Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) 2 Clltheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, August 3rd, 2006


INSIDE YOUR CUTHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES ■ Valley Matters .......................


www.ciitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe 422324 (Editoriai), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Ciassified) 6,7


■ Village N ew s .................................. 10,11 1 Letters ...................................................9 I Weekendplus .....................


22,23


■ Weekend TV.................................. 18,19 ■ Family Notices ...............................16,17 ■ Readersplus.........................................14 ■ Motors Today...................................... 33 ■ Sport.............................


.46-48 AT A GLANCE ...


Hurst Green mourns Teresa - page 8 Dog owners write back - page 9


Jayne’s Bosnian mission - page 16 Primary proms success - page 21


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. W'ater: 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: Ribble Valley 01200 429346. 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 Bnreau: 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: vivien.mcath@eastlancsnews.co.uk news editor e-mail: Duncan.smith@castlancsncws.co.uk sports editor e-mail: cdward.lcc@castlancsncws.co.uk


WEATHER


Jobs axed and wards to close at hospital


by Faiza Afzaal


EIGHTY posts are set to be axed and two w^ds closed at a Whalley-based hos­ pital, it has been revealed. Health officials at Calderstones NHS Trust


have announced the closure of one ward in October, with the possibility of a further ward closure in spring next year. Each closure will result in the loss of about 15 beds. In addition, over themext 12 months there


will be a reduction of 8l) posts from within the trust, from the 1,300 currently employed. No redundancies are planned and all affective staff will be given the opportunity to be rede­ ployed within the trust. The planned closures at the hospital, in


Mitton Road, which provides a range of sp^ cialist services to people with learning disabil­ ities and the extremes of challenging behav­ iour, follow claims by officials that care facili­ ties in the community are now more effective, and patients can be released earlier than in previous years, to home care facibties. Over the past 12 months, Calderstones has


been working closely with Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Social Services Depart­ ments to reduce the length of stay at the hos­ pital and to arrange the discharge of a num­ ber of clients to facilities where they will receive care in their home communities. As a result of the success of this work it is expected that demand for hospital beds will decline by 15% by March next year. Mr Russ Pearce, chief executive of the hos­


pital, said: "As local communities become more effective in delivering services there has been a decline in the demand for hospital beds. "It must be stressed that investment in the


long-term future of services at Calderstones continues with the £14.4m. replacement medium secure unit, which opens in 2007 and will provide state-of-the-art facilities for our clients.


"Calderstones remains the largest specialist provider of NHS care for people with forensic learning disabilities and the extremes of chal­ lenging behaviour in the region. “The trust continues to work in partnership


with health and social services to develop fur­ ther care facilities in the community through­ out the North West.”


Valley team’s role in sheepdog trials


A FIVE-STRONG farm­ ing contingent from the Clitheroe area is playing a major role in mastermind­ ing the staging of this year’s prestigious English National Sheep Dog Tri­ als.


The 2006 trials take


THE Castle Street picture of 1887 which inspired the Gilsons, from Australia, to come to the Rihhie Valley for some detective work.


Winning hands Farmhouse Fare extension


BRIDGE winners at the Pendle Club were: Mrs Anne Riley, Mr Harvey Jackson, Mrs Eileen Wood and Mr Ernest Manning. New members welcome every


Monday at 1-30 p.m. Solo whist winners at the Pen-.


die Club were: Mrs M. Holding, Mrs A. Foster, Mrs J. Thornton. New members welcome every


Monday at 7 p.na. Domino winners on Friday


were R. Knight, Mrs M. Davies, G. Berry, joint 4th, Mrs M. Berry and C. Wiseman. New members welcome every


Friday at 7 p.m. Domino winners on Saturday


were Mrs J. Thornber, G. Berry, Mrs H. Wolfenden, Mrs J. Sagar, joint 5th, M. Pye, C. Wiseman Line dancing is held every


Thursday at 1-30 p.m. and sequence dancing every Tuesday at 7-30 p.m. The previous week’s winners


WEEKEND WEATHER: It will remain cooler and dry on Saturday. Showers are expected on Sunday.


SUNRISE: 5-26 a.m. SUNSET: 9-03p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 9-03 p.m.


were, bridge: Mrs Anne Cooper, Mr Ernest Manning, Mrs Mari­ lyn Wood, Mrs Ann Pedder. Solo whist: Mrs A.Foster, Mrs


M. Holding, Mrs D. Farnsworth. Domino winners: Mrs


C.Wareing, Mrs M. Parkes, G. Berry, joint 4th, W. Cooke and B. Holden.


