Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified), www.eastlancsnews.co.uk


Good news as crime in some areas of the Ribble Valley is reduced by nearly half


Crime and disorder partnership brings a remarkable change Vivien Mason reports


THE Ribble Valley is now a much safer and more pleas­ ant place in which to live and work after an impressive reduction in crime and disor­


der in the past year. In some areas, crime has been


reduced by nearly half. The Ilcn- thorn area of town, for instance, is claiming M3 fewer crimes than were reported the previous year. Laying claim to the success is


Drugs and Alcohol, Rural Crime and Road Safety. The groups meet on a regular


basis and are made up of mem­ bers of the community including residents, police, councillors, mag­ istrates, youth and community workers, social services, the health authority and schools etc. The inclusion of road safety in


Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Constabulary to work closely together with other groups drawn out of the community. "It has not only reduced crime


the scheme came about because surveys revealed it has a high pri­ ority in Ribble Valley residents' views. At a reception in the borough


the Kibble Valley Crime and Dis­ order Partnership, which was formed in April last year, in response to a Central Govern­ ment initiative. Its aim was to identify problem areas and set about tackling them within a pre­ set target of three years. The aims were to reduce crime,


Mayor's Parlour organised by the partnership group, it was revealed


that the results had far exceeded all expectations with average reductions achieved across the borough in the above areas being as high as 24 per cent, 15 per cent and 20 per cent. Chief Supt Eddie Walsh said


disorder and road casualties by 6 per cent, 3 per cent and 3 per cent respectively through close contact with the partnership's six working groups: Clitheroe Town Centre, lienthorn Estate, Longridge,


and a clean-up campaign. In the town centre, two addi­


and disorder, but brought every­ one together in the community to work and pull together," he said. An audit carried out by the


partnership identified certain "hot spots" where crime was high­ est, namely Clitheroe town centre and the Henthorn area including Edisford, Low Moor and Trinity ward. Here juvenile nuisance was identified as being the main prob­ lem partly due to a lack of suit­ able amenities. However, the creation of a


that the issue of crime and disor­ der had traditionally been a mat­ ter for the police, but the intro­ duction of the Crime and Disor­ der Act 1988 had made a "fantas­ tic difference". It had placed a statutory duty on Ribble Valley


Painters con villager out W of £600


front" scam. T h e y a lso g o t a c h e q u e


for 112,000 from him a f te r a b u i ld in g so c ie ty v is i t , b u t p o l ic e m a n a g e d to g e t i t sto p p ed . Two men were a r re s te d ,


h u t were re le a sed w i th o u t charge, in q u ir ie s a re ongo­ ing ns far away ;is Somerset because a suspicious neigh­ b o u r o b ta in e d a v an regis­ tra t io n number. " T h i s in c id e n t a g a in


em p h a s i s e s how c a r e fu l everyone m u st be in allow­ in g s t r a n g e r s in to th e i r home, or dealing with them in a n y way," s a y s a p o lice spokesman. " i 1 o u s c h o ld c r s n e ed in g


work doing should do every­ th in g th ey can to check th e id e n t i ty an d good n am e of people th ey employ. If th ey are not local to th e area, ask yourself th e q u es tion, 'Why are th ey n ot aide to get such work in th e ir home place'?"


skate park in the Castle grounds has been seen to improve this problem with the Henthorn area boasting a 25 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour, equating to 282 fewer incidents. Other ini­ tiatives identified for improving the Henthorn area include a scheme in the park which could see a shelter provided for the youngsters, a separate dog area


tional weekend-only taxi ranks have been provided in order to allow those leaving the pubs and clubs to find a taxi promptly. This action has already seen an improvement in King Lane. The skate park, though situated in the town centre, has been seen to decrease the number of juvenile nuisance incidents due to young people having something on which to focus their energies. However, the partnership group did report a slight increase in town centre crimes though this was put down to the time of year rather than the inclusion of the skate park. The reduction in rural crime


crime, as is the perception of crime particularly in some of the villages. People are very con­ cerned about rural crime," he added. He wanted to allay fears that a


reduction in crime in these areas would eventually mean a reduc­ tion in the police presence here: "I have not reduced police numbers nor intend to do so," he said. "But what we need to do is look at what we have achieved and how we achieved it." The growing problems of drugs


Attractions of area on show


at Harrogate TOURISM officers from the Ribble Valley made a successful debut at the famous Harrogate Spring Flower Show. They were not there as


flower exhibitors, but to promote short breaks in the Ribble Valley to a target audience. Jane Silvester, tourism


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, May 11th, 2000 3


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was also good news for those liv­ ing in small villages who often felt isolated. "The Ribble Valley compares


and alcohol were also being addressed. It was recognised that 60 per cent - 70 per cent of crimes were committed in order to feed a drug habit. An arrest and referral scheme is to be up and running in July and a worker to co-ordinate the scheme has already been appointed. Ribble Valley Borough Coun­


well with the rest of the division," said Mr Walsh. "It really is a super place compared with other areas. Against national compar­ isons it comes out extremely well. However, any crime is too much


and arts officer, and Mrs Mary Parker, tourism infor­ mation officer, took turns to promote the delights of the Valley to thousands of visi­ tors as they flocked to see this year's beautiful blooms and visit the variety of stands that form part of the show. An abundance of local lit­


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F O R B E S x o I i c i l o r x


CARTER HOUSE


cil's Policy Development officer, Mr Bill Alker, concluded: "It has been a highly successful scheme so far and the partnership is working well. What is needed now is to maintain the success."


