18 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, October 28th, 2004


www.ciitheroetoday.co.uk


Ciitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) Letters to the Editor — Write to: The Editor, Clilheroe Advertiser and Times, 3 King Street, Clitheroe BB72EW Editorial e-mail: vivicn.meath@castIancsncws.co.uk Write to; The Editor, Clitlieroe Advertiser and Times, 3 King Street, Clitlieroe BB72EW Editorial e-mail: vivien.meath@castlancsnews.co.uk — Sorry, but this just


leaves me cold! QUESTION: What is it that has 12 faces, a couple of leaves and rings sonorously if struck late at night? ANSWER: No, not a stainless steel


table because, whatever it is, it is going rusty outside The Grand in Clitheroe's York Street! I must admit that I had grown quite


attached to the plywood partition hedging the street, perhaps because it promised so much in the ultimate rede­ velopment of the old cinema. However, Friday's unveiling of the


Big L has not set my pulse racing. I may not know much about art but


I know that when my car rusts, it has to be scrapped. Even a few more leaves, or preferably a spreading chest­ nut tree, might have taken the edge off it, but somehow I do not think that it will bring much joy either to passers- by or especially to neighbours, ivith its potential for late-night noise pollution. Yes, we know that the town needs


more leisure facilities for all ages and should be duly encouraged by recent developments, especially as the newly named St Mary's Centre is now also actively promoting entertainment of wide public interest. At last there are signs that enthusi­


asts are not simply banging their heads against a brick wall - now there looks to be a metal one instead! However, it does have the merest


opening through which enlightenment will no doubt ultimately shine. But for now - 1 remain in the dark! We all know the answer to the riddle


of what is brown and rings in a field - DUNG! - but in York Street...


NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED Give the Torchlight


a break for a while WITH regard to a possible Torchlight Procession next year, I have to say I am opposed to the idea. I do not wish to be a killjoy and I think the events in the past have been fantastic and a credit to the town, but as one who has been closely involved in organising a float, I know first hand about the amount of time, hard work and money that is involved. I don’t think we should rush into


another for fear of not having some­ thing to celebrate in the near future. There is no fixed time scale for a Torchlight, they have usually come about following a royal event, but not always, there was an occasion when one was held, as the advert said at the time “For no reason at all” following a long period without one. My point is that, should we have


one in 2005 this will be the third in six years, there have never been three so close together in the history of the event and I feel it is overkill for some­ thing I regard as special to the town. There were fewer floats in the Golden Jubilee parade than there were for the Millennium, numbers and standards could fall again if we have these events too close together. My friends and colleagues from the


library, who were involved in the last two events, also feel it is too soon and we will not be organising a float this time. By all means celebrate the 60-year , anniversary of.the ending,of the ,Sec-


ond World War, bands in the Castle grounds and other events throughout the town have been suggested, but give the Torchlight a break for a while so that when it returns it returns with lots of new ideas, enthusiasm and excitement. The Torchlight has been going for


over 100 years and has become known as a great event for miles around, it has put Clitheroe on the map so to speak, so let us not spoil a good thing and seriously consider the time scale between processions. Is this type of event suitable for


marking 60 years since the end of the Second World War?


RUTH HARGREAVES, Hal! Slrcei, C!ithcroe


Let US not forget those who survived


WITH Remembrance Day shortly upon us it is right that we turn our attention to remembering those people who paid the ultimate sacrifice to pro­ tect our rights and values. There can be nothing more powerful


than to give up your life so that others might enjoy freedom from tyranny and cruelty. But not everybody who endured war


and deprivation died, and many of those who suffered and braved hard­ ships returned to build our society once again. Many women maintained the country during its struggles, and too many found themselves widowed at such a young age. And these are the people who now rely upon our care and health services for their very existence. So please, when rightly remember­


ing those who died, spare a moment’s thought for the many people aged 70 years and over who are now facing abuses and cruelties a t the hands of some families and care staff. The Commons Health Select Committee earlier this year accepted that as many as 500,000 older people are being abused across the UK. Our charity's helpline (0808 808


8141) takes hundreds of calls each year from people in dire need of help. We ail have a duty to protect them, as they once protected us. Let's never forget!


