Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) 2 Ciitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, August 31st, 2006
INSIDE YOUR CLITHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES ■ Valley Matters .....................
www.clitheroetoday.co.uk Ciitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) 4,5
■ Village N ew s ..................................12,13 ■ Letters .................................
10
■ Weekendplus............................ 18,19,20 ■ Weekend TV ..................................16,17 ■ Family Notices..............................24,25 ■ Readersplus................................... .21 ■ Motors Today................................41-52 ■ Sport..................
53-56 AT A GLANCE...
Mum’s my role model - page 4 Death of a genial giant - page 7
Visitors flock to Chipping show - page 9 Labyrinth now open - page 14
INFORMATION Duty chemist; Mellor Pharmacy, 28 Carter Fold, Mellon
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: Kibble 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. Aidslinc: 01282 831101 (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Domestic Violence Helpline: 01282 422024. Cruse Bereavement Care; Kibble Valley 01200 429346. ■ Environmental Agency: Emergencies - 0800 807060. Drugs: Local confidential advice and information line: 01200 444484. National: 0800 776600. Kibble 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. Kibble Valley Citizens’ Advice Bureau: 01200 428966.
CONTACT US! News: 01200 422324
Advertising: 01200 422323 Classined; 01282 422331
Family Notices and Photo Orders: 01282 426161, ext. 410 Fax: 01200 443467 editor e-mail:
vivien.mealh@
easllancsnews.co.uk news editor e-mail:
duncan.smilh@
easllancsnews.co.uk sports editor e-mail:
edward.lee@easllancsnews.co.uk
DUNSOP BRIDGE ■
CHIPPING ■
WEATHER ISLAIDBURN
■ GISBURN ■ CHATBURN
CLITHEROE ■ ■ WHALLEY
LANGHOB ■ ' BLACKBURN I
WEEKEND WEATHER: It vvill remain cloudy on Saturday, with some outbreaks of rain on Sunday.
SUNRISE: 06-14 a.m. SUNSET: 20-03 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 20-03 p.m.
b r e a d " B BURNLEY B ACCRINGTON
Water company fined as ‘undies’ block sewer
by Faiza Afzaal
UNITED UTILITIES has been fined £10,000 after raw sewage polluted a tributary of the River Ribble. Bosses at the Warrington-based
company pleaded guilty to dis charging sewage into the stretch of water near Brungerley Bridge, Clitheroe, when the case was heard at Accrington and Hjmd- bum Magistrates’ Court. Now the firm, which owns and
operates the region’s water and electricity networks, has issued a stark warning to householders not to flush unsuitable items down the toilets after it was revealed that underwear and disposable nappies had blocked the sewer. Magistrates heard how on Sep
tember 24th last year a group of anglers at Brungerley Bridge spotted discoloration of the water and alerted the Environment Agency. Officers arrived at the
Pendle Club latest results
SOLO whist winners at the Pendle Club were Mrs M. Parker, K. Holding, D. Grant. New members wel come every Monday at 7 p.m. Bridge winners at the
Pendle Club were Mrs Jackie Pilling and partner, Mrs Eva Velvick, Mrs Eileen Hadfield. New members welcome
every Monday at 1-30 p.m.
Domino winners were F.
Giles, Mrs P. Oddie, R. Barker, Mrs H. Simpson, W. Cook. Sequence dancing is
every Tuesday at 7-30 p.m. and line dancing every Thursday at 1-30 p.m.
Bridge Club
WINNERS at Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday evening were NS Jean Martindale and Jean Tay lor, Chris Pollard arid Doreen Blake. EW Bill Wolstenholme and Geoff Capstick, Kath Fisher and Jessie Telfer. On Thursday evening
winners were: NS P a t Ward and Roy Ward, Lorna Pimperton and Brian Holden. EW Use Park and Joan Bowker, Donald Harrison and David Waterhouse.
CP
WIN an exciting theatre break in London-see page 21
scene and on further Investigation found that the pollution was due to the failure of two pumps at Knunck Knowles Pumping Sta- . tion, Clitheroe, near Brungerley. Samples were taken from the river and an ecological survey con firmed there was a drop in the water quality, which resulted in the deaths of five small fish (stoneloach). Mr John Hunter (defending)
explained to the court how the unmanned pumping station is regulated by a computer alarm system and that only four days prior to the leak the system soft ware was being updated in response to a failure of the pumps nine months earlier. During this maintenance work
the computers crashed and failed to restart properly - leaving the system off-line and unable to report the clogged pumps. Mr Hunter added: “If any
thing, the company was trying to make the environment safer. That fault had never occurred, it was
totally unforeseen. Steps are now being taken to ensure this doesn’t happen again. He added: “There was no risk
to .human health suggested. The harm was limited to the water with the chief harm being the deaths of five fish. “This was an offence, which had
a regrettable, limited impact.” The company was fined
£10,000 and was, also ordered to pay £2,928 in costs within 28
days. The chairman of the bench
said: “We do take on board that in the first instance United Utilities did take steps to prevent the prob lem from happening in January 2005 by updating the equipment. “However, we have a duty to
look after the environment and ensure that these things do not happen. “United Utilities has been
unfortunate that this incident took place and we do feel sorry for them in some way.” Mrs Jane Morgan, representing
the Environment Agency, said: “Approximately 160-200 metres of the tributary and part of the main channel of the Ribble was affect ed by this incident. “However, the firm co-operated
with the Environment Agency and immediately sent out letters to householders warning them of the dangers of flushing unsuitable items down the toilet.” Speaking after the court case,
Mr Steve Fraser, United Utilities wastewater operations director, said: “Our sewers are not designed to cope with clothing or general household waste. “We have sent letters to our
customers who are served by this pumping station reminding them that certain items should not be put down the toilet.” He added; “We regret this inci
dent, but reassure customers we carried out a thorough investiga tion and have made the necessary improvements.”
