fact from my pre vious letter was challenged by my critics
hold and express on legal and illegal immi gration, bogus "refugees" (economic migrants) and Yardi gangsters, etc., are not welcome nor open for debate by some in today's age of political correctness. Yet some will do anything to get their
(Letters, August 5th). In all honesty, I must admit the views I
names into print or their faces on to the television screen. I am not that type of per son. So I will remind Jo Harding that the reasons I use a pen-name can be found on the letters page of the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times dated August 14th, 1997. If the Editor wishes to publish them again, that's
fine with me. Back to the facts and the newspaper
report mentioned in my previous letter about the estimated £2b. a year cost for "refugees" in Britain. This huge sum to the British taxpayers did not include the Koso
vo refugees. It did not include the many caught, in
others where it is quite understandable Tmk^ seven Yugoslavs, one Ghanaian, 12 just one day, at Dover recently. Twenty
Afghans, five Sri Lankans and two from Zaire, all trying to enter Britain illegally. Another 53, mostly Romanians, were also
the bandwagon when it suits, as witness his recent call for Castle Cement's kilns to be shut down if they can't meet the "haze and odour" condition, when he knows full well they can't and that kilns 5 and 6 must cease burning Cemfuel in June 2000 because they can't meet EU limits. Castle (and Nigel) have known about this since 1996, plus the fact that the cash will not be found for an update, so he's not exactly sticking his neck out! By the same token, he can't lose when he suggests that Ribble Valley is going brown, because that is what everyone is saying and I am with them. And what makes it far worse is that the present rules mean that the council picks up the costs, and they can be astronomical, when its planners refuse a housing application which a developer wins on appeal. Nigel's also right to suggest that the
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Cycling scheme I have spoken to both county and police authorities concerning what view we should take in our instruc tion with regard to riding on pavements. I have always been told it was "a low priori ty" as far as the police were concerned. Per haps now that a £20 fine is involved it may rise up the priority list, although it has to be said that Section 72 of the Highways Act has always said: "It is an offence to go on to a footpath by the side of any road made or set aside for the use of foot passen gers." This applies to bicycles and drivers of cars who like to park with two wheels up on the pavement. I have always hoped that what we teach
rules need changing so that councils can properly contest housing developments which they perceive to be wrong. Speaking personally, I found no fault
with those Ribble Valley Borough Council planning staff with whom I liaised during the battle (with Nigel's help) to stop part of CRGS playing fields from being sold for housing. They knew the score and were committed to the borough, and we won. But I shudder to think what would have happened if we hadn't. Similar considera tions applied two years ago when Paul Timson told committee that Castle Cement was causing a nuisance in law, but could not recommend taking action because, if it lost, Ribble Valley Borough Council would be bankrupt. Same principle - but we heard nothing
at our Safer Cycling sessions will enable our youngsters to be able to use the roads prop erly and safely, and then go on to be good, careful drivers. At the same time, I feel this is often undermined by a parent who tells a child: "Put your helmet on" as if this is some magical way of not having an acci dent, and then lets them ride furiously about on the pavement where any idea of "look behind," "signal" or awareness of what is going on around and behind is for gotten. Just watch some of them cross street ends or switch from one side to the other and you will see what I mean. Riding two on a bike or on the back or
front step is also highly illegal and why shops arc allowed to stock tho items that
O O O O O O O O
off-road four track, originated in America where they have plenty of roads of tho type that require that sort of vehicle. In this country, the four track, apart from the ones used by farmers and caravanners to tow, seldom see any of the roads for which they were designed, and the same thing has hap pened with the off-road bicycle. The sus pension is used to bounce about all over the place, and the motor cycle-type tyres enable it to thump up kerb edges. In the hands of "people who ride bicycles," it is a dangerous weapon, not a lot of "cyclists" use them and when they do it is in the cor
make it possible eludes me. The idea of the off-road cycles, like the
rect way. When "Safer Cycling" is next updated, I
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would like to see some reference to cycling on pavements so that all instructors know what they must teach, and it would help greatly if safe use of roads for both cyclists and pedestrians was included in the school curriculum and not just taken up by some schools while others appear to keep it at arm's length. A bicycle is the lightest, quietest, and quickest off the mark of any vehicle on the road. Do not abuse these qualities. It is also the most fragile, and in any accident the rider is likely to come off worst. It is many years since I first started
from Nigel on that onel Sorry, Tim, but Nigel has been consis
tent on housing and on the wider point, which your 'respondents have yet to address, the paralysis of the democratic system, which may have something to do with the loss of power and national identi ty resulting from the rush to devolve Scot land and Wales and become subservient vassals to the Greater Europe ideal.