A PLANNING application has been submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council for resubmission of approved scheme with design amendments for the proposed extension of existing industrial units to provide additional manufacturing, despatch and ancillary first floor office and storage space for Farmhouse Fare Ltd. Comments on the proposal at land adjacent to Farmhouse Fare on Salthill Industrial Estate (0587) must be made to the council by August 11th. Other plans submitted include: Clithcroe: Detached garage at 6 Derby Street


(0601). Change of use of bedroom two to a hearing and dispensing room at 56 York Street (0608). Construction of new entrance and Tarmac drive at Knowle Dene, Waddington Road (0609). Single­ storey kitchen extension at 7 Ahna Place (0610).


Bridge club latest results


WINNERS a t Clitheroe Bridge Club on Mon­ day evening were NS Chris Pollard and Doreen Blake, Linda Wilkinson and Janet Gilmour. EW Geoff Wharfe and Kath Thompson, B. Guha and Use Park. On Thursday evening winners were: NS Pat


Ward and Roy Ward, B. Guha and John K. Pol­ lard. EW Merle Allen and Alastair Carter, Bren­ da Wilson and John Renton. The previous week’s winners were: NS J. Mar-


tindale and J. Taylor, P. Ward and R. Ward. EW J. Gilmour and L. Wilkinson, J. Pawlicki and J. Renton. Winners the previous Thursday evening were:


equal 1st, J. Martindale and J. Bailey, M. Phillips and M. Jeffery.


place at Underley Estate, near Kirkby Lonsdale, from Friday, August 11th, to Sunday the 13th, and five members of the organising committee all live locally. John and Carol Palmer,


of Higher Higson Farm, Twiston, are chairman and secretary respectively, with David Carlton, of Wyndfell Farm, Newton- in-Bowland, acting as assistant course director. Meanwhile, Robin


Dean, of Hall Trees Farm, Chipping, will serve as sheep steward and Richard Alpe, of Saddle End Farm, Chipping, is also a leading bght on the committee. The countdown is now


on in earnest to the three- day trials, which are run by the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) and will see 150 of the top working sheep dogs in England take to the field with their han­ dlers. The best 15 pairs will


then go through to repre­ sent their country against opposition from Ireland, Scotland and Wales at the ISDS’s Centenary Inter-r national Trials, to be held at Duns, near Kelso, from September 14th to 16th. John Palmer, who has


been involved with sheep dog trialling for almost 20


years and who will himself be competing this year, said the 2006 English Nationals are shaping up to be one of the most suc­ cessful on record. He commented: “While


the whole aim of the trials remains to improve the day-to-day life of the working sheep dog, they also represent a great and very different day out for the general public. “Not only can people


see England’s top sheep dogs competing against each other in the field, but we have pulled out all the stops in organising a host of support attractions for all the family.” A Cumbrian Crafts


marquee will shine the spotlight on regional foods and rural crafts, also fea­ turing demonstrations of rug, stick and lace-mak­ ing, and flower arranging. There is a hog roast with bar on the trials field on the Saturday, while a farmers’ market will set up stalls on Satimday and Sunday, with trade stands up and running through­ out the trials. Younger visitors will be


well catered for. Attrac­ tions include a children’s comer with farm animals from Docker Park, Kendal, ferret racing, competitions, and, on the Saturday, the “The House of Bamboo Children’s Travelling Puppet The­ atre.” Full details about the 2006 English National


Sheep Dog Trials can be found at www.englishna-


t i o n a 1 - sheepdogtrials.co.uk


Annual WI Show, page 20


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Police in war on young drinkers


______ by Faiza Afzaal______


DOZENS of cans of lager, bot­ tles of wine, vodka and alcopops have been seized by police from children as young


as 12. The haul of alcohol, which has


now been poured away, was con­ fiscated by Clitheroe police offi­ cers as part of a major crackdown on underage drinking. Police Community Support


Officers (PCSOs) along with Community Beat Managers (CBMs) mounted high-visibility patrols beginning in the early evenings and swooped on known anti-social behaviour hotspots in the Ribble Valley, taking away booze from children, ranging from 12 to 17 years of age. In some cases, officers poured


the alcohol away in front of the youngsters’ eyes. The four-week operation has


seen key areas in and around Clitheroe targeted. These include the Castle grounds, Henthorn Road, Woone Lane and Chatburn Playing Fields. Now officers are urging parents


to be extra vigilant and ensure their children stay away from alcohol. Sgt Mark Porter of Clitheroe


Police said: “Parents and guardians need to be aware of where their children are and the activities they are becoming involved in because I am sure that some people must be aware of their children coming home and smelling of alcohol.” He added that he hopes that


the action taken by the police will tackle the problem of under-age drinking in the Ribble Valley and highlight the police commitment to dealing with the issue. “The operation launched four


weeks ago will continue through­ out the summer,” he commented. “The police are working with a


number of partner agencies to try to deal with underage drinking in an innovative and effective way. “Gangs of young people hang­


ing around in streets can intimi­ date members of the community who live close by. “As officers continue to patrol


the streets of the town, alcohol will be taken away from the chil­ dren, and where appropriate,-the


youngsters will be taken to their parents’ homes. This will contin­ ue for as long as people continue to misuse alcohol.” Earlier this year, the Clitheroe


