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Clltfieroe 422324#litorial); 422323 («dWirtfd^Hg>^'B0W^tey42iM^^^ ADVERTISER AND TIMES


■ Valley Matters......................................6,7 ■ Village News................................. 9,10,11 ■ Letters.....................................................14 ■ Weekendplus ............................. 21,22,23 ■ Weekend TV ...................


42,43


■ Family Notices..................................18,19 ■ Readersplus ........................................ -.20 ■ Propertyplus................................... 25-40 ■ Motors Today................................. 50-60 ■ Sport.................................................. 61-64


~ AT A GLANCE... Prince to visit Valley? - page 5 Swimmers win award - page 8 Popular GP to retire - page 13 A and E new site - page 44


INFORMATION


Duty cbcmist:Lloyds Pharmacy, 5 Church Street, 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. 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. EnviroL mental 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: 0120(1422721. Lancashire Rural Stress Network: 01200 427771. QUEST (specialist smoking cessation service): 01254 358095. Ribble Valley Citizens! Advice Bureau::01200 428966.


CONTACT US! ■ ‘


News:,01200 422324 ' AdvertisiDg:pi2fli0422323-.: Classificd:01282 422331^^ . Family Notices and Photo Orders: 01282 426161, c.vt. 410 Fax: 01200 443467 editor e-mail: vivien.meath@castlancsncws.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smilh@eastlancsnews.co.uk sport e-mail: edward.lcc@eastlancsncws.co.uk


WEATHER


DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


■ SLAIDBURN- S L A ID IGISBURN .


ULTRAPRAME bosses are urging shareholders to accept Latium’s bid following the early release of a depressing set


of interim results. Published on Tuesday, the


results show group revenue down by 5.9% to £41.4m. At the same time, dollar sales in America were up 6.2% to £20.6m., but this was off set by a sales decline of 9.9% to £20.8m. in the UK. The results also show Ultra­


frame’s net debt has increased from £ l l . lm . in the last financial year end to £23m. on March 31st. “As previously reported, follow­


ing the 2005 financial year end, the group negotiated new facilities with its existing banking syndicate through to December 2006. “The facilities are wholly


repayable in December 2006 and if the Latium offer is not accepted by shareholders, new banking facili­ ties for alternative funding would need to be put in place before this


ultra


maturity date,” Ultraframe states. In the UK, revenue in the nine


weeks ending June 2nd was down 11% on the comparable period. “The market remains very


challenging and the board does not anticipate any significant growth in the business in the fore­ seeable future whilst consumer expenditure on big-ticket home improvements remain weak,” Ultraframe adds. “The board expects the decline


in sales, experienced since 2004, to continue, albeit at a slower


day for shareholders as deadline by Staff Reporter


rate, during the full year ending September 2006.” In light of the interim results,


chairman Rod Sellers commented: “These results reflect the continu­ ing difficult operating environ­ ment and the numerous non-trad­ ing issues that create uncertainty for the group. Overall, the outlook for the group remains very diffi­ cult, given trading conditions in the UK and US. “We continue to believe that the


offer from Latium remains in the best interests of our shareholders and oiu" employees, and the board unanimously recommend that shareholders accept it.” Meanwhile, Resilience Capital


Partners LLC and Berggruen Holdings Inc have announced that they do not intend to make an offer for Ultraframe. The announcement of a possible offer was made on June 12th. The latest figures published on


Monday show that a to tal of 45.4% of shareholders have so far accepted the Latium offer. This includes Ultraframe’s Board of


Dirretors, of which John Lancast­ er is a non-executive member, who own 35.8% of the share capital and Nortrust Nominees, which owns 8.4%. Mellon HBV. Alternative


Strategies, which had subnaitted a refinancing proposal that was not deemed in the best interests of shareholders, also owns approxi­ mately 11.65% of Ultraframe’s issued share capital. The Latium offer is conditional


on it receiving 90% of acceptances from shareholders by 1 p.m. tomorrow. However, it is believed this level of acceptance could be reduced at Latium’s discretion. David Moore, Ultraframe’s


group chief executive, asked any­ one who needs further clarification regarding Latium’s offer and the current situation, to refer to the question and answer document on the company’s web-site at www.ir.ultraframe.com Alterna­ tively, shareholders can contact the group’s registrars. Capita, on 0870 162 3121.


