24 Clithe'roe Advertiser STimes, Thursday, April 28tti, 2005


www.clitherbetoday.co.uk Letters to the Editor ^^rile to: The Cdilor, Clilhcrue Advertiser and Times, 3 Kinsj Street, Ctitiieroe IIB72KW Kditurial e-mail: vlvicn.nu*alh@eastIanc.siiews.co.uIi 1,000s hit by


parking charges YOU are asked to consider care- fully the full extent of the recently introduced car parking charges at the Edisford car park, in Clitheroe, which previ­ ously offered discounts to those people taking part in physical exercise at Roefield Leisure and at Ribblesdale Pool. Up to 1,000 parents with chil­


dren per week are affected by the council’s action to withdraw the car parking refund facility. These parents rely on Roefield Leisure for their children’s development in sport and leisure, because of a lack of facilities generally available in the Ribble Valley, a point per­ haps overlooked by RVBC when reaching its decision. Parents are being forced to


pay the minimum short stay parking fee (up to one hour) even though they are simply escorting their children across the road to Roefield to register their arrival and leave their children at the centre. The process takes no more than 15 minutes. The well-being of almost


1,000 individual children and their families is threatened by the unnecessary charges which can accumulate to £3 per week.


■ LAST week we revealed (hat Rihble A’allcy Borough Council plans (0 scrap the car-parking refund on Bdisford Road; The car park, used by leisure users visiting liocfield Lesiure Centre and


; Ribblesdalc Pool, will mean from May 1st, a charge of 70 pence per, hour will be charged. ,


, ' ' Mr Tony Rodia (pictured)/'manager at Rocncld Leisure Centre,-'


v is deeply concerned over the implications this change will have bn S all the people who regularly use the centre facilities. Below is a copy of the letter which he has sent to all the borough councillors.: s ' -


not to mention those families who also rely on the swimming pool. Parents and children affected


include: • 130 on Roefield sports


courses ®60 on creche and parent


toddler sessions • 100 on over 50’s activity


sessions which include pay and play badminton, circuit classes and low impact aerobics. These classes are aimed at those peo­ ple who have been away from exercise for a long period of time. •The excellent GP referral scheme, some of which rely on friends and relatives for trans­ port. •The Heartwatch rehabilita­


tion classes for those key vul­ nerable people whose lives have already been threatened. •Every weekend between GO­


TO children attend Roefield for children’s parties. The imposi­ tion of car parking charges


would encourage parents to hold their child’s party at ven­ ues such as Charlie Chalks and McDonald’s. I am sure a healthy sporting environment is preferred.to a pub in a smokey environment. • Over 150 children are regis­


tered \vith Clitheroe Gym Club. There is a potential for acci­ dents to happen where a large number of parents arrive at the same time to drop children off for their session. Parents, who may not be able to afford the car parking fee, may prefer to park and manoeuvre in the small area outside the centre. There is a real risk of children being knocked over and traffic accidents from people reversing onto a busy main road. • During the school holidays


Roefield runs holiday clubs with 300 regularly enrolling, many in advance to secure their child’s provision of day care whilst they can continue work­ ing. 'With limited time available


in the mornings this is another situation where accidents could


- happen, plus the parents will incur an additional cost of £3.50 per week in car parking charges. • Last, but not least, another


activity under serious threat is the award-winning Timout sports centre' with over 80 teenagers regularly participat­ ing in sport and exercise every


, Saturday evening. This session is seen as the perfect diversion for the youth of the Ribble Val­ ley, much prefered to them hanging around street corners which could lead to alcohol abuse and drug taking. It is encouraged and supported by the local police, the education authority and the community as a whole. 'With a national and local crisis of Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) this activity is also under threat by the council’s actions. Roefield sees this latest


action by RVBC as another attempt to stifle Roefield’s progress and follows the recent decision to withdraw its small revenue support of £17,000. The Town Council continues to support Roefield Leisure and believes in the contribution Roefield makes to the commu­ nity. It is perhaps worth contrast-


Write to: The Edilnr, Clillieroe Advertiser .ind Times, ,1 Kiri!! Street, Clilheroe BB72EW Editorial e-mail: vivien.mealli@easllaiicsnews.co.uk


chase and building of affordable homes by one of the charitable concerns who undertake such projects? If the council did this there


would be more people living in the town, more rateable income and trade for the existing traders.


