------ ---- 2 cnth e roe Advertiser A T im e s , Ttiursday, November 19th, 2009 • coiiliiuied from page 1


INSIDE YOUR CUTHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES


■ Valley Matters ................................ 6,7 ■ Village News .............. ■ Letters.......................... ■ Weekendplus....................


20-22 ....14 .26,27


■ Family Notices ............................28,29 ■ Readersplus . . . . . -----. . . . -------- 18 I Motors Today ................... I Sport . . .— ....................


30 .45-48


~ AT A GLANCE... Harriet’s art exhibition - page 7 Grab a green grant - page 8


Schools make top grade - page 9


‘Cool’ charity fund-raiser - page 10 INFORMATION


Duly chemist: Duty Chemist: Lloyds Pharmacy, 5 Church Street, Clitheroe: Sunday, noon to 1 p.m. Police: 01200 443344. Fire: In emergency 999 and ask for fire service. Electricity: 0800 1954141.


Gas: 0800111999.


Water: 0845 462200. Councils: Ribble 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 422024. Cruse Bereavement Care: 01772 433643. Environmental Agency: Emergencies - 0800 807060. Drugs: Local confidential advice and information line: 01254 226200. National: 0800 776600. Ribblc 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: 01200 443467 editor c-mail: roy.prcnton@eastlancsnews.co.uk news editor c-mail: duncan.smith@eastlancsnews.co.uk


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


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk WEATHER


I SLAIDBURN


DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


GISBURN CHIPPING ■ c/ ^ . ■ CHATB


CLITH^ROEM. ■ WHALLEY ‘


LANGHOa , ■ BURNLEY ■ ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN I


WEEKEND WEATHER: There will be heavy show­ ers all weekend.


SUNRISE: 7-46 a.m. SUNSET: 4-04 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 3-34 p.m.


CHATBURN


there is plenty to do for everyone.” Mr Pratt, who runs Clitheroe Travel,


revealed free parking.on the town cen­ tre short-stay car parks for Saturdays in December has been secured. The car parks are also free on Sundays and after 6 p.m.' on Thursdays for late night shopping.


V* He added: “We are also delighted to


announce th a t the tovyn’s traders and businesses have joined forces to ensure that we are all open simultaneously for late, night Thursdays and Sundays throughout the Christmas season. “We empathise with and understand


the ever-changing needs and demands, of today’s busy consumers and are con­ sciously adapting to their shopping requirements. “Clitherbe will be buzzing with lote of


great atmosphere as many shops will be hosting special demonstrations, festive food tastings, free gift wrapping and each week there will be a selection of choirs by candlelight, bands and live street entertainment to keep residents thrilled throughout each late night Thursday.” Meanwhile, as part of the campaign,


the town’s shop front windows have been transformed into festive and fun works of art. Shoppers and visitors to the town


centre have been stopping in their tracks to admire the beautiful and intri­ cate artwork by one of Europe’s top window dressing and art display teams, who have customised many of the town’s high street shop windows vnth their Christmas-themed scenic paint­ ings and artwork, many of which reflect


the shop’? trade or business. In addition, the chamber h ^ also


produced 20,000 Christmas in Clitheroe shopping guides to be distributed free to residents in the Ribble Valley to actively encourage people to shop and dine in Clitheroe. “This year we wanted to maximise


every opportunity to raise positive awareness of Clitheroe town centre and ensure Clitheroe remains a top destina­ tion and shopping choice for the people of Lancashire and beyond,” Mr Pratt commented. “Clitheroe has so much to offer and the selection of top quality stores and unique shops, boutiques and beauty parlours, our iconic market, state-of-the-art live entertainment ven­ ues, historic attractions, award-winning cafes and stylish restaurants are a Christmas shopper’s dream.” More details about the campaign will


appear in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, but anyone requiring further information about the activities planned can log on to: www.clitheroein- business.co.uk


Armed robber gets lengthy jail


the offenders made off in a black Ford Mondeo. David Holyoak (33), of no


AN ARMED robber who raided a Clitheroe jewellers before robbing a Longridge bank a month later has been sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison. Michael Lee Parr (21), of


fixed abode, was also arrested and charged in connection with the robbery at the Halifax. He pleaded guilty to robbery and was. sentenced to three-and-a- half years. Both Parr and Holyoak were


Naden Walk, Whitefield, Man­ chester, pleaded guilty to rob­ bery a t Marsden’s jewellers, Clitheroe, and at the Halifax Bank, Longridge. Around 5-20 p.m. on Monday,


caught after a lengthy and thor­ ough police investigation, by detectives in Lancashire, with assistance from Greater Man­ chester Police. Both defendants were sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on Monday. Speaking after sentencing,


December 15th, 2008, Parr was part of a gang of men who went into Marsden’s jewellers, in King Street, Clitheroe, and smashed display cabinets before making off in a black Mercedes with more than £70,000 of jewellery. Including watches. One month later, on the morn­


ing of Friday, January 16th, this year, a gang of men wearing bal­ aclavas, went into the Halifax bank. Cherry Lane, Longridge and threatened the ci^hier with a sledgehammer. They smashed the glass secu­


rity window, before climbing through to the bank side of the counter to steal cash from the tills. The men then fled the scene


. with £6i000 in a Fiat Punto, which had been stolen from Manchester before the robbery.


