h *


The Clitheroe ’ Jhe/paper that champions .the Ribble Valley cause Fill _____________________ , .


A “Walter Mitty” lawyer is in court for stealing £44,000 from three wills.


mum.... page 3


Could jobs - or the environment - be affected as Castle Cement goes up for


sale?


Plans are an n ­ ounced for our major gardening event at Stonyhurst College in August.


Views are sought on a possible drinking ban in Clitheroe’s


‘ streets.


Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council is forced to write off £100,000 in unpaid rates and taxes.


A drug-addicted knifeman is jailed for eight months after he bit a police­


woman.


FOGGITT’S WEEKEND WEATHER: Becoming colder but drier with night frosts.


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News: 01200 122324 Advertising: 01200 422323 Classified: 01282 422331


Fax: 01200 443107


E.rnail: Edilorial.eastlancs news@btinteriiet.coni


nr- V 3tS 3 LOSIHS FESHBE|i*|fc ‘No meningitis jab’ decision defended by Tim Procter


EMOTIONS still run high as the district fears more meningitis CclSGS.


group followed a Clitheroe Royal Gram­ mar School sixth former into the list of sufferers - but both are recovering. There has also been another case in


the Ribble Valley. They make up a total across North-


A toddler from a Ribble Valley play­


East Lancashire since Christmas Eve of 12 females and seven males, three of them adults. One child has died in


ents have been hard to convince that mass vaccination should not be carried


out virtually automatically. But the East Lancashire Health


Authority emphasises that, statistical­ ly, the disease is rare and investigations have shown that none of the cases is linked. Some 10% of people carry the


Blackburn. Anxious and in some cases angry par­


germs in their throat, and their immu­ nity is boosted by this - doctors do not understand why some people develop the disease and others do not. However, antibiotics kill not only them but also other germs beneficial to the immune system - so their use has to be cautious. "There is no vaccine available against


. - . .


then, young children will not be protect­ ed.


.1 .. _1 *1 J ______1 1 1__i. nanl-Anl.


all the different types of the infection," emphasises the health authority. This is why mass vaccination is rare and only realistic when a strain of meningitis sus­ ceptible to it has been identified. Even


Abattoir prank slammed House of


mmons critic


A SAWLEY abattoir already facing a serious BSE regulations case was put under a differ­ ent spotlight this week - the House of Com­ mons official order


paper. Officials of Rose


County Foods are very concerned th a t Labour MP Mr Dale Campbell-


Now firm also faces a BSE meat handling regulations allegation" Julie Frankland reports


Savours has used the Notice of Motion proce­ dure to condemn what th e company and the police say was merely a workers' pran k on the la s t day of a meat inspector's term a t the premises just a year ago. I t is understood that he


was "kidnapped" and thrown into a vat of water with red dye in - but ever since the incident has been publicised in union and official circles as much more than this. A campaign was


■U


launched by the Govern­ ment and unions last year to highlight the intimida­ tion and physical violence increasingly faced by inspectors enforcing new and tighter controls towards the lifting of the beef export ban. The Saw- ley case was widely quoted in publicity material - but strictly anonymously - as an example of such prob­


lems. The Clitheroe Advertiser


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and Times became aware two months ago that the incident had happened at the Sawley abattoir. When our inquiries clearly indi­ cated that the truth was somewhat less serious than suggested, we pointed out our discovery to the union. Neverthless the story of intimidation has persisted. Mr Campbell-Savours is


the MP for Workington. He and the five other MPs who have signed the motion - which has little or no chance of being debated due to lack of time - want to know why there was a total­ ly inadequate response to such a major breach of the criminal law. The motion alleges that


bly carrying increased BSE risks.At the time of the cam­ paign about the inspectors' problems, this newspaper inquired why there had been no prosecution. Police revealed th a t they were quite satisfied that what happened was a factory- style "last day at work" prank by employees, with no management involve­ ment. But it had gone wrong, the inspector had been kidnapped and it amounted to an assault. Five men were arrested but, in line with normal procedure, they were cau­ tioned as to their future behaviour rather than pros­ ecuted. This is common where there are no previous convictions and no injuries. Mr Michael Robinson,


m s


confirmed by scientific tests, but the systems of the others strongly suggest­ ed the disease. In the confirmed cases, three were of a type where no vaccine exists and two were of a type where the vaccine is only useful for very close con­


Only seven of the 19 cases have been


tacts. The health authority emphasises the


speed and subtlety of the onset of meningitis, clearly suggesting that chil­


iP P kw '* J j f g g p l * A .V rlMAM otvniiM K/i lirofoViori /llrtctflUf _ n tl1,r 1P.


dren should be watched closely - partic­ ularly babies. The well-known list of possible symptoms should be regarded as a general guide only - it is vital that medical attention is sought immediate­ ly if anything unusual develops. Fever, rash, dislike of light and vomit­


ing are all conditions which should ring alarm bells. Medical attention should be sought immediately via the family doc­ tor or hospital casuality unit. The local situation is being kept under close review.


