12 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, October 23rd, 2003 Remember the


views of parents RE. Coun. Graham Sowter’s letter of last week. If Coun. Sowter really believes


that "care needs to be taken not to inflame tensions in sensitive areas such as mental health," then why does he do so by publicly taking sides in the current controversy concern­ ing the Kemple View Psychiatric Residential Institution? He hints that "unnecessary and


badly informed attacks on the insti- ■ tution" have taken place, whereas my experience, as a long standing member of Kemple View's Liaison Group, is that necessary and well informed criticisms have been lev­ elled at the institution, particularly with regard to unauthorised absences, and that the institution has on all occasions responded by reviewing and amending its policies and procedures. It did this subsequent to unautho­


rised absences by patients on unescorted ground pass which took place in 2002- three in May and also the one mentioned by Coun. Sowter, which took place in September of that year. More recently, following two


unauthorised absences from super­ vised situations in August of this year, reprimanding of staff and fur­ ther review and amendment of secu­ rity devices and procedures has taken place. Local residents will wait to see if


these actions and changes are suc­ cessful before they feel that they are prepared to join Coun.'Sowter in expressing their "confidence in the staff of Kemple View." Coun. Sowter'terminated his let­


ter by reminding us pf the need for tolerance and understanding (and indeed your heading for his printed letter contained these sentiments). Maybe he ought to practise what he preaches and exercise such consider­ ation for local parents (many of whom voted for him when he was their local councillor) who while being most tolerant and understand­ ing regarding the necessity for the psychiatric care of the mentally ill


, are also genuinely worried and con­ cerned about risk and safety issues for both themselves and their chil­ dren within their immediate neigh­ bourhood. I believe that his attempt to "pro­


vide a bit of perspective" was about as successful as my failure to do so in art lessons at school. My art teacher always advised me to "find and use a suitable vanishing point" - might it be possible for the councillor to act in accordance with such a suggestion?


MICHAEL A. ECCLES, DewhurstRoad, Langho.


An insult to all


caring people I AM puzzled as to why Coun. Sowter felt it necessary to write at such great length about his own


- Write to: The Editor, Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, 3 King Street, Clitheroe BB72EW Editorial e-mail: vivien.meath@eastlancsnews.co.uk —


views on the theme of Kemple View. Was it that the views of so many, who contributed to the recent public meet­ ing, were so overwhelmingly in opposi­ tion to any further expansion of the hospital that he dared not speak in favour on that occasion, but opted to show his support for the hospital in this way instead?


• I suggest th a t as Coun. Sowter (along with the many other represen­ tatives present) is now better informed about the very real concerns people have about the management and patients at the private hospital, he should have more empathy towards the local people whom he once repre­ sented in Langho. Pontificating as he did about toler­


ance and understanding is frankly an insult to the caring people of Langho and the surrounding areas. I felt sorry for a young lady, lost in


Langho, who was on her way to Kem­ ple View last week. She had travelled by train from Manchester to Langho, working for an agency. She knew nothing of the hospital,


the patients, the staff, the local area or the local people. She was half-an-hour late for work. She gratefully accepted a lift and I am assuming that she mud­ dled through. Is this the type of employment we


should be proud of Coun. Sowter? I think not.


CATHERINE GUNN, The Rydings, Langho


Residents’ fears


over security IT is interesting to note Coun. Sowter’s plea for tolerance and understanding regarding the expan­ sion of Kemple View. A public meeting took place earli­


er this month a t which local resi­ dents, councillors, police and presen- tatives of Kemple View engaged in a full and frank exchange of views. Coun. Sowter was present a t that meeting. Why did he not speak up at the


meeting, making residents aware of his position? Perhaps the councillor puts his


loyalty to the Kemple View man­ agers before that of his voters. There is no discrimination in


Langho. Residents genuinely want to know the level of risk to which they and in particular their children are being exposed. No single unauthorised absence


has been responsible for the resi­ dents' concern. There have been a number of


unauthorised absences and the gen­ eral level of security is the issue that" the residents want to be addressed.


DON BOLTON, The Rydings, Langho.


