Thursday, October 10thj 2002 : No. 6,066


Heart of the Valley award


G rant wins a AT A GLANCE


i A police scenes of crime officer accused of child abduction has


I been bailed by magistrates. ..... I......................m ill


page 3


A Clitheroe company is involved in a High Court wran­ gle over design rights.


■ ini i ' page 5


j There is surprise as a top Valley hotel changes hands:


.... i ' page8 Bids for specialist status by two


| Valley high schools have been given a flying start.


'i— page 9


A thanksgiving service is. to take place to pay trib ute to John Dug- dale (88), a “friend to many”.


' «'■■■' i page 11 Ribble Valley’s Deputy May


I oress joins thousands of athletes I in the Great North Run.


■■■ , " page 8 ■■ A martial arts expert is to have


la “smashing time” to raise money for Children in Need.


mi


FOGGITT’S WEEKEND


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LIGHTING UP TIME: 6-26 p.m.


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page 3 DUNCAN SHARPE


news and views from the Centre of the Kingdom.


school a computer


A VILLAGE was plunged into sadness this week a t the. death of J JB Sports chief executive Mr Duncan Sharpe. Mr Sharpe's body was discovered by a


farmer, hanging from a tree, in a lane off the Settle Road on the outskirts of Bolton-by-


Bowlaiid at 12-45 p.m. on Monday. Police were called to the scene, off Anna


Lane, and the body identified as that of Mr


Sharpe (43), of Waddington. The death is being treated as non-suspicious


and the matter has been referred to the coro-


■ ner. JJB Sports chairman Mr David Whelan,


said on Tuesday that his son-in-law had been worried about his health, having suffered sev­ eral months of illness, and had become depressed. Known locally as a quiet, family man who


enjoyed a round of golf at Clitheroe Golf Club, Mr Sharpe had lived with his wife, Jayne, in the village for several years. The couple's priva­ cy had been respected by villagers and they had settled happily into the Ribble Valley. In 1997, the national press descended on


their home following the birth of their youngest child, Paul, who, it was claimed, had become the country's youngest millionaire at just three weeks old.


Grand objectors vow to fight on after decision favours arts centre plan


COUNCILLORS .have /gone;, against the "advice of officials and '


indicated they .will approve the;; conversion of Clitheroe's Grand, Cinema into a major youth arts


centre. So many people - dozens of sup­


porters and a few objectors — wanted to listen to the debate th a t the Rib­ ble Valley Borough Council chamber was packed out for the meeting of its Planning and Development Commit­


tee. A CCTV monitor was provided in


Hollduy hem-'


the foyer and many people attempted to follow the debate on that, despite


problems with sound.: ■ Controversy surrounded just one, rel­


atively minor feature of the Lancaster Foundation's plan. I t provides for a new ' entrance hall, cyber cafe, D J, dance and performance facilities, a high-tech stage and matching recording studio and was exclusively revealed in the Advertiser and Times last week. . Officials felt that alterations to the


rear of the building would be too over­ bearing on the properties at the back,


one in particular. A petitition signed by 22 residents


mentioned this and other points, such as traffic creation, noise, and possible nuisance.


residents and assure them that every effort will be made to protect their interests, during the alteration work and afterwards," pledged Mr Lancast­


■ "I appreciate the concerns of local ' i '


er. , He said that the plan was probably


the only chance of saving the building and making it available widely to the community. Miss Mandy Gibson, one of the resi­


dents most affected, produced pho­ tographs and data to back her case that


. After Tuesday's meeting, a distressed Miss Gibson was comforted by objec- tors.who vowed to continue their fight


th e .im p a c t a t her; home justified refusal.


against the plan. Several councillors paid tribute to the


work of Clitheroe architects Ashworth Burke Partnership in solving numerous problems posed by the building. Coun. Howel Jones (Clitheroe), said he had visited the houses and did not agree with the refusal recommendation. ■"Another, Coun. Frank Dyson (Clitheroe) suggested that, had the cin­ ema been more successful, there would have been noise and traffic in any. case. But Coun. Stephen Sutcliffe


(Clitheroe) said he felt uncomfortable with the treatment of the residents. "I do think there are problems which have been minimised,” he declared. Coun. John Hill (Simonstone)


■ haps, the plan could be looked at again, suggested Coun. Hill.


emphasised th a t he welcomed the development, but felt that councillors should stick up for the little people. Per-


■ However, ph;a vote, the plan was


given,a "minded to approve" status, indicating acceptance when i t comes back to the committee with conditions agreed between officials and applicants.


