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2 Clitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, June 16th, 2005


INSIDE YOUR CLIlHEROEi M V E R | IS E |W


■ Valley Matters ................................ .8,9 ■ Village News____. . . . . . . . . . 11,12,13 ■ Letters ..............


17


■ Weekendplus ........................ 24,25,26 ■ Weekend TV ................................ .20,21 ■ Family Notices...............................56,57 ■ Readersplus........................................58 ■ Jobs .......................


59 to 61


■ Propertyplus . . . . . ' ....................35to54 ■ Motorsplus ...............................69 to 84 ■ Sport ......................................8 5to88


AT A GLANCE... Woman’s plea on missing owl - page 4


Mayors unite for civic service - page 10 Local firm’s safety success - page 15 Blues in search for new boss - page 88


INFORMATION


Duty chemist: Heyes Chemist, 35 Moor Lane, 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. Chtheroe 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: Emergencies - 0800 807060. Drugs: Local confidential advice and information line: 01200 444484. National: 0800 776600.


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Ribbic 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. Ribiile 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: 01200443467 editor e-mail: vivien.mealh(geastlancsnews.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smilh@eastlancsnews.co.tik sport e-mail: cdward.lee@eastlancsnews.co.uk


weatRer ■ SLAIDBURN


DUNSOP BRIDGE!


■ GISBURN CHIPPING I v\.CCHATBURN


CL1THER0E_ ^ ■ w h a l l e y :^


LANGHOB^A' ■REAp’^ I ■ BURNLEY ■ ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN ■


WEEKEND WEATHER: Sunny spells are predicted for Saturday, while Sunday is expected to be a mix­ ture of sun and showers.


SUNRISE: 4-38 a.m. SUNSET: 9-42 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 9-42 p.m.


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www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


•Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial); 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) Father of sporting legacy dies at 60


TRIBUTES have been pouring in following the death of sportsman Mr Brian Fox, founder and. president of Langho Foot­ ball Club, who died after attending a wedding party in Chorley with his family and friends. He was 60. Often referred to as a


quiet, gentle giant, Mr Fox (pictured) was an unsung hero in the local world of amateur sport and fulfilled his ambition of creating a thriving local football club. Mr Fox was perhaps best known in the Ribble Val­ ley and Blackburn for his football and cricketing connections. He was a gifted crick­


eter, taking leading bowl­ ing honours for Accrington


Cricket Club, Church Cricket Club and Black­ burn Northern Cricket Club in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. He was still making first team appearances well into his fifties and kept his links with the clubs in his work as their' groundsman until his untimely death. Born in Aberdeen, he


moved to Accrington with his parents. Jack and Jean, and younger sister Audrey, in 1961. He worked for Lynch


Brothers at Green Haworth and Wm Birtwistles, in Blackburn, as a HGV mechanic, before progressing to work on the dray fleet with Blackburn brewer Matthew Brown.


He married Kathleen


Whyte in 1967 and the couple had two children, Louise and Roger. Mr Fox lost his “soul mate” when she died suddenly at the age of 57, in April 2001. He had recently started


to rebuilding his life with a new partner. Beryl.


Mr Fox also enjoyed


playing competitive foot­ ball until he broke his leg and then turned his atten­ tion to coaching a Cubs football team, which he had set up in the late 1960s. The team’s success


prompted Mr Fox to establish the first Langho junior team in 1971. Lang­ ho Juniors was the corner­ stone for Mr Fox’s ambi­ tion to create a thriving local football club. Working with friends


and like-minded volun­ teers in the community, Mr Fox quietly and deter­ minedly established foot­ ball pitches and changing facilities at three sites before finally being grant­


ed planning permission in 1994 to build the Langho Sports and Social Club on land at the Langho Cen­ tre, on Longsight Road. He raised £150,000 for


local teams through fund­ raising efforts


Thirty-five years on, his


lasting legacy is a great community sporting and social venue that can pro­ vide a positive inspiration for those who follow in his work. Loved ones and friends


packed St Leonard’s Church, in Langho, for the funeral service, which was followed by cremation at Accrington Crematorium. Mr Fox leaves his chil­


dren and a granddaughter, Alice.