These opinions


are personal YOUR correspondent, Mr Toothill, gives his position and address (Chairman of Ribble Valley branch, of the Lancashire Association of Parish and Town Councils - LAPTC) and that may convey, to some of your readers, some added authority to his letter. The views he expressed may even


be those of some of the councillors at Grindleton. They should not be seen as representing the views of the Lancashire Association of Parish


and Town Councils however. As far as I am aware the LAPTC


has not met to discuss the issues on which Mr Toothill writes. The views he expresses are only his own opinions, to which of course he has every right. To pretend that they are the views of the association as well is inaccurate. Mr Toothill may be incensed by


what he calls the antics of our local politicians, but he must be living in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks that the politicians elected to a North- West Assembly would be any less political (or "shambolic"). Current­ ly we are represented on the borough council in the ratio of one councillor to approximately 1,000 electors and on the current county council in the ratio of one councillor to cl0,000 electors. On the “tru ly elected North-West Regional Assembly” we shall be represented by one member to 250,000. Not exactly an obvious improvement in the representation of the people! I t is difficult to believe that the members, on those Elysian Heights, ( =Warrington, which may well be th e likely home of this assembly, or so I have heard. That is if we are misguided enough to vote “yes” for such an assembly, when we finally get the referendum) will have the interests of even quality parishes high on their agendas. Finally, I believe that Mr Toothill


was unfair to our Ribble Valley councillors, who, from my reading of their debate, were genuinely con­ cerned to direct their officers to do what they believed was best for the Ribble Valley, albeit in the light of the political philosophies on which they were elected. No antics then, but the inevitable expression of the democratic process. If Mr Toothill thinks that having decisions affect­ ing the Ribble Valley dictated by a majority in an assembly of council­ lors from dominantly urban/city electorates will be an improvement on what we have, even with its faults, then I humbly beg to dis­ agree. I could sign as Parish Clerk to


Rimington and Middop Parish Council, b u t I will re s is t th e tem p ta t io n (almost) since the p a r ish council has n o t met to a u th o r ise th is le t te r . Like Mr Toothill’s, my comments are sole­ ly my own.


DAVID KING, Carr’s Croft, Rimington


Come and give


us your support AS a volunteer a t the Grand Cine-', ma, I feel I must write. My friends are volunteers on


Mondays and Wednesdays every week, but they had to put up with some very angry customers last week. “Calendar Girls” is on and the


cinema filled up very quickly and some people were turned away. We do not have a booking sys­


tem (we’re not in the 21st Centu­ ry yeti). The cinema now has only 148


seats, as before we were running a t a loss. The Grand Cinema is open 52 weeks a year. Sometimes only two or three


customers tu rn up, sometimes none, but we are there. Where is the support the rest of the time? We can’t just run the cinema on


one popular film. Please support the Grand Cine­


Checking on your child’s progress


IT is likely th a t you will be invited into school to discuss your child's progress w ith their teacher or teachers at least once during the academ­ ic year. This is your chance to talk to


staff about not only how your child is coping with the academic side of school, but also any social


ADVERTISING FEATURE


issues you may want to raise and is a valuable opportunity for you to “put a face to a name”. Parents' evenings are not


always held in the summer term, particularly at secondary schools.


STONYHER'STSC.OLLEGE fM g r . -kW and


i Catholic i years.


nominations.


They are timed to fit most appro­ priately with your child's educa­ tion, so could be held at any time during the academic year. For example, there may be an


evening held in the autumn term for parents of Year 7 students, to discuss how well the child has adapted to the school, or an evening in February for parents of Year 9 students, to allow par­ ents and teachers to talk about the forthcoming Standard Assess­ ment Tests and exam options. I t is worth mentioning th a t


parents' evenings are now not always held just in the evening! Some schools invite parents from 4 o'clock onwards, after school has finished for the day, while others run all-day consultations and close the school for ordinary lessons. In these cases, the school will


*S ■ ...............


Saturday November 8th 2003 For a Prospectus and information about the


Open Day please contact the Admissions Office:


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notify you well in advance to enable you to arrange childcare


and/or time off work if necessary. At primary level, you will


probably be invited to see your child's class teacher only, as it is he or she who is responsible for most of your child's education. At secondary level, you may be


offered the chance to see your child's tutor and/or their individ­ ual subject teachers, depending on your child's year group and the focus of the evening. Due to the numbers involved, a meeting with one teacher may be limited to just five minutes. Your child may be asked to


accompany you, which enables them to be involved in discus­ sions. Parents' evenings are often


timed around the issue of the annual school report. Read your child’s report carefully. Make notes if you feel there is anything th a t you wish to discuss with a particular teacher.


SENIOR SCHOOL


MI^ITRANCE e x am MMiHRikY 8TH NOV 2003 9.00am


We are now welcoming applications from boys anti girls for entry in September 2004


K yKX/ m ^Academic Excellence . iopporturiittes fon Music, Drama & Sport s fL.


ma more, and th a n k you to Melanie and her team of volun­ teers a t the Grand Cinema.