Village homes priced out of young people’s pockets


THRIVING village communities conjured up in TV drama’s like “Bom and Bred” - filmed here in the Ribble Valley - could be on the verge of extinction. That is the stark finding of a new


survey being carried out by Ribble Valley Borough Council. With the first results just in, it warns that Ribble Valley villages are in danger of becoming dormitories for the wealthy, as house prices continue to soar way beyond the reach of many localpeople. Phase One of the council’s Hous­


ing Needs Survey has focussed on the villages of Chipping, Sabden and the Forest of Rowland. Rebecca Lawlor,-the council’s


Rural Housing Enabler, said the sur­ vey had been a huge success and the response rates high. “The response has been fantastic


and the local community really seems to understand the need for affordable housing,” she said. “Chipping is a typical example of


a rural parish that is in danger of becoming a dormitory village, given


LANi ■ BURNLEY ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN ■


WEEKEND WEATHER: Sunny periods on Friday and Saturday, but the brightest sunshine will emerge on Sunday when temperatures are set to reach 26°C.


SUNRISE: 4-44 a.m. SUNSET: 9-40 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 10-10 p.m.


Winners BRIDGE win­ ners a t the Pendle Club were: Mrs Sylvia Walsh, Mr Brian Holden, Mrs Eva Velwicz and Mrs Eileen Hadfield. New mem­


bers are wel­ come every Monday at 1- 30 p.m..


that the average house price there is 25% higher than elsewhere in Ribble Valley and 88% higher l;han the rest of Lancashire. “These kinds of price differentials


can be disastrous for communities, as local people are priced out of the market. Our villages risk becoming dormitories for the wealthy.” With this in mind, Ribble Valley


Council is at the forefront of initia­ tives to provide affordable housing. Its successful Homebuy scheme


offered first-time buyers an interest- free loan on up to 15% of the price of a property and it is currently developing the former grain mill in Waddington, in conjunction with St Vincent’s Housing Association, into 11 affordable houses and apartments for local people. Ribble Valley property prices have


seen a 100% hike since 2001, where­ as incomes have risen by just 9%. A two-bedroomed terrace in a typical Ribble Valley village now costs up to £150,000 - almost double the price of similar houses in East Lancashire and around £4,000 more expensive


than their South East equivalent. Many first-time buyers are being


driven out of communities that their families have been part of for genera­ tions in the hunt for affordable accommodation, with disastrous consequences tor community infra­ structure, as village post offices, shops, schools and pubs go to the wall. ■; Couh:' Joyce Holgate, chairman of


Ribble: Valley Borough Council’s Housing Committee, said: “Afford­ able housing is a huge concern in Ribble Valley, with many first-time buyers how unable to get on the housing ladder. “Young people with long histories


in Ribble Valley cannot afford to live in the area, because house prices are so high. We have been doing all we can to tackle the problem and wll be using the results of the Housing Needs Survey to press for further help for local first-time buyers.” The results of the Ribble Valley


Housing Needs Survey can be viewed online a t the following: www.ribblevalley.gov.uk


No room for louts on Valley buses


A ROBUST new offensive is being launched to aid public safety on the buses and at bus stops. July will see the launch of an ASBOB (Anti-


Social Behaviour on Buses) telephone hotline which will allow drivers and members of the public to report poor behaviour. Lancashire County Council’s Safer Travel


Unit is also targeting youthful miscreants at bus stops - bad behaviour will result in Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. Rick Wilson, Lancashire County Council’s


Safer Travel Unit Manager, said: “Feeling safe is everyone’s right.


“Drivers and members of the public caii


now report loutishness within minutes. “In the past, it often used to take up to a


week for an incident to be reported and recorded.


“In the case of school buses, the new report­


ing system will mean poor behaviour being reported to the school before the child even arrives at the school gates. “Images taken from CCTV cameras will


also be sent to the school before the end of the day.”


