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10 Clitheroe Advertiser&Times, Thursday, September 11th, 2008


Doing nothing is not an option


: I AM writing following the recent tragedy oh the A59 at Sawley. I have worked the A59 as a police


'■ Inspector a t Clitheroe. I have attended numerous collisions on the A59.1 am a regular user of the A59 in various vehicles. The Sawley and Pendle Eoad


.


officer, as a traffic PC and sergeant in the 1980s, later returning as;


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk Ciitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 01282 478111 (Advertising), 01282 422331 (Ciassified) t our Ltetters 'Follow the debate at j B r www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk . Write to: The Editor, Clitheroe Advertiserand Tinics;3 King Strcet( Clitheroe BB72EW or e*mail: vivien.niealh@eastIan(:sne\vs.fo.uk


junctions share a trait which, forrea- ' sons unclear, some junctions just seem to have.


■ The.closirig speed of-tho colliding ;. vehicles,is so high that serious or-;- fatal injuries are also inevitable. There is also a theme in that sadly, the victims tend to be from outside the area - most local drivers know that both junctions are risky places to be, and take extra care. In the past, a temporary 40 m.p.h.


u l l o u t ; «


speed limit was put in place at the Pendle Road junction, with tempo­ rary signs. ' To my knowledge, there were no


collisions in this period. I note now that the “Slow Down” signs on the A59 seem to have little effect, and I regularly witness near-misses at this junction - as drivers misjudge the speed of traffic on the A59, and do not realise that a vehicle turning


. from the A59 is in fact about to be overtaken by another car which is obscured from view. When the A59 was a trunk road,


the Highways Agency conveniently delayed doing anything with these junctions until the road was “de- trunked” and LCC took over respon­ sibility.


■ ' The time has surely come for


action at both junctions - a perma­ nent 40 speed limit on either side, with enforcement cameras to ensure compliance. Work to reduce the width of the


carriageway to prevent overtaking near both is also required. Wheq traffic is travelling at a reduced speed, any errors of judgement become far less injurous, and there is time for drivers to avoid collisions. I regularly travel oh the A1 to visit


my daughter in Lincoln. There are numerous examples of this system - where previously dangerous junc­ tions have been improved, at rela­ tively modest cost, to save lives.' They are actually signed as “Acci­ dent Reduction Measures” - the best example being near Elkesley/Retford. At one time the verges were


: Now, traffic is travelling slower and ■turning on and off the A1 is much safer.


always adorned with crash debris and flowers for the latest victim. ■


| i - . ’


• don't seem to do so at these junc,- tions. What about the very pretty wildflower roundabouts on the A 59,- one of which is almost in view of the' death trap Pendle Road junction? “Plot” and “lost” come to mind! Saving lives is surely not optional. ^Urgent action is needed - now. ■ Everyone with the responsibility for : these junctions and the power to do'


am often bemused and annoyed Ijy the pointless waste of public resources by LCC - for example the daft signs at the county boundaries: “Welcome to Lancashire - a' place where everyone matters” - they


As I drive around Lancashire, I


. There is a perfectly good view for drivers emerging from the side'road, across or on to the main A59 road, but drivers seem to stop, look, wait until a collision is inevitable, then ■ p


speeding right up your back and attempting to overtake before the manouevre has been completed. The only solution to that would be


that we drive in the bike lane,-which of course we should not and do not. While ive appreciate the installation of speed cameras can create other problems, such as motorists braking then speeding up again, something must surely be done and quickly, 'hopefully to prevent such catastro- phies in the future. Our hearts go out to the Walton


family. , ■ ■


MR AND MRS PENSON; Bracken He.v, . ■ Clitheroe '


.. . ■ ' Without change THE .scene following the latest A59 fatal (B29l)80S/8)


something about them has a moral duty to act. Doing nothing is not good enough.


ROBERT E. FORD, Clayton- le-Moors


Blame the drivers,


not the roads YET again we’re greeted with head­ lines containing the words “killer road” concerning the A59, with MPs, community leaders, local resi­ dents, indeed "all and sundry demanding “action”. • The only course of “action” I can


see that’s needed, is for people to slow down, treat the road and more- importantly other road Users with a little more respect. The amount of times I ’ve heard


the phrases “it’s a bad road” , “it’s a dangerous road” etc banded around about the A59 is amazing. But when will these people realise, the road doesn’t have a personality, the road is never late for that pressing meet­ ing, the road doesn’t drive erratically, the road doesn’t overtake with sheer stupidity and the road doesn’t drive three inches off the rear bumper of the car in front. No, that’s the sole preserve of the car drivers who use what has always seemed to me to be the same as any-other road in the country I ’ve ever driven on. ' My job takes me the length and


breadth of the country and involves me doing the whole mix of driving, city, town, motorway, etc, but i t’s rare I encounter the style of driving I see on a regular basis here, which includes: • Parents driving far too fast on


their way to drop their children off at school, then abandoning their vehicles on double yellows, blind cor­ ners etc as they ensure their off­ spring can walk minimum distance to reach the school gates • The lack of any acknowledge­


while driving so close to the car in ' front, they give the impression one vehicle is towing .the other. , The more worrying thing is, lots of


ment if you let somebody through a one-car gap or out of a junction. • People using mobile phones


these drivers are carrying their chil­ dren at the time, so as well as putting them at risk they’re also setting a'


