Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) 2 Clitheroe Advertiser STimes, Thursday, April 3rd, 2008


INSIDE YOUR CLITHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIIVIES


H Valley Matters..............................6,7 B Village News........................14,15,16 I Letters...............


.17,21


B Weekendplus .......................24,25,26 B Thursday feature ..........................20 B Family Notices..........................23,23 BReadersplus................. .................47 B Motors Today.............................. 50 a Sport...................... . . . . . . . . . .6 9 -7 2


AT A GLANCE...


Family pet horror - page 5 Death crash verdict - page 13


Insurance may he invalid-page23 Freight trains roll! - page 49


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


Massive investment ownership changes


A MULTI million pound investment programme has been unlocked thanks to a housing take over. Ribble Valley Homes has now officially


taken over the ownership of the Ribble Val­ ley Borough Council’s houses. As of Tuesday the 1,000 plus homes will


be owned and managed by Ribble Valley Homes, following an overwhelming vote in favour of the move in the autumn. Over the next 30 years £59 million will be invested in tenant’s homes and services and in the next five years £14.8 million will be spent on improvements and repairs. The cash boost will enable the homes to exceed the Government’s Decent Homes standard and bring them up to the higher Ribble Val­ ley Standard. The transfer to the new owners was agreed


Duty chemist: Lloyds Pharmacy, 5 Church Street, Clitheroe Sunday, noon to 1 p.m.


.


Police: 01200443344. Fire: In emergency 999 and ask for fire service. Electricity: 08001954141. Ga.s: 0800111999. Water: 0845 462200. Councils: Kibble Valley Borough Council, Clitheroe 425111. Clitheroe Town Council, 424722. Hospitals: Royal Blackburn Royal Hospital: 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 4220Zi. 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 Bureau: 01200 428966.


CONTACT US! News: 01200 422324


Advertising: 01200 422323 Classified: 01282 422331 Family Notices and Photo Orders: 01282 478134 Fax: 01200443467 editor e-mail: vivien.meath@eastlancsnews.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smilh@easllancsncws.co.uk sports editor e-mail: edward.lce@eastlancsncws.co.uk


News online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk WEATHER


DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


C H I P P IN G ! . CLITHEROE I °oV'o l AN G HO B


IWHALLEY ■ R E A D ’


■ SLAIDBURN (1.1'-.rji “6'^° ■


ICHATBURN r:.-. ■ BURNLEY I ACCRINGTON B LACK BURN ■


WEEKEND WEATHER: A cloudy day on Saturday with the chance of light snow showers on Sunday.


SUNRISE: 6-38 a.m. SUNSET: 7-45 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 7-15 p.m.


when 86.2% of those who voted gave the move the thumbs up with just 13.8% voting against. In total 81.5% of tenants cast their vote. Ribble Valley Homes board chairman


Coun. Joyce Holgate said: “The signing of the transfer agreement is the first step towards the start of the £59 million invest­ ment in tenants’ homes and services.


“Transfer Mil undoubtedly have a really


positive effect on the lives of tenants and they can now look forward to getting the standard of homes that they have asked for. They have put their confidence in us and we are determined to deliver all the improve­ ments and repairs that we initially prom­ ised.”


p i e THE Mayor


of (he Ribble Valley, and (he hoard


chairman of


Ribble Valley Homes,


Coun. Joyce Holgale, al (he official


handover of :


(he council’s housing slock.


(A010108/4) Council leader Michael Ranson said;


“The council looks forward to working as a partner alongside Ribble Valley Homes across a range of projects. I’m very proud of everyone’s part in this change, which demon­ strates the true meaning of the concept of partnership and what it can do for commu­ nities.”


House prices show substantial drop


HOUSE prices in Ribble Valley fell by more than 7% during the last quarter of 2007. New Land Registry figures


just released for the period Octo­ ber to December 2007 show that most boroughs in Lancashire either saw a fall or only a small rise.


While Ribble Valley still had


the highest average house price in the county, at £226,660, it also saw the biggest drop in prices. The figures show that Ribble


Valley recorded a drop in house prices of 7.1% while West Lan­ cashire saw a drop of 6.8% and


Pendle Club


latest results SOLO whist winners at the Pendle Club were R. Knight, joint 2nd, D. Cook and D. Underwood. The previous week’s winners were Mrs D. Underwood, Mrs D. Cook, B. Wood.


Bridge winners at the Pen­


dle Club were Mrs Pat Park­ er, Mr John Armstrong, Mr Brian Holden, Mr Harvey Jackson. New members welcome


every Monday at 1-30 p.m. Friday domino winners


were: J. Sagar, F. Cooke; joint 3rd, E. Fox and F. Giles; 5th, P. Metcalfe. The previous Fri­ day winners were: D. Knight, P. Metcalfe; joint 3rd, V. Giles, R. Knight and J. Oddie. Booby Pat Parrott. Saturday domino winners


were: joint 1st, M. Berry, P. Holden; joint 3rd, J. Chew and P. Giles; 5th, V. Giles.


prices in the Fylde remained constant. Now Simon Ainsworth, head of the residen­ tial property department at Napthens solicitors, which has an office in Longridge, is pre­ dicting that property prices will continue falling across Lan­ cashire.


