»''.Or'.*>pr 'O'i'rr V;'0‘ 2 Clltheroe Advertiser & Times, December 2nd, 204


INSIDE YOUR CLUHEROE 6,7


ADVERTISER AND TURES I Valley Matters ............


I Village News ............................ ll,12,l£: ■ Letters ............


I Weekendplus................................ 21-2^ I Weekend TV ....................38,39 I FamUy Notices..............................40,4: IReadersplus........ ........................ .. 66 I J o b s__________


44,45


I Motorsplus .....................................52-64 I S p o r t . . . . . . . ..............


65,67-72 AT A GLANCE... Inspiring teacher honoured - page 4


Travel agency assistant in court - page 5 Birthday milestones - page 19


Inquest hears of defiant stand - page 42 INFORMATION


Duly chemist: Boots the Chemist, 15-19 Castle Street, Clitheroe: Sunday, noon to 1 p.m. Police: 01200 443344. Fire: In emergency 999 and ask for fire service. Electricity: 08001954141. Gas: 0800111999. Water: 0845 462200. Councils: Kibble Valley Borough Council, Clitheroe 425111. Clitheroe Town Council, 424722. Hospitals: Blackburn Royal Infirmary: 01254 263555. Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn: 01254 263555. Airedale General Hospital, Steeton: 01535 652511. Clitheroe Community Hospital: 427311. Alcohol Information Centre: 01282 416655. Aidsline: 01282 831101 (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Domestic Violence Helpline: 01282 422024. Cruse Bereavement Care: Blackburn, Hyndbum and Kib­ ble VaUey 01254 207999. Environmental Agency: Emergency Hotline - 0800 807060. Drugs: Local confidential advice and information line: 01200 444484. National: 0800 776600. Kibble Valley Talking Newspaper: 01200 428604. Samaritans:.01254 662424. Monthly Volunteer Helpline: 01200 422721. Lancashire Rural Stress Network: 01200 427771. QUEST (specialist smoking cessation service): 01254 358095. Kibble Valley Citizens’ Advice Bureau: 01200 428966.


CONTACT US! News: 01200422324


Advertising: 01200 422323 Classified: 01282 422331 Fax: 01200443467


editor e-mail: vivien.mcath@eastlancsnews.co.uk news editor c-ma|l: duncan.smith@castlancsncws.co.uk sport e-mail: cdward.lee@eastlancsnews.co.uk


W


DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


CHIPPING / -■> CiT E p


L H Rii V>


EATHER B SLAIDBURN ■ GISBURN , ■' aCHATBURN nufUJii'i’eV s LANGHOB ' BREAD" ^^RNLEY C B ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN H


WEEKEND WEATHER: Saturday and Sunday will be dry and sunny, with frost settling in the evening..


SUNRISE: 8-05 a.m. SUNSET: 4-52 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 3-52 p.m.


UWHAUEV- . 26,27 www.clitheroetoday.co.uk ciitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)' ’


Mum came back from to find son dead


A MOTHER who went to buy milk from the corner shop returned minutes later to find her son hanging from a rope in the garage. An inquest hear that Christo­


pher John Holden, of The Cres­ cent, . Clitheroe, had been depressed since the break-up of a relationship, which had seen him admitted to hospital with mental


. health problems. But his mother, brothers and


girlfriend all told the inquest that he had seemed to be getting better all the time.


Mrs Sheila Simms told the


inquest th a t her son had been admitted to Cheadle Royal Hos­ pital after taking an overdose and had been discharged in March. On the day of his death her


youngest son, Stephen, came round and said he had been out with Christopher and he was wor­ ried because he had become tear­ ful.