ANTONY HAWORTH, Pcndlcsidc Close, Sulidcn


An attraction,


not a put-off ARE there Luddites still at large in Clitheroe? We are talking about a mod­


ing the situation experienced by Roefield and that at Longridge Sports Centre. It seems Longridge is attract­


ing 50% less customers per day to its facilities. Overall the sub­ sidy paid (for many years) has been in the neighbourhood of £200,000 per annum. Roefield which provides a much higher level of service to the communi­ ty of the Ribble Valley is now threatened effectively by the \vithdrawal of £12,000 car park­ ing subsidy. Please can you explain your zeal in cutting sub- sidies at Roefield and, until very recently refusing even to discuss the perilous situation at


the leisure centre I WRITE to you as one of many people who are outraged at the change of the car parking arrangements at Edisford Road car park. As retired people are constantly being


told to take part in exercising to help keep us healthier, the swimming pool and Roe­ field offer us many facilities for doing just that, but even we are being penalised by having to pay a parking fee for which there is no refund against the cost of admission. Surely Ribble Valley Borough Council,


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having just raised the council tax again, doesn’t have to penalise the people who, in using the car park, are mostly using the facilities there, and the refund on the tick­ ets against the cost of admission is only fair. Like a lot of other people I have spoken to, I will not be using either the pool or


Roefield in future if this situation is not reviewed.


HAZEL WHITE (MRS), Shetland Close, Clilheroe


So much for being


advised to exercise! I AM disgusted with the Ribble Valley Borough Council’s action in withdrawing


the refund facilities on the Edisford Road car park. I swim four times a week for an hour, so


this will cost an extra £2.80 a week, approx­ imately £135 a year.


for health. The Ribble Valley seems to be doing the opposite. .


I can not name another swimming pool in the area where you have to pay to park!


ANN ASKEW, Ribblc Bank, Sawlev


The Government is asking us to exercise -


Longridge Sports Centre. As elected councillors I urge you to consider carefully the issues raised in this letter and to clari­ fy your position by replying either to me or via the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times. You are also reminded that


other leisure facilities through­ out East Lancashire provide free parking including Hynd- burn, Blackburn and Preston. Looking forward to hearing


from you and anticipating your much-needed support.


TONY RODIA On behalf of Rocficid User Group and (he Management Committee.


Charges: I will boycott An open invitation to


battlefield pilgrimage EACH,year the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regimental Association Battlefield Research Section, organises pil­ grimages to the battle areas of the First World War. This year we will be visiting the France


and Flanders areas. In September we plan to visit the Battlefields of the Somme and the Ypres Salient, Arras, Vimy Ridge and Loos. The trips specialise in visiting specific


cemeteries or memorials, and an experi­ enced guide will accompany each trip, to commentate on the various battles and the many historic events that occurred. We can also assist-in the tracing of war


graves, and whenever it is possible we oper­ ate a grave or memorial photography serv­ ice, for those people who cannot travel. The Battlefield Research Section was


formed in 1990 by ex-Servicemen, who have many years of practical experience in con­ ducting visits to the battle areas of France and Flanders, and we actively support a variety of ex-service charities and institu­ tions.


■ These trips are open to anyone who might


be interested, and we welcome ALL inquiries. Anyone who requires further information


should write to: Joe Street, 7 Westgrove, Royston, Barnsley, South W)rkshire, S71 4RY or telephone 01226 723860.


