Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 01282 478111 (Advertising), 01282 422331 (Classified) 14 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 Is the whole world
going quite mad? HAS this country gone stark raving mad, or is it the whole world - or is it me? Or have .we gone gutless to sta!nd up against the intrusive and suppressive forces across the Chan nel which want to dominate our, everyday lives? 'Certainly our governments have
gone gutless to allow this domination to have occurred in the first place. I refer to an incident which I expe
rienced at a charity shop this morn ing. I had been looking for a specific item which I thought could fill the need, in the window of this particu lar shop.
But.the shop was still closed although it was 10-15 a.m. and the times displayed on the door said open 10 a.m.. to 5 p.m. Monday. ; to Friday. So as there were lights • inside I knocked on the door and rat tled the handle. This brought the lady in charge to the door. She said she couldn’t open up yet till the other lady came, because she was on her own and it was to do with “health and safety”! I queried how was that, and how did that effect health and safety? Then followed all the rigmarole of ... “if someone tripped and fell and she was on her own...” etc. etc. all red tape which the poor lady was forced to comply with.
Well the result of the “red tape” -
was the shop missing out on a sale. And what about the opening times displayed on the door? There must be some piece of red tape rule some where which was violated by the shop not being open when it was dis played on the door that it should be. This brings to mind my first expe
rience with the infamous “health and safety” a year or so ago. . I had a short break in the north of
Scotland and a magical full day tour of Orkney by coach. This was a large coach and we did a lot of embarking and disembarking at the many his torical sights. A magical trip, but the coach had very deep steps and the last one was quite a height from the road. There were others on the tour who
shared my typical northern problem of “creaky knees”. I remarked to the coach driver
“you could do with having a little foot stool to put down when we get on and off”. “No” -says h e -“Can’t do that - not allowed - health and safety.” Presumably it would be “healthi
er” and “safer” for someone to mis judge the distance when stepping down and fall down into the road. That seems to me the very limit to the “back-to-frontness” of this strange piece of legislation! One could almost say it was
“Irish”. But one gets a good laugh out of the good-natured humour of the Irish! Not so with the clowns who dream up all this “legislation” from the rear of a desk. Is it surprising our minds get very, boggled at tiines.
............... - .
DORIS BROWN, MoorFicId, Whalley
Allow me to put
the record straight ON behalf of the residents of the Old Road area in Chatburn, I write in^ reply to Robin Parker’s letter of last week. <1 wish to
put.the record straight * for. fear, of : readers being misled by . Mr:*Parker’s account of events.
’
www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk
Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 01282 478111 (Advertising), 01282 422331 (Classified) It therefore seems possible that
legal, ethical, cost and en-vironmen- tal arguments -will be ignored along with the po^ible wishes of a demo cratic majority. Water fluoridation is a controver
';Wnteto Th^HMjto'TcitlherocXd^tg^ Times,3&ngStrcet,Clit^rocBB72EWorc-mail vivicn meath@castlancsncivsconk
which were obviously, not witnessed - prior to pen being put to paper. .. - The letter began with his remi-
niscmg.of-d_ays gone by which, is all, well and good, blit then we came to the paragraph where he frets about peevish anonsunojis resideiits in the village, bereft'of "understanding for other people’s circumstances. This describes exactly the person who parked the car in question. It was left at the junction of Rib-
: head up Over-view and Scrutiny on the council
so.that now they are scrutinising themselves, and they
■
csmically amended the recommenda tions of an independent review of
; councillors’‘Mlowances to benefit . only their own members. I thank Ken Hind for his kind
ble Lane and Old Road protruding ■ out so as to hinder anyone ■wishing to turn up Old Road and with absolute ly no consideration for any other road users or indeed the workmen laying the drains. I too hope those workmen read these lines, as I would like to thank them for their consider ation in moving the road signs and protective caging everytime a vehicle • wanted to pass, they went out of their way and far beyond the call of . duty because of one person's selfish and inconsiderate parking. As the day progressed it became
obvious the vehicle needed to be . moved and the only way the driver could be identified and contacted was -via the police. I can assure him, that as residents we most certainly . did not resent the temporary encroachment on the centre of the ■village as we are intelligent enough to realise that these were indeed : exceptional circumstances and in the fullness of time for everyone's bene- fit.I know not who put the “Move It” notice on the windscreen, but can . certainly feel for their frustrated actions. ■ Surely, if the car had really been
parked properly, would this have all come about? I think not. So, before you get on your “high
horse” and start preaching about courtesy and integrity, please do the rest of the residents of Chatburn a courteous favour and get your facts right.
A. BAXTER,
. Mount Pleasant, Chatburn.
