2 Clitheroe Advertiser &Times, Tliursday.January 19th, 2006


INSIDE^OURitlTHEROi MpRtiiilNinMEi I Valley Matters


..........8 and 9


1 Village News . .. ... :. .. .13,14 and 15 [Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 and 20 I Weekendplus .. . . . . i .. .29,30 and 31 I Weekend TV . . . :. .. . .. .. . .24 and 25 I Family Notices ... .. .. . .. . .34 and 35 I Readersplus...........36 and 38 I Motorsplus . . . . . . . . . .


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


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


Clitheroe 422'324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


www.clitheroet6day.co.uk


’ Ciitherbe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, January 19th,'2006 '3


Valley schools are above I Traders fear new parking plans the national average


will destroy their businesses by Duncan Smith 49 to 59


I Sport ................................... .60 to 64 AT A GLANCE...


Pensions for dogs! - page 5 New head’s challenge - page 6


Letters galore - pages 18 and 20 Pensioner inquest - page 34


INFORMATtdN


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: 08001954141. Gas: 0800111999. Water: 0^5 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. Ribblc Valley Talking Newspaper: 01200 428604. Samaritans: 01254 662424. Monthly Volunteer Helpline: 01200 422721. Lancashire Rural Stress Network: 01200 427771. QUEST (specialist smoking cessation sen’ice): 01254 358095. Ribblc 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 44*3467 - editor e-mail: vivicn.mcath@castlancsncws.co.uk news editor c-mail: duncan.smith@castlancsncws.co.uk sport c-mail: cdward.lcc@castlancsncws.co.uk - :


WEATHER r.


DUNSOP BRIDGE


■. O ■ CHIPPING I LANGHOI ■ BURNLEY ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN H


WEEKEND WEATHER: Saturday is forecast to be cloudy, while Sunday is set to have sunny intervals.


SUNRISE: 8-15 a.m. SUNSET: 4-23 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 4-53 p.m.


SLAIDBURN ■ GISBURN CHATBURN


CLITHEHqe I iBWHALUEYi^


^ * 'v V


EVERY secondary school in Ribble Valley is performing ahead of the England average- in some cases way ahead - according to the latest Govern­ ment “ league tables” released


today. On average; 57% of pupils at


English secondary schools achieved five or more GCSE or equivalent qualifications at grade A* to C in


aim to monitor progress of pupils, because while not every child will achieve high academic success, every child is capable of making progress. For that reason, the tables stress the “ value added


■ measure” - a figure designed to show how well pupils progress at a particular school over a set period. Two such measures are shown in the figures on page 34. One shows progress between Key


Stage 2 (KS2) tests, taken in the final year of primary school, and


'2005. At Clitheroe Royal Gram­ mar School, that figure was 99% for the second year running, with Stonyhurst College and Moorland School both scoring in the high 80s. ■ At St Augustines RC High


School, Billington, that percentage figure leapt from 59% in 2004 to 71% last year, a massive improve­ ment in just 12 months. . . The tables, compiled and pub­


lished annually by the Department for Education, and Skills, are designed to show how well pupils progress at individual schools and to allow comparison between schools in a particular area. They


. tests at the age of 15. The other shows progress between Key Stage 3 (KS3) tests, taken at the age of 13 or 14; and the tests taken at 15. The value added measures are based around a figure of 1,000. Scores above 1,000 represent schools where pupils made more progress on average than similar students nationally, while scores below 1,000 represent schools where students made less progress. Again; the most marked


improvement this year was at St Augustine’s, where those scores leapt by around 10 points to top the crucial 1,000 mark.


Mr Anthony McNamara, head­


teacher at St Augustine’s, com­ mented: “ I am absolutely delight­ ed at these results, especially as \ye


are an all ability school and chil­ dren at all levels of ability - not , just the high-fliers - have done very


..■well..- . “ It is very satisfying after what was a disappointing year last year


■ to be back on track, to boomerang; back as we said we would, and we are ambitious to do even better in the future.” CRGS head teacher Judith


Evans said: “We are.very pleased especially with the value added scores. It’s a real team effort, staff, governors, parents and pupils.” Listed are the seven secondary


schools operating in the Ribble Val­ ley, including its three independent schools. Moorland, Oakhill College and Stonyhurst College. Because independent schools do not have to follow the National Curriculum, they can opt out of publishing their value added measure scores and both Stonyhurst College and Moorland School have done so. The measures for Oakhill College


are not published because less than half the 15-year-olds sitting exams there had also taken their KS2 and KS3 tests at the school. The figures include: ' . 1. The percentage of pupils aged


15 at the start of the school yeai gaining five or more GCSEs (oi equivalent) at grades A* to C in 2005. ■ - 2. The same percentage figure foi


the pre-vious year, 2004, for com­ parison. ..r'- 3 . .The school’s value added


measure based on progress between KS2 tests and age 15. 4. The school’s value added


measure based on progress between KS3 tests and age 15. 5. The average number of GCSE


or equivalent qualifications taken by pupils in the value added meas­ ure group.