LAURA BAILEY, Hazel Grove, Clitheroe


Only fair that all


should contribute IN reply to McCarthy and Stone complaining about taxation and ask­ ing for reductions on the basis of minimum use, what shall we tell our children and grandchildren? That as a result of lower taxation


the police are likely to be underfund­ ed and because one section of the community is less likely to require the services of fire-fighters this ser­ vice would be underfunded for oth­ ers? Should we also degenerate into a


lower level of educational standards because the service is no longer required by some, and further, as a result of decreased investment, allow the highways to deteriorate because one section of the community has lit­ tle use for highways, which a t one time they probably used extensively? Social Services are not for one spe­


cific part of the community, they are for everyone. I t would be nice if what


McCarthy and Stone suggested could come about, but that would increase the burden on other tax payers. Taxation is a national form of


housekeeping money and everybody lives in the house and it is only fair that all participants contribute. I can think of several countries


where tax is minimal or non-existent, but I am sure that none of us would wish to live in any of them. Are we to degenerate to the old


Thatcherite selfishness of “I no longer have any need for these ser­ vices, although I have used them extensively in the past, but I will not pay for them because now they mainly benefit others and not myself”? This slots in with another


Thatcherite notion - “There is no such thing as society, only individu­ als”. I hope not.


MICHAEL CLEGG, Oak Close, Barrow


Foot and mouth -


is there a plan? THE foot and mouth control puzzle has too many missing pieces. I t is now two years since the last


confirmed case of foot and mouth in the 2001 outbreak. Despite repeated calls to Government and its agencies, there is still no evidence that we are any better prepared than we were then.Yes, movements and biosecurity of livestock vehicles are better con­ trolled, but this is only one part of the disease control jigsaw. There are still no displays of effec­


tive border controls to keep any infec­ tions out, and no publicly available contingency plan. There are no guar­ antees that we can prevent further serious disease infections entering the country, and if they did we would waste valuable time, when any out­ break could and should be contained, while everyone involved was briefed and equipped. Everyone, from farmers and vets on the ground, through marts,


hauliers, police and government agen­ cies should have a copy of what they need to do if another case is con­ firmed. These surely must be the important lessons we should have learnt from 2001.


DOUGLAS CHALMERS, Regional Director, County Land and Business Association


Boost heart fund


with your cash THIS week, my long-term expedition companion Dr Michael Stroud and I departed from Heathrow to begin a serious physical, mental and logistical undertaking - the Land Rover 7x7x7 Challenge; seven marathons in seven Continents in seven days. We were in training for the 7x7x7


when I collapsed with a sudden heart attack on board an aircraft in June this year, only four months before the Challenge was due to begin. I


thought, is th a t it? Am I going to spend the rest of my life in a wheel­ chair, tottering around my lounge, instead of running up mountain pass­ es or navigating glaciers? Luckily, a double heart bypass


operation and the care I received have given me back the kind of life I think of as normal. Bypass operations are fairly rou­


tine today - but only a few years ago, the procedure was being pioneered by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), whose work Ihave come to admire greatly. This is why I have chosen the BHF as the benefiting charity for this Challenge. The money raised will help the


BHF continue its fight against heart disease - the UK’s single biggest killer. The foundation is the largest independent funder of heart research in the UK. My doctors assure me that as long


as I take each marathon in the Chal­ lenge slowly and do not let my heart go above 130b.p.m. all should be fine. If my heart does give cause for con­ cern, Mike will continue alone. Both Mike and I have completed


record-breaking feats before, includ­ ing ones for unsupported travel towards the North Pole from both North America and Russia. Mike also led the first UK team in the gru­ elling 1994 Marathon des Sables and went on to compete in the 1995 and 1996 Eco-Challenge adventure races. In 2002 he completed the first unsup­ ported, non-stop desert crossing of Qatar, covering the 200km in just three days. I am writing to ask your readers to


support Mike and I on our adventure by donating to the BHF, Land Rover 7x7x7 Challenge, British Heart Foun­ dation, FREEPOST WD513, 14 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1E 1JZ. Many thanks for your support.


SIR RANULPH FIENNES Bt OBE. • AS reported in last week's


Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, Brock- hall-based sports nutrition manufac- tureer Science in Sport is supplying Sir Ranuiph Fiennes and Dr Mike Stroud with energy gels during their forthcom­ ing marathon. - Editor.


Hunting: still the


most humane THE RSPCA and other so-called ani­ mal rights groups are once again claiming that hunting is cruel and unnecessary.


