111 ) Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) 26 Clitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, May 19th, 2005 www.clitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) Letters to the Editor - | Write lo: The Kdilor. Clithcroe A.lvcrliser and Times, 3 King Street, Clilla-roc liH72i;W E(lil«ri:il c-nuiil: vi'iun.nicall.®eaMlnncsnc«s.c..uk J — Some thoughts on


Christian Aid Week IS it our title that puts some people


off? You don’t need to be a Christian or .


M


belong to any religion at all to donate, collect or receive Christian Aid. This year is our 60th anniversary, the G8 Summit (a unique opportunity to change the unjust trade system that keeps millions'of people in poverty around the world) is being held in Britain this Surnmer and Monday was World Debt Day. Last month with local Cafod members and the tremen- ■ dous enthusiasm of young people from St James’ Church we joined wth other national charities and organisations to promote MAKEPOVERTYHISTO- RY on Clitheroe Market. There was also an excellent photograph of them in their shanty hut in the Clitheroe Advertiser. Hundreds of people have and will continue to sign and send postcards to the government to encourage them to work towards a fairer world and we support and encourage the Fairtrade Group in hop­ ing to make Clitheroe a Fairtrade to\vn - ‘paying a fair price for what you consume.’


. Organised by our local ecumenical '


committee as usual, everybody should; have received a Christian Aid Enve­ lope this week and had the opportuni­ ty to make a donation and to send a personal message to the government. If for any reason you have not been able to do this please pop your dona­ tion for Christian Aid Week into any local church and it will be paid straight to the charity. Despite inaccuracies in the press,


our coffee morning is this Saturday May 21st in the Town Hall from 10 a.m. until noon. Come and join us and support the Fairtrade stall too. 2005 is an historic year to speak up


for the World’s poor and every penny counts towards improving their lives.


SUE SHEPHERD, Homestead, Eastham Street, Clithcroe • The date was published incorrect­


ly in the Ribble Valley “What’s On” Guide - Editor.


No decision has


been made as yet I FEEL I must respond to David King's letter regarding proposals for a Gisbum Forest Visitor Centre. . My response is not to the GPRE


criticisms of the project, but to some of the assertions and assumptions about the role of Ribble,Valley Bor­ ough Council and its planning proce­ dures. .;


' \ First I must state tha t nobodyT;


have spoken to at Ribble Valley BC is aware of any document which states that Ribble Valley BC is in favour of the scheme. Had I seeii such a docu­ ment then I would have challenged it immediately, to my knowledge as chairman of the Planning and Devel­ opment Committee no expression of possible approval or otherwise has been made. In order to keep myself informed as


■ Gisbum Forest ward councillor togeth­ er with members of Tosside Parish Council and Slaidbum representatives, I have attended meetings of the Upper


Hodder Steering Group which among other matters have discussed the details of a proposal made to Lan­ cashire County Council by a consor­ tium described as being of local busi­ nesses (including farmers). These details were also presented by


LCC at the March meeting of the Tos­ side Community Link and appeared in the April edition of Tosside News. At no time has any hint of approval been given, in fact I insisted that the Steer­ ing Group minutes included a state­ ment to the effect that'any comment I made should not be construed as tacit approval or disapproval of the project. Had David King attended the parish council meeting at Tosside on Monday May 9th, he would have heard strong opinions against the project from some PC members and a statement by me that if a scheme were to be formally proposed then it would have to be properly considered by Ribble Valley Planning Committee as the local plan­ ning authority. On Page 3 of CAT for May 12th,


United Utilities have also denied being p a r t of the project consortium or expressing approval of it even though they also take part in the Steering


..Group meetings. This brings me to the next point


which is the implication in David's last paragraph that somehow the whole matter would be cut and dried before being considered by the RV Planning Committee. Anything that suggests that the


committee is merely rubber stamping a decision made before the meeting could lead to both the members being hauled before the Standards Board for breach of the Code of Conduct for Probity in Planning (which could lead to expulsion from the council) and to possible court challenge to the decision by judicial review. Members are specifically forbidden


from passing any opinion before the meeting as to the likelihood of approval or refusal. It should also be recognised that


committee members and council offi­ cers, unlike single issue organisations such as CPRE, do not have the luxury of looking at one viewpoint, but have to consider all aspects of any proposal or situation. If and when a planning application


is made then committee will have to look impartially at both pros and cons and listen to the arguments from all sides. Members then have the diffi­ cult task of actually making a decision in the


knowledge that in many cases, what­ ever the decision, some people will feel aggrieved that their view did not pre- vail. 1 trust that this clarifies the position of Ribhle Valley and the planning