Mrs Simms immediately went


to see her son, but he was not pre­ pared to talk about what was upsetting him. Mrs Simms went to make a cup of tea, but there was no milk and she went to the local shop to get some. Mrs Simms said she was away


from the house in The Crescent for no more than 15 minutes and when she got back there was no sign of Christopher. “I thought he must be outside


and when I looked in the garage I saw him hanging,” said Mrs Simms. She said she thought the break­


down of his long-term relationship had been behind his problems. Stephen Holden told the


inquest how he and his brother had gone on a fishing trip on the Saturday, returning on the Mon­ day morning. He said Christopher seemed fine and later they went drinking. “Christopher was in a good


mood and everyone was laughing and joking when his mood sud­ denly changed,” said Stephen. “He went outside and I tried to


talk to him to ask him what was wrong. He had tears in his eyes, but he couldn’t say what was wrong. He said he just wanted to go home and see his dog.” Sarah Tomlinson said she had


known Christopher for 22 years. She said they had a child together


£lm. facelift plan for historic abbey


PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for Whalley Abbey to be treated to a £lm. revamp. Plans for the refurbishment, which


include revamping the 14th Century abbey itself, its historic retreat house and conference centre, came before a meeting of the Kibble Valley Borough Council’s Planning and Development Committee. No objections were submitted by mem­


bers of the Whalley Parish Council, Envi­ ronment Agency, English Heritage or the county surveyor to the scheme, which also includes creating a new dining hall and reception area, installing a new lift for disabled people and upgrading accom­ modation in the former Abbot's lodging. One letter of objection, submitted by a


nearby resident, was withdrawn prior to the meeting.


The refurbishment programme is to


attract more business conferences, wed­ ding receptions and social functions and will be funded through Blackburn Dio­ cese’s Pastoral Fund. Although there is a wide use of the


house for day conferences, bed usage is reported to be only 23% and it is believed the improvement of both bedroom facili­ ties and public areas would make the abbey a more attractive option for overnight accommodation. “The key to the whole future of the


abbey is to marry a much more commer­ cial approach to the continuing and abso­ lutely fundamental spiritual purpose of


the house,” said the diocesan secretary. Canon Michael Wedgeworth. The £lm plan would replace the cur­


rent subsidy from the parishes of some £24,000 a year - the abbey’s current aver­ age losses - with a potential contribution towards their work of £50,000, once the benefits of refurbishment were felt, added Mr Wedgeworth. I t is anticipated that work could start


as early as January and could be com­ plete by July.


Commenting on maintaining the


“upkeep” of historic buildings such as whalley Abbey, planning officer Mr Adrian Dowd, outlined in his report: “Generally the best way of securing the upkeep of the historic buildings and areas is to keep them in active use. “For the great majority, this must


mean economically viable uses if they are to survive, and new, and even continuing uses will often necessitate some degree of adaption.”


The proposal has now been forwarded


to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minis­ ter for his comments.


The abbey site is a former Cistercian


monastery, founded around 1300, dis­ solved by Henry VIII, and sold to private owners in 1553. The house was bought by the Church


of England in 1923 and became the dioce­ san retreat house and conference centre


when the Diocese of Blackburn was cre­ ated in 1926.


Raiders target service station


POLICE are appealing for wit­ nesses after raiders smashed their way into Kam’s Service Station in Whalley Road, Simonstone, and made off with 550 packets of cigarettes worth £ 2,200. Intruders made their way


into the secure business premis­ es in the early hours of Tuesday by breaking a glass window. A nearby resident witnessed


the offenders loading the pack­ ets of cigarettes into a grey


Rover vehicle, parked outside the shop, and alerted the police. An extensive search of the


area by officers proved unsuc- cesrful at which point the police helicopter was called out. The search continued until 5


a.m., by which time it is believed they had escaped from the area.


Anyone with any information


is urged to call the police on 01200 443344, or Crimestop- pers on 0800 555 111.


before drifting apart. They start­ ed seeing each other again in March and she said he seemed to be getting better as time went on. “The last time I saw him on the


Saturday morning he was looking forward to going fishing with Stephen,” she said. “He left with a smile on his


face.” The medical cause of death was


given as hanging and coroner Mr Michael Singleton recorded a ver­ dict that Mr Holden had killed himself.


“I am satisfied he was intent on


bringing about his own demise,” said Mr Singleton.


"It may well be that had he got


through this crisis of the moment, but he may have had a totally dif­ ferent view the following day.”


School’s countdown to Christmas has started in earnest!


