2 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, March 10th, 2005


INSIDE YOUR CLITHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES


■ Valley Matters..................................8,9 ■ Village News .............13,14,15 and 24 ■ Letters ...........................................22,23 ■ Weekendplus ............................28 to 30 ■ Weekend TV .................................26.27 ■ Family Notices...............................24,25 ■ Readersplus..........................................18 ■ J o b s ................................................... 50 to 53 ■ Propertyplus.................................... 33 to 48 ■ Motorsplus ................................. 59 to 75 ■ Sport................................................. 76 to 80


AT A GLANCE... Call for A59 roundabout - page 7


Retiring town clerk thanked - page 10 Pupils go on trial - page 12


Youngsters steal the show - page 19 INFORMATION


Duty 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. Eicctricity: 0800 1954141. Gas: 0800 111999. 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 Valley 01254 207999. Environmental Agency: Emergencies - 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: 01200 422324


Advertising: 01200 422323 Classiricd: 01282 422331 Family Notices and Photo Orders: 01282 426161, ext. 410 Fax: 01200 443467 editor e-mail: vivien.meath@castlancsnews.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smith@castlancsncws.co.uk sport c-mail: edward.lec@eastlancsnews.co.uk


WEATHER


DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


CHIPPING ■ I SLAIDBURN m GISBURN ■ CHATBURN


CLITHEROE ■ ■ WHALLEY


LANGHO ■ ■ READ ■ BURNLEY ■ ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN I


WEEKEND WEATHER: Forecasters predict that Sat­ urday is set to be bright with sunny spells, while Sunday will turn cloudy with possible showers.


SUNRISE: 6-40 a.m. SUNSET: 6-02 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 6-02 p.m.


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


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


Mini crash family trio’s lucky escape


Report and picture by Ben Parsons


A TEENAGER and his two siblings were lucky to escape serious injury vAen a Mini saloon overturned at a busy junction in


Chatburn. Driver William Green (18), his sister, Chelsea


(13), and brother Damien, of Victoria Avenue, Chatbum, were travelling in the vehicle when it overturned in Kibble Lane, near the junction with Darkwood Crescent. The accident happened at 3-30 p.m. on Fri­


day and both Chelsea and Damien were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with cuts and bruises. The pair were allowed home later the same day. Officers at the Road Policing Unit in Accring­


ton confirmed that the road between Chatburn and Grindleton was closed for an hour. Our picture shows the Mini after the crash. (B040305/7b)


Putting their faith in friendship


MEMBERS of Clith- eroe’s Interfaith Friend­ ship group organised an open day to welcome the public. The event, called “Faith


in the Ribble Valley”, was held in the Ribble Valley Council chamber and showcased information and artefacts from various faith communities within the valley, including Islam, Christianity and Buddhism. The event was spon­


sored by the Ribble Valley Strategic Partnership's Community Cohesion Task Group, a local alliance of residents, coun­ cillors, voluntary workers and council officials who promote diversity and cross-community co-oper­ ation in the area. I t was supported by a


range of people from dif­ ferent backgrounds, who enjoyed the experience of visual displays, devotional sounds and seasonal foods.


such as hot cross buns, dates and tibetan tea. Sheraz Arshad, of the


Medina Islamic Educa­ tion Centre and chair of the CCTG, was delighted with the number of people who showed their support and was pleased that more were becoming involved with the group. He said: “I t was great


to see so many local people taking an interest in


I f - »


A super, free equestrian wallplanner


i MAKE sure you do not miss our free, full colour,


: glossy equestrian wall- planner.


I t is available from


: contains all the local rid­ ing club show dates and pony club events throughout the season, plus a "What's On" sec­ tion for local venues. Cut out the coupon


next week, March 17th, with a coupon in your Clitheroe Advertiser and Times. The wallplanner


and collect your wall- planner from the Adver­ tiser and Times office, 3 King Street, from next Thursday.