Plans in the pipeline


PLANNING applications in Clitheroe include a pro­ posed sun room to the rear with hip roof convering the new sun room and existing bedroom and porch exten­ sion at the Ryddings, 62 Pendle Road (number 0853). A change style of garage roof, from plain at 2 Lancaster Drive (0859). Comments on the propos­


als must be made to the council by Ooctober 31st. ■ Other recent planning


submission are as follows: Bolton-by-Bowland: Change


of use of stone barn to form two holiday cottages and one residential unit and change of use of part of at Foodens Farm, Stump Cross Lane (0857) . Conversion of stone barn opposite listed farm­ house to form two holiday cot­ tages and one residential unit at the Bam at Foodens Farm (0858) . Chipping: Two storey rear


extension and conservatory at 16 Longridge Road (0876). Cow Ark: Construction of


new steel portal framed milk­ ing parlour and dairy building together with relocation of 400,000 at Radholme Laund Farm (0854). Gisburn: Construction of


new staff facilities and store building. New landscaping, paths and parking at Gisbum


Diner, Main Street (0856). Old Langbo: proposed day


room extension to kitchen at rear of house, 2 Pendle View, Brockhall Village (0862). Pro­ posed re-positioning of plots 30-31 at Carriage Drive, Brockhall Village (0869). Pro­ posal to build a traditional pitched slate roof onto the already approved extension at New Bam, The Drive, Brock­ hall Village (0874). Sawley: Proposed porch and


garage extension and alter­ ations at Huckle Ing, Gisbum Road, (0867). Thornley-with-Wheatley:


Change of use of attached bam and buildings into three dwellings/garaging and vehic­ ular access (resbmission) at Arbour Farm, Longridge Road. Waddington: Extension of


existing caravan site creating 71 additional caravans, recep­ tion building and shop at Shireburn Caravan Park, Edisford Road (0860). Whalley: Erect conservato­


ry at 2 Parkhead, Accrington Road (0861). Whitewell: Construction of


horse menage, Dinkling Green Farm, Little Bowland Road (0855). Wiswell: Wooden decking


extension on an existing bal­ cony leading from first floor lounge at 4 Moorside Lane (0863).


On the contrary, far from being


cruel, hunting is the natural and most humane method of controlling the four quarry species in the countryside, and is necessary for a number of rea­ sons: 1. Wild animals are used to hunting


or being hunted. They are adapted to it by evolution. What might be a dev­ astating experience for man or even a domestic animal is part of normal daily life in the wild.! 2. Wild animals almost certainly


lack the complex brain and mental abilities necessary to perceive the human concepts of fear and death. 3. For the major part of any hunt


the quarry is under no abnormal stress. 4. Stress in the short final stage of a


hunt is equivalent to no more than strenuous exercise. 5. The kill is almost instantaneous


and above all certain. 6. Stress induced analgesia will mit­


igate any pain 7. Hunting leaves no wounded or


damaged survivors 8. Quarry that evade hounds rapid­


ly return to normal behaviour. 9. Hunting performs a vital search


and dispatch function for the weak and sick This last reason, the search and dis­


patch function of hunting, is perhaps the single most important welfare argument in favour of hunting and is a sufficient and overwhelming justifi­ cation for the retention of hunting in all parts of the country. No other method of culling performs this unique function and were hunting to be banned the welfare implications for all hunted species, in the absence of nat­ ural predators, would be profound. Wounded and sick animals would


be condemned to a lingering "natural" death, through disease, injury (princi­ pally road accidents and shooting) and starvation. But not only are the weak and the


sick culled, they are caught up during the pursuit phase and dispatched in direct relation to their debility. Hunt­ ing is thus uniquely selective in main­ taining the health and vigour of the quarry species. Over 530 of our veterinary col­


leagues now support the irrefutable arguments that substantiate this pro­ fessional opinion, which may now be found in the booklet: A Veterinary Opinion on Hunting with Hounds by L. H. Thomas and W. R. Allen, sub­ mitted last year to all MPs and peers and which may be found at: www.vets- for-hunting.co.uk


DR L.H. THOMAS, PROF. WR. ALLEN,


Vets for Hunting, Chicveley, Newbury


Your letters. . .


