tf Cl ^ -■'orv. T / .' I " r i ‘ c v v ."i 2 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, January 13th, 2005


INSIDE YOUR CLITHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES


■ Valley Matters ...................................6,7 ■ Village N ew s ................................... 12,13 ■ Letters..............................................16,17 ■ Weekendplus.......................................22 ■ Weekend T V ...................................24,25 ■ Family N o t ic e s ...............................27,28 ■ Readersplus.........................................20 ■ Jobs..................................................48-50 ■ Propertyplus...................................29-44 ■ Motorsplus.....................................52-70 ■ Sport ..........................................20,71,72


AT A GLANCE... Susan’s special day - page 5 Old uniforms help needy - page 8


Cate’s pals in charity run - page 15 Whalley tree fury - page 27


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. Electricity: 0800 1954141. Gas: 0800 111999. Water: 0845 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: Blackburn, Hyndburn and Rib­ ble Valley 01254 207999. Environmental Agency: Emergencies — 0800 807060. Drugs: Local confidential advice and information line: 01200 444484. National: 0800 776600. Ribble 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, ext. 410 Fax: 01200 443467 editor e-mail: vivicn.meath@eastlancsnews.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smith@castlancsnews.co.uk sport e-mail: edward.lce@castlancsncws.co.uk


WEATHER ■ SLAIDBURN


DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


CHIPPING ■ -r % ■ CHATBURN I


CLITHEROE ■ ■ WHALLEY


LANGHO ■ 7


BLACKBURN I


WEEKEND WEATHER: Forecasters predict Saturday will be bright and dry, while Sunday will be a mixture of clouds with possible sunny spells.


SUNRISE: 8-22 a.m. SUNSET: 4-14 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 8-22 p.m.


■ READ ■ BURNLEY ■ ACCRINGTON I GISBURN www.clitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


Torrential storms strike the Valley


by Julie Magee


RESIDENTS of the Ribble Valley are recovering from a weekend of torrential rain and strong winds that caused chaos around the


borough. Clitheroe Police Inspec­


tor Bob Ford said the storm conditions proved all encompassing and unrelenting for many res­ idents with hardly anyone escaping some kind of dis­ ruption. Torrential rain fell for


most of Friday, eventual­ ly clearing up at around 3 p.m. Despite this reprieve,


the downpour had already proved too much for sev­ eral local rivers and streams, which burst their banks during the day ren­ dering roads impassable and leaving some villages isolated. The River Ribble at


Sawley flooded the main roads to Bolton-by-Bow- land and West Bradford making them both impassable. Two people had to be rescued by fire crews after a female motorist ignored road clo­ sure signs and became trapped in her car after it was swept away by flood water near Grindleton bridge. The water forced the


car to become lodged on metal railings and when a passer-by attempted to rescue the motorist, they


conlinucd from page 1 Vandals wreak havoc


-day evening at around 8 p.m. and while the facility was in use by Caledo­ nian Society dancers, stones were hurled at the building smashing anoth­ er kitchen window. Clitheroe Police Inspector Bob Ford told the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times: “We are cur­ rently investigating the incident and are very anxious to hear from anyone who has information that could lead to the arrest of the people responsible.” He added: “It was a completely


pointless and stupid thing to have done. It's a disgraceful crime against church property. “After all, it is a community facility.


People are always complaining about the lack of community facilities, but when they have one, this is how they show their appreciation.” Mr Nicholson promised that all pos­


sible help would be given to the police in identifying the culprits and that he would also be glad to hear from anyone who thinks they may possibly have information. He can be contacted on 01200


458019, while Clitheroe Police can be contacted on 01200 443344.


also found themselves stranded. Four fire-fight­ ers dressed in life jackets and armed with rescue lines eventually managed to bring the stranded pair back to safety. Meanwhile, schools in


that area had to finish early in order to help pupils return home. In other parts of the


borough, traffic faced diversions after Wadding- ton Road bridge became flooded as did the road after West Bradford bridge. Slaidburn and Newton-in-Bowland were also isolated by mid-after­ noon on Friday, while Straits Lane in Read was closed after a brook burst its banks. Trapp Lane, Simonstone, was also flooded. However, one of the


worst hit areas for flood­ ing proved to be Ribch- ester with the Environ­ ment Agency placing a flood warning on the area with fears that evacuation would be necessary at one point. When the rain finally relented, strong winds took hold Friday evening and Saturday morning felling trees across the borough. By 6 a.m. on Saturday the police had been notified of around 100 incidents. One involved St Paul’s