. A short time later, the car was abandoned on Lune Street and


DETERMINED: DC Stephen Munro


officer in the case Det. Insp. Steve Dowson said: “This was a long and complicated investiga­ tion involving a number of detectives from the local CID teams.


SENTENCED: Michael Parr “Clearly, this was a terrifying


■ time. “This case should demon­


ordeal for the victims, which will stay with them for a very long


strate to the people of Lan­ cashire that we will fully investi­ gate any offences of this nature and will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to catch the people responsible. “My message to criminals


who come into Lancashire to commit this type of crime is that you will be arrested, convicted and sent to prison.” Det. Con. Stephen Munro,


who was also part of the investi­ gation team, added: “Michael Parr is a tenacious individual who has not made any of this investigation easy for us. “Although no one was physi­


cally injured in this robbery, I believe that if Parr had been


HARD WORK: DC Tracey McMurdo


challenged he would not have hesitated to use violence in order to escape. I would say th a t members of the public who wit­ nessed this crime acted in the best possible way by not chal­ lenging the group.” Det. Coh.Tracey McMurdo


added: “This type of crinie is very rare in the Ribble Valley and has a massive impact on the local community. “The victims of this crime


have been left traumatised by what happened and the police would like to thank all the peo­ ple in Clitheroe who contacted us with information, particular­ ly those who provided state­


ments. “I t is extremely satisfying


that all the hard work that has been put in has resulted in these


convictions.” Many of the town’s high street shop windows have


been given the treatment by one of Europe’s top win­ dow dressing and art display teams.


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cntheroe 422324 (Editorial), 01282 426161 (Advertising), Burnley 01282 422331 (Classified)


www.clitheFoeadvertiser.co.uk


Cl itheroe Ad vertiser & T im e s , Thursday, November 19th, 2009 3


Local family at centre of asbestos death legal fight


by Duncan Smith


A CLITHEROE family is at the heart of a legal test case which could have major ramifications for asbestos-


related deaths. With hundreds of millions of


pounds at stake, three battling families who lost loved ones to killer asbestos exposure are embroiled in the test case at London's Appeal Court. Among them are Mrs Joan


Eddleston, of Low Moor, Clitheroe, and her daughter, Anita Gayle Fleming, of Ull- swater Close, Rishton. They are claiming £178,000


in relation to the death in July 1996 of Mrs Eddleston’s hus­ band, Arthur. He had worked as an erector, foreman and joiner and was employed by Premier Construction Co Ltd from 1974 to 1994. He was exposed to


asbestos between 1974 and 1982 and was diagnosed with the dis­ ease in March, 1996, four months before his death. Also making similar compen­


sation claims are families from Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, and Speke, near Liverpool, who each lost loved ones through mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs, almost invariably linked to asbestos exposure. Despite the whole might of


the insurance industry ranged against them, the families last year saw off the threat of their compensation claims - and thousands of others like them - being sucked into what leading . judge Mr Justice Burton referred to as a legal “black hole”. Now, in a new legal case


before three of the nation's top judges and in a courtroom with standing room only, the families


are facing a massive legal push by insurers to turn their previ­ ous victory to ashes. About 2,000 people-a-year


die in the UK from mesothe­ lioma, which is notorious for its slowness to develop, incurabili­ ty, and for the agony suffered by its victims. The disease, which can be triggered by exposme to a single asbestos fibre, can take up to 40 years to develop and, due to the intensity of work­ place asbestos exposure in the 1960s and 1970s, is still killing thousands today. It is the long delay in the dis­


ease developing that lies behind the epic Appeal Court struggle, which is expected to last three weeks and in which insurers say they should not be held liable for asbestos exposure so many years ago. With many insurance compa­


nies, and firms that employed asbestos victims decades ago


now defunct, changed beyond recognition or insolvent, those arguments - if successful - would leave an an uninsured “black hole” and dash the com­ pensation hopes of thousands. However, Mr Justice Burton


last year handed victory to thousands of mesothelioma vic­ tims, or the loved ones they left behind, when he ruled that the liability to compensate mesothelioma sufferers arises at the time of exposure to asbestos and not, as insurers have claimed, at the point where the tumour actually begins to develop. I t was tha t critical ruling


which is now the principal tar­ get of attack by insurers, whose arguments - if they succeed in the Appeal Court - could leave mesothelioma victims effective­ ly with no-one to sue if their former employers are now defunct, or were no longer