Tools stolen by thieves


portable compressor worth £200, a Makita portable chop saw worth £350, a Dewalt 14-point four com­ bination set including a cordless screwdriver and trim saw worth £250 and a Dewalt cordless drill screwdriver worth £220. The vehicle was


THIEVES stole tools from a white Peugeot van parked in Kendal Street, Clitheroe, at the weekend. The haul included a


unlocked from the passen­ ger side door between 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday. Anyone with informa­


• ‘ ■ |l


faith Friendship is a strong vehicle for promot­ ing interfaith understand­ ing and promoting ideas of mutual respect between different communities. “The event on Saturday


was a fitting celebration of our common values". Anyone wishing to find out more about the group


learning more about dif­ ferent faiths and cultures. “The Clitheroe Inter­


or get involved is invited to email faithforum@ aol.com. • A carrier bag was left


behind in the chamber. Anyone wishing to collect it is advised to contact the borough council. Our picture shows


helpers and officials who took part in the Clitheroe Interfaith Friendship open day. (A050305/4a)


End of the line for Valley rail service? conlinucd from page 1 There will no longer be an oppor­


tu n ity to hold a public inquiry organised by the regional RPC. Instead formal consultation will be carried out at a distance. The Bill, said Mr Butterworth,


also requires local authority trans­ p ort providers to consider the replacement of train services by buses, something seen by many as a means of smoothing the way for a "Beeching 2" process of line closures. And, despite Alistair Darling's


assurances that the Bill would ensure that the new structure would be customer, not industry, focused, rail users and supporters throughout the Ribble Valley fear that use of the word "streamlining" could signal clo­ sures. The Friends of the Blackburn to Hellifield Line representative offer­


ing to put his money up front says: "The infrastructure is all there, it just needs commonsense to make it work." "A lot of local people looking at


travelling by train to London drive to Preston to catch the train. They don't want to spend 30 minutes at Blackburn waiting for a connection to Preston before continuing with their journey to Euston. They should have the option of travelling direct to Preston, or going to Helli­ field and then on to the Yorkshire line to Kings Cross." He also argues that investing in


the construction of a station at Hen- thorn would improve passenger take- up on the local line, as well as offer­ ing a transport option, particularly to school pupil,>: travelling to Rib- blesdale High School Technology College. Pointing out that the Blackburn


to Hellifield line celebrates its 125th anniversary later this year, he main­ tains th a t a station at Henthorn with parking on the old Trutex site would boost the business and would require only minor adjustment of the timetabling. Meanwhile, Mr Moore points out


serious about the Kyoto agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, then it also needs to look seriously at moving freight and people via the country's railways. We have Castle Cement and ICI ideally situated alongside the line." This week, the commercial man­ ager for Northern, Chris Kimberley,


had no comment to make on the fears.


that Ribble Valley Rail and the bod­ ies who supported the re-opening of the local line have made it easier for 58,000 people to travel without cars. Restates: "If this Government is


tion should call Clitheroe police on 01200 443344.


Pendle Club


SOLO whist winners at the Pendle Club were: Mrs D. Knight, Mrs M. Park­ er, Mrs K. MacDonald. Bridge winners were:


Mrs Marjorie Collier, Mrs Kim MacDonald, Mrs Pat Parker, Mrs Doris Blunt. Domino results were: Mrs A. Low, Mrs F. Cooke, Mrs V. Giles, Mr G. Berry and Mr W. Clooke. The previous week, win­


ners were: bridge - Mrs Anne Cooper, Mr Joe Lynch, Mrs Sylvia Walsh, Mrs Marjorie Collier; solo whist winners - Mr A. Hartley, Mrs A. Foster, Mr D. Grant; dominoes - G. Berry, Brian Holden, J. Healey, G. Capstick and M. Berry.