Parish Hall, Low Moor, which escaped total demolition aHer a large tree narrowly missed falling directly on to the building. Power cuts followed for residents all over the bor-


Whist winners


SOLO whist winners at Pendle Club were: Mr S Holden, Mr B. Wood, Mrs D. Knight. New players are welcome every Mon­ day at 7 p.m.


Bridge winners were:


Mrs Kim McDonald, Mr Brian Holden. New mem­ bers are welcome every Monday at 1-30 p.m. Domino results were: 1,


Mrs F. Giles; 2, Mrs m ! Parkes; 3 (joint), Mrs V. Giles and Mrs R. Kiddie; 5, Mr J. Oddie. New mem­


bers welcome every Friday at 7 p.m. Sequence dancing is


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


Bridge club


ough. In the village of West Bradford, residents, some very elderly, were cut off for around 30 hours, forcing them to rely on the kindness of their neighbours for help. Minor damage was


caused to the roofs of many local homes. One instance of more serious damage was caused to The Emporium (pic­ tured) on Moor Lane in Clitheroe with fire-fight­ ers having to be called out after lead flashing and roof tiles were left hang­ ing off the building. As well as the emergen­


cy services, local business­ es have also been stretched to their limits trying to deal with the after effects of the storms. David Dugdale, man­


aging director of Dug- dale’s European Ltd on Chatburn


Road,


Clitheroe, has a dedicated team working to repair aerial damage throughout the borough. He said: “The high


winds have caused abso­ lute pandemonium and it will be at least two to three weeks until we get straight.” Chatburn company


Empress Fencing also reported unprecedented demand for new fencing panels after the storms. With more bad weather


expected this week, Insp Ford has urged residents to take more notice of road closure and flood warning signs as well as not to take any unneces­ sary risks.


Public to decide on landmarks


DESIGN ideas for a 21st Century landmark for the Ribble Valley will go out to public consultation next week. The new structure, planned for


Kemple End, will be one of a series of six “panopticons” to be built in the hills of East Lancashire. A panopticon is defined as a struc­ ture, space or device providing a comprehensive or panoramic view. Designs for the first three panop­


ticons, to be built at hilltop sites in Rossendale, Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen, have already been chosen and building work should get under way in spring and sum­ mer this year. Inevitably when dealing with


new man-made structures in ele­ vated and environmentally-sensi- tive sites, the project has caused controversy. Now the panopticon project,


managed by Mid Pennine Arts, is moving into phase two, choosing designs for Ribble Valley, Hynd­ burn and Burnley. The site at Kemple End chosen for the Ribble Valley panopticon is


owned by Stonyhurst College. It stands to the east of Longridge Fell Woodland and offers commanding views of the surrounding country­ side. Three design ideas have been


shortlisted and will be exhibited from January 18th the 24th to get some feedback from the public. A local steering group will then chopse one of the designs to be developed into a full plan, with a further consultation planned for spring.


We hope to publish pictures of


the three shortlisted designs in next week’s Clitheroe Advertiser and Times as part of the public consultation. They will be exhibited at the


Ribble Valley Borough Council offices, in Church Walk, Clitheroe, at Whalley Library and at Lon­ gridge Library.


Organisers of the Panopticons


project stress that designs should not be considered in isolation, but as a series of six unique structures designed to regenerate East Lan­ cashire’s Regional Park.


WINNERS at Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday evening were: NS Mr Chris Pollard and Mrs Doreen Blake, Mrs Beryl Pollard and Mr George B. Pollard. EW Mr B. Guha and Mrs Use Park, Mrs Joan Bowker and Mrs Kath Higson. On Thursday winners


were: NS Mrs Merle Allen and Mr Alastair Carter, Mr Chris Pollard and Mr George B. Pollard. EW Mr Ken Geddes and Mr Peter Hargreaves, Mrs Beryl Pollard and Mrs Marjorie Lawley.