JOE STREET : ‘ of family^,


, entertainment and things to do over the


Bank Holiday weekend - see pages 29-31


est superstore here in the town not its outskirts. People will be attracted to


the town not drawn away. Jobs will be created and if the pay is better then staff will be , lost from existing businesses not


THE Rcctella Interniitional factory in Qiicensway (A18(M05/10) Store would be


an asset to town I READ with dismay the arti­ cle concerning the planning application for a Homebase store in Clitheroe. The town is crying out for


just such a DIY centre and the only comments published were in opposition to the application. Surely local traders (which ones by the way?) can’t be too upset at the competition because none of them has a product range remotely like Homebase. I suppose Dawson’s is the


closest, but Dawson’s stocks a myriad of products that Home- base does not and conversely, Homebase sells many products not readily available in Clitheroe. At present in order to choose


from a mde range of DIY prod­ ucts one has to travel to Accrington thereby taking busi­ ness out of the town - and if you have to travel to Accrington why not avail yourself of the excellent market facilities there! For its size, Clitheroe must be


unique in having four super­ markets and all within walking distance of one another. This hasn’t stopped local traders from thriving even though they are in direct competition. As usual, our local MP.has


jumped on the bandwagon in voicing his objections. The fal­ lacy, Mr Evans, is in your logic since not only will Homebase bring many jobs to the town, but will also attract (or retain) shoppers who might otherwise be forced to shop elsewhere, leading to a net gain in trade and jobs. I recall that he was also vociferous in the aftermath of the recent tragic accident at the junction of Pendle road and the A59 telling us that he had spoken out years ago for a prop- erly controllGd junction. Since nothing has been done in all th a t time I can only assume that he is not very successful m his campaigns. Let's hope that


he is equally unsuccessful this time and that the residents of Clitheroe are provided with the DIY centre that they deserve.


STEVE D.AVIES, Highmoor Park, Clitheroe


More nails in


centre’s coffin! BANG, bang, bang! The sound of more nails going into the cof­ fin of the still beautiful market town of Clitheroe, thereby has­ tening its demise. This is for sure what will hap­


pen if the proposed Homebase superstore is allowed to go ahead in the town. The town relies heavily on


tourists who visit it because it is a market town. If this super­ store is built then the effect it will have on local traders, including market traders, will be catastrophic. The superstore will not only sell DIY goods, but a vast range of goods not associated with that activity. -The sale of these will often be


in the form of “loss leaders” (goods sold at or below trade market value in an attempt to lure customers away from smaller shops who cannot match the bulk buying deals). Of course the study commis­


sioned by the applicant will paint a rosy picture of gain, gain, gain. This study will sup­ posedly assist the borough council planners to come to a


decision. It is also intended for details


to be leaked to the public in an attempt to lessen concerns they might have about the matter. It has been presented although every one will gain, not just the applicants. The study will emphasise how the council will gain because of the income from the proposed new store rates. How the public will gain because of the variety and low prices of the goods to be offered and the store will, of course, attract more.people to the


town. Then, of course, there will be an estimated 60 more jobs brought to the town. Bunkum! The true facts are that the


to\vn will eventually lose rate­ able value from shops that are vacated and left empty and market traders will no longer visit the town to trade. The public will be lured into


the new store by the so called “low prices” (which will be manipulated to the benefit of the store owners) and because there will be nowhere else to go they will pay slightly over the odds for the majority of other items. Shoppers will lose any vestige


of personal service they now get from existing shops. The vari­ ety of shops that will be affect­ ed covers a wide range and includes those selling car acces­ sories, garden centres, tools, timber, electrical trade and plumbing outlets. The list is seemingly endless. In some existing stores, they also include the sale of sweets and chocolates (to keep the children quiet). As for the extra 60 jobs. These


will not just take up the slack of those at present working in the existing shops. The owners of these will doubtless have to close or “down size” their staff as the result of the new store


opening. I would comment on the fact


that Clitheroe is a well known and much-liked market town. People travel here to spend a few pleasant hours shopping in individual shops and they get


pleasure from doing so. They will not come to visit


another bland, heartless super­ store. If the building of this store is permitted, it would ulti­ mately lead to the lessening of the tourist trade. Finally, if Ribble 'Valley


Council is concerned about the use of the land on which the current Rectella factory stands, then why doesn’t it actively pursue and encourage the pur­


jobs. Welcome to the 21st Century Clitheroe - we move on. Just what is the problem?