. 6. The average total point score


per pupil at the age of 15, calculat­ ed by dividing the total number ol points achieved by 15-year-olds at a school by the number of 15- year-olds on the school roll. • For results, please turn tc


page 34. I Entrepreneurs were destined for the top Pendle Club


BRIDGE winners at the Pendle Club were Mrs Eileen Hadfield, Mr Har­ vey Jackson, Mrs Frances Porter, Mrs Marjorie Col­ lier. New members welcome every Monday at 1-30 p.m. Solo whist winners at the Pendle Club were: Mrs M. Holding, Mrs M. Parker, Mrs P. Holden. New members welcome every Monday at 7 p.m. Domino winners: F.


Eccles, W. Cooke, joint 3, M . Woods and C. Wise­ man, 5th, A. Lowe. New members welcome every Friday at 7 p.m. Sequence dancing is held at the Pen­ dle Club every Tuesday at 7-30 p.m. and line dancing every Thursday at 1-30 , p .m .. ■ '


Bridge wins


WINNERS of this year’s Young Enterprise “ Three Minutes t o : Convince” competition put their success down to just one thing -


it was Destiny.' Young Enterprise teams from


schools across the region compete for the honour of representing East Lancashire at the Brussels Congress next month. This year’s winner was the team


from St Augustine’s RC High School, Billington, whose Young Enterprise company is called “Des­ tiny” . ,


. Other Ribble Valley schools tak­


ing part were Clitheroe Royal Grammar School and Ribblesdale


. High School Technology College, who have both enjoyed considerable' Young Enterprise success in past years. .' - For the-“Three Minutes to Con­


vince” contest, teams have to pres- - ent a live advert for their company- and its products, selling to a panel of judges. Just to complicate mat­ ters, they have to do it all in French! This year’s competition, held at


the Mytton Fold Hotel, marked the 16th year of the event, with stan­ dards higher than ever. The St Augustine’s presentation,


given by the “Destiny Fairies” , was based on someone who had forgot­ ten a friend’s birthday, but wouldn’t have if: they had used Destiny’s


• products - a calendar and desktop notepad. . The judges ranked them first for


the simplicity and originality of their idea and the quality o f their spoken French. The delighted Destiny Fairies


were Rach el Wilkinson, Sarah Makinson, Kira Shaw, Helen Park­


er, Stephanie Brian and Sophie: Holt, with support from Destiny’s managing director Michael Small- bone and the school’s Young Enter­ prise co-ordinator Suzanne Taggart. The winning team will how cross


the Channel to take part in the Young Enterprise Brussel Congress on February 3rd, 4th and 5th. Teams from across the continent- take part in the international trade fair where one of the highlights will


■be an international version of the Three Minutes to Convince contest.


. .. Destiny certainly has a hard act to follow, as last year the team from Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, “Orange Sherbert” , won the inter­ national contest, despite competing against teams whose first language was French.


• Our picture shows the Destiny team celebrating its success. (A120106/3a)


WINNERS at Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday evening were NS Mrs Jean Martindale and Mrs Jean Taylor, Mr Chris Pollard and Mr Ralph Bailey. EW Mrs Use Park and Mr B. Guha, Mr J. Pawlicki and Mr John Re'nton.On Thurs­ day evening winners were: NS Mrs Jean Martindale and Mrs Janet Bailey, Mrs Deanna Atkinson and Mrs Doreen Blake. EW ■ Mr John K. Pollard and Mr B. Guha, Mrs Brenda Wilson and Mr John Renton. CP


Rep orter''. NATALI E COX;meets-;the new head o f Ribblesdale


fHigh School Technology:; C o l le g e r f R e a d 'h e r


EXCLUSIVE interview on page 6.


3


PLAYERS from Blackburn Rovers turned their attention from their feet to their ■wrists in support of a local charity. During training time at Brockhall Vil­


lage, players were joined by Mr Harry Grayson of the East Lancashire Hospice to re-launch the hospice wristband. The bands, which have become a fash­


t


ion accessory for all ages, are designed in the corporate blue colour of the hospice and include the dove logo, along with “21 years of loving care” to signify the support the hospice has given to more than 13,100 patients and their families during that time.