Store appeal


CUSTOMERS at the Sainsbury’s store in Clitheroe have been gener­ ous in support of the tsunami disaster appeal. Soon after the scale of


the disaster became known, the store put out collecting buckets, so that customers could con­ tribute to the appeal. By Monday of this week, more than £4,600 had been collected. A spokesman for the


Moor Lane store thanked customers for the remark­ able generosity they had shown.


Scooter theft


THIEVES rode off with a £2,000 scooter from out­ side Ribble Valley Motor­ cycles in Whalley Road, Clitheroe, on Friday. The silver Peugeot


scooter, which had been parked at the rear of the business, was recovered on Saturday from a back street next to Woone Lane with the keys still in the


ignition. Anyone with informa­


tion about the incident should call Clitheroe police on 01200 443344.


False accounts


THREE charges of false accounting brought by the benefits agency against Edward Milbum Haworth (34), of Milton Avenue, Clitheroe, were adjourned until January 20th by Blackburn magistrates.


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


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Pair cheat death twice on holiday


by Natalie Cox


A COUPLE who cheated death twice have described themselves


as being very lucky. Matthew Taylor, formerly of


Park Ave, Clitheroe, and his fiancee, Angela Moody, (pictured) were involved in a bus crash in Malaysia just before Christmas. The injuries they sustained left


them unable to complete their jour­ ney which would have seen them reach Penang, one of the many coastal resorts affected by the mas­ sive tsunami waves on Boxing Day. This week, the couple, who are


now back home, described the hor­ rific situation they found them­ selves in when the bus they were travelling in plunged 25m. down a hillside, killing five of their fellow passengers. But they also revealed their relief


after learning about their narrow escape from the tsunami which has caused so much devastation in South East Asia. Matthew said he was sure that


CP


their involvement in one disaster had almost certainly saved them from another: “The first we heard about the tsunami was when we got a text in hospital from Angela’s mum asking if we were near the earthquake. It was only after I read about what had happened that we immediately thought, 'oh my good­ ness if we had not been in the crash then potentially we could have been wiped out in Penang'. I am not sure if the whole thing has fully sunk in yet, only time will tell.” Educated at St James’s CE Pri­


mary School, Clitheroe, Matthew (30) still has many friends in the town and is a member of Clitheroe Golf Club and Ribble Valley Sub- Aqua Club. He and Angela (25), were three


months from the end of a two-year round-the-world trip when they were involved in the bus crash. Their destination was the west coast resort of Penang where they had planned to spend four days over Christmas. “When the tsunami came


through it hit Penang, the town we were going to stay and it was quite badly affected, with about 68 peo­ ple being killed. We could have lost each other or who knows what could have happened,” said Matthew. “We also had Phuket booked for New Year, so we have been very lucky. We do count our­ selves as lucky because five people died on the bus.” The couple were travelling from


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, January 13th, 2005 3


Banned driver gave police false details


A BANNED driver who gave his brother's name when arrested for a drug offence has avoided a jail sentence. Michael McVeigh's ruse was discovered when a woman rang a police station to ask


about him. He was then re-interviewed by officers


and additional charges of perverting the course of justice and driving while disquali­


fied were laid against him. McVeigh (34), of Ratbeck House, Sawley,


had been convicted of perverting the course of justice, driving while disqualified, not having insurance and possession of heroin. The disqualified driving offence occurred in Sawley Road, Chatbum. Preston Crown Court heard that