• being so full of their own self-impor­ tance won’t even recognise they’re doing anything wrong. Possibly this is a reflection on today’s society where, due to easy


very poor example to the new driv­ ers of the future. There are plentj' of poster and TV adverts about chil­ dren copying their parents where smoking is concerned. Maybe i t ’s time to push the message home about parents not showing their chil­ dren how to become a dangerous driver. I doubt the people involved will take a blind bit of notice though and


deaths will go on HAVING only recently moved to the area I have already seen two seri­ ous accidents on the Sawley part of the A59. Clearly the largest part of the rea­


son for the accidents is driver error. However, given the frequency of the errors surely some action needs to be taken. I have yet to witness any police speed checks, particularly on Sundays when the road is plagued with motorbikes travelling well in excess of the limit. . If road users are not capable of controlling themselves, nor the


■finance etc, people find it simple to have “too much too young” in our easy-come-easy-go; throwaway soci­ ety. The word “respect” seems to be a word virtually absent in our every­ day lives these days. Maybe it’s time we started using it for the right rea­ sons, showing other human beings a little more of it and not just “paying our respects” to the family of some­ body who’s become another accident statistic as a result of their own or , somebody else’s impatience, arro­ gance or ignorance.


-'


NEIL WALSH, Clitheroe, by e-mail


What about some


speed cameras? YET again, we'read of another trag­ ic death on the A59 in this week’s Advertiser (Thursday, September. 4th).


■ How many more deaths or serious


injuries-will there.be before some­ thing positive and permanent is finally done to prevent such sadness to grieving families? One solution is to erect speed cameras at notorious black spots which would hit people caught speeding where'it-hurts - in the pocket - penalty points rather than their- lives and, hopefully, will slow many of the still-speeding motorists down. The speed sign at the top of Pen-


■ die Road has made little, if any dif­ ference to those who flagrantly choose to ignore'the flashing slow down sign. For, traffic turning left into Pendle Road it can be extremely disconcerting as cars slow down to see.in your rear view mirror cars


■ police willing to curtail those who do break the law, then other action must be taken. This can only mean that the road layout and/or speed


■ limits must be changed so that the minority who flaunt the current sys­ tem, risking theirs and others’ lives, cannot do so with such ease. Without such changes we can only expect to hear more sirens.


SHARRON ROBINSON, Soullifield House, Sawley


A59 is inanimate -


it’s user error I REALISE this is “journalese”, but I do find it infuriatingly innacurate and misleading when journalists, write things like “killer road” (front page article September 4th edition).


, Roads are inanimate. I t is the behaviour of people driving vehicles that can kill or injure people when they make mistakes. In similar vein, I remember over the years people saying that “motorcyles are danger­ ous”. They are inanimate. I've never


. seen a motorcycle, by itself, do any­ thing but stand still. It is the same with roads.


GORDON HILL, Lowcrgale, Clitheroe


Clubhouse is a


credit to everyone HAVING not been to watch Clitheroe play for almost 12 months, I decided to pay a visit last Saturday, not only to see what was happening on the pitch, but also what changes had occurred off it;


, What a. difference a few months


; park at the front of the groun J ly is when you go inside that you can see what a superb job ha's been done, and it is a credit to all that have been |


■ teniplating parties - such as a 21st I bash (or any-age come to that), retirement and christening dos or club meetings - should consider this venue. In fact, it is suitable for a I wide range of occasions and it might I be worth having a look at it before | chposing your party venue. . I t has a lovely bar area, quality i seating and furniture and an e.xcoi- lent sound system,' not to mention | the toilet facilities, which include a | separate disabled "iVC. The venue is| available to anyone who wants to | make use of ,it (at the right price). So the only disappointing aspect is I


• involved in this project. Can I suggest that anyone con-|


that I-.thought the .council would] have waived the planning permission I fees. The football club never asks the j council for any funding, unlike some] councils who spend thousands keep- j ing their local town team afloat.] “


What a great gesture i t would be to]


at £50 per brick to local businesses ] and supporters to help with the] funding of the new clubhouse. Up to j date, 213 have been sold, but it is not j too late to donate £50 and have 3mur ] name or company put on a roll of j


now return that fee. -After all, the ] town has now been given another] venue for townsfolk to use for no ] public outlay. The club set but to sell 200 bricks j


can make. The sight of a replace­ ment clubhouse is apparent as soon as you turn the corner onto tM|fer I


recovered by doormen, minus the £60 the driver claimed was in it.


