The Clitheroe il#hursdayj‘|March;.6thji2008^ ^ ^ ^ ^®««^3ss«^a^i«sss6iaa^^sea*s^^ £ M i :C £ 5 W ” -?: >xa5&s««


week! INSIDE sh s Hayley’s birthday bundles of joy! by Faiza Afzaal


COUNCIL leaders have defended a controversial special rubbish collection service insisting: “I t ’s not for the rich!” Coun. Michael Ranson,


leader of Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council, spoke out after the au th o r ity came under fire from local tax­ payers claiming some “lazy” householders were receiving “special t r e a t ­ ment” because they cannot be bothered to drag their wheelie bins to a designated collection p o in t outs ide their homes. As reported on the front


page of la s t week’s Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, the borough council is spending around £1,700 a week to hire a smaller bin lorry and additional crews to provide an “interim serv­ ice” for 50 properties in the Ribble Valley - one belong­


ing to a councillor. Ratepayers claimed this “unique service” was being provided for those choosing not to roll out their bins to a designated collection point , meaning bin men have to personally collect rubbish from these proper­ ties. Although officials a t the


Tory-run council have stressed the scheme is tem­ porary and is in place for those experiencing difficul­ ties in rural areas, there are growing fears a number of res idents have opted to ignore the rules and are receiving special treatment from the council. The s to ry also came


■ under th e national spot­ light when it appeared in one of the tabloid newspa­ pers under the headline: “A rubbish collection just for the rich”. Coun. Ranson has this


week dismissed claims that the interim service is being


provided for wealthy resi­ dents who choose not to roll out their bins along their long, winding drives, but has reassured residents it is for everyone who requires it.


Speaking to our reporter


earlier this week, he said:' “It is absolutely essential that the council takes into account th e needs of all people in the Ribble Valley irrespective of where they live, who they are and how much money they have got. That is irrelevant. “We provide a service to


those who really need it and we are doing all in our power to ensure that this is happening. No-one is receiving special treatment. “I t is not a perfect world


out there and there will be some unhappy people, but we will do all in our power to minimise this.


IT was “the best present ever” when Hayley Parks gave b ir th to healthy twins on Mon­ day - her 16th birthday! Although understand­


ably apprehensive when Hayley fell pregnant so young, her supportive Clitheroe family were delighted when the twins arrived safely, especially Hayley’s mum - now a proud grandma twice over - Mrs Pauline Parks (45), of Beech Street. “The twins were born


on Hayley’s 16th birth­ day and the babies are the best present ever,” said a delighted Pauline. Hayley, a Year 11


pupil a t Ribblesdale High School Technology College, went into labour on Mothers’ Day - two weeks early - and headed for the Royal Blackburn Hospital.


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