GARY FITZGERALD, Chief Executive, Action on Eider Abuse, 12G8 London Road, SW1C4ER


This problem needs


addressing now! I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with the comments made by D. and M. Barnes in the recent letters page, with regards to parking in Accrington Road, Whalley. This situation needs addressing as a


matter of urgency as I feel an accident is waiting to happen. I use the Whalley Arms car park


when visiting the Health Centre, shops and friends who happen to live in Accrington Road. On many occasions there are ample spaces available so why do people continue to park, some­ times all day, on all the main roads in Whalley? All this dilly-dallying among the


parish council, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Uncle Tom Cobbley and all is surely not worth the accident, that is ,


bound to happen one day. . . whether it be to human or car. Come on please put the yellow lines


down and sort out the car parking sit­ uation in Whalley once and for all.


A VERY CONCERNED RIBBLE VALLEY


RESIDENT


The worst kind of racism of all


YOUR correspondent, Mr Peter McQuade, is being somewhat disin­ genuous in his inadequate attempt to interpret the concept of racism (Let­ ters 21/10/04). Of course there is no simple correla­


tion between race and religious faith: all religions are, in that sense, and to a greater or lesser extent, multi-racial. But Mr McQuade misses the point entirely. Racism is an attitude of mind, and to do with intentions, as well as with actions. I t is evident, even from your own


columns, that some people’s opposition to a mosque in Clitheroe is racist in intent, even if it hides behind the fa?ade of planning issues. So, for exam­ ple, we have seen letters such as the one indicating that the “charming” character of an old Lancashire market town would be blotted by the presence of a “foreign” place of worship. And this is the point: racists are essentially tribal. They don’t actually like for­ eigners of any description, even for­ eigners who share the same racial char­ acteristics (which is why they are indistinguishable in intent from foot­ ball hooligans who travel abroad sim­ ply to beat up the “frog” or “kraut”). Some may even have doubts about those “incomers” whom God has not sufficiently blessed to have been born in Clitheroe! Of course, that latter point might present problems when


considering Clitheroe-“born and bred” Muslims. The fact is, of course, that despite


Mr McQuade’s facile analysis, the vast majority of the Muslim faith are by race (depending on how you define “race”, because that concept is capa­ ble of embracing a variety of defini­ tions) Arabic. That makes them, and their ways, foreign, and of course, what.we don’t understand, ,we don’t


WINTER LO N G STAYS m wk M.


want to know about. And we certain­ ly don’t want it in our backyard! That ignorance becomes even more demonic when it captures those who have no intention of giving God his due worth (through worship) themselves, but who want to prevent others from doing so. That is the worst kind of racism of all. REV. DR PETER SHEPHERD Hon. Assistant Priest, St Mary Magdalene, CHtheroe


We look forward to


your next show! WE just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the play, “Key For Two”, pic­ tured above, presented by Clitheroe Parish Church Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.


Each of the players gave a flawless,


professional performance. Jeff Mox- ham, who played a drunken “Richard”, was very convincing. Bravo - we greatly look forward to your next production.


MR AND MRS C. SANDERSON, Valley Gardens, Hapton


Happy to have the


mosque near me IN response to the letter advising me that perhaps the mosque should be in Barrow, I personally would not mind a mosque being right next door to me. In fact, if I was fortunate enough to


own a large house, I would be hon­ oured to designate a section of m'y


home for any religious group to come and pray. But I am sure the Asian community


would much rather the mosque be sit­ uated in their home town.


ZOE HOUSTON, Old Row,


Barrow We protect cars,


why not people too? MOTORISTS visiting the Trafford


Lentre need worry no more about hav­ ing their car stolen.


