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Big Macs are to be the order of the day as the food chain is given the go-ahead for a Valley outlet.


Low Moor residents develop an action plan to stop a flood­ lit tennis courts sch­ eme.


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Villagers opposed to an ultra-modern £2m. house have gained some power­ ful support.


i page 8 Rail enthusiasts


have given the cold shoulder to a plea for a station to pro­ vide a link for a new enterprise park.


i n i page 3


Two pages of your letters on some con­ troversial subjects.


macamm pages 12, 13


We preview the new Rovers season and tell how a Valley pair are preparing for the Premiership battle.


FOGGITT’S WEEKEND WEATHER: Remaining warm and humid with the possibility of show­ ers.


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News: 01200 422324 Advertising: 01200 422323 Classified: 01282 422331


superstar’s soccer treat


A PRIVATE eye is being used by Ribble Valley Borough Council to check on whether people are break­


ing conditions of planning. They have called in "gumshoes" a t least half a dozen times, revealed plan­


ning official Mr John Macholc. The use of pr iv ate detectives was


unveiled this week in a report which went to the Planning and Development Com­


mittee. Details emerged in an item referring to


an application by Motorpoint Auto Cen­ tre, in Victoria Street, Clitheroe, to rebuild an extension at the rear so they can carry


out MOT tests. Secret observations by a private detec­


tive failed to substantiate neighbours' alle gations that a previous planning condition was being broken by parking outside the


premises. Mr Macholc said: "Private investigators


are used for out-of-hours work. We have used one or two of them five or six times


over the years. "It is not a case of hiring a 'sleuth', an


Inspector Clouseau or having someone peering through a hole torn in a newspaper. "We have a budget to use private investi­


gators for things like this," he said. Garage owner Mr Alan Nester said: "I


am quite flattered that they called in a pri­ vate detective. Talk about a storm in a teacup. I t is laughable. The detective was a total waste of ratepayers' money.


Bumper TV pay packets for the village extras


Almost the whole of Downham recruited for top drama series


MA NY of the re si­ den ts of Downham are h ead in g for a bumper p ay day -


fax: 01200 443467


Editorial e-mail: clilhcrnc.editorial® rim.co.uk


and th e r e w i l l be a bonus if th e B B C ’s "Heart of the Valley" finds a good spot in the ratings and heads for further series. Most of the villagers


4 P 4 & v n o c c & m o v e


have signed up to stand in as "extras" while the cameras roll, transport­ ing picture-postcard Downham back to the 1950s. Each day spent in front of the cameras


earns extras £73. The camera crews are


expected to be in the vil­ lage filming until at least


November. And some of the cast


have confided to locals their confidence that "Heart of the Valley" had all the ingredients of viewer ra t­


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ings success. The project is being


aimed a t the Sunday evening BBC slot. If the first six are successful, fur­ ther episides will be made, and it could put Downham, with its picturesque cot­ tages, bridge, river and ducks, on the television map in a really big way. The plot revolves around


"They asked me to put on


an old pair of trousers and a jumper, but th a t wasn't good enough for them. In the" end, the costume department fitted me out with a boiler suit and a flat


cap." Coun. Hall, Castle


Cement’s quarry manager in Clitheroe, was asked to take part for a second day, but was unable to because of a prior engagement. He is hoping to make fur­


ther appearances as "The man in the boiler suit." For his wife, Mrs Mary


Hall, the filming has pro vided a welcome diversion. She has been a t home for three months with her left leg in plaster following a torn achilles tendon. She said: "It's funny real­


the village doctor played by James Bolam, of "The Like­ ly Lads" fame, and also involves a hardware store, which has been imported to Downham by the BBC scenery department, and a scrapyard with an eccentric


lady owner. Michael French, better-


known as David Wicks in the BBC soap EastEnders, plays the doctor's son. Roger Lloyd Pack, "Trig­


ger" in "Only Fools and Horses", plays a cameo role in the new production. Among the first extras to


be used was Ribble Valley Borough councillor Keith


Hall. Mr Hall, who lives close


to the little shop which has been set up for the filming, came in more than useful to inject some 1950s atmos­ phere into the proceedings. He rode his 1953 BSA


Bantam motor cycle a cou­ ple of times up and down the village street in front of the cameras. Mr Hall bought the 125


c.c. machine for £14 10s. and rode it to work 'every day until 11 years ago. It is in totally original condition - making it ideal for use as a film prop.


ly, the film crew turned the house across the road into a hospital. I t would have been useful for me if it had been a real one. "All the film people have


been very nice. James Bolam, who plays the doc­ tor, asked if there was any­ thing he could do for my


leg. "Michael French told us


they all thought it was going to be a smash hit, with all the right ingredi­ ents." This week a race and a


wedding were being filmed in Downham. The end of the race had already been filmed at the


Worth Valley Railway. Lord and Lady Clitheroe


have made the occasional stroll into the village to watch the filming, but, so far, have resisted the urge to take p ar t as extras. But their heir, the Hon. Ralph Assheton, will feature in filming today. He will play the part of an organist dur­ ing the wedding a t St Leonard's Church. A spokesman for the


BBC in London said it was too early to say when the series would be shown. "All we can say is we have


it down for 2002. We don't even know in which season it will be shown."