insured, by the time their tumours began to develop. The judge's decision meant


th a t compensation must be paid under insurance policies in force at the time of the original asbestos exposure. And, even if the insurance companies con­ cerned are insolvent, or no longer exist, mesothelioma vic­ tims can still seek payouts through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or under the terms of the Pneumoconio­ sis (Workers Compensation) Act 1979. However, in a case being


heard by Lord Justice Rix, Lord Justice Sedley and Lady Justice Smith, insurers are now arguing at the Appeal Court that the judge misinterpreted the terms of insurance policies and reached the wrong conclusion on the law. The Appeal Court hearing


continues. John back in business


A FURNITURE shop has reopened its doors to the public -10 weeks after being gutted by a major fire. A fierce fire broke out in a work­


fighters to bring the blaze under control. At the the time, owner Mr John Spensley vowed to rebuild his business and open in time for Christmas. Having undergone a major refur­


shop at the back of the Country Furniture shop, in Duck Street, Clitheroe, in September. It took a 16-strong team of fire­


bishment, both inside and outside, the pine shop reopened on Satmday and Mr Spensley announced “it is bigger and better”. “The past 10 weeks have been


gruelling. I t has been a very stress­ ful time, but I was determined to rebuild my business and open for Christmas,” explained Mr Spensley. “Tens of thousands of pounds have been spent and I am pleased to


Police alert over ‘Water Board’ thief


A CALLOUS distraction bur­ glar is being hunted after tricking his way into an elder­ ly woman’s house and escap­ ing with £102. Detective are urging senior


citizens, especially those living alone, to be on their guard after a man targeted a woman in her eighties living at a prop­ erty in Lilac Grove, Clitheroe. A man posing as “an official


from the Water Board” knocked on the pensioner’s door between 7 and 7-10 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10th. He said he had to do some water testing, but while he pretended to do so an accom­ plice searched the house. The distraction burglar is


described as aged around 40 and six feet tall, of slim to medium build with black straight hair in a “short back and sides” style, clean shaven with a local accent. He was wearing a navy blue jacket and dark trousers. Detectives believe this lat­


est incident could be connect­ ed with two others dating back several months. The first happened on Sep­


tember 28th when a distrac­ tion burglar escaped with £300 from the property of a 90-year-old woman in Down- ham Road, Chatbum. The second happened


between 5-20 and 5-30 p.m. on Friday, November 6th, when


an 84-year-old pensioner liv­ ing in Standen Road, Clitheroe, was targeted by a man who, once again, described himself as a Water Board official. Similarly, the victim was distracted in the kitchen while an accomplice searched the house. However, on this occasion,


the accomplice escaped empty handed after being disturbed by a relative of the victim. The burglar is described as


offences on the most vulnera­ ble members of our communi­ ty,” said Det Sgt Nigel Wat­ son, of Clitheroe CID. “We are thoroughly investigating these offences, but elderly people need to be on their guard,to strangers and sup­ posed workmen calling at their house. “These people should not


being a man aged between 25 and 30, five feet nine inches tall, with short dark hair brushed back, a slight accent and wearing a quilted dark coloured hip length jacket. “These are despicable


be invited in and identifica­ tion should always be verified even if this means making a .phone call to their employer. I would advise elderly people to use a door chain at all times.” ■


Anyone with information


about any of the incidents should call Clitheroe CID on 01200 443344.


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say it’s business as usual now with bigger and better furniture items.” Mr Spensley went on to express


his heartfelt thanks to family, friends and wellwishers for all their support since the fire. He said: “The support I received


from everyone was overwhelming and made me more focussed and determined to open. Since Saturday a lot of customers have come up to me and expressed their delight at seeing the shop reopen.


£30,000 theft


charge


TWO men have appeared before Blackburn magis­ trates charged with theft of drums of chemicals worth £30,000 from a Clitheroe company. ■ Eric Devaney (35), of Pennsylvania Avenue, Cheltenham, Gloucester­ shire, and Chris Tucker (42), of Balmont Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, are charged with stealing 21 blue drums of nickel and zinc oxide belonging to Johnson Matthey, at Pimlico Road, Clitheroe, and theft of a trailer from a farm in Samlesbury. The two men were


arrested after their vehicle was stopped on the M6 southbound. They were both direct­


ed to Preston Crown Court and remanded in custody pending the preparation of committal papers.


Severe fire in bedroom


A SEVERE fire ravaged the first floor bedroom of a house on Railway View Road, Clitheroe, on Fri­ day. The blaze, which took


hold at just before 5 p.m., required two fire engines and four firefighters wear­ ing breathing apparatus to bring imder control. Smoke damage was also


caused to the other first floor rooms of the house and there was some dam­ age to ground floor rooms.


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