McVeigh was stopped in a car and had been smoking what turned out to be heroin. He was arrested on suspicion of drug pos­ session. He gave false details, in particular


the name of his brother. Mr Jacob Dyer (prosecuting) said con­ cerns arose about the defendant's identity


the Cameron Islands to Penang when the bus they were in plunged down a hillside. Matthew said the vehicle had been travelling too fast towards a sharp bend when the accident happened. He said; “When we took the corner I realised we were not going to make it. The road drops off down a hill­ side and the bus tumbled about 25m. It took off once but landed on


its wheels.” Although Matthew was in the


bus as it fell, he was one of the sur­ vivors and was able to walk away from the accident. For Angela the ordeal had been


even more terrifying as she watched the bus fall not knowing whether Matthew had survived or not: “Angela had an unfortunate experience,” said Matthew. “She came out of the bus at the top of the hill and came to as it was turn­ ing over. “I was still inside so she saw me


in the bus. Until it came to a stop and she could come down, there were a few minutes when she did not know if I was still alive or what had happened to me.” Matthew sustained injuries to


his leg and took such a bang to his head that doctors believe he may be suffering from amnesia. Since the accident he has also


lost his sense of smell and taste. Angela had cuts to her right arm which needed stitches, as well as fracturing her ribs and tearing lig­ aments in her neck and shoulder. She is also suffering flashbacks.


Both have now been referred to a trauma clinic. Immediately after the accident


the couple were taken to hospital in Malaysia from where they were dis­ charged on Boxing Day. However, the extent of Angela’s injuries meant that she had to return to hospital every day to see medics before being allowed to travel home. Eventually the couple flew back


into Manchester on Thursday where Matthew was reunited with his parents, Tony Taylor, of Clitheroe, who is the organist at Whalley Parish Church, and Car­ ole Barnes, of Morecambe. Also there to welcome Angela were her parents, Colin and Barbara Moody, of Blackburn. Despite all they have been


through, the couple who plan to get married in Whalley Parish Church next year, hope to return to Asia and finish their tour. Having already visited South Africa, Aus­ tralia, New Zealand and Singapore, Matthew and Angela had wanted to spend time in Thailand, Viet­ nam and Cambodia before heading to Sri Lanka on the way home. Said Matthew: “We feel incredibly lucky. We are a bit upset that our plans have finished as they have done because we had another three months to go, but we are alive at the end of the day and we can go back to these places. I still have a desire to go and see these coun­ tries.” (s)


First walk of the year proves popular


FOR the first Tuesday walk of 2005 for Clitheroe Ramblers, the weather prior to the start was wild and very wet and, no doubt, dis­ couraged some members from ven­ turing out. However, not a drop of rain fell during the walk and the sun shone


almost all day. The eight-mile walk, led by


Mick O'Donoghue, started in Lon­ gridge centre along the converted


track of the old railway to New Town, the old part of Longridge! Between the now two Alston


reservoirs, along field paths, the walk continued to Hothersall Hall by the Ribble and into Ribchester, where lunch was taken with mince pies courtesy of leader’s wife,


Doreen. The walk soon continued across


fields passing Ashmoor House, Cage Mill and Buckley Hall,


noticing the old bobbin mills in the attractive wooded valley before arriving at Knowle Green Road. This was crossed and the path


taken by the Written Stone to Tootle Heights, passing the new development at Nook Fold. They went through the caravan


site and the outskirts of Longridge returning to the start point after a most enjoyable, fresh walk, despite the heavy going underfoot.


m r ^ l ^ frame!


A CHATBURN man has been charged with 19 offences of damaging car tyres in the vil­ lage, the total damage being put at £1,205. Martin Charles Borthwick


when a woman rang a police station to ask about a Michael McVeigh. When re-inter­ viewed, he admitted having given false details because he was a banned driver. He had previous convictions which included a five-year sentence for a drug


offence. Mr Richard Hunt (defending) said per­


verting the course of justice normally resulted in a custodial sentence. But McVeigh had got himself back on his feet following his release from prison. He was employed by a firm of cabinet makers and worked five-and-a-half days a week. Mr Recorder Kevin Grice, told the defen­


dant: "It is quite clear there is much good in you and that that would be at risk of being thrown away if I send you to prison today". McVeigh was instead given an 18-month


community rehabilitation order, with a con­ dition to undertake a “Think First” pro­ gramme. He was also told to pay £250 towards prosecution costs.


Man charged with slashing tyres


(42), of Ribblesdale View, is alleged to have used a sharp instrument to puncture the tyres on December 10th. He is due to appear at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on Monday.


Valley rallies to aid


tsunami victims


pages 11,26 ultraframe


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