’ committee in particular. I cannot, of ■


course, speak for Lancashire County


■^Council although the same rules on : probity apply equally to their mem­ bers. ■ '


RICHARD SHERRAS, . Chair, Planning and Development


Committee, Ribbic Valley Borough Council


No benefit from


this latest plan MOST of us who live in Tosside and Slaidburn are aware that in 2003 a vis­ itor survey was carried out in Slaid­


burn and Gisburn Forest by Bowles Green Ltd on behalf of Lancashire County Council. It has since become apparent that this research was a com­ plete waste of public money. Interestingly, the Bowles Green Ltd


Draft Final Tourism and Recreation­ al Development Plan for the Upper Hodder Valley 2004 states: “The most common response when visitors were asked what one thing they would have changed to improve their visit was ‘nothing’.” (Findings 2.39 page 15). In addition, comments written with regard to tourism in the area at the Upper Hodder Community Drop-in meeting held at Stephen Park on November 6th, 2003, have been totally ignored. So why, when visitors have clearly


stated that they want the area to be left exactly as it is in its natural state does it suddenly require a holiday camp style development of extensive proportion? The answer to this is obvious


because any proposed development which seeks to promote “an undiscov­ ered and untouched countryside just waiting for the high spending visitor to experience and explore” is evidence that this proposal is nothing more than a commercial venture for those whose only interest in Gisbum Forest is to make substantial amounts of money out of it.


NORMA DUGDALE, New House Farm, Tosside


Polling cards? We


don’t need them? ■WE were gratified to receive our polling cards on the Wednesday after­ noon prior to the following day’s elec­ tion. I was informed by the relevant coun­


cil department on the preceding Thursday and Friday that the polling cards would be delivered over the weekend. One of the local constituency offi­


cers, whom I rang on May 3rd told me that they had received 30-odd calls concerning the non-appearance of polling cards. Particularly concerning was the fact


that the council person to whom I spoke stated that the polling cards were not actually necessary; one could just turn up and that proof of identity was not required. This takes the notion of banana republic to new, unplumbed depths.


COUNCIL TAX PAYER, Name and address supplied


Museum’s plans for


VE/VJ Day events I REPRESENT the RAF Millom Museum in Cumbria which operates in partnership with the Lancashire Air-


■ craft Investigation Team, South Lan­ cashire Aviation Research and Peak District Air Crash Research where the collections of these groups are dis­


played. At the museum we cover the aviation and military history of the North


' West which includes Lancashire, Cum­ bria, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, North Cheshire, North Wales and the Peak District. During 2005 we plan further expan­ sion based on planned archaeological


excavations in all of the regions we cover, an immediate expansion of our coverage of the Peak District is expect­ ed to follow in the next few weeks and the Lancashire displays have been fur­ ther enhanced over the Easter period. We now have massive expansion


plans for the future to establish our position as the leading independently- funded collection in the North West


region. : ' ' . ■ , VK;v-“ i We have assisted in the publication


of numerous books and articles and the making of a number of television programmes including in 2004 the filming of an episode of Channel 4's ''Time Tearn" archaeological pro­ gramme were two American A-26 Invaders aircraft were recovered from a marsh hear Preston. Talks/presenta- tions are also undertaken to various organisations.


, We aim to research and record the


. During WW2 the region was largely associated with training of aircrews and aircraft building and maintenance, although it is true that Manchester and Liverpool suffered badly during the Blitz. Thus most of the incidents we


aviation heritage of our region and where appropriate to recover and pre­ serve associated artifacts. While our primary interest is in the air war over the North West of England during WW2, our research extends back to the earliest days of aviation, during which the region played a prominent role.


research involve accidents during training or testing of aircraft. Though the human cost was none the less trag­ ic for the families of those who lost their lives or the memory of their sac­ rifice any the less iihportant. 'Wherev­ er possible we try to ensure that the results of our research and any finds we uncover go on public display and regularly organise temporary displays at local libraries, museums and occa­ sionally schools. An important part of our group's


activities is the publishing of the find-r ings of our research on the group's websites. These sites are regularly updated


with new information on ongoing research projects and detailed accounts of new projects as they devel­ op. In this way we are able to share the results of our work and have built up an extensive network of contacts with aviation historians and writers world-wide, who in turn share infor­ mation \vith us. On the weekend of August 6th and


-7th we are holding a wartime Week­ end known as "Operation-Bombard" to celebrate 'VE and VJ Day, were we will be hosting a large battle re-enactment, air displays. Red Devil parachute dis­ play team, aircraft/vehicle displays, bands and much much more, it is expected to be one of the biggest events of its kind in the region. Therefore we are appealing for those


Mth memories of the war/home front etc to contact the museum or a region­ al contact during the coming months with personal recollections and photo­ graphs or memorabilia etc to add to a permanent display on life here in the North West. Any person doing so will receive free admission to the muse- um/Wartime Weekend. 'We would also gladly receive any


donation or loan of material to enhance and further grow the displays for the benefit of future donations.