'The new ASBOB number is 0845 0530040.'


Domino winners


DOMINO winners at the Pendle Club were: 1, Mrs P. Pye, W. Cooke, joint 2, Mrs P. Oddie and Mrs H. Wolfenden and 5, P. Met­ calfe. New members welcome


every Friday at 7 p.m. Solo whist winners at


the Pendle Club were: 1, Mr D. Underwood, 2, J. Nedeljkovic, 3, R. Knight. New members are wel­ come every Monday at 7 p.m. Sequence dancing every


Tuesday at 7-30 p.m. and line dancing every Thurs­ day at 1-30 p.m.


Bridge club


WINNERS a t Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday evening were N/S Chris Pollard and Janet Bailey, Jean Martindale and Jean Taylor and E/W J. Pawlic- ki and John Renton, Jean Bailey and Moira Philips. On Thursday evening


the winners were N/S Marjorie Lawley and Merle Allen, Chris Pollard and Jean Martindale and E/W John Benton and Brenda Wilson, Adrian Norris and William Nor- ns.


C. Pollard


• A SWEET treat is in store on Sunday at New- field Edge Farm, jBumley Road, Middop, at a “Strawberry Fayre” start­ ing at 2-30 p.m. Admis­ sion is £4 and everyone is welcome, with proceeds to S t Mary’s Parish Church, Gisbum.


FREE! Inside today’s


Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, your full-colour Valley magazine


Valley soap on the air


MEMBERS of the Ribble Valley Youth Theatre are taking to the airwaves. Their soap drama “Ribble Valley


High” is being broadcast on Ribble Val­ ley Radio, 87.7fm, from Monday to Thursday at 3-15 p.m. and repeated daily at 6-15 p.m. The community station is back on air


until mid-July for its second trial broad­ cast.


Clitheroe'422324’(Editorial),'4e2323(Adv6rt(Sing),'>B’urnley 422331'(Classified)!


Www.clitheroetoday.coaik'


Cnfhteroe'A'dvertiser’fifTinnfes,- ■Tfnfts'day,’dtind 29th,'2OO0 3 ‘


Danger race youth fined and banned


A TEENAGER charged with dangerous driving had learned the hard way about the perils of the road. Blackburn magistrates heard that


after he had been involved in an alleged race with another motorist, Philip Walmsley was a passenger involved in a crash. His girlfriend's spine was snapped


in the collision and Walmsley had suf­ fered serious injuries which could still result in him having a leg amputated below the knee. “If ever a reminder was needed


about driving and the consequences of bad driving, then this young man has received it,” said V/almsley’s solic­ itor Mr Andrew Chvjch-Taylor. “He appears on crutches six


months after the crash and is likely to remain incapacitated for at least 12 months. “He sti ll faces the prospect of amputation from the knee down.


“His girlfriend had-her spine


snapped in the incident.” Mr Church-Taylor said the car was


being driven at speed and he and his girlfriend asked the driver to slow down. “He told them to tru st him, i t


would be all right, but clearly it was­ n't.


He has learned the hard way what


the consequences of dangerous driv­ ing can be,” said Mr Church-Taylor. Walmsley, now aged 20, of Edisford


Bridge, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in September. He was fined £500 with £50 costs


and disqualified from driving for 12 months and then until he passes an extended re-test. Miss Charlotte Crane (prosecut­


ing) said that PC Derek Brownless was driving out of Clitheroe on Whal- ley Road at 10 p.m., having finished his shift, when he was overtaken by two Vauxhall Corsas driving bumper to bumper at more than 60 m.p.h.


“The officer said they were driving


‘flat out’ and after overtaking him they then passed a line of three cars, crossing double white lines as they approached the brow of a hill,” said Miss Crane. “There was no way they could see


if anything was coming in the oppo­ site direction, and if there had been there would have been nowhere for them to go to avoid a collision.” Shortly after, the officer saw the


two cars on the McDonald’s car park and the drivers were arrested. The other driver, Joe Chew (20), of


Pendle Street E a s t , Sabden, had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at an earlier hearing and had been ordered to carry out 120 hours of community punishment and disquali­ fied for 12 months and required to take at extended re-test. Mr Church-Taylor said that


because of his incapacity, Walmsley was not suitable for a work order.