Go-ahead for £5.5m scheme


at Brockhall PROPERTY developer Mr Gerald Hitman said this week that he was delighted after being given the go-ahead to develop a £5.5m. scheme at his luxu­ rious Brockhall Village site. Outline permission has


JKi


been granted for plans to provide employment uses, 38 homes, a village hall and associated open space, a kickabout area, garden area and a garden store at Brockhall. The controversial pro­


Travellers moved By Julie Magee


A GROUP of Irish travellers had to be cleared from Edisford car park, in Clitheroe, earlier this week. Police and local council officials used a


mixture of diplomacy and more direct action to secure the peaceful removal of the group, who had made the car park their home. The 30-strong convoy of caravans and


lorries travelled to Clitheroe on Saturday subsequently making camp on the council- owned car park that evening. They remained there all day Sunday -


hanging washing out between the trees and allowing their pets to play on the tarmaced area, despite it proving increasingly busy as the weekend progressed. The reduction in car parking spaces soon


proved a frustration to users of the area’s local amenities including Ribblesdale Swimming Pool, Roefield Leisure Centre and Edisford River - for whom the car park is set aside and who have to pay a fee of 70p per hour to use. A group of runners taking part in a veteran road race around that area also seemed bemused by the situ­ ation. Rumours also began to circulate that


the travellers had been taking advantage of local facilities including washing their dogs in Ribblesdale Swimming Pool’s shower, which has since been totally quashed by staff. A spokeswoman later confirmed that a


small group of travellers and dogs had entered the pool’s reception area, but had


not been allowed to proceed inside. Clitheroe.Police and Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council took direct action to move the group on Monday, after promises made by the travellers to pack up on Sunday did not materialise. . Mr Graham dagger, street scene manag­


er for the council, explained that they had originally decided to approach the situa­ tion pragmatically in order not to inflame it and risk the travellers outstaying their welcome. However, he added that more direct


action in the form of traffic enfor.cement officers, tow trucks and police back-up had been deemed necessary on Monday when there had been no change to the sit­ uation. Mr dagger confirmed that the travellers


responded peacefully and fully co-operat­ ed with officers, who, in the end, did not need to use the tow trucks. He added that some of the travellers also paid the car park fees once threatened with enforce­ ment action. Mr dagger commented: “Travellers


receive quite a bad press and they are often blamed for all kinds of things, but I didn’t hear of any trouble on Saturday or Sunday. He added: “They were just a group trav­


elling from one place to the next.” The police subsequently escorted the travellers out of Clitheroe on to the A59 where they headed off towards Skipton. It then took council officers around two


hours to clear the site of debris. Picture shows the camp before the trav­


ellers were moved on by police on Monday , morning.


5


Tough rules ’are imposed


! TRAVELLERS have •ded a nomadic life in Ire- i bland for.centuries - but s since the introduction of :■ . tougher laws in itheiru ■. homeland -they, have ■


:


..ventured further afield. > ,The number of ille-


i gaily parked gipsy and? ; traveller caravans in . ^Britain is now.estimat-


, years.


:?ed at more than 4,000 I and has more, than dou- . bled in the past three '


This rise follows a


. decision by’.the Irish authoritieSito crack.:


:: down on illegal traveller; : sites byrimplementing.: ■


I: (Miscellaneous Provi-^ sions) Act.


, This gave Irish police :;thepower.to?moveon: ! families without^a court t order and to'seize theirb; i caravans if? they .won’t?-? move. It makes trespass ■


:


I a crime and has led to. i ■ court cases and fines. -' It is thought as many


tas 15,000 have leftto go? to the-UK mainland and France.


: the tough new. Housing ?


posal came before Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Planning and Develop­ ment Committee on Tues­ day evening. Local plan­ ners approved the scheme despite strong objections from Billington and Lang­ ho Parish Council. Speaking after the meet­


ing, Mr Hitman, who has been developing Brockhall Village since the mid- 1990s, said the large-scale development would help to bring back into use about five acres of derelict land at the heart of the village. He added: “I am delight­


ed that we can now move on xvith the development of the village, but there is still a difference of opinion between the residents and the borough council over the best way to bring employment to the last five acres of the village. “However, I hope to


resolve this over the next few months.” # See next week’s


Clitheroe Advertiser for full story.


On dangerous


driving charge CLITHEROE man Simon Barker (38), of AVhalley Road, appeared at Burn­ ley Magistrates’ Court accused of dangerous driv­ ing, driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop when required. He was granted bail until his next court appearance.