However small a donation or loan may be it will gladly be appreciated and collection can also usually be arranged. For further information on the RAF


Millom Museum please see mvw.rafmillom.co.uk


For the wartime weekend see www.rafmillom.co.uk/event If you require or have further infor­


mation, can help in any way or would like a talk/presentation giving please contact the following: EASTLANCASHIRE AND


■PENNINES, . / Nick 'Wotherspoon, 01251265036, lait@iikunlinc.co.uk


Store will bring


nothing but good I FEEL I have to put pen to paper to write about the proposed opening of the Homebase store. It is my opinion that we should give


the company a round of applause for wanting to invest capital in a new store in Clitheroe. Since we moved here in the 1960s, we


have seen the area expand and prosper people (like we did) wanting to live and work in the beautiful Ribble Val­ ley.


As we already have four large super­


markets that chose to open their stores here and earn a living, surely there must be room for a DIY store so shop­ pers have more choice and variety,, which is what retail trading is all about. . I personally do not think the smaller


retailers ■will lose trade or staff, in fact it could be good for them. The market in Clitheroe is only open


for three days a week and again their businesses should not suffer because their trade is different to Homebase. I seriously think the Chamber of


Trade and Commerce should have a more positive approach to the new venture, not the negative one they seemed to have adopted and think what’s best for Clitheroe and its popu­ lation. I hope the planning application is


passed and we accept the new store with a warm Clitheroe welcome and help them flourish and prosper along with the Ribble Valley in the future.


MRS I. WILKINSON, Lilac Grove, Clithcroc


Thanks to all those


involved in fun day I WOULD like to express a big thank- you on behalf of the Friends of Read School (FORS) to everyone involved in the Read St John’s Primary School Family Fun Day on Saturday. Thanks for. the many hours of hard


work that the committee put in organ­ ising the event, to all those that con­ tributed to the running of the event before, during and after, to all the local business who contributed raffle prizes, to the Sanderson Stars Cheerleaders, and of course to all those that attend­ ed that made the effort worthwhile


and a wonderful day out. We exceeded all expectations and


raised a sum of £2,044.73 which will go towards improving the playground. Once again, .thanks to all involved.


LOUISE POLLARD, on behalf of FORS


— — iiiiiiniiiiiiipiTii


I Stop this wanton destruction of our hedgerows by official bodies!


■WITHIN the last two weeks the verges alongside the Bolton-by-Bow- land to Sawley road have been cut in a manner which can only be described as an overkill situation. Also Barrett Hill Brow, running from


Holden to Lane Ends, has been cut in parts totally destroying the wildflowers adjacent to the road. It is only last year that this road and


some others in the area were declared to be “Quite Lanes” with sensitive roadside maintenance to be undertaken. It is interesting to note that the adja­


cent Smallden Lane, the stated preferred route for traffic to the Hodder 'Valley from Bolton-by-Bowland and Grindle- ton, has been left uncut. Normal trimming of verges takes the


form of a nominal width being cut adja­ cent to the carriageway with a wider swath being cut adjacent to bends in the


road to aid sightlines for motorists. Coming out of Bolton-by-Bowland, on


a right hand bend, the left hand banking has been cut almost to the top of the slope disregarding the foliage of Narcis­ sus growing there and in addition over the last few years two colonies of the Wild Primrose (Primula vulgaris) have started to establish, each year the self- sown seedlings progressing the colonies further down the bank. This year the lower par t of both


colonies has been mown with the result that these plants will not be able to seed and if this practice is carried on for fur­ ther years then the Wild Primrose will be eradicated from this site, because like all Primulas they thrive on new soil being colonised by new generations of plants. Further along the same road, opposite


Has bus funding


fear died a death? ON March 21st, the Clitheroe Advertiser and 'Times reported County Coun. Jean Yates (High­ ways and Transportation) as say­ ing “we’re desperately working to get funding for Bowland Transit, which has been such a success story. ■We are doing everything we can to keep it going”. • On April 28th, about five weeks later, these efforts seem to have fiz­ zled out as the Clitheroe Advertis­ er and Times reported a curtail­ ment of the service with its future uncertain. • • We are not given any details of possible sources of funding, but it would be useful to know what they are. However, because Gordon Brown keeps county councils short of money in order to bolster his own profligacy with our taxes, and then threatens councils with capping in order to keep council tax down, it hardly comes as a surprise that money cannot be found for award­ winning schemes like this. Village life has suffered enough


losses already and now ■vital trans­ port is threatened. The Bowland Transit bus has proved its value to the rural community, and indeed to tourism, by the increase in passen­ ger numbers and it must be kept running beyond May 2006. Liberal Democrat candidate in


the county council elections, Coun. Stephen Sutcliffe, was quoted in the Advertiser and Times promis­