Thanks to a network of cameras, the


problem no longer exists. In 2002,40 vehicles were stolen, but last year, out of eight million visiting the centre, none was taken. Not only does this system clearly


work, but it's also clear that it has the approval and support of everyone who doesn't steal cars - from driver to judge, and from the centre's manage­ ment team, to the law enforcement agencies. So, with such remarkable success


and such support, why can't a similar network of cameras be used to help reduce road deaths to zero, the vast majority of which are caused by drivers who don't respect laws and lim­ its.


Clearly, cameras are in demand tor


protecting cars and everything else that has a monetary value. So why should the influence of a sick, destruc­ tive culture (the motor lobby, and how can anyone argue otherwise, given that it claims the lives of well over 100 inno­ cent children every year and seriously


. injures some 4,000 others, not to men­ tion the effects of pollution) prevent drivers being the target of law enforce­ ment. Why should safety cameras be so heavily criticised and their use be restricted? We have total commitment and sup­


port to protecting cars - fancy metal boxes that provide those inside with the ultimate in protection measures, (air bags, reinforced impact zones etc.) and yet we restrict and condemn the same technology for those most at risk on the outside - pedestrians, cyclists, horseriders. Doesn't this amount to inequality,


disrespect and double standards? That which decent, law-abiding people con­ demn and act against. And as long as it exists, all the other sick cultures - crime and anti-social behaviour, and indeed terrorism - will continue to fes­ ter and spread!


ALLAN RAMSAY, Ashcombe Drive, Radcliffe ® Mr Ramsey is a cyclist who


enjoys the lanes around Clitheroe and became a member of Roadpeace, a national charity for road traffic vic­ tims, after sustaining near-fatal injuries following an accident with a


. farm,vehicle.. , , , , ■


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42nts 9th Nov 04 £69 42nts 11th Nov 04 £79 42nts 18th Nov 04 £89


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0 1 2 0 0 4 2 7 1 3 6 Prices are per persen based on 2 adote sharing a roPfa'JPJrirncrt ard arc and at'- Your letters. . . ...'1


9 The Editor welcomes letters on any subject, but correspondents are rcinindcd 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 Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, 3


King Street, Clitheroe BB7 2EW, via e-mail to vivien.meath@eastlanc- snews.co.uk, via fax to 01200 443167 or texted to 07799G96447. Letters submitted by any of these methods mnst, however, include the writer’s name and full postal address.


Practical help


is on hand BREAST cancer special­ ist nurses at the East Lan­ cashire Hospitals NHS Trust are working with major retail stores to assist women who have had breast cancer surgery to be fitted with the cor­ rect bra. The initiative is taking


place during National Breast Awareness Month - see letter below - and aims to give store assis­ tants working in lingerie departments the confi­ dence, sensitivity and practical knowledge to be able to meet the needs of women who have under­ gone breast surgery. Margaret Whittaker,


Breast Cancer Specialist Nurse, is pictured on the right, giving advice on choosing the correct bra to Barbara Lord (left) and Doreen Fairclough. (s)


Help us in trials to


prevent breast cancer DURING Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cancer Research UK is calling on local women to join us in making the next big step towards preventing breast cancer. Each day, over 100 women living in the


UK are diagnosed ivith breast cancer. It is the most common form of cancer in


this country and around 80% of cases are in post-menopausal women. Cancer Research UK is funding a trial to


see if a new drug called anastrozole can pre­ vent breast cancer in women who are at a higher risk of the disease. Latest research suggests that anastrozole


could prevent 60% of new cancers in post­ menopausal women. But to prove this we need to conduct a trial with 6,000 women. The trial is open to women who have been


through the menopause and are at a higher risk of breast cancer. This includes women who have a mother


or sister who’ve had breast cancer under the age of 50, or have more than one case of breast cancer in the family. Women will be asked to take one tablet


every day for five years, which ■will either contain anastrozole or an inactive placebo, and will be given a bone screen and regular breast screening. There are now 50 trial centres throughout


the UK. More information on the study and how to find your local centre is available on the Internet at www.ibis-trials.org and


■ www.cancerhelp.org.uk or by writing to IBIS-II, Wolfson Institute, Charterhouse Square, London ECIM 6BQ. Women who decide to take part will be


making an enormous contribution to breast cancer research, helping us to prevent breast cancer in future generations.