erature was available at the Ribble Valley stand, includ­ ing the annual visitor guide, the Ribble Valley Explorer newspaper, the over-popular Pendle Witches' Trail and the stylish Journey to the Centre of the Kingdom, with its sets of circular walks. In addition, entries for a


23 CASTLE STREET CLITHEROE


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competition were collected, with several local tourism operators donating prizes for lucky winners. Jane Silvester said: "We


have now promoted Ribble Valley at several selected garden shows, aimed at our target audience, and we have been very pleased with the level of interest, both at the exhibition and subse­ quent inquiries to Clitheroe Tourist Information Cen­ tre. "We found that cus­


arning to be careful about letting strangers into home


TRAVELLING painters conned £600 out of a Grindleton man with a traditional "money up­


house last week and it was agreed that work should be done. Several men were involved and, after they told the householder that they had run out of materi­ als, he went to the building society and gave them the cash and the cheque. The incident was report­


The painters called at the


ed to the police, but later two men turned up at the house saying they planned to do more work. Police were called and arrested them. But they were released after no link could be established between them and the obtaining of the money earlier. Anyone who can help


with inquiries, or who has been visited by people look- ing for painting or any other work, is asked to con­ tact Clitheroe police on 01200 443344.


Children mark Nurses’ Day


THE Lady with Ihe Lamp will be recalled tomor­ row, on Nurses’ Day 2000, by pupils at Gisburn Primary School, as the nation remembers the birthday of the most famous of all English nurses, Florence Nightingale, 1820 to 1910. To coincide with the birthday of the woman who raised


(he standard of the nursing profession, Blackburn, Hynd- Imrn and Kibble Valiev Health Care NIIS Trust is once again visiting primary schools and Gisburn was (he one picked for a visit in the Itibble Valley. Norses, health visitors and midwives will be talking to


pupils to try to raise the awareness of the nursing profes­ sion. They will he answering questions through interac­


tive presentations. "We know from research that children as young as 10


have already developed very entrenched views of nursing - anything that can help them understand modern-day nursing and use the health service appropriately is immensely valuable as they grow into adulthood," said director of nursing and quality Mr Richard Gildcrl.


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between Warn - 11am *An event not to be missed!! Visit our upstairs Art Department for all your artists materials ,


H U G H T EM P L E T O N (tutor of classes held on QE2) j on Saturday 20th May


,


DEMONSTRATION for ‘ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS’ by inspirational Artist and Tutor


* K aydee BOOKSHOP WATERCOLOUR PAINTING


i 7 Back by popular demand


Op e n 6 d a y s a w e e k Al l y e a r J , • • • v ' lw r r 'M i t iW ’f f 'W i iM v M i


Farewell gifts for a diligent nurse


TRIBUTES written, verbal and in the form of presents marked the long and diligent service to nursing of Mrs Marie Collinge, of Hurst


Green. The last 15 years of her career have


been spent in the treatment room at Clitheroe Health Centre and a thank- you party marked her retirement. Mrs Collinge has been a farmer's


wife and mother of four children as


well as a nurse. She trained at the former Preston


Royal Infirmary and worked at vari­ ous places, including Stonyhurst Col­ lege and Longridge Health Centre before going to Clitheroe. Colleagues in the treatment room


presented her with a watch, there was a sun lounger from the health centre,


and other groups presented gifts too. Mrs Collinge expressed her thanks


to everyone. She is a well-known fig­ ure in the area and is president-elect of the Clitheroe lady farmers’ group. Our picture shows Mrs Collinge


with, from the left, Nora Brassington, Dr Anne Huson, Chris Durkin, San­ dra Ashcroft and Anne Geldard. (280400/6/11)


Pupils ready for star billing in London


premiere of musical ‘Song of Creation’ is fifth work to be produced by talented teaching duo


PUPILS from a Ribble Valley school will be performing at the world pre­ miere of a special musical written to mark the Millennium. The first full perfor-


mance of "Song of Cre­ ation" - the latest extended musical to be penned by the Peter Rose and Anne Conlon partnership - is being staged at the Royal Fes­ tival Hall on Monday. Four coaches carrying


report by Natalie Cox


the 13 soloists, 23 musi­ cians and more than 140 choir members from St Augustine's RC High School, Billington, will travel south on Monday morning to prepare for the performance. A CD of the new musical


Rose, ihe head of music at St Augustine's, said: "Everyone worked really hard to get ready for the recording and now we are just polishing everything up and putting the finishing touches to the show ready for the stage. People are get­ ting excited. "I have been telling them


Speaking this week, Mr


the first time she has worked with Mr Rose, Miss Conlon and the St Augus­ tine's pupils: she narrated African Jigsaw for them in 1986. As well as being seen in


- the fifth to be written by composer Mr Rose and lyri­ cist Miss Conlon - has been produced by Fleetwood Mobile of London and is now on sale.


that it is a little bit like birth - there is nothing quite like the moment of birth in terms of joy and wonder, but the labour pains are part of the whole process." Actress Mary Miller, a


member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, will be narrating "Song of Cre­ ation" on Monday. It is not


London, "Song Of Cre­ ation", which is being backed by the Catholic Fund for Overseas Develop­ ment, will also be on stage at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, on May 22nd, in Liverpool on May 27th, at the Barbican Centre, York, on June 10th and finally at King George's Hall on July 1st. With seven weeks to go, almost a third of the tickets for the Blackburn performance have already been sold.


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