Arrests after damp-proof gang target Valley old folk
ELDERLY and vulnerable Ribble Val ley residents are being warned to be on their guard against “cold-callers”. The warning has been issued by Lan
cashire Trading Standards after a major investigation into a Clitheroe damp proofing company called Home Improve ment Advisory Service (HIAS), which is believed to have taken thousands of pounds from pensioners. Police last week arrested three people
from Clitheroe and three from other parts of the region in connection with the investigation. The joint operation by officers from
Trading Standards and police followed several complaints from members of staff, mostly the elderly, who had been “cold-called” and had paid the firm for damp-proofing work to be carried out, which in most cases was ineffective or just not needed. A spokesman for Lancashire Trading
Standards said: “We began receiving complaints in March/April of this year about this company. “A lot of people that complained said
the firm mainly targeted the senior citi zens and turned up at the doorstep with in hours of calling. Once work had been started, the customers felt under pressure and were reluctant to change their minds. The spokesman added: “HIAS is actu ally the same business as Britannia
Home Improvements who were the sub ject of a warning to members in January of this year. “Both businesses use accommodation
addresses in London. They are still active under the new name of Home Improve ment Advisory Service.” “We are urging people to beware of a
telephone call in which they may be offered a free damp-proof survey. They may say or imply that such a survey is compulsory. “Under no circumstances must the res
idents agree to a survey being carried out. We are also urging people not to deal with cold callers.” Earlier this week, DC Paul Harwood,
of Clitheroe CID, confirmed the arrests had been made and investigations were continuing.” Trading Standards officers have
stressed that the HIAS or Britannia Home Improvements have no connection to limited companies with similar names, which include Britannia Home Improve ments Ltd, Britannia Home Improve ments (UK) Ltd, Home Improvement Advisory Services (UK) Ltd, or to a busi ness named Britannia Home Improve ments trading from Newport Pagnell. • Meanwhile, anyone who may have
been targeted by the damp-proofing firm should call Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506.
It’s second time lucky for Ashley
A CLITHEROE schoolgirl entered her pet rabbit in Barrow- ford Show and came away with one of the two top trophies and a rosette for the best juvenile rabbit in the show. Ashley Balderson
(15), of Bleasdale Avenue, fancied a rab b it after she saw her friend’s. The Barrowford
Show last Sunday was only the second time she had entered any agricultural show com petition. She said: “I was sur
prised and quite amazed. I entered the Royal Lancs but didn’t get anywhere and decided to have a go at Barrowford. I am very pleased.” Ashley’s winning
rabbit is Tia, a French Lop, who is only 15 weeks old. To qualify for the juvenile classes the rabbit has to be under five months.
AS the August Bank Holiday brings summer to a close, the National Blood Service is appealing for people across the North West to give blood in September. Blood stocks can drop after bank
holidays, as very few donor sessions are held over the extended weekend. Rachel Roberts of the National Blood Service, said: “We need every
Blood service appeal after bank holiday slump New donors are needed through
one to make a special effort to give blood in September and help replen ish stocks after the bank holiday.” National Blood Service statistics
show that every day in the UK, 8,000 donations of blood are needed to save lives of patients. In the North West alone, over 800 donations a day are needed for treatments ranging from cancer treatment to heart surgery.
out the region. If you are aged between 17 and your 60th birthday, in general good health and weigh over 50kg (7st. 121bs) you could sup port the campaign. Just call the National Donor Helpline on 0845 7711711 (open 24hrs) to find out where you can donate or visit
www.blood.co.uk.
Ms
www.clitheroetoday.co.uk
Ciitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, August 31st, 2006 3
Complaints of Castle Keep’s poor condition not ignored
_____ by Vivien Meath
COMPLAINTS about the declining condition of Clitheroe’s Castle Keep have
not been ignored. A bid for repairs funding is
being made to the Regional Parks arm of the North West Development Agency. The borough council’s Commu
nity Development Manager Chris Hughes told the Keepers of the Castle group that the first meeting between the council and the agency had taken place, and the future looked “promising.” Plans to address the key prob
lem areas are currently being drawn up and, said Mr Hughes, “providing they meet the expec tations of English Heritage, I would hope by spring next year people will notice a significant difference.”