CHRISTMAS is always a busy time at school and pupils at a Clitheroe pri­ mary are already in full festive swing. On Monday, pupils at


St James’ CE Primary School, in Greenacre Street, welcomed their parents into school to join in a highly successful Christmas Craft Night. Held at the end of the


school day, it saw 22 par­ ents joining their chil­ dren in making Christ­ mas cards, baubles and glass decorations. Tutors from Lancashire Family Learning were also involved in the project, designed to get parents actively involved in the life of the school. More parents vrill have


the chance to take part when the craft session is repeated next Monday. Meanwhile, rehearsals


are under way for the Infants’ Christmas play,


“The Very Hopeless Camel”. This fun musical is a


wonderful way of telling the nativity story that will appeal to young and old alike.


SOLO whist winners at the Pendle Club were: Mrs M. Holding, Mr D. Grant, Mrs K. MacDonald..


New players welcome every Monday at 7 p.m. Bridge winners at the Pendle Club were: Mrs Eileen Wood, Mrs Doris


Blunt, Mrs Anne Riley and Mr Har­ vey Jackson. New members welcome on Mon­


days at 1-30 p.m. I t will be staged in


school at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and 7 p.m. on Thursday, when more than 200 people are expected to pack the school hall. Also busy rehearsing


are members of the School Junior Choir, who will sing carols in Black- bum Cathedral from 1 to 1-30 p.m. on Monday, December 13th. The choir, comprising


around 75 pupils, will perform 10 pieces ranging from traditional carols to more modern composi­ tions. On Thursday, Decem­


ber 16th, there will be more yuletide music when all the children take part in the “Carols by Candlelight” service at St James’ Church. Members of staff and


pupils will read lessons and lead prayers and Rev. Mark Pickett promises a “surprising” Christmas message. Once again, all parents


and friends of the school are warmly invited to the service, which starts at 7 p.m.


Pendle Club’s latest winners Domino winners were: Mrs F.


Jeffs, Mr C. Wiseman, Mrs M. Tom­ linson, joint 4, Mrs F. Cook and Mrs H. Wolfenden. New members welcome every Fri­


day at 7 p.m. Sequence dancing is held every


Tuesday at 7-30 p.m. and line danc­ ing every Thursday at 1-30 p.m. New members always welcome.


EurO“MP wants extra tax on 4x4s - page 65


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burtiley 422331 (Classified)


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Valley midwife Anne is voted top in the country


MUMS-TO-BE in the Ribble Val­ ley know they are in good hands after a local woman became “Mid­ wife of the Year”. Anne Edington, of Mellor, is a


midwife at Queen’s Park Hospital, in Blackburn. She won the top honour in the British Journal of Midwifery Awards. Her success was shared by the


Pendle Team of eight Community Midwives, who won the prestigious event’s ‘"Team of the Year” award. Two of the team are from the Rib­ ble Valley, Rachel Dixon, of Billington, and Yvonne Hardman, of Simonstone. All the winners attended a


champagne reception at London’s Savoy Hotel and were presented with plaques and certificates.


The Midwife of the Year Award


goes to a midwife who has demon­ strated outstanding dedication and commitment to the care of mother and baby. Anne Edington was nominated


by a colleague and a mother who has recently used the service. She was nominated for developing the Antenatal Day Unit, where staff care for women with problems in early pregnancy. In a moving acceptance speech


at the awards ceremony, Anne explained that the user of the ser­ vice who nominated her had sent her a thank-you card for the care she had received following the loss of her baby. When she received the card, Anne knew that she had a "special job".


The Pendle Team of eight mid­


wives were also delighted to receive their award. Team member Linda Arnold, a


Pendle midwife for 21 years, had nominated her colleagues. She said: "We were thrilled and


excited to attend the awards cere­ mony and it was a very emotional experience. “We had an amazing evening


with dinner and champagne and everyone was made to feel very comfortable. I feel that the team fully deserves this award." Our picture shows Anne, centre,


with Jane Martin, left, of award sponsors Bio Products Laboratory, and awards co-host Christine Hen­ derson. (s)


