Clitheroe Advertiser STimes, Thursday, July 7th,2005 ? 1 1;'.1 A '


INSIDE YOUR CLITHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIM


I Valley Matters...............................8&9 I Village News .........................H, 12 & 13 1 Letters ..................................................27 IWeekendplus............................. 30&31 1 Weekend TV ........ ..................24 & 25 1 Family Notices.............. ............22 & 23 1 Readersplus ......................


.29


1 J ob s ............................................... 33,34 I Propertyplus ..............38 to 40 I Motorsplus ..................


I Sport .................................... AT A GLANCE...


.43-59 .61- 64


Open Arms in India - page 5 A59 crash- page 17


Gun owners in court- page 17 Last Days at School- page 21


INFORM ATION


Duty chemist; Buckleys Chemist, 4 Railway Road, Clitheroe: Sunday, noon to 1 p.m. Police: 01200443344. Fire: In emergency 999 and ask for fire service. Electricity: 08001954141.


Gas: 0800 111999.


Water: 0^ 5 462200. Councils: Ribble 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: Ribble Valley 01200 429346. Environmental Agency: Emergence - 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. Ribble Valley Citizens’ Advice Bureau: 01200 428966.


CONTACT US! News: 01200 422324


Advertising: 01200 422323 Classified: 01282 422331 Family Notices and Photo Orders: 01282 426161, e.vt. 410 Fax: 01200 443467 editor e-mail; vivien.mcath@castlancsnews.co.uk news editor e-mail: dttncan.smilh@casllancsncws.co.uk sport c-niail: cdward.lec@casllancsncws.co.iik


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DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


CHIPPING i EATHER ■ SLAIDBURN IGISBURN o.BssmmBREAi ■ BURNLEY ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN I


WEEKEND WEATHER: BOTH Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be dry, with sunny spells.


SUNRISE: 4-47 a.m. SUNSET: 9-41 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 9-41 p.m.


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Clitheroe 4223M' (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) . I i'i‘ :'f , c f i')l’! ini i do?' r t'l ijLfS ^ ( s 1 3 tWr) ES Be on your guard


POLICE have renewed their plea to elderly residents in the Ribble Valley to be on th e ir guard and not to let strangers into their homes. The warning has been issued by


Insp. Bob'Ford, of Clitheroe police following two distraction burgla­ ries in the area. The first incident happened


between 2 and 2-45 p.m. last Mon­ day when a 86-year-old woman was conned out of £20 and a few book of stamps by two men who tricked their way into her home in Grindleton Road, West Bradford. The conmen said they were


removing some wood and while one offender distracted the pen­ sioner, the other asked to use her


toilet, made his way downstairs and fled with her purse containing £20 cash and few books of stamps. Police inquiries are continuing and the first male is described as


• white, 40 years of age, with a miss­ ing top left tooth, and he was described to be wearing a high vis­ ibility orange vest and brown shoes. The second male has been


described as being white, in his late teens with mousey coloured hair. He is described as wearing a white tracksuit with a blue trim and trainers. A day later, between 12-30 and 1


p.m., a generous 84-year-old woman had a visit from a man who returned to re-pay a debt as a week earlier her had arrived at her


doorstep pretending to look for someone and claimed he had walked from Bacup. The victim gave him a £1 towards his bus fare. On his second visit, he distract­


ed the pensioner by asking her for a drink. While she went to the kitchen to get a glass of water, he made off with her purse from the top drawer. The offender is described as a


white male, around 5ft. 5ins. tall, of slim build, wearing a blue and white long-sleeved shirt with dark grey trousers and black shoes. Insp. Ford has described the offences as “despicable” and is urg­ ing people to take simple steps to make their homes safer and pre­ vent becoming a victim.


Investigations into raid are at an early stage Commenting on the Rib­


ble Valley raid, Mr Jim Potts, trading standards officer for Lancashire County Council said inves­ tigations were at an early stage, however he is warn­ ing people to beware of anyone trying to sell fake goods. He commented: “We


have simply acted upon information in conjunction with the police. We found a significant amount of DVDs, CDs and computer games worth thousands of pounds during the raid in Billington. Investigations are an early stage as the confiscated material will need to undergo extensive investigation and some of the confiscated material may also require British Border Film classical due to the seizure of X-rated films. “Counterfeiting is a


major problem nationwide. Around £7m. to £10m. worth of fake goods, includ­ ing DVDs, CDs, clothes and other pirate goods were - seized during raids in Lan­ cashire alone last year. We often visit car boot sales


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spokesman for the Medina


Islamic Education Centre explained: “The complaint related to a decision taken in November regarding the Kirk- moor Road site. Any discus­ sions following that were look­ ing to future initiatives and were completely separate from | that.


months later, the CRE follows I up the complaint with the council.”