Copy Nook and Bolton Peel Farm. This total cutting of the verges only


/.'o.


leads to further urbanisation of the coun­ tryside. With the ongoing loss of many wild-


flower meadows due to ‘improvement’ by drainage or reseeding, then roadside verges and railway embankments are ■vitally important as reserves for colonies of our wildflowers. With the latter being inaccessible to


most people then roadside verges take on an added importance and it is encourag­ ing to see many of our motorway embankments supporting colonies of an array of wildflowers. These roads that have received the


severe treatment are situated in the For­ est of Bowland Area of Outstanding Beauty, not on busy main roads, where ■visitors come to see the attractive coun­ tryside which includes the wildflowers. In addition it is only last week that a


THE Corn Crowfoot, introduced into


Britain by Roman farmers, but now on the list of endangered species (s)


Lambing Clough Lane, the complete verge has been cut right down into the hedge bottom of the ditches with the soil being strimmed by the blades of the cut­ ter, totally destroying any wildlife habi­ tats. This is totally unnecessary for any


sightlines of traffic as is the complete mowing of two wide verges between


ing to cut £1.1 million from the county’s budget, if he was elected. Just a small portion of that saving would keep the Bowland Transit bus on the road with a full timetable. Incidentally, it would be interest­


ing to know how much it costs to publish and distribute the county council’s Vision newspaper men­ tioned by Coun. Sutcliffe. We could well do without it. The county council must get its priorities right.


JOAN MARSH, Lancaster Drive, Clitheroc


I don’t want to be


on scrapheapyet I HAVE taken slightly early retire­ ment from teaching. I’m fit, punc­ tual and articulate. I get on very well with people. I’m conscientious, intelligent and organised. I have no criminal record and I can produce excellent references and qualifica­ tions. I want very badly to work. But, I ’m 60, and suddenly I


appear to be on the scrap heap. I write off for jobs in education or with the county council and my application forms (and they take an age to fill ini) never even get an acknowledgement. I fee! trapped in a local society,


which assumes that you’re past working at 60 and ignores your appeals to be allowed to do a fair


^ day’s work. I ’m sure I ’m not the only


report in the media stated that in the next few years we run the risk of losing one in five of our native species of wild­ flowers and this is where local authorities amongst others can help to redress the situation, by sensitive roadside verge maintenance. I have sent this letter to Lancashire


County Council’s area surveyor request­ ing the discontinuation of unnecessary strimming in a bid to benefit the appear­ ance of these roads while at the same time saving the council revenue.


PETER J. FOLEY, Holden Clough Copy to Lancashire County Council, Ribble Valley Borough Council Bolton-by-Bowland Parish Council


Clitheronian male who feels this way. So, what experiences do oth­ ers have of this attitude? And does anybody have suggestions as to what I can do to help myself get. out of this situation?


Name and address supplied Too English for


the French! THE general election saw Liberal Democrats double their representa­ tion in the North-West, electing six MPs across the region. Next time people go to the polls it is likely to he to vote in the referendum on the EU constitutional treaty, but only if the French vote “yes” in their own referendum on May 29th. ■ Opinion polls suggest th a t a


majority in France will vote against the treaty. I t is top “British”, they say, too Anglo- Saxon, too “liberal”. French farm­ ers are almost totally opposed, probably because the constitution will make reform of the EU’s com­ mon agricultural policy more easy to achieve. A majority of people in Britain


are also said to be opposed to the treaty. I hope their views will change. I t would be ironic if we end up rejecting an agreement that the French describe as too “British”. The fact that French farmers don’t want it must surely be as good a reason as any for voting in favour!


CHRIS DAVIES, Liberal Democrat MEP for the North West


Letters to the Editor www.clitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, May 19th, 2005 27 Your letters. . .


# The Editor welcomes letters on any subject, but correspondents are reminded that contributions may be edited or condensed, must not exceed 350 words and should reach us by noon on Tuesday. Letters with noms de plume are only accepted for publication if the editor


agrees that there is a valid reason for the writer's identity to be withheld. Letters can be sent by post to the Ciitheroe Advertiser and Times, 3 King Street, Clitheroe BB7 2EW, or via e-mail


to


vivien.meath@eastlancsnews.co.uk, or via fax to 01200.143467 or texted to 07799G9G447. Letters submitted by any of these methods must, however, include the writer's name and full postal address.


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