BRUCE DOWLES, Wlialley Road, Clitheroc


Don’t buy just


to throw away THIS past weekend there has been a vigil in Westminster Abbey, and thousands outside, for “Fair Trade”, that the poor of the world should not be exploited by the capitalist rich. Going along to church on


Saturday I noticed a valiant young fellow holding up his own challenging sign “Fair Trade”. I hooted my car horn, put my hand out of the win­ dow to offer a “thumbs up” to show my support. At Ss Michael and John’s


there was a Day Vigil and Holy Mass for the Protection of the Unborn, 600 abortions every day that deny a life to those conceived by the endur­ ing miracle of God’s procre­ ation. And this past week the


announcement, startling by any anticipation, one third of our country’s agricultural pro­ duce is disposed of in kitchen waste to fill up landfill sites with rotting food emitting poi­ soning methane gasses into the air - ultimately atmosphere. . And yet millions are starving to death because they have no food. We seem to be a long way from the prayer th a t Jesus taught his disciples, that the will of God’s love should be a reality here on earth, not only in His Heaven. The same prayer asks that


we should be given our “daily bread”. Being blessed by abun­ dance should not ignore, neg-


■ lect those that have no bread. Psalm 104 acknowledges the


munificence of God’s provi­ dence: “He makes grass grow for cattle, and plants for man to cultivate - bringing forth food from the earth, bread to


sustain and wine that gladdens the heart of man.” It was considered a miracle


that Jesus at the wedding with his friends at Cana, when the wine had all been consumed, obligingly turned a few jars of water into the best vintage. C. S. Lewis pointed out, the


miracle still happens, even if not with such an immediate effect. Rainwater falls into the


earth, is drawn up by the vine into its fruit. When we bite the grape, the


water has been transformed into a delicious, quenching juice. We take it all for grant­ ed.


One third of our agricultural


produce going to waste. The cost estimate would pay the council taxes for everyone throughout the country. Put another way, our popu­


lation is 60 million, one third would feed 20 hungry million in the Third World. Cynics snigger. You cannot send waste food,


but with the money saved you could give donations to Chris­ tian Aid, Oxfam, Cafod. They offer the help on our behalf. Please think the next time,


before you buy food just to throw away.


ROBIN PARKER, St Chad’s Avenue, Chatburn


A helping hand


with names THANK YOU for printing the photograph of Ribblesdale School’s country and western critters-circa 1951-above. There are just a couple ol


names that are unresolved, but maybe they \vill identify them­ selves by writing in to you after this week. Apologies for any errors. Back row standing: Ray­


mond Hackett; not sure; Jack Waterhouse; John Whipp; Geoffrey Braithwaite; David Rich; John Stokes; Jack Nicholas. Front row seated: Bill Rim-


mer; not sure; John Taylor; Alan Best; Norman Knowles. For some mysterious reason,


I can’t identify myself on this photograph, unless I am the one standing between Ray­ mond Hackett and Jack Water- house? There is of course the possibility that I was the Lone Ranger out on the prairie at the time! Thank you again Marge for reviving these fascinating memories of our schooldays.


DAVID BOWKER, Park Avenue, Clitheroe


Y o u r l e t t e r s . . .


• The Editor welcomes letters on any subject, but correspondents arc 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 now 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 Clithcroe Advertiser and Times, 3


King Street, Clithcroe BB7 2EW, via e-mail to vivien.meath@east- lancsnews.co.uk, via fax to 01200 ‘M3467 or texted to 07799(i96M7. Letters siihmilled by any of these methods must, however, include the writer’s name and full postal address.


Tell the BBC about village THE “BBC Bus” visited ’ ‘ .


vRibchester yesterday and vvill s. return for the next four' . , !> Wednesdays, May 4th to the,:; -


■


' 25th inclusive. w--.i I t wiU be based in the mam: car park from 10 a.m. to'4 ;‘p.'ml oil each'bf those days


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising),'Burnley 422331 (Classilied)


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


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Clitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, April 28th, 2005 25


i=and people are encouraged to pop in and find out what th e ' sl bus is all about. You can also"'« tell the BBC about Ribch-:’ ester and the surrounding'


' area, or any groups, activi- I ties, hobbies, clubs or events that you are involved with.Ci J


’ 1


1 / ■ I I


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