Council homes’ future in balance


by Natalie Cox


THE question of who will con­ trol Ribble Valley’s council hous­ es in the future still hangs in the


balance. Councillors have voted to defer


making a decision for another six months. But tenant representatives, who


have spent almost a year studying all the choices, feel their views have been totally ignored. After looking at each of the four


alternatives, the Ribble Valley Stock Options Panel - an organisation which includes some tenant repre­ sentatives- concluded that its pref­ erence was stock transfer. Miss Catherine Byrne, chairman


of the Citizens’ Jury - a body con­ sisting of 16 members of the Stock Options Panel - said it had taken such a long time for a decision to be reached because every option had been studied in detail and the finan­ cial implications of each taken into consideration. She said there were three main


reasons why stock transfer had been chosen as the best option. Said Miss Byrne: “As a result of the many roadshows that were carried out this summer, tenants were asked to draw up a wish list. They came up with various ideas and we decided to call it the ‘Ribble Valley Standard’. These wishes can only be afforded through stock transfer. “Registered social landlords can


also borrow money and provide affordable homes for young people to enable them to stay in the Ribble Valley and if stock transfer was the preferred option the Government would also write off any debt the council’s housing department had.” Miss Byrne, a former tenant, said the provision of affordable housing is


vital for the future of the Ribble Val­ ley.


“Almost 66% of Ribble Valley


tenancies are elderly sheltered accommodation and all that would happen is that more and more shel­ tered housing would be provided with nothing for young people to encourage them to shop and work locally and that would be the demise of the Ribble Valley.” Miss Byrne said that the Stock


Options Panel had believed that once its Citizens’ Jury had come up with a verdict, Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council’s'Housing Committee would simply rubber stamp it. ,


Gagged However, when the committee


met last month to consider the options. Miss Byrne said it became obvious tha t members were not going to accept the tenants’ decision. She is also aggrieved that no rep­


resentative from the Stock Cptions Panel had been invited to take part in the discussions and claims that tenants have been “gagged” from speaking out. Said Miss Byrne: “'We have been


gagged from talking to the press because the carrot was dangled that we should wait until after a meeting which is due to take place this week, but there are quite a few people who are not happy about what has hap­ pened.” She added that by opting to take


another six months to look at the sit­ uation Ribble Valley Borough Coun­ cil will miss the Government’s dead­ line to get its option appraisal signed off. Miss Byrne said: “I am positive that the majority of people on the Stock Cption Panel and the jury understood all the implications and did not come to a decision lightly. In fact the decision fluctuated almost


daily until we had our Jury Day. It was never a foregone conclusion that we were going to go with any option. “From the outset councillors have


been invited to every meeting and every information day, but only a few regulars have attended. It is no wonder when a document was then put in front of them that they did not understand what they were talk­ ing about and why they now want another six months.” Mrs Christine Grimshaw, Ribble


Valley Borough Council’s housing manager, said: “The tenants have worked really, really hard and given a lot of their time and they have made a fully informed decision based on the facts. Elected members are perhaps not up to the same sort of speed and that is why the decision is now where it is.” The council’s director of commu­


nity services, Mr John Heap, said he understood the frustrations felt by Miss Byrne, but added that council­ lors had felt this was such a big issue for tenants and the council that they wanted to be sure they were making the right decision. He added: “If the council had decided to proceed with a ballot of all tenants on the transfer option it would have been somewhat bizarre if the council went ahead, but actually thought it was a bad idea. Councillors want to be sure in their own minds that if they are to proceed they are confident that it is the right thing for the tenants and the rest of the people that live in the Ribble Valley.” However, Mr Heap admitted the


council was now not going to meet the Government’s original deadlines, but said no one was sure what, if any, penalties Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council might face as a result. He concluded: “Councillors felt it was a risk worth taking to ensure they make the right decision.” ,.


Residents lose battle over dental surgery plan - see page 42


Bone-marrow clinic at youth club


MEMBERS of the public are being remind­ ed to attend a bone-marrow recruitment clinic at Trinity Youth Club on Monday. The life-saving clinic has been organised


by local leukaemia sufferer Mrs Wendy Boyer’s close friend. Miss Delyse Lord, in conjunction with registered charity the


Anthony Nolan Trust. I t has been arranged to enable local people to come for­ ward and register as volunteers in a bid to offer hope to all patients in need. The clinic will take place on Monday


between 5 and 8 p.m. at. the club in Wes­ leyan Row, Clitheroe.


m


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, December 2nd, 2004 3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37