Bridge results


WINNERS at Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday were: N/S Mr D. Mor­ timer and Mrs B. Wilson, Mrs J. Martindale aiid Mrs J. Taylor. E/W Mrs M. Thompson and Mrs S. Cornwell, Mrs M. Parker and Mrs D. Blake. On Thursday, winners


were: N/S Mr G. and Mr C. Pollard, Mrs M. Phillips and Col M. Jef­ fery. E/W Mr and Mrs R. Ward, Mrs L. Pimperton and Mr B. Holding.


WMJ .'-i r--


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


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Jail for driver who severed biker’s foot


A MOTORCYCLIST was left in agony after his left foot was ripped off by a car crashing into


him. Blackburn magistrates heard the


car driver, Peter John Dearing (pic­ tured), stopped and got out of his vehicle. He could see and hear the injured man, who was being attend­ ed by people at the scene and await­ ing an ambulance, but he then got back in his car and drove away. Dearing (23), of Old Read


Bridge, Read, drove to a pub car park two miles away, where the biker’s severed foot was discovered embedded in the Volvo’s bumper. Dearing contacted the police from the pub car park. When he appeared in court,


Dearing admitted driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after an accident, driving other than in accordance with a provi­ sional licence, driving without insurance, and driving a vehicle with defective brakes and steering. He was jailed for two months,


banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay £300 in compen­ sation to the motorcyclist who lost his foot. The court heard the victim’s own


harrowing account of the incident and its impact on his life. In a state­ ment, Mr Richard Sholl (37) told how, as he lay in the road, he could feel blood pumping from his leg and hear i t spraying on the road. “I thought my time was up and I was about to die,” he said. “I know the people who stopped th a t night


road screaming with pain, said Mrs Lorimer. She explained how Mr Sholl’s foot


was recovered by police and taken to hospital, but no attempt was made to re-attach it. Mr Sholl was initially taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary before being transferred to Wythenshaw Hospital for spe­ cialist treatment. Defence solicitor Mr Paul


probably saved my life.” He told how, months after the crash that changed his life, he still lived in con­ stant pain. “The person I have to blame for


all this is a selfish, stupid, illegal driver who left me in the road to bleed to death. I feel so angry. My left leg has gone forever, it won’t grow back and I have only got the prospect of a false leg to look for­ ward to,” he said. Speaking after the case, Mr Sholl said he was pleased Dearing had received a cus­ todial sentence, although it could never have been long enough. Mrs Sophie Lorimer (prosecut­


ing) said the incident happened in Yew Tree Drive, Blackburn, on October 22nd last year, as Mr Sholl was riding home from work as an after-sales manager with a motor­ bike dealer. The Ins titute of Advance Motorists-qualified rider was overtaking a vehicle on the dual carriageway when he noticed Dear- ing’s Volvo reversing out of a drive on to the road and the crash occurred. Mr Sholl v/as left lying in the


Schofield said nothing he could say could turn back the clock or reduce the impact of the terrible accident. “Nor can I convey my client’s


immense sorrow at the effect this has had on Mr Sholl,” he added. He said that, although the colli­


sion had terrible and extremely unfortunate consequences, it involved careless rather than dan­ gerous driving, and the more serious aspect was the failime to stop, which Dearing could not fully explain. “He accepts he got out of his car


and then got back in and drove off, but he did not at that stage know the extent of Mr Sholl’s injuries,” said Mr Schofield. “He initially intended moving


the car to the side of the road, but then made a grave error and carried on driving. He describes himself as being in a state of shock and panic and made the foolish decision to leave the scene.” After the magistrates jailed


Dearing, Mr Schofield lodged an appeal against the sentence. He applied for bail for his client pend­ ing the appeal, but the application was rejected.


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Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, March 10th, 2005 3 Labour blamed for tax increase


“HUGE increases” in council tax bills across the Ribble Valley and Preston have been caused by the current Labour Govern­ ment, according to the area’s Conservative MP Nigel Evans. Speaking in a House of


Commons debate, he said: “The Labour Party is run­ ning scared. They have seen the increases across England of up to 70% on people’s council tax since they came to power. This is the equivalent of 2p on the basic rate of income tax.