Resignation for
personal reasons CONSERVATIVE chairman Ken Hind is being deliberately .mischie- . vous in his comments on my resigna- * tion and the coming, by-election, reported in last week’s paper. _,. • I resigned for purely personal rea- y
comments and expression of regret, but if the residents of Billington and Old Langho really want a strong and independent voice on the council to replace me, they need to support the Liberal Democrat candidate. The ; last thing they should do is increase the Conservative majority.
GRAHAM SOWTER, Former councillor for Billington and OldLangho
Saddened by way
drink is abused I AM saddened and concerned by the way our town’s youths are abus ing drink. Just yesterday I was walking over
the compass near the Castle Grounds around seven o’clock, when I saw a tall boy with glasses and his shorter girlfriend with bottles of vodka in their hands, singing Showaddywaddy’s “Under the Moon of Love” at full volume, not
■ far away from people’s houses. This may seem ridiculous, but it is
true. I have seen him time and time again in that area, what-was intend ed to be a nice family area now a drinking ground, surely unsuitable for children. I feel this should be addressed by
our council, and I am tempted to write a letter to our MP Nigel Evans.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED Buskers brighten
up the streets ■WHERE have all the buskers gone? Peter, Paul and/or Mary once sang
a song asking where all their flowers had : gone. Well now I ask a similar question, where are the Peters, where are the Pauls'and where are the-
, Marys of Clitheroe? Well I'll tell you where they aren't
- on the streets. . For too long now, the streets of Clitherqe have been
. free from music and, above all, perT sonality. I remember some 10 years
sons. I did not lose the deputy lead ership of the Liberal Democrats ; since there was no contest when I - stood down in May. I told my col-;* leagues at that time that' I intended •
' to resign from the council, but would:. not do so immediately since I wished to complete my full term as chair man of Lancashire, Waste Partner- ' ship.
. ■ - Neither should the electorate:
believe typical scare stories about,- our wish to absorb Ribble. Valley in :* a large mega council. - . , -- They should :be more.c6ncerned about-the way: the Conservatives -
: have abused their majority on the • council with some disturbing anti democratic tendencies.
■ They overturned an agreement: that opposition members would
: ing the guitar for what seemed like : all day, but gradually I noticed the ,i money in his hat got smaller, and smaller each day, until eventually one day he'd gone; never to return. ; I think it's about time the streets of Clitheroe were awash with cul-
' ago, for a long time there was a man who stood outside singing and play- -
man whose sole occupation is to brighten up my day. lANETTE GUBBINS, Duck Street, , Clitheroe
Castle - a shadow
of its former self I ’M sure we all remember a time when Clitheroe Castle was the pride and joy of Clitheroe. 'We could walk the streets -with our heads held high, knowing that we were all governed by those glowing bricks. I remember a time when shop
keepers would gaze at the castle from their windows and smile, a knowing smile, a smile that symbol ised all that Clitheroe stood for. Yet now, as I walk the streets I see the castle, sad, a shadow of its former seK It has become forgotten. Now I am the first to admit that
in time things must be forgotten, but how can we forget this beautiful piece of our heritage, this once ruler of our town. The pride of our town lies, grow
ing dust like a child's discarded doll.. I still enjoy my walks through her grounds and admire the power that still shines from the bricks, yet I walk heavy as I remember what it once was, and see what we have let it become. • ,
JOEALDEN, bye-mail
Fluoride; have
your say NOW! THE two local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in the area have decided to request the Strategic Health Authorr ity (SHA) to further investigate the feasibility of water fluoridation. This will involve defining and cost
ing a suitable scheme which will cover a large area of the North-'West of England. Results are expected in November and the PCTs will then decide, by the.end of the year, whether or not to request the SHA to initiate a public consultation. The PCTs took the decision to
proceed to the next stage despite opposition to water fluoridation from all six local councils (which includes the Ribble Valley Council).
: There is growing concern among opponents to fluoridation that the opportunity for the public to have their say in this controversial issue is being limited;'
. ture, noise and a little sparkle once *, more.-
-sThe walk through Clitheroe, ^.regulated; what the public are con- which I’ve been making alniost every.:?, suited on and if the public’s views - idkytfor well over 68 years;; has,.fewill be.taken into account, is in become dull, listless and moiioto-.i'.fdbubt. nou If once in a while thereiwaskSy Guidelines issued by the Chief
• The PCTs allay these concerns by assuring
us.there will be ample opportunity for the public to decide during the Public Consultation peri od which could take place in the summer of next year. Opponents argue that while how the Public Con- - sultation is conducted is properJy
s.
some music to accompany the sight/ then my life would certainly be enriched. ' How I yearn for the deep, aloof
satisfaction of thro-wing my change into the hat of a desperately poor
■ Dental Officer on the conduct of Public Consultation clearly indicate that straightforward “Yes” or “No”
: votes would not be counted and only arguments on certain issues would be taken into account. •
. . .