New sites for mosque found


_______ By Faiza Afzaal


LOCAL Muslim leaders have identified two new sites in Clitheroe as potential places for a


mosque. Ribble Valley Borough Council


chiefs have worked closely with Clitheroe’s Muslim community to identify the two potential sites - but the locations-are being kept under wraps for now. The move has been welcomed by


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Mr Sheraz Arshad, spokesman of the Medina Islamic Education Centre in Holden Street. He has vowed to continue with the


f .


local Muslims’ fight to establish a mosque in the town after council chiefs quashed their latest bid to build one at the former council depot on Kirkmoor Road last November. Since then,. Mr Arshad, along with


the centre’s secretary, Mr Farouk Hussain, and council officials have been working tirelessly to find a suit­ able site for development. This week Mr Arshad confirmed


that two sites had been identified and he is hopeful that at least one of them will be a solution to the long-running worship dispute. “At this stage I cannot reveal the exact location of the sites, but I can


confirm that two sites in Clitheroe have been identified,” he commented. “Farouk and I, along with the


council, have spent a great deal of time since November looking at vari­ ous places. “Any decision made on the sale of


land is conditional on planning issues, therefore, when searching, we have borne in mind traffic issues, noise dis­ turbance and financial implications that have jeopardised plans in the past. “We are hopeful that there will not


be any planning issues with the sites found and I feel Muslims xvill finally be able to undertake prayers in their home town.” The establishment of a mosque in


the town has won the backing of Rib­ ble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who praised Ribble Valley council for the help it has provided so far. Earlier this week he said: “I hope


an appropriate site at some stage is found in order that Muslims are able to have the same right of access to their place of worship as the rest of the community has. “But as in all planning matters, it


must comply with planning regula­ tions and there can be no waiving of any procedures at the planning stage. “In my opinion the local authority has bent over backwards in giving


advice and guidance to the Muslim community.” The move has also been welcomed


by the borough council’s chief execu­ tive, Mr David Morris, who pledged to work with the Mushm community to find a suitable site for the develop­ ment of a mosque. Speaking to the Clitheroe Advertis­


er and Times, he said: “At times I feel exasperated as to why we cannot resolve the mosque matter and I just hope we can finally resolve the prob­ lem once and for all.” The identification of the sites


comes 12 months after local Muslims were given the go-ahead to use the Ribble Valley Borough Council cham­ ber as a makeshift mosque for Friday prayers. Prior to that, an appeal out­ lining a proposal to develop a small piece of land alongside an end terrace in Holden Street, for use as a small mosque, was thrown out by govern­ ment inspectors, having been refused permission by planners in 1998,2000 and 2002. Mr Arshad added: “Officers at Rib­


ble Valley have been extremely profes­ sional and helpful and we have had a great deal of support from Mr Mor­ ris.


• “I am hopeful that we are now at a


stage that we can resolve the mosque issue having waited for 40 years.”


Fruity Friday is a tasty treat OUR piclurc


shows Year 1 pupils


Chrislian Moorcroft and


Einanucic Passcrini wearing


their fruity tops and showing


off some of (he fruity


treats pre­ pared in class, (s)


Advertiser and 1 imes AWeClitbefoe !^Thursday,:Uune 16th,' 2605i Npj Vs r r including Barrow, Biliington, Langho, Calderstones and Brockhall ..www.clitherbetoday.co.uk .Price 58p


FRUITY Friday was a great way to cel­ ebrate the end of tests for pupils at St Mary’s RC Primary School in Langho. The healthy children enjoyed sam­


pling a variety of different fruits, as well as reinforcing the message about healthy eating. As part of the Healthy Schools Pro­


gramme, the school teamed up with the NHS 5-A-Day project to raise awareness about the importance of good food and eating for fitness. Staff and children came to school in coloured tops representing the 5-A-Day


colours and made fruit kebabs with a selection of tempting, juicy fruits. The juniors took part in the 5-A-Day


radio competition and the infants did colouring competitions with fruity prizes, while lessons focused on the bene­ fits of healthy eating. Parents were given ideas for packing


coloured theme lunch boxes and healthy tips for funky food to appeal to their children. The day was rounded off with a guest


appearance from “Bessie the dog” wear­ ing a fruity collar and headband!


WIN! WIN! WIN! FANTASTIC SIVIILE BRITE TEETH TREATMENT WORTH NEARLY £400 - SEE PAGE 58 to


Jk"


When you purchase^spe^^^ and Refriseratiph Products before 2nd July 2005 T- - ,i.-« - t


at 1 ^3 King Lane;;Clitheroe Tel: 01200 443340


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