“For a Band D property


in 1997 it would cost a resi­ dent in the Ribble Valley £746. Now, in 2004 this has risen to £1,206. In Preston it has risen from £748 to £1,286 and in South Ribble it has risen from £730 to £1,252. “It is clearly a con for the


Labour Government to say the rise this year is a lot lower. I t is nearly double the rate of inflation. “They said this the last


time tha t county council elections and the General Election were on the same


day and the people of the Ribble Valley and Fulwood won’t be fooled into think­ ing th a t there will be no huge rises the year after these elections.” Mr Evans added: “The


Labour Party have realised that our policy of cutting the level of counccil tax for pensioners by £500 is a popular move. They are rattled by this. They do not realise th a t people want protection from this Government’s huge increases in taxation.”


Have your car tracked £lm. available!


POLICE have advised owners of high-powered cars to have a tracker device installed in their vehi­


cles. I t comes after a recent spate of expensive car


thefts, including the disappearance of a £55,000 Audi RSG sports saloon from Chatburn, and a Subaru Impreza worth £20,000 from Waddington. Inquiries are also continuing into the theft of a


blue Mercedes Vito Van, estimated at £15,000 with tools worth £19,000 from R.V. Welding Sup­ plies, on the Link 59 Business Park, in Clitheroe. Thanks to the tracker (a stolen vehicle recovery


system), the Audi was found abandoned in Brad­ ford, and the Subaru Impreza was recovered burnt- out in Halifax.


THERE is £lm. available for com­ munity, voluntary and faith groups in Lancashire to help people access jobs and training. "Lancashire grants for growth"


can be accessed through Lancashire County Developments Ltd. Grants of up to £6,000 will be


available to community organisa­ tions across Lancashire for a vari­ ety of projects which either create jobs directly or help people access training th a t will lead them towards employment. To find out more, contact Colette Taylor on 01772 551896.


\ m i


Visitors leave with positive impressions WHAT do visitors really think of


Clitheroe? That was the question posed by


the Clitheroe the Future group who commandeered a group of North West Countryside Agency staff to point out the strengths and weak­ nesses of the town on a visit last month. During their SWOT analysis of


the town, the 30-strong team paid particular attention to the town centre, retail outlets and eateries as well as Clitheroe Castle grounds. Senior adviser for Market Towns


and Rural Economies Mr Chris Kolek said the individuals had gained a “generally positive” over­ all impression of the town during their visit. He added: that some of the com­


ments made regarding how quiet the town seemed could be attribut­ ed, in the main, to the cold unpre­ dictable weather that day. “The town did seem a little qui­


eter than some had expected possi­ bly as a consequence of the weath­ er, and the visit to the town was limited by time constraints, so the comments only really give an indi­ cation of ‘first impressions’,” he said. “What I believe the com­ ments demonstrate is just how dif­ ferently a town can be viewed by each individual, who have different backgrounds and different inter­ ests, and how one good experience can influence the overall impression of a place. For example, several ref­ erences to The Emporium as a par­ ticularly pleasant experience can


leave people with a positive image of the town. Something to bear in mind when producing leaflets and signage aimed at directing visitors to the town.” Mr Richard Jackson, secretary


of Clitheroe the Future group, said the comments would now be anal­ ysed in detail and used in a positive way to influence future projects. He commented: “I think it’s use­


ful to get a view from outsiders, in as much as they have really no axe to grind with the town and there­ fore can give a professional but detached view of the town.” Our picture shows delegates


from the Countryside Agency vis­ iting Clitheroe. (B220205/4a) • To read the full set of com­


ments, turn to page 6. Registered Company tetiOIZOO 429929


!ax;91299 442991 www.ultraframe-conservatories.Go.ul(


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