£40,000 in fake goods seized


By Julie Magee


A LOCAL councillor says he feels “betrayed” by complaints made to th e Commission for Racial Equality by representa­ tives of the local Muslim com­


munity. The leader of Kibble Valley Bor­


ough Council, Coun. John Hill, told • the Clitherbe Advertiser and Times he felt “totally deflated” after dis­ covering the council had been reported to the watchdog which deals with incidents of discrimina­


tion. .. The complaint was made by local


Muslim leaders after council chiefs quashed the latest bid to build a mosque on the former council depot off Kirkmoor Road in Clitheroe last


November. Since then, council officials have


begun to work closely with local Muslim leaders to find an alterna­ tive suitable site for the develop­ ment. Regular meetings have been held at the Medina Islamic Educa­ tion Centre on Holden Street, and it was revealed by the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times last month that two possible new sites for a mosque were being investigated. However, at a meeting of the full


council on Monday, this working relationship seemed under enormous


strain, as Coun. Hill announced that local Muslims have made a formal complaint to the Commission for Racial Equality. Speaking after the meeting, he


said: “We have bent over backwards for local Muslims and held regular meetings. In return they have made complaints to the Standards Com­ mission, the Local Government Ombudsman and now, behind our backs, without the courtesy of say­ ing they are going to do it and while we were in meetings with them, they have put in a complaint to the Com­ mission for Racial Equality.” “We’ve been spending a lot of offi­


cers’ time on assisting them on the sites they are coming up with and now they are saying we’re racist for not selling them the site at the Kirk­ moor depot. I’m very disappointed they would do that whilst we are in negotiations.” He added: “I ’ve been acting in


good faith, rushing from work to meetings, breaking my neck, and then behind our back they go and complain to the Commission.


What’s the point? “I would invite them to withdraw


their complaint. I am not prepared to meet them until they withdraw it. I feel totally let down.” In response, Mr Sheraz Arshad,


THOUSANDS of pounds worth of fake computer games, DVDs and CDs have been seized following a high-profile swoop at a house in BiUington. Eight officers from Trad­


ing Standards and two Clitheroe police officers swooped on the house in Pasturelands Drive, where they confiscated a “signifi­ cant” amount of what is thought to be counterfeit DVDs, CDs, PlayStations and X-box games. The raid took place on


Thursday morning and the crackdown has resulted in the seizure of a whole range of well-known titles and new releases, including action thriller “Kingdom of Heaven” and Brad Pitt blockbuster “Mr and Mrs Smith”. Some of the other titles confiscated have been old-time classics. Officers spent several


IT was rehearsals for the “wedding of the year” on Saturday for children from the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy.


Wedding of the year goes off without a hitch! ly and friends on Saturday at Chatburn Pri­


; ^ The Academy’s lower primary school pupils


dressed up in their designer clothes and matching accessories during a dress rehearsal for their end of year show entitled The Wed­


ding. They will perform it to an audience of fami­ .


mary School. Meanwhile, the Academy’s upper primary


school pupils will be presenting a play entitled The Bold Buccaneers, which is about pirates. Our picture shows bride and bridegroom


Tamara Rosie and Jamie Allen lining up with cast members of “The Wedding” with the backdrop of Chatburn church. (G020705/2)


hours bagging the material and the haul, which police believe is estimated to be worth around £40,000, was transported to a secure unit by two vans. The seized goods are now


being examined and offi­ cers’ investigations are con­ tinuing.


FAWIIIY NOTICES... PAGES 22.23J AT YOUR SERVICE... PAGES 8,9 ■ VILLAGE HEWS ■..PAGESn,T2.13 F E t S e B E Wed 20th


July-Wed 31st August.


Summer for all ages Byears to 13 years


All Day


"^Yourchildrei!°w7e"'a\^ge7sS^^^^^^^ Please ensure your child brings a packed lunch and a drink. Drinks and biscuits will be served during morning and afternoon breaks.


Edisford Road, Cl ilheroe. Tel: 01200 442188 Fax: 01200444535 E-mail: sport@roefield.co.uk oM tho intpest activities at Rbefidd Leisure visit vvww.roefield.co.uk


9am - 5pm £10.00


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  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40