In their report to the committee,


officials said that many of the features of the project would improve the build­ ing. They accepted that parts in zinc coated aluminium were of a modern, quality extension type often seen in many instances throughout the coun­ try. This modern look would help "express" the new use of the building, and its limited openings and clean lines would .help lessen the noise and visual impacts.


.


Our picture shows how the building would look with the new entrance, (s)


Jervis bidding to show he is political top dog POLITICAL pooch Jervis,


wants to become top dog. And hopes are high th a t he


will not be barking up the wrong tree and th a t he will secure the hotly-contested Westminster Dog of the Year


title. • The four-legged friend of


Lord Waddington of Read is one of 10 canine candidates to reach the las t round of the annual competition, which will be judged on Thursday m the Victoria Tower Gardens, next to the Houses of Parliament. Norfolk terrier Jervis (pic­


tured) belongs to the former Ribble Valley MP and Home


Secretary, who was one-time governor of Bermuda, and his wife, Lady Waddington. Speaking about his pet, Lord


Waddington said: "Jervis is a wise and patient listener who rarely interrupts. He is a com­ fort in distress and adversity, never slow to show sympathy, or


affection. He is a friend to all


but cats. He has striking good looks, but does not allow the attention he gets to go to his head. In short, he comes close to canine perfection." Cjrganised jointly by the .


National Canine Defence League and the Kennel Club, the aim of the competition is to fmd Westminster's most appeal­ ing political dog. • Based on achievement and


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Gharltyinthelrgenes


Area is stunned by tragedy of sports shop chain boss


by Vivien Meath Paul and his two brothers and sister had


been given six million shares, then valued at £28m. in the sports shop chain JJB Sports. The business was founded by their grandfa­


ther, former Blackburn Rovers footballer Mr Whelan, some 24 years earlier. Despite their wealth, the Sharpes had


attempted to live their lives as an ordinary family enjoying the quiet lifestyle in the picture postcard Ribble Valley village. They had a circle of friends in the Valley and


supported various ch arity events: Their youngest child was baptised in the village


church. . The vicar, the Rev. Alan Bailey, was stunned


by news of Mrs Sharpe's death and said that the entire village had been shocked and expressed sympathy to the family. He had, he said, occasionally enjoyed a drink


in one of the village public houses with Mr Sharpe after he returned to Waddington from


Wigan.' "We would have a pint together before we went home, and I found him a reserved chap,"


said the vicar. The family business interests had taken Mr


Sharpe away from Waddington to work, and the four children, Laura, Matthew, David and Paul, attended school out of the immediate


Concern at ii -i ** 'it' t t


rumours of windfarms


by Tim Procter


WINDFARM rumours are sweeping a far corner of theRibble Valley. I t is said that at least one farmer with land


near the border with Pendle Borough Council, round the big end of Pendle Hill, has been approached by a windfarm company. A successful bid to establish a plant could give the farmer £4,000 in "rent", says the


rumour. I t also claims that people in some parts of


Rimington and Twiston would have their views affected by the power-producing "miniature


windmills". Coun. Richard Sherras, who represents the


area on Ribble Valley Borough Council and is also chairman of the Planning Committee, says: "I too have heard the rumour, but cannot


trace its source." Some forms of development, including tele-


phone repeater masts, are subject to Govern­ ment rules which force local authorities to allow them up to a certain size. But this does not cur­ rently apply to wind farms. "Any planning . application would be dealt with in the normal


way," points out Coun. Sherrass. Several farmers with land in the area who


were contacted by. the Advertiser and Times had no knowledge of any appoach. One point­ ed out that wind farms were among a long list of possible agricultural diversification options, perhaps because i t is government policy to encourage alternative forms of energy creation. Grants may be available.


The large wind farm on the moors above '


Burnley can easily be seen from the road above Twiston, and even a small one anywhere in the Ribble Valley would be certain to attract wide­ spread opposition. Small ones serving a single property are a dif­


, • Mr John Lan(^terispok,e.t6,the1com7i;v.i mitteein’person,' emphasisi&g^tliaf'the


back of the ^ b u i ld in g , would-be improved by- the proposals.


YoutK shelter complaints


AN award-winning youth shelter could face demolition after floods of complaints from,vil­ lagers in Sabden. ■ The shelter, the first of its type in the Ribble


Valley, won a £1,000 award from the Communi­


ty Council of Lancashire. Now, two-years later, residents say the shelter


is littered with rubbish, encourages anti-social behaviour and that people are sleeping in it.


.WWw.easlIanCnsliireonlinexoAik P r ic e . 5 0 | i ::


ferent proposition and at least one has already received planning permission locally. ., ,


. ..


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