PROF. JACK CUZICK, Chairman, IBIS Steering Committee, Cancer Research UK


Fight this threat to w w Wi d c n by-f3 cto f y "S h o ps. cp, u k;


our civil liberties AS the new Parliamentary session beckons, local readers should be aware of the most significant policy likely to be introduced by


the Labour government. Since Winston Churchill's post-war administration declared that Britain was a free country, no citizen has had to carry an ID card. Tony Blair and David Blunkett have


decided differently. If they have their way, compulsory national identity cards will once again become a reality. Of course, we all wish to find solutions to


crime, terrorism and fraud. But an identity card will achieve nothing. It will cost billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money - perhaps as much as £250 for every household in our area. It will place more power in the hands of


bureaucrats and politicians. It xvill help to line the purses of already powerful compa­ nies. But an ID card xvill not improve our safe­


ty or security one bit. Spain has ID cards, but it didn't stop the Madrid railway bomb­ ings. France has ID cards, but they don't prevent illegal immigration. Italy has ID cards, but they haven't ended corruption. The Government's identity card pro­


gramme is a threat to our privacy and our long-held civil liberties. If you love your freedom and your rights,


you will add your voice to the growing cho­ rus of opposition.


MARTIN BYRNE, No2ID Campaign, North West Region, 2 Emma Street, Accrington BBS ISW


Put a stop to hitting children for all time


MOST parents love their children and understand that hitting them not only caus­ es physical and emotional pain, but is upset­ ting for all concerned. They know that forms of discipline which


reward good behaviour, rather than punish­ ing the bad, are more effective, safer and promote better relationships at home. Legally, parents who hit and beat their


children can defend themselves by pleading a defence of "reasonable chastisement". This archaic law, which gives children less


protection from assault than adults, has no place in modem society. Children are physically weaker, more vul­ nerable and utterly dependent on their car-


The law needs to make it clear that is as


unacceptable to hit a child as it is to hit an adult. As the Children Bill passes through Par­


liament, I believe that MPs should take the opportunity to consign the legal defence of "reasonable chastisement" to the history books. Let us all put a stop to hitting children.


Full Stop.


I. E. ROBINSON, Whalley Old Road, Blackburn


Protect vulnerable girls and women


READERS may have watched the Chan­ nel 4 thriller “Sex Traffic” recently and wondered whether the portrayal of traf­ ficked women forced to work as prostitutes in the Balkans and in Britain was realistic or just exaggerated sensationalism. Amnesty International has looked at


trafficking from Eastern Europe and has found that deception, extreme violence, rape and imprisonment, are the disturbing­ ly common experiences of these women and girls in towns and cities all over the UK. In Britain, charities that work with vic­


tims of this ■vicious trade in people are con­ cerned that trafficking for sexual exploita­ tion is increasing. These women and girls are generally not


on our street corners, but in “off-street” locations like saunas, massage parlours and flats, where they can be kept prisoner. Victims of tr^ficking are often seen as a


simple immigration or policing “problem”. Amnesty International is calling on the


Government to guarantee more protection and safe houses for these women and girls, and to give them a “reflection period” when they are safe from deportation and can think about their futures. For more information and to get involved


in Amnesty’s campaign to encourage the Government to do more to protect these women and girls ■visit Sarah.Green(gamen- sty.org.uk.


IRENE RYAN, Secretary, Blackburn with Darwen Amnesty Interna­ tional UK Group


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, October 28th, 2004 19


yti,-!!


- V.


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