Mr Arshad added: “I under­


stand Coun. Hill will be disap­ pointed, but if he would have taken the trouble to inquire about the nature of the com­ plaint and the circumstances in which it was raised, he would have seen that it was not made off the back of recent meetings' at all and has been followed up ( without our knowledge as well. For him to announce it instead to a packed public gallerj' does nothing to improve the sensi­ tive nature of the issue.” He added the complaint had


been made on numerous grounds, including that council officers had asked for a survey on the social effects a mosque would have on the town. He added this implied the council j thought it would have a detri­ mental effect on the town. Mr Arshad also stressed that


the process of finding possible new sites for a mosque was only in the very early stages and still on-going. Ribble Valley Borough


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Council’s director of legal serv­ ices, Mr Paul Timson, said: “I can confirm the council has been reported to the Commis­ sion for Racial Equality. We have strongly.contested the complaint and expect a response from the commission in the next couple of weeks.” At Monday’s meeting of the


council, Holden Street resident Mrs Sheila Sims raised con­ cerns that the Medina Islamic Education Centre was being unlawfully used as a mosque. The council has been allow­


and commercial premises where there is a suspicion that illegal items are being sold. “We would advise con- ■


sumers to stay away from pirate goods and anyone caught dealing with fake goods can face a maxi- • mum £5,000 fine 'or imprisonment.” Com­


A DECISION to stop paying £17;000-a-year in subsidies to a Clitheroe sports centre was dis­ cussed by Ribble Valley Borough councillors this week.' ■ During the full council meeting


on Monday, leader of the council John Hill was quizzed over prom­ ises to negotiate with Roefield Leisure Centre about reinstating the annual cash sum. The council decided to with­ draw the annual subsidy after


menting on the successful joint operation, Insp. Bob Ford, of Clitheroe police, said: “We are always happy to work in partner­ ship with other agencies. “This is a type of crime, which we are always happy to help investi­ gate.”


More details will follow


sport centre bosses refused to take part in the council’s new leisure card scheme. I t is not so long since the coun­


cil also hit the headlines for scrap­ ping refunded parking at the council-owned car park across the road. Councillors have since voted to


introduce a lOp charge for 30 min­ utes parking to help parents drop­ ping children off at the centre. Speaking at the meeting, Coun.


H CLITHEROE man Gordon High (43), of Kemple View, appeared before Burnley Magistrates, accused of assault causing actual bodily harm and a 17-year-old faced an allegation of common assault. The pair were bailed until July 12th.


■


in the Clitheroe Advertis­ er and Times. In the meantime, Trading Stan­ dards officers welcome any information from businesses and consumers about any counterfeit activity. Please call the general advice line on 0845 6001352 with information.


Debate over plan to stop paying subsidies to centres


Hill told fellow councillors he had met with Ron Pickup, chairman of the leisure centre’s board of trustees, and they had agreed to issue a joint statement on the matter. He added that negotia­ tions were on-going with centre bosses to consider how the council can continue to offer financial support. The matter is to be dis­ cussed further at the council’s Community Services Committee on Tuesday.


D A GUILTY plea to a charge of driving with excess alcohol resulted in an interim disqualification for Vin­ cent Paul Brown (24), of York Street, Clitheroe. His case was adjourned until July 14th by Blackburn magistrates.


ing local Muslims to use the council chamber on Church Brow at lunchtimes each Fri­ day for prayers for the last 12 months. However, Mrs Sims said she


believed that local Muslims and visiting Muslims were using the centre pn Holden Street for prayers when the- council chamber washot avail­


able. . She asked: “What enforce­


ment measures are being taken , to ensure that the .use is lawful; and that the building is not; being used as a mosque bearing: in mind that planning permis­ sion for the use of the building as a mosque has been refused on numerous occasions on grounds of highway safety?” Mr Tirason replied: “We


have monitored the use of 26 Holden Street and found no evidence that it is being used ^ a mosque. It should be borne in mind that the occasional use of a building for prayer meetings does not constitute use of that building as a mosque or church as the case may be.” # As the Clitheroe Advertis­


er and Times went to press, a comment was still awaited from the spokesman for the Commission for Racial Equali­ ty.


“It is not our fault that seven ! vertiser an imes *, Thursday, July 7th, 2005 < - No. 18,


Prom night delight


PAGE 28 ‘I feel betrayed and I By Julie Magee


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


munity.


The leader of Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council, Coun. John Hill, told the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times he felt “totally deflated” after dis­ covering the council had been reported to the watchdog which deals with incidents of discrimina-


, '


^ 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 m . .


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,


—— i 1 1 . 1 * Weavers are the toast of the town!


ONE of the country’s top folk and comedy groups descended on Oakhill College to enter­ tain audiences tor two good causes. Glorious weather and spacious fields


allowed members of the folk group the Houghton Weavers to entertain a packed and enthusiastic audience. The successful event was a joint venture


between the Parents, Friends Association of St Augustine’s RC High School, Billington,


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July - Wed 31st August.


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-----7 „ latoct artivities at Roefield Leisure visit www.roefield.co.uk 01200 442188 Fax: 01200 444535 E-mail: sporteroelield.co.ul^


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and Oakhill College. Organisers said there was an excellent turn-out and performers folksy music and stream of funny Lancashire anecdotes ensured the atmosphere was lively throughout the evening event. Overall, £500 was raised, which will be split to benefit both


schools. Our picture shows parents and children ,


having fun during the fun-filled concert. , (T270605/3)


including Barrow, Billington, Langho, Galderstones and Brocktiall mmmi iim k mm.


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£40,000 in fake goods seized


THOUSANDS of pounds worth of fake computer games, DVDs and CDs have been seized following a high-profile swoop at a


house in Billington. 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


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.


I f I i‘. y >. :


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Ployscheme .{!qp q II (jgeg 8years to 13 years All Day


9am - 5pm £10.00


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