Refurbished steps, railings and
re-surfacing of the walkway around the Keep are among the items being considered. The removal of saplings will
also be a priority. The town’s two Rotary clubs
have also pledged their help and will fund interpretation signs. The borough council’s chief
executive David Morris told the meeting that an application to the NWDA would be made dur ing September, with a decision expected the following month. If the go-ahead was given, then
work on repairs to the Castle Keep would start in earnest in November. The Rotary Clubs of Clitheroe
and Ribblesdale were keen to be involved and had representatives present at Thursday’s Keepers of the Castle meeting at Clitheroe’s Platform Gallery. Responding to a question regarding the condi-
Mum victim of drunken abuse
A DRUNKEN Clitheroe man who shouted racist abuse and exposed himself to a woman waiting in a car with her three-year-old child outside the town’s Islamic Educa tion Centre has kept his freedom - but only if he can stay out of trou
ble. Wayne Jeffries, of Holden
Street, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison for a string of offences, but the sentence was suspended for two years. If he offends again in that two years, he could be made to serve the 16 weeks behind bars. He had previously pleaded
guilty at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court to driving while disqualified and without insurance, assaulting Stephen Holding, racially aggra vated harassment and indecent exposure. In addition to the sus pended sentence, Jeffries was made subject to a community supervi sion order for two years, a four- month curfew order and ordered to pay £200 in compensation to Stephen Holding and £100 to the woman in the car.
The magistrates heard that the
“unsavoury incident” outside the Medina Islamic Centre, in Holden Street, took place on the same day that Jeffries had been granted bail on other charges. Miss Catherine Allan (prosecut
ing) said the first offence had been the assault on Mr Holding, in May. He had been making his way home from a night out when he was attacked by Jeffries for no appar ent reason. He was pushed to the floor before being kicked about the head and body by Jeffries. The dis qualified driving charge related to an offence in July and, just hours after he pleaded guilty, Jeffries committed the offences outside the education centre. The woman was sitting in her car outside the centre with her three-year-old son when Jeffries, who admitted having drunk nine cans of lager, stopped at the side and began shouting racist abuse. He then exposed him self in full view of the woman and her child. The woman could not drive off because she was waiting
Nicola comes out tops!
SPRECHEN sie Deutsch? Langho girl Nicola Cloney certainly does.
She has just scored one of the top five marks out of almost 45,000 candidates nationwide in her GCSE German exam, despite sitting it three years early! Nicola, a Year 8 pupil at St Augustine's
RC High School, was just 12 when she sat the tough exam, gaining the top A* grade. She had help at home with her studies from her German-born mum, Birgit, but even so her success is remarkable. Her mother and father, Peter, of Rogers-
field, are understandably proud of her, as is St Augustine's headteacher Mr Anthony McNamara. Nicola is pictured with her A* grade exam result. (G290806/1) # For a complete GCSE round-up, see
pages 26-31.
for her daughter to come out of the centre, but she called the police on a mobile phone. “As she was phoning the police
she saw that he was laughing and when her daughter came out he continued to pull his pants down,” said Miss Allan. “This lady was in a very vulnerable position and found his behaviour very offen
sive.” Mr Jonathan Taylor (defending)
said Jeffries was a hard working
young man. “He actually works seven days-
a-week, but he now accepts that his binge drinking is a problem and he needs to do something about it,” said Mr Taylor. “He accepts that his behaviour was appalling.” Mr Taylor said Jeffries had
spent 18 days in custody waiting to be sentenced, suggesting to the magistrates: “You may feel that short, sharp shock will have taught him a lesson and a suspended sen tence will serve to focus his mind on the standard of behaviour that is expected in future.”
Attack: two arrested
POLICE arrested two men after a 16-year- old girl was slashed across the face with a knife. The teenager was
rushed to Royal Blackburn Hospital
and received 12 stitch es to the facial wound after an incident, which took place in the early hours of Fri day at a property on Spring Meadow, Clitheroe. Police inquiries are
continuing. Registered Company tel:01200 429929
fax:01200 442991
www.ullrafraiiie-conservatorles.co.iik
ultra!
Making quality windows, loors and conservatories for over 21 years. Always providing first class service and guaranteed world class products. Approved by the Guild of Master Craftsmen.
m ' - i " ' ■' ^ CASTLE
tion of the railings surrounding the Keep, Mr Hughes said that the council was aware that the railings did not meet current Health and Safety regulations. English Heritage had to
approve all work carried out to the Keep and insisted tha t the
IS * • O F
railings were a valuable historic asset and did not want the authority to remove them. Options were being considered by
1/
the council. Mr Morris asked members of
the group for their thoughts on permanent lighting for the Castle
Keep.Many favourable com ments were made, he said, when ever the Keep was floodlit and it was being investigated. Improved signage at the three
main entrances to the grounds was another issue which had been raised and was being explored. Asked why decking inside the
Keep was only partial, Mr Hugh es explained that English Her itage had objected to the coun cil’s initial plan to cover the entire floor area.
Bid for repair cash in pipeline
■
■ '..T
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29