J. D. MORTIMER, Green Drive, Clitheroc.
‘Patronising views
are challenged I HAVE no wish to prolong the correspon dence regarding development in the Ribble Valley. However, I cannot let Tim Procter's patronising comments go unchallenged. Of course, people have to live some
where, but that doesn't mean that every small piece of rural land must be built on. Whalley, for example, is a tourist area, the walk along the river bank from Calder Vale being a particular attraction. Surely Tim Procter isn't suggesting that this is a hous ing zone where permission should be given for housing, bearing in mind that it would not only be intrusive but also there is no acceptable access.
The provision of 300-400 houses on the ^
Calderstones site should be enough to sat isfy any demand for housing. We all know of the traffic problems at peak times in most areas. I have lived in villages and towns in the South East and elsewhere in the North of England, but have never seen such planning chaos as in Whalley, and worse is to come due to the Whalley Arms car park situation. If past and some present parish and bor
cycling, and during that time I have cycled many thousands of miles. I have tried to bring safer cycling to local schools, both on behalf of police schemes, RoSPA and the county authority. I have also at times been clad in "Lycra" and I hope I have never earned the title of lout. Perhaps it is worth pointing out that the majority of those who ride on pavements without lights, or up one way streets the wrong way, are not clad in Lycra anyway, neither are they cyclists as I understand the word.
BRIAN NIGHTINGALE,
Safer Cycling Instructor, Past National President, National Clarion
Cycling Club, Former contributor "Sprite," Pimlico Road, Clitheroe.
ough councillors and officers had been for ward thinking, planning consent would not have been granted for a medical practice and village hall to be built and further extended without parking facilities. Also, a public car park would have been provided. I am fully aware of planning procedures,
(whoever s/he or they — "nothing can stop us" - are) falls into this category. What a nasty and unpleasant letter that was, and how you could bring yourself to print such bile is beyond me. For someone to criticise the pseudonymity of "Democrat" under a pseudonym (the proverbial kettle and pot) is quite indefensible. Irony is clearly not a skill that writer has mastered. Further more, for "Panoptic Resonance" to pre sume to psycho-analyse "Democrat" on the basis of a few poorly written letters, simply displays an arrogance which is just as naive as Democrat's, and, incidentally, weakens the entirely reasonable basic case s/he was seeking to make — that "Democrat" should stand up and be counted. In a free society, "Democrat" is legally
caught that day. Britain has in the past welcomed many
refugees into this country. It is now some
one else's turn to help out. With the British taxpayers so overbur
dened, how can it be so wrong to say "enough is enough"? Let us also remember that this isn't just
about immigration and "refugees." With out strict controls, how can we prevent ter rorists, criminals and drug traffickers from freely entering Britain? The late Larry Grayson had the right
Column’s cut and
entitled to hold his extreme right-wing views, what I do not feel s/he is morally entitled to do, is to hide those views under the shelter of anonymity, although that alone shows how shallow his/her opinions are. If they meant anything at all, then the writer would be prepared to engage in a meaningful public debate, rather than in argument by megaphone - and a remote
one, at that. Intellectually bankrupt: A survey of
your columns over the years would indicate that, in the vast majority of cases, there is no reason whatsoever for such coyness on the part of letter writers - no one is going to be persecuted or attacked, no one is going to lose their livelihood for the views they hold. They might look foolish or igno rant, but that is hardly reason to allow them to hide their identity from your read ers: after all, it is we, your readers, on whom they inflict their views - shouldn't we be entitled to know who these (often) sad people are? It has obviously not yet occurred to the
thrust is appreciated I HOPE the day never comes when your readers are afraid to appear in print for fear of ridicule or character assassination. I appreciate the cut and thrust of letters for and against Democrat. We are all entitled to our views. This is not a Communist state where some are more equal than oth
ers. If "the right to freedom of expression is a
to use a dictionary for precise meanings - 1 am sure there are others in the same boat. Scurrilous - like a vulgar buffoon. Diatribe - sarcastic or satirical pompous
democratic right", to quote Panoptic Reso nance, why bother to attack Democrat with such a scurrilous diatribe? As I am well past my Biblical age, I need
address. Panoptic resonance - all embracing sym
pathetic vibrationl LIVE AND LET LIVE.