sial subject. By the very nature of the public water supply system either ah area, would be totally fluor idated or it-wouldn’t. Entire popula tions would therefore be affected and so people may want a say in whether or not they agree to fluoridation. Some may simply take a view
based on the fundamental principle of using the public water supply sys tem to deliver medication to indi-vid- uals. Others may wish to take into
account the ethical issues (mainly that of patient consent to a medical treatment); the legal issues (is water fluoridation lawful under European law?); or the environmental issues (98% of the water containing the toxic artificial fluoride compounds re-enters the waterways and the en-vironment) And there are those who would
want to consider more carefully the benefits and risks of fluoridation before making a decision. All of these issues are a concern to some people and they should be taken into account before fluoridating the water supply. ■ There are currently no plans to
have a public debate before the PCTs request the SHA to initiate Public Consultation. Once that request is made the final decision on fluoridating the water supply is out of the hands of the general public, their democratically elected repre sentatives and the PCTs. The SHA will make the decision - unless of course the SHA is NOT requested to go to Public Consultation. ■ The time for people to decide and make their feelings luiown is now.
LINDA FORREST, Chairman, Fight Against Fluoridation - Black burn, Hyndbum and Ribble Valley, 41 The Hazels, Wilpshire, Blackburn, BB19HZ
, (Tel. 01254 246662) Hearty thanks to
home care team THANKS to Lancashire County Care Services Reablement Home Care Service, to Donna, Shirley, Sue, Andrea, Susan and Brenda - it ’s a service given free of charge to people who come out of hospital for six weeks. Thanks for the help for my husband, George, with his bathing. He is fine now.
LAURA QUINTON, Hazel Grove, Clitheroc
Your letters. . .
• The Editor welcomes letters on any subject, but correspondents are reminded that contributions may be edited or condensed, must not exceed 350 words and should reach us by noon on
Tuesday.Lcttcrs with noms de plume are 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
Clitheroc Advertiser and Times, 3 King Street, Clithcroc BB7.2EW, via c-mail to
vivicn.mcath@castlanc-
sncws.co.uk, via fax to 01200 443467 or texted to 07799696447. : All le t te r s must include the writer’s name and full postal address.
www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk
Clltheroe Advertiser &Tlmes, Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 15
August was dull and wet
PERSISTENT westerly and south-westerly winds from the Atlantic brought dull, wet weather for the whole of- the month of August.
Date Max°C Max”■FMin° * mm
for auction by Dominic Collis
A POPULAR Sabden beauty spot is being put up
for auction. Blackhill 'Wood, which occu
pies 30.32 acres of woodland off Simonstone Road above Sabden, has been placed for auction by owners United Util ities because a nearby reservoir has become redundant. ’ The centuries-old wood is a
popular spot for villagers and walkers who regularly use a footpath created by Lancashire County Council and a log-seat placed there by the Sabden
Horticultural Society. The chairman of Sabden Parish. Council, Coun. Tony Haworth, said the wood was a popular and picturesque backdrop to the village, which vyas full of ■wildlife and well used by local
people. He said: “I would hope that
■whoever buys the wood will treat'it with the respect it deserves as it is home to lots of wildlife. It has been there for
centuries.” Coun. Haworth even com
posed a poem which was placed on the log-seat. It reads: “Sit awhile and ponder on Sab den village yonder. A village
Group’s chance of TV plea for Lottery cash
A LOCAL action group could be appearing on national television in a bid to secure National
■ Lottery cash. The Tower Hill Youth
Action Group, which wants better facilities at Salthill playing fields, has been shortlisted for ITV’s “People’s Millions”. The maximum amount'
of money up for grabs under this Lottery bid is £50,000 and if the local group was successful on the show, recycled picnic tables, a trim trail, senso ry garden and sculptures could be installed at the
site. As part of the process
; at Granada Studios and a representative from Big
prior to the show, an adult committee member is due to undergo media training
Lottery will ■visit the Val ley next Thursday to clar ify the submission. The campaign is being
led by Bethany Dew- hurst, Lauren, April and Toni Wilson. Mel Diack said: “Even
though the project has got through to this stage, there is still' a long way to go, but a final announce ment as to who has got through to the television
finals should be made in early December. Then the public will be invited to vote for their favourite
scheme.” He added that Ribble
Valley Borough Council had already given permis sion for the scheme to go ahead, subject to finances becoming available and long-term maintenance details being finalised,
Volunteers launch new charity shop
VOLUNTEERS gath ered for the official launch of the East Lan-: cashire Hospice’s new 'Clitheroe shop. The _ charity shop,
based in Moor Lane, is the second in a chain of
^^^ree planned by the l^^ckburn-based charity. The shop offers a.n
' extensive range of quali ty “formerly loved”
: clothing, shoes, acces sories,, handbags and
: designer wear. _ , It also boasts stylish,
■' bridal wear and a hat hire ser'vice: at- affordable
. prices. ■ ; , Miss Rebecca Beaton,
Director at the Hospice, said:- “Now that the Blackburn shop is well established, we are
'delighted to open our sec- . ond store and we are par ticularly pleased that the right type of premises became available in
Clitheroe.” The East Lancashire ■
Hospice is also looking for volunteers to help with the day-to-day run ning of the shops includ-; ' ing, sales and customer
■ service. ' Anyone who can spare
a few hours each week
built on mortal toil beneath old -Pendle’s wonder.”' Ribble 'Valley Borough
Council confirmed that the wood is part of the Forest of
■ Bowland “area of outstanding beauty” which means there are considerable restrictions on any building development. A spokesman for the council, added that the felling of trees there is not allowed unless it is to maintain or manage the woodland.