He said: “There is very much


a trend of asking prices being a little bit higher than buyers are willing to pay. Vendors are start­ ing to accept offer prices on properties that might be 5% or more below the asking price and this is likely to push prices down this year. Lancashire is very


much reflecting the national trend which is seeing prices slow­ ly dip.” In Lancashire, the average


property price for the period October to December 2007 was £157,601. The lowest was Burn­ ley at £100,909. Preston was £159,075. Mr Ainsworth added: “The


tightening up of lending criteria is causing people to have diffi­ culties in obtaining mortgage funding. “Mortgage lenders who previ­


ously offered 100% mortgages have withdrawn these products. “Young couples were borrow-


Plans before council


A PLANNING application has been sub­ mitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council for the change of use of part of lorry park to coach depot, siting of portable building and erection of containers to store vehicle wash­ ing equipment. Comments on the proposal at New


Garage, Mitton Road, Whalley, (number 0243) must be made to the council by April 10th. Other applications submitted include: Barrow: Replacemen of existing garage at


Gleneagles, Clitheroe Road, (0201). Mclior: Demolition of existing property


and rebuilding a new two storey dwelling at Homestead, Barker Lane (0211), Thornley: Replacement house and garage


at Higher Cockleach Farm, Longridge Road (0229).


Tossidc: Proposed replacement of Brook-


side Cottage, Grunsaglll and new larder for. Dobson's Farm (0240). West Bradford: New garage at 1 Meadow


Croft (0230). Worsfon: Demolition of 1970s rear glazed


porch and construction of a larger replace­ ment green oak porch to rear of Crow Hill Cottage (OBSg'and 0239)


ing the full amount, including a deposit, and that kept the mar- ketbuoyant. “Now buyers are having to


find £12,000, for instance, as a deposit, and the first time buyer market has stagnated as a result. “Both the first time buyer


market and the buy-to-let mar­ ket are struggling now and this is very much to do with the cred­ it crunch. “The market needs another


drop in the interest rates... but for those with the money avail­ able now could be a good time to buy.”


Crash woman cut free


FIRE-FIGHTERS had to free a Clitheroe woman who was trapped in her car fol­ lowing a smash near the Moorcock Inn, Waddington. The incident occurred


around 5-30 p.m. on Tues­ day in Slaidburn Road, Waddington, and involved two cars.


■ One of the cars involved in the collision was a Mazda MX-5. - . ’ . The injured woman was


taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital with a broken leg. The road was closed until


9-15 p.m. . Police investigations are


continuing.


WINNERS at Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday evening were: NS Chris Pol­ lard and Merle Allen, David Mortimer and Brenda Wil­ son. EW B. Cuba and Use Park, Geoff Wharfe and Linda Wilkinson.


Clitberoe Bridge Club results On Thursday evening


ners were: NS Adrian Nmjf flBw and William Norris, PSll’® Ward and Roy Ward. EW Chris Pollard and Steve Hig- son, John'Rehton and Bren­ da Wilson.


CP


For Ribble Valley news online go to... www.cUtberoeadvertiser.co.uk


THE audience at The Grand Theatre on Saturday (T310308/le) A fantastic slideshow of the launch


events can be seen by logging on to www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


i ■ Soul icon opens The Grand by Vivien Meath


SOUL icon H e a th e r Small launched Clitheroe's new-look Grand in sensational style. "Proud" was the song sung as


Britain won its Olympic bid, to mark the 60th anniversary of VE Day in London, at the launch of the Queen Mary 2 and on Friday - at the opening of the area's world-class £3m. entertainment and arts venue. As she launched into the lyrics, members of the Lancaster family looked back to the same day just nine years earli­ er when Canon and Ball packed the former cinema venue for a charity variety concert - and their vision was born. Several hundred guests were


invited to a champagne reception prior to the sell-out concert fea­


turing Heather Small and folk singer Esther O'Connor who was accompanied by her father, for­ mer Wet, Wet, Wet guitarist Graeme Duffin and her brother on drums. Unfortunately, there was a


damp start for more than a hun­ dred people who had bought the first tickets to an event at The Grand. As they queued along York Street, the rain poured. For the MacMillan family of


Clitheroe, there was an emotion­ al unveiling of a plaque to com­ memorate their son, Kenneth, who tragically died of cancer at the age of 37. Since his death, friends and former Ribblesdale High School colleagues have car­ ried out fund-raising events in his memory. The Lancaster family has dedicated the state-of-the-art recording studio in the building's


former basement to the father of two who was a keen amateur thespian and singer. On the wall inside is a montage informing those using the studio - from top recording artistes to local young people - who Kenneth was. Clear­ ly overwhelmed, members of the family, including his parents Bill and Mary, were taken on a guid­ ed tour of the facilities by John and Rosemary Lancaster, and their children Steven and Julie. "I feel very humble," said Mrs MacMillan as she paid tribute to the Lancaster Foundation and fund-raisers. “Ken would have loved to have


used these facilities - it's an amaz­ ing place." Echoing her senti­ ments, Mr MacMillan added: "It's a quality product. I really hope that people will appreciate what has been done here."


Amazing!


Esther O’Connor and Graeme Duffin cer­ tainly enjoyed their visit. In an e-mail they wrote: “The quality of the live sound system is amazing. We were really well looked after and the technical crew were helpful and more than up to the job. The sound both on stage and front of house was crystal clear and we didn’t have to ask twice for anything. The record­ ing studios arc as good as it gels and cutting edge superb. Esther loved (he experience of gigging at The Grand and says the acoustics and quality of the venue are world class.”


Oakhill College (romaconis to oak trees


LATEST LOCAL MEWS & SPORT


^ [ 24 hows a day, 7 days a week log on to


AT (he launch, Icfl, arc: Sieve Chalkc, Mary Macmillan, Jack Blaik,


Anne Blaik and Bill MacMillan (T300308/8d)


and righ(, John and Rosemary Lancaster whh Headier Small, Friday night's launch artist


(s) 9 For more


pictures, see page 26


< ^ m h l e Valley


Ribble Valley In Pictures order now online on...


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk VIEW'


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


Clitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 3 your town


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