Advertiser and Times revealed alcohol sales to underage buyers were being targeted in a new crackdown after a survey of Rib­ ble Valley schoolchildren revealed more than 40% drink regularly. Commissioned by crime fight­


ing charity Crimestoppers, the survey - covering nearly 400 stu­ dents in three Ribble Valley high schools - revealed that 41 % say they regularly drink alcohol, with the result split, significantly, 65% to girls to 35% boys. Since these shocking statistics


were revealed, Clitheroe police officers, together with a number of local crime-fighting organisa­ tions, including the Ribble Valley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, have visited schools to educate young people about the problems associated with drink and the dangers of obtain­ ing booze illegally from a number of different sources.


Thousands of fish killed


A MAJOR investigation has been launched after cooking oil, raw bat­ ter and a detergent were twice dumped in the River Ribble, killing thousands of fish. Anglers have this week branded


the pollution a “catastrophe” after dozens of sea trout, salmon and other river fish and insects died over the weekend. The waste was first dumped on


Thursday night in a road drain on the A59, near Smithies Bridge, Chatbum, and flowed into Swanside BeckinSawley. Anglers raised the alarm when


they noticed the river had turned milky-white. Emergency officers from the Environment Agency arrived a t the scene and built a small dam to stop the pollution from spreading, but further dump­ ing on Friday evening, down the same drain, saw the dam breached, poisoning thousands of fish. . A massive clean-up operation was


launched by officers from the agency, who spent the entire week­ end battling to contain the incident. A tanker was positioned at Sawley to pump out the pollution and oxy­ gen was pumped into the River Rib­ ble helping the remaining fish to sur­ vive. Meanwhile, people were being advised not to enter the river in the Clitheroe area, nor touch any dead fish, which were floating on the sur­ face, imtil given the all-clear. Scien­ tists are this week continuing to analyse the fish and water samples in the agency’s laboratory, however, it is understood that the polluting discharge has now stopped. Mr Fred Higham, chairman of Ribblesdale Angling Association


and pollution officer for Ribble Fisheries Consultative described the incident as the “worst deliberate act of pollution” he had ever witnessed. “Not only fish have been lost, but


undoubtedly much aquatic river life has also been wiped out. It breaks my heart when I see crows ripping into dying fish.” The latest pollution incident


comes three weeks after an unknown substance was leaked into Barrow Brook, killing hundreds of trout, eels and other fish and insects. At the time, someone illegally emp­ tied a tanker into a road drain on the A59 - about 300 yards north of the A671 roundabout - which caused the deadly pollution in the waterway. Although officers from the organ­


isation are unable to say at this stage whether or not both incidents are linked, they are “almost certain” th a t the same polluter twice


dumped the waste. A spokesman for the Environ­


ment Agency said: “We are fairly certain that the substance, which leaked into the river on Thursday and Friday of last week, was liquid food waste which on further investi­ gations has been reyealed to be cook­ ing oil, raw batter and a detergent, possibly bleach. We can also say that the illegal waste had been dumped twice by the same person. “Pouring any polluting substance


down an ordinary drain can obvious­ ly cause serious problems. We are appealing to members of the public to be extra vigilant. Should they spot anyone illegally dumping waste into road drains, we would urge them to call our 24-hour freephone hotline number on 0800 807060.” Our picture, kindly loaned by Mr


Higham, shows the scene on the River Ribble, and inset, one of the thousands of dead fish.


PICTURED is Sgt Porter pouring away some of the confis­ cated booze (B010806/2)


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, August 3rd, 2006 3


Three arrests follow raids


--■.rx.


THREE people were arrested in dawn raids on several properties in Clitheroe on,Friday as p a r t of a larger police inquiry into people obtaining property by deception. Det. Sgt Joanne Light-


bown said: “There were a number of search war­ ran ts executed in the Clitheroe area. As a result three people have been arrested, interviewed and have been bailed pending further inquiries.”


• A CYCLIST was taken to Royal Preston Hospital by air ambulance following a road accident in Cowark Road in Chipping. The North West Air


Ambulance (NWAA) was called out at 2 p.m., on Sunday, to rescue the 28- year-old who suffered sus­ pected arm and shoulder injuries. He was treated at the scene and airlifted to hospital in five minutes. The same journey by land would have taken 40.


I@l;01200 429929


fii:01299 442991 www.ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk


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