Blackhill 'Wood will go up for
auction at Manchester Unit ed’s Old Trafford ground on Thursday, October 16th at
• noon where .it is being touted as worth between £20,000 and £40,000 with Preston auction eers Pugh and Company. A spokesman for United
some time, and as such, the site ho longer supports our core role as the region’s water pro'vider. Any future use of the site would obviously be subject to consent from the local plan ning authority and other rele vant bodies. United Utilities has a large
Utilities said: “We can confirm that we plan to auction Black hill IVood. The reservoir on the north side of Simonstone Road has not been operational for
and varied estate across the North-'West, and from time to time, land does come up for sale, when it no longer supports our core function.”
1 20 2 18 3 17
4 18 . 64 54 5 18
-
6 21 ■ 70 60- 8.3 7 19 8 17 9 17 10 17 11 17 12' 15 13 15 14 15 15 18 16 18 17 16 18 16
64 60 '5.1 67 54 4.1
■20 18 Fun day gave foundation a fillip 1 31 18
f 29 18 1 30 19
A FUN day held at Whalley Corn- mills on Sunday has raised almost £1,000 for the Rosemere Cancer
Foundation. Around 400 visitors enjoyed wa,tch-
ing a parade of stallions, dog agility classes, a competition for the best groomed dog and the dog with the most waggly tail. A raffle with prizes donated by local
suppliers also went down a treat. Anne Sweeney, of the Rosemere
Cancer Foundation, said: “We would like to thank Jon Towson, of Whalley Cornmills, and all his staff for organ
ising such a great day.” The foundation is based at the
Royal Preston Hospital and provides financial support to the hospital s Rosemere Cancer Centre as well as the cancer units throughout the Lan cashire and South Cumbria Cancer
Network. Through fund-raising initiatives it
collects more than £500,000 a year. Our picture shows Mollie Shipley
(five) with Tara, one of the dogs at the Whalley Commills open day. . (S280908/la)
62 56 5.5 64 56 0.4 63 60 10.7 60 60 0.8 61 58 1.0 62 58 0.5 -
63 ■ 56
64 58 67 60
- Total rainfall 145.8 mm = 64 56 2.0 5.832 inches. ... and July
was cool too THE first three weeks of July brought cool, below average, temperatures with a very wet day on the 9th.
2 19 66 54 3 19 66. 54 4 19 66 58
1 23 74 56 7 16
DateMax°C Max”FMin°FRain mm
5 18 63 57 14.3 6 18 65 56 60 52
6.3 0.2 1.2 0.4
8 17 62 54 9 17 10 19
11 14 56 52 12.3 12 15 13 17 14 17
62 56 32.6 5.0
1.8 6.5 1.0
66 56
58 54 ■ - -
15 18 65 56 16 16 60 54 17 15 18 15 19 16 20 16
62 54 62 58
22 19 23 21 24 21 25 23 26 22 27- 25 28 22 29 21. 30 21 31 21
0.3 -
Rain
68 58 0.8 65 58 7.8. 63 58 0.6
21 ■18 ■ 64 50 1.5 22 17 23 17 24 18 25 17 26 16 27 16 28 17
19 16 - 60 58 6.2 64 57 8.5
62 54 .0.1 62 56 24.6 62 58 7.7 62 55 10.7 50 54 9.5 58 56 2.8 58 50 0.2 64 56 0.4 64 56 9.3 60 56 2.0 60 58 14.7
-
I
21 17- 62 57 66 60 70 62 70 60
58 56 5.3 58 56 . 8.5 60 52 60 46
8.4
3.0 0.3 -
Total rainfall1147.5mm =
.70 58 12.0 0.5 8.0
72 58 75 62 71 63
7.8
69 63 69 58
74 60 11.7 - -
0.1 - -
and would like to become -
maria.grieco @eastlancs a volunteer can contact
pct.nhs.ukPeople who Maria'or Olive on 01254 . would like to make donar '342810 or via email to tions to the shop can do
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