" . ScotbMason pleaded guilty to theft on the


Woman found ex on doorstep


A CLITHEROE woman returned home to find her ex sitting on her doorstep despite the fact she had a restraining order against him.


Blackburn magistrates heard that


Diane Marr .locked her car doors and shouted through a partly open window for David Atherton to leave.


■ window and spit into her car before walk­ ing away without saying a word. Atherton (42), of Bawdlands,.


His response was to come up to the


Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order. He was remanded on bml for the preparation of a pre-sen­ tence report with conditions not to con­ tact Miss Marr and riot to enter Peel Street, Clitheroe.


Miss Catherine Allan (prosecuting)


Honour board in the clubhouse. I Bradford’s owner visited recently] and purchased four bricks, so come j on,'don’t be outdone by someone] who does not have any link with the ] town Avhatsoever, but who was] impressed with the club’s efforts and |


■ put £200 in the pot. A huge thank-you to all the com-1


burn put many hours in during the I demolition and replacement of the clubhouse. Many others apparently gave up their free time and no doubt someone will write in with a list of those people-to thank them in due | course. ■; Great job done, superb venue ■


coine on townsfolk and put it to good | use. -


.


BOB KAY,- Wuddington Old Road, Clitheroe


Are parents being


required to pay? FROM much of the Hodder Valley, the shortest route to Clitheroe is the B6478 over Waddington Fell and the nearest secondary school is Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, Chatburn Road site.


Is Lancashire County Council


requiring parents from the valley to pay the costs of transporting new entrants to Bowland and Ribbles- dale High Schools?


ANTHONY A. COOPER, 1 ^ Peel Park Avenue, Clitheroe


Your le t te r s . . .


• The Editor welcomes letters on any subject, but correspondents arc reminded that contributions may be edited or condens.cd, must not exceed 350 words and should reach us by noon on Tuesday.


-


panics and supporters who did buy a I brick. I believe Mr Clifford Chat- j


incident Atherton did not speak. Mr Roger Pickles (defending) said


said. Miss Marr had got home about 10- 30 p.m. and had been shocked to see Atherton sitting on her doorstep. He had been made subject to a restraining order in December after being convicted of harassment. Miss Allan said that throughout the


Atherton realised that for his own men­ tal wellbeing he had to accept the rela­ tionship was over. “I t is causing him and his family a


great deal of anguish and, although he says he loves her, he realises that he has to move on,” said Mr Pickles.


Lancashire in the spotlight


LANCASHIRE was explored in some depth by the speaker at the meeting of Clitheroe and District Probus Club when Mr Alan King presented slides and a talk under the title "Rihblehead - a ninth-century farmhouse". ■ Exploring the Ribblehead area he and


his archeological colleagues had uncov­ ered many remains of dwelling places together with tools, ornaments and . other artefacts. Applying well proven techniques- mainly experience and acute observa-


i


■ tion, he demonstrated how these were of -Anglo-Saxon/Viking origin and skillful­ ly built up a picture of farmers, trading with coins, making and owning orna­ ments as well as tools of their trade, smelting metal from local deposits and even trading for tin from the mines in , , the south.


. Truly a long-ago picture of country


MRvorman Robinson who emphasised how intrigued he had been to find out, how varied must have been the life of the ninth century farmers. ' Clitheroe and District Probus Club


folk, and it proved fascinating to the audience who responded with several penetrating questions. A |a n k s were expressed by member


®^pert(5nce>


meets on the first and third Fridays of the month, at 10-45 a.m. in the Pendle


Club, Lovifergate. . The next meeting is on September ■


19th when Mr Phil Scully will talk ■ about "TheZulu "War 1879- a Soldier's Story". Inquiries, tel. 01200 429207.


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off that his wallet was missing. : Blackbum'magistrates heard the wallet was


driver who took a fare to a Whalley after he had dropped them


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 01282 478111 (Advertising), 01282 422331 (Classified)


wiOTV.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


Clitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, September 11th, 2008 11 wallet, but not the £60 cash inside it


basis that he had taken the wallet, but not removed any money from it. Ma^n (26), of York Street, Clitheroe, plead­


ed guilty to theft of the wallet belonging to Mohammed Rafhan. He was fined £80 with £75 costs. Mr Alex Mann (prosecuting) said Mr Rafhan


kept his wallet in the door of his taxi. After dropping Mason and three others at the night­ club he noticed the wallet was missing. He went in with doormen and eventually recovered his wallet and dri-ving licence. The court heard that a special hearing when evidence vyould have beericalled.to establish the


facts of the theft had been cancelled because Mr. Rafhan had been unable to attend and the pros­ ecution accepted the version of events put for- ■ward by Mason. .


. • ■


floor behind the driver’s seat and there was no money in it vvhen he foolishly picked it up.


He had always claimed the wallet was on the


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