HOPING for a roaring success as an extra - Keith Hall on his motor cycle (J13080CAT)


Farmer found dead in an outbuilding


THE Ribble Valley's farming com­ munity was this week shocked and saddened by the sudden death of a


Gisburn farmer. Mr Richard William Beckerton (50)


was found dead a t his home, Leewarden Farm, Gisburn, on Friday. Police said there were no suspicious cir­


cumstances and confirmed that Mr Beck­ erton “had appeared to have ended his life


in a farm building”. Mr Beckerton had not lost his livestock


many farms in the vicinity had seen their


stock culled. He leaves his wife, Christine, sons


Anthony and Christopher, and four sisters. The funeral service is to take place at Gisburn Parish Church tomorrow at 11-30


a.m. The family has requested tha t dona­


tions, if desired, be made to the church or "Farmers in Crisis", payable to "The Addington Fund", care of Mr Robin Clarke, Lowcocks Farm, West Bradford. An inquest into Mr Beckerton's death


in the recent foot and mouth outbreak, but was due to be opened this week.


Town all set for good night of patriotism


PATRIOTIC fervour is set to sweep


Clithero'e this weekend. The town's annual Union flag-waving


"Last Night of the Proms" concert is sched­ uled to take place at 7-30 p.m. on Saturday


at the Castle bandstand. Stirring strains of favourite British


anthems will be played by Clitheroe Town Band, with Miss Frances Price, of Whal- ley, and retired teacher Mr Jim Parker, of Clitheroe, providing vocal solos. Miss Price has sung in many prestigious choirs and


Mr Parker is a former member of the BBC


Northern Singers. Entry to the concert, traditionally used


as an evening picnic opportunity, is free, although members of the town's service clubs will be collecting on behalf of a num­


ber of local charities. Conductor will be Mr Bill Turner, of


Clitheroe Town Band and former head of instrumental studies at Stonyhurst College


for 22 years. Fingers are now crossed for good weather.


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roof of an outbuilding which has had its day anyway. I t is right round the back


"All I want to do is lift by 17 inches the ^ j i _ _i _ • i itu i... 1 n innUoo


where it can't be seen." Mr Nester said he moved his business,


employing six people, into the premises a year ago and, although he attempted to make his garage nice, in keeping with the surrounding area, whatever he did a hand­


ful of neighbours objected. "I even replaced a derelict fence on the


railway embankment with a smart wooden fence and they got up a petition over that. Previously the children had been getting through, swinging on the trees, falling on to the railway line and throwing stones at


trains "Some of them have retired and, obvi­


ously, have


Your copy of our new cars supplement


Council using a private eye to check on claims of planning condition breaches


rtiiaiv Vtnvp nnt.hiTior better to do. For tthree years I ran my business in North Street without a single complaint from any of the neighbours," he added.


othing


town council, who objected to the addi­ tional traffic which would be attracted to


The garage plan was opposed by the


the site. The county surveyor's environment


directorate also objected on traffic


grounds. Eight letters of objection were received


from neighbours, whose comments includ­ ed noise, increase in traffic and inconve­


nience. The committee accepted their officers


recommendation tha t approval for the work should be given.


A hotelier speaks out for Hamiltons


A LOCAL h o te lie r has le ap t to th e defence of "friends of the Ribble Val­ ley" ex-Tory minister Mr Neil H am i lto n and his wife, Christine, who have been ques tioned ab o u t


| sexual assault allegations. Describing the cr uple as


1 "straightforward, sensible and kind", Mr Malcolm Weaving, who is co-propri­ etor with wife Karen of Stirk House Hotel, Gis- bum, says he cannot believe the sex claims allegations made against the Hamil­ tons, who he now regards as personal friends, as well as


I champions of the Ribble Valley.


i Says Mr Weaving: "Karen firs t met Mrs


1 Hamilton at a lunch three years ago. Mrs Hamilton had written a book on British battleaxes and agreed to come to Stirk House to talk about it at one of our literary lunches


I and dinners. "There was no fee


involved and she agreed to donate 30% of money made on any book sales to


charity for research into childhood cancers, which is also the charity supported by Ribble Valley Ladies' Luncheon Club. The club meets here and Karen is secretary. Mrs Hamilton became a supporter and has now attended several of its fund-raising events with Neil, the last being our July


ladies' day." On th a t occasion, the


couple (pictured) had a stand selling crockery. Added Mr Weaving:


“They are trying very hard to get back on their feet. They are a strong couple and she is a real gem. They are friends of the Ribble Valley and now have many friends here of their own. In all the time I've known them, I have never found any evidence of anything untoward." Mr Hamilton was MP


for Tatton in Cheshire and a minister under MP John Major until a cash-for-ques- tions scandal saw him lose his government post and his constituency to former journalist Martin Bell.


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