• The Editor welcomes letters on any subject, but correspondents are reminded that contributions may be edited or condensed, must not exceed 350 words and should reach us by noon on Tuesday. Letters with noms de plume are now only accepted for publication if the editor agrees that there is a valid reason for the writer's identity to be withheld. Letters can be sent by post to the


Clitheroc Advertiser and Times, 3 King Street, Clitheroe BB7 2EW, via e-mail to vivien.meath@eastlanc- snews.co.uk, via fax to 01200 443467 or texted to 07799696447. Letters sub­ mitted by any of these methods must, however, include the writer’s name and FULL postal address.


Burning tyres: trial run now completed


CASTLE CEMENT has completed a six-month trial using shredded tyres as an alternative fuel at its Ribblesdale works. The burning of 4,085


tonnes of tyres, equivalent to around 580,000 car tyres, provided at times up to 25 per cent of the energy requirements for the works’ dry process kiln, saving approximately 4,300 tonnes of coal. With Castle’s works at


Ketton, in Rutland, already achieving a reduc­ tion in releases of oxides of nitrogen when burning tyres, the move brings with it the prospect of a further improvement in environ­ mental performance at the company’s Clitheroe site. With more than 40 mil­


lion tyres scrapped in the UK every year, disposal is a major issue for the Govern­ ment. The Environment Agency is actively encour­ aging the use of tyres as a fuel in cement kilns and says that they offer a “net environmental b en efit” over fossil fuels such as coal. Gareth Price, general


manager a t Castle Cement’s Ribblesdale works, said: “The excep­ tionally high temperatures a t which they operate mean th a t cement kilns offer a valuable recovery option. Tyres make an excellent energy source and are particularly suited to the manufacture of cement. “The rubber and cotton


found in tyres are com­ pletely consumed without any of the black smoke or smells normally associated with burning them on a bonfire. Steel reinforcing in the tyres melts and replaces a portion of iron, which is otherwise added to the raw material mix. “The use of tyres makes


good all-round sense. They cut consumption of finite fossil fuels, help to over­ come a huge disposal prob­ lem, improve our environ­ mental performance and reduce production costs,” said Mr Price. Castle Cement is compil­


ing a report on the trial and will submit it to the Envi­ ronment Agency in due course.


Leisure centre plans five days of fun for children during latest school holidays


WITH school holidays fast approaching, Roefield Leisure is planning five days of sport and recreational activities to entertain children from five to 13 years of age. There will be action for "The Piglets


. Gang" for five to seven-year-olds, who will be treated to a superb and varied programme of activities. They include Hallowe'en fun and


games, arts and crafts, a fancy dress competition, quizzes, competitions


and the opportunity to see a mobile zoo exhibiting unusual and rare ani­ mals. For the over-eights there is a weekly


fun swim, organised sessions in rock climbing, football, hockey, cricket and netball, to name but a few. Arts and crafts will also feature, as well as weekly competitions for all groups with trophies and certificates to those deserving merit.


.


Special events include a mobile zoo on October 29th featuring rare and


unusual animals and, on October 31st, a Hallowe'en fancy dress competition with prizes. There is also an optional earlier


start or later finish, in response to par­ ents who start work before 9 a.m. and do not finish until 5 p.m. The cost is £12 per child per day,


with an additional £2 charge for the earlier start session or late finish. . Numbers are limited and more


information is available from Roe- field, tel. 01200 442188.


...tecaus push/


There are many young pel after them and stick with t l Fostering Focus is looking) We offer £250 per week fc| fostering allowances.


For more information abl freephone oj


Come along to our i| at Accrington Town Wednesday, Octobe| 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.


i l i by Tim Procter


PART of the play area at V| ley CE School has now fenced off. This has been done to keep i |


away from a section where bcl have fallen from parish chi graveyard chestnut trees spref above. The school governors are sel


the bill for the fence, understood) several hundred pounds, to Wil Parish Council, which is respof for maintaining the trees. As reported in the Advertisil


Times, the governors are ver\| cerned a t the dangers posed t l bough falls and seek decisive acl the fence is a temporary measurl For the past 14 months, schorl


have had to stand guard to ensure children using the playground arl away from the chestnut canopy. [ Now the governors are wan ) long-term solution to be sugg‘|


Rotary sp< j


$ - Qjj!?' a


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


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial),


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CIVIC dignitaries and special I


joined the celebrations at the 11 Club of Clitheroe’s 70th annual ter dinner. Held at the Mytton Fold


Langho, the event proved J enjoyable and memorable even) Around 70 members an d f


guests attended, including the! dents of the local Lions, Rotl Probus and the Ribble Valle| Pendle View Rotary Clubs. Rotary District Go v ern )


Robert Wright attended, as d | Ribble Valley Mayor and May) Coun. Alan Yearing and his


V -


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