Editor of the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times that we do not live in a totalitarian state in which we are compelled to hide our views for fear of the consequences. What ever I have to say in the CAT, I do not expect, in consequence, to be visited by men in grey suits! Jo Harding has sensibly identified a situation in which anonymity might be justified, but such cases are obvi ously very rare. Indeed, it often seems to me that people invent Latin names just to appear clever. It is equally clear that they fail in that endeavour. Might I make a serious proposal, and
Looking back to
big musical success IN Charing Cross Road, London, there is a very large bookshop called Foyles. I think they were the first people to start a book club. I joined, of course, because all my life
has been centred around books, music and theatre. The lady who ran the business so successfully was Christina Foyle. She died recently at the age of 88. In 1939, she also started the Foyles Lit
hope that other readers will respond to it so that the issues can be properly debated. Anonymity should only be allowed where there is good reason for it, where, as in the case cited by Jo Harding, a letter writer might identify a child, or where the matter addressed in the correspondence (whistle blowing? although there are new laws relat ing to this) might lead to job loss, or make the writer liable to attack - although, here in Clitheroe, I just cannot think of any cir cumstance where that might happen! After all, is it not a reasonable principle and expectation in a free and democratic soci ety that, if you have something to say, you should have no fear in saying it? It then fol lows logically that you ought to declare who you are - otherwise, you should just shut up! Perhaps the Editor might like to tell us
idea when he used to say "Shut that door!” DEMOCRAT
erary Luncheon. This was a monthly ritu al, and at the height of the 1950s, some times 2,000 people attended, some notable, including Charlie Chaplin, Rebecca West, J.B Priestly and Fredrick Forsyth. The worst luncheon that Foyles could recall was that held for Sir Walter Gilbey, the head of the Gin firm. " He spoke for one-and-a-half hours", she remembered. "A man in front of my father fell asleep so he hit the chap with the toastmaster's gavel. The man said 'Hit me again, I can still hear him'." She ran it despotically to the end, resisting improve ment for as long as possible. This is where I come in - the musicals m
the King Lane Hall. It is not always easy to find a musical year after year. Mr L. Hardy asked me to write to a
whether he sees anything unreasonable about my proposal; and, if he insists on continuing present practice, to publicly jus tify that, in a coherent and rational way, to those of us who actually buy the paper?
The Rev'. P. W. SHEPHERD.
but as developers have the right of appeal and objectors do not if the plan is passed, there is nothing wrong in expressing their reasons for objection to the planning com mittee members and asking them to visit the site before casting their votes. It would be a sad day if councillors were
to be intimidated by throats of incurring costs to the council should planning appli cations be refused and allowed on appeal. Equally the same would be true if objec tors were deterred by the Tim Procters of the world.
MARJORIE SMITH,
Woodfield View, Wlmlley.
V I I
© AS usual, Mr Shepherd puts Ins argument in a persuasive manner, but life is never as simple as he would indicate. Of course, we would prefer letter writers to include their names for publication and, in a perfect world, anonymity would only be granted when there was good reason. But here lies the rub: who decides "where there is good reason for it". Certainly, in the hectic weekly turmoil of get ting out u newspaper, sadly wc have neither the resources nor the time to sit in adjudica tion as to who can, and cannot, be awarded anonymity. No, we have to rely on the fair play of the average reader, who generally does not abuse a system which most newspa pers operate. If there appears to be an occa sional abuse of this system, it is the price wc have to pay for allowing freedom of speech. We are clearly in a no-win situation - because, not many months ago, Democrat was accusing us of censoring letters of his which we felt were clearly against the law of the land. Some may have considered the let ter of Panoptic Resonance nasty and unpleasant, but, subject to the laws of libel, he or she is entitled to their view and is enti tled, whether we like it or not, to decide on anonymity, for whatever reason he or she sees fit. If and when a totalitarian state arrives, we might take a different view and change a system which, with its faults, is a workable way of giving people a chance to join in public debate on matters of the day - Editor.
i
famous revue artist in Noel Coward's shows and the famous pantomime dame, Douglas Byng. I got to know this gentle man through a friend who was with melin the RAF in Athens. This gentleman with me in private life was Sir Donald Ross, and he put money in show business. The musi cal suggested for Clitheroe by Mr Byng was "Maritza" in 1949. Mr Byng played this in London just before the start of the war when theatres started closing. His autobiography was the book of the
month in 1970. I wrote to congratulate him, and the guests at the lunch included Stanley Holloway, Richard Hcarne, Danny la Rue, Robert Morley, Mane Lohr and Norman Hartnell. Robert Morley was the chairman of the event. His opening remarks were: "We thank you Lord for what we are about to receive" and Douglas Byng - the main point in tho story - wrote in the book that the unfortunate "Count ess Maritza" ended in London. She is still alive though. I persuaded an amateur society to do the
musical in Clitheroe, and she was a big suc cess, and several other amateurs have played her since. Mr. Byng loaned me one of the costumes he had used in the West End. It was for the burlesque song, "I'm the Pest of Budapest" - I hope I wasn't a pest.
EDMOND CAMBIEN, Clitheroe.
© WILL the letter writer signing herself "Miss Jackson, Henthorn," please contact the Clithcroc Advertiser and Times ofticc. We remind all contributors to our letters
page that names and addresses must be sup plied, whether or not the writer is using a pseudonym - Editor.
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