0 SHEEP of all shapes and sizes were out in Clitheroe at the weekend. Turn to page 17 for pictures and story.


Council jumping for joy as Castle boost is announced


COUNCIIL leaders are jubilant following the announcement of a £ 1 5 0 ,0 0 0 cash boost for the Clitheroe Castle Heritage Scheme. Community group Clitheroe


the Future has successfully secured the funds from the SITA Trust via the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. The £ 3 .2m. Clitheroe Castle


Heritage Scheme, which is the brainchild of Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council, aims to turn Clitheroe Castle into a premier attraction. The scheme has already


attracted £2m. from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £250,000 from The North West Development Agency, also via Clitheroe the


Future. Richard Jackson, project man­


ager for Clitheroe the Future, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to access this money, which will help bridge the shortfall. “Additional funding for the


project is still needed and we will be working closely with Ribble Valley Borough Council to pur­


HIGH SHERIFF Mr ■ Robinson, : Castle


sue every opportunity to find the necessary money.” Robert Thompson, chairman of


Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Community Committee, added: “This is fantastic news and we are absolutely delighted. We are grate­ ful to Clitheroe the Future for their unceasing support in this major project.” The drive is now on to raise the


rest of. the cash via community group Keepers of the Castle and public and private funding. The Clitheroe Castle Heritage


Scheme is one of the biggest her­ itage projects in the North West. I t will turn Clitheroe Castle into a premier all-weather attraction and centre of excellence for learning with the capacity to attract 17,000 visitors a year. The new facility will include an


education suite, exhibition space, cafe and retail facilities, and facili­ ties for the disabled. Planning and listed building


applications will be lodged later this year.


African orphans leave their musical mark


TH E R E will be an African flavour to music lessons at Edis­ ford Primary School in Clitheroe. And it comes thanks to a group


of South African orphans who recently visited the Ribble Valley. A to ta l of 16 orphans aged


between 11 and 14 were invited to the area by The Lancaster Foun­ dation, following a visit to their orphanage. Rainbow Village in Johannesburg, by Mrs Rosemary Lancaster last November. Orphaned after their parents


died of AIDS, the youngsters’ trip to the Ribble Valley will probably


be the only holiday the children will have in their lifetime. They visited five Ribble Valley


primary schools during their visit and calling themselves the Spar­ rows Marimba band “Cool Cats” played-their musical instruments - the marimbas - during assem­ blies and workshops. Edisford Primary School head­


teacher Rob Pye was so impressed with the performance that he saw the ideal opportunity for his school to Invest into this unique type of musical expression. This would also be an ideal way


to introduce the children to African culture. And with support from the Lancaster Foundation, a price was negotiated to enable the school to purchase the marimbas. Mr Steven Lancaster from the


Gold Team, the peer education initiative in Clitheroe, also involved in management oL Clitheroe’s skate park and the new Grand arts centre development, added: “The energy, passion and spirit generated by these children through the music is inspirational, particularly considering what they have gone through.”


I'


Making quality windows, doors and conservatories for over 21 years. Always providing first class service and guaranteed world class products. Approved by the Guild of Master Craftsmen.


Hospital closure rumours


RUMOURS that Clitheroe Community Hospital is under serious threat of closure have- been quashed by health bosses. Earlier this week, the


Clitheroe Advertiser and Times was alerted to an “emer­ gency” meeting being held at the hospital last night to dis­ cuss the uncertainty regarding the future of auxiliary nurses. I t is understood that the clo­


sure of Hodder Ward more than 12 months ago and the decision to expand Clitheroe health centre on its present town centre site fuelled local concerns about the future of the once 63-bed facility. However, when we contacted


officials at Hyndburn and Rib­ ble Valley Primary Care Trust (PCT), they strongly denied the rumours and assured us that the Government was pumping money into local services. A spokesman for the PCT


said: “Clitheroe Community Hospital is definitely not fac­ ing closure. If anything, the hospital is being strength­ ened.”


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Registered Conipany


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