• Originally launched last year to com­


memorate the 21st anniversary of the hospice, which cares for terminally ill patients and their families, the wrist­ band is available in two sizes and will be


sold for £1, with all profits going directly


to the hospice. Mr Grayson, head of fund-raising, has


asked for people to support the cam­ paign and is confident that everyone ' who buys one will be pleased with the


product. ‘Tam more than sure that \ve have


succeeded in finding the right type of quality product that people will want t o . wear \vith pride,” he said.. The wristbands are available from the


. hospice, hospice shop. Tilt gallery, leisure, centres and newspaper offices and any­ one interested in retailing them, should call Mr Grayson on 01254 660900. Our pictures shows Dominic Matteo,


Harry Grayson, Gary Harkins and Andrew Todd wearing the hospice wristband. (D170106/la) . ^


by Faiza Afzaal


CONCERNED traders in a busy town centre area fear that limited parking will force cus­ tomers to boycott Clitheroe. Proposals to introduce loading


bays and disabled parking spaces in Moor Lane, Clitheroe, are being explored by officials at Lancashire County Council. The move is-designed to ease


traf f ic congestion and improve access for pedestrians - particularly for people with disabilities. It is also to stop heavy goods


vehicles and careless motorists from parking on the pavements. The county council’s highway


authority has a responsibility to keep the roads and footpaths safe to use. Over the past 12 months, illegal­


ly parked vehicles in Moor Lane have cost the council between £2,000 to £3,000 a month in the maintenance and repair of the stone flags. This accounts for over half o f the footway maintenance costs in Clitheroe. Moor Lane is believed to be one


o f the busiest shopping areas in Clitheroe, \vith double yellow lines on the left-hand side and limited on-street parking on the right-hand side. Although the plans are in their


early stages, shopkeepers are unhappy and claim that the scheme will ruin their businesses. Speaking o f their anger, Mr


Kevin Thompson, who runs Townsend Records, said: “ These


parking restrictions wiil kill the road off. “ It will drive customers away


from Clitheroe. If the plans go ahead, then due to the parking sit­ uation, customers will prefer to shop in Blackburn or Burnley and will be forced to boycott Clitheroe.” Similar fears were expressed by


Mr Jo Harding, who runs Clitheroe Books. He said: “ I don’ t think there is any need for.change. “The council cannot take Moor


Lane into isolation. “The traders agree that there are


some parking problems that need to be addressed, but the council’s plans do not solve those issues. “Almost every shop in Moor


Lane has a flat above it. What about the peopie who live there? Where are they expected to park?” One of the traders who wishes to


remain anonymous said the situa­ tion regarding on-street parking in Clitheroe was bad enough with the over-zealous parking attendants. In response to the plans submit­


ted, county and borough councillor, Mr Stephen Sutcliffe said: “The plans are simply to try to prevent heavy goods vehicles parking on the pavement and it is also to improve disabled access to the shops. “ If the plans go ahead, there will


be parking for motorists, however slightly reduced. . “The scheme is to simply do


something'to help the disabled, community and to stop the pave­ ments from being further dam­


aged.” A county council spokesman


said: “Damage has been caused to the pavement by .vehicles unload­ ing, due to a lack of suitable load­ ing bays. There are also obvious dangers caused by vehicles parked' on the pavement. "While this proposal \vill result in


a reduction in the overall pro'vision, o f on-street parking of 13%, required in order to construct an area of narrowing that has been identified as a crossing point, it \vill provide other significant benefits such as the introduction of desig­ nated disabled parking, dedicated loading bays, an improved and more conspicuous location for their bus stop, a clearly identified cross­ ing point and improved distribu­ tion of parking among different users. "We have asked the borough


council and the Chamber of Trade for their views on the plans and are currently making changes to the proposals based on those discus- Mons. Local people have also been able to share their views. "We believe these changes will


improve road conditions in Moor Lane despite there being fewer parking areas."


. The spokesman added that


notices will be displayed on site. This is to ensure that the consulta­ tions provide residents and other road users \vith another opportuni­ ty to examine the plans and give their comments. People'who may be affected by


the proposed changes have until Monday, January 23rd, to express their comments to the council.


Rovers’ stars back hospice; A trip down


Memory Lane MEMBERS from .th e , Clitheroe and District Masonic Fellowship joined together to hear .Mr Peter Dobson’s second part of his presentation entitled “As things were” .. Addressing the 49 mem­


bers, Mr Dobson gave an informative speech about his career. He told them how he


begun with an apprentice­ ship in the dockyard in Sun­ derland, where he finished up as a carpenter and then later moved into the’build- ing and construction trade. ■ The next meeting will be


on Monday, February 13th at West Bradford Village Hall at 2-30p.m. and the topic will be “Spellbound” .


•A “ STORYTIME” ses­ sion for childreri.under the age of five \vill be held at Read Library later this month. The event has been


organised'to ceiebrate National Storytelling Week and will take place on Tuesday, January 31st, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m;


, r - - m


TRADERS fear for their future in Moor Lane (CR170106/1)


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