j


- r vertiser an imes Thursday, January 28th, 1999 No. 5,873 Price 45p A -


lit v' : r‘ >iV'“ 31 — ....


i t


Widening of abuse inquiry denied


Controversy in cinema saga


FEW comparable issues


have caused as much con­ troversy on our letters page as the future of Clitheroe's civic cinema.We have received contri­ butions, both lengthy and brief, from the council com­


MYSTERY surrounds widespread press, broadcast and teletext reports that the Stony­ hurst pupil abuse


Coronation Street treat as Maxine proves big tonic for cancer girl


Rose County Foods manag­ ing director, emphasised this week that the incident happened under a previous management. However, the inspector had been thrown into a vat with red dye in it, not offal. His clothing had been damaged and the men responsible had come to an arrangement with him about payment. The court action faced by


by Vicky Carlin


CANCER sufferer Sarah Jane Greenwood received a special birth­ day present when she met Corona­


tion Street's Tracey Shaw. Sarah Jane (16), of Hellifield Road,


the company arises from evidence supplied by a dif­ ferent inspector much later


'Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries says that the prosecution is under the new series of reg­ ulations introduced a year ago to further reduce the risk of BSE-contaminated material entering the food chain. A number of other firms in various parts of the country have faced similar


last year. A spokesman for the


action. Maximum penalties -


the inspector had been intimidated and threatened on the premises, escaped through a window, went to a cafe but was kidnapped, bundled into the back of a car, taken back to the plant and thrown into a vat of "specified risk material" - waste meat products possi-


depending on the serious­ ness of the case and the court's view - range right up to the closing down of premises involved. The firm is due to appear


ed.


Bolton-by-Bowland, is currently undergoing radiotherapy treatment at Christie Hospital, Manchester, and was chosen by nursing staff to take part in a Granada TV programme for


Live Challenge '99. She said: "The programme organisers


wanted a young girl currently undergo­ ing treatment to be in the programme, so they wrote to the Christie Hospital. The letter was passed on to the oncolo­ gy department, the doctors asked around to see who would be ideal to


take part, and they chose me." Despite initial nerves, Sarah Jane,


who celebrated her birthday on January 18th, thoroughly enjoyed her time in front of the cameras and particularly enjoyed meeting(above) actress Tracey, who plays hairdresser Maxine Heavey. She said: "Tracey was brilliant and really down to earth. She took my address and is going to send me all the cast's auto­


graphs." The pair spent more than two hours try­


before magistrates at Blackburn on Monday, but an adjournment is expect­


ruary 19th.


ing on wigs in front of the cameras, with Sarah Jane opting for a blonde one, while Tracey decided to go brunette. The result is expected be shown on Granada on Feb­


At present, Sarah Jane receives treat­


ment every three weeks, when she has to spend four days in hospital. She comment­ ed: "I am coping very well at the moment, but the treatment means I have lost all my hair and my mouth is very sore." Despite having off days, Sarah Jane is


able to go to school and enjoys outdoor sports and riding her horse, Sherak. She is also one of 16 pupils from Bowland High School heading for Malta next month for a series of international netball matches. Currently studying for her GCSEs, she


that there was no change from the situation of several months ago. The inquiry continues, but has not been widened. However, inquiries are going back many yearn. The police are still


or heard the reports, which were even on the Internet but were denied by the police. A force spokesman said


inquiry is widening. Many local people read


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appealing for anyone with information to contact them, in confidence. It is emphasised that no current pupil is at risk. The head of Stonyhurst's


preparatory school, Robert Francis O'Brien (56), now faces six charges of indecent assault. They go back from June, 1998, to September, 1972.


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hopes to pursue a career as a PE teacher. "I would like to go to Sixth Form," she said, "but because I have missed quite a bit of school I will have to see how the exams go. At the moment I am looking out for good


college courses." Would she now fancy a career in televi


sion? "Who knows," she laughed. Live Challenge '99 is a year-long charity


initiative backed by Granada and Border TV to raise money for children and young people in the two regions. Teams from more than 20 regional and national busi­ nesses have been raising money to benefit a range of charities, including The Christie’s Against Cancer Appeal, which is a project to identify and research genes which cause cancer. This research could develop chemothera­ py treatment directed only at the tumour


cells, and result in no hair loss. The results of the year's activities will be


revealed during a Celebration Weekend on February 19th to 21st, when the teams will present their cheques during a programme on Granada TV at 10-40 p.m. on February


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several others. One contributor makes a


controversy with a letter to us, an 11-year-old boy, and


70-mile round trip every week because he loves the


mittee chairman involved, the? man who Jins stokod tho


cinema! Arrangements are being


made to put it on the mar­ ket, but there are other alternatives as well. The latest views are in


Letters to the Editor on page 10.


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