r Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 01282 426161 (Advertising), Burnley 01282 422331 (Classified) 2 C l ith e ro eA d v e r t is e r& T im e s , Th ursd ay, March 11th, 2010


INSIDE YOUR CLITHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES


■ Valley Matters....................... 6,7 ■ Letters...................


■ Readersplus............................. 18 ■ Village News .. .. ... .. .. . .19,20,21 ■ Family Notices . . . . . . ------ 24,25 ■ Weekendplus-------------. . . . .26,27 ■ Motors Today............................... .30 ■ Sport ................. .................... .... .45-48


AT A GLANCE...


Bankrupt OAP can fight court - page 4 Grand launchpad to fame - page 8 Save our pubs, says MP - page 13


Young poets win prizes - page 22,23 INFORMATION


Duty 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: 0800 111999. 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 422024. Cruse Bereavement Care: 01772 433643. Environmental Agency: Emergencies — 0800 807060. Drugs: Local confidential advice and information line: 01254 226200. National: 0800 776600. Ribhle 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. Ribhle Valley Citizens’ Advice Burean: 01200 428966.


i


CONTACT US! News: 01200 422324


Advertising: 01200 422323 Classifled: 01282 422331 Family Notices: 01282 478134 Photo Orders: 01772 838026 Fax: 01200 443467 editor e-mail: roy.prcnton@castlancsncws.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smith@castlancsnews.co.uk


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


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk WEATHER


DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


CHIPPING B CLITHEROE


LANGm ■ BURNLEY ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN I


WEEKEND WEATHER: IT will be dry and bright with the possibility of light showers on Saturday.


SUNRISE: 6-28 a.m. SUNSET: 6-10 p.m. . LIGHTING UP TIME: 5-40 p.m.


I ♦ " T O i- ' ‘ . ISLAIDBURN GISBURN CHATBURN 5 LIFT OFF: St Mary’s spire points skywards like a Victorian rocket LOPPED OFF: would the tower look better as its builders intended?


Gould St Mary’s steeple be about to ‘ex-spire’?


to conclude, as Alan Bailey did in a . recent letter to the Advertiser, that it would be better to remove the spire,” he said.


' , “I t is, as he rightly points out, a


comparatively late addition to a much older tower. However, there are considerable problems with such an approach as the Parish Church is a Grade I I ’" listed building and any alteration would have to be cbnsid- - ered b y.a number of planning, authorities. Assuming approval we would need to replace the roof of the tower, again adding to the cost.” Rev. Froud also added that taking


taking the spire away could desta­ bilise the tower: “I understand the


; bells were added after the spire and when they are rung, their weight causes the tower to move slightly. That sway would increase without the weight of the spire, with • unknovra consequences.” - '


f continued from page 1 Once the church council has decid-


, ed on the best way forward, the resi­ dents of Clitheroe will be informed of the decision.


• Rev. Froud said: “We will take


into account the views of local citi­ zens who, over the past 162 years, have got used to St Mary's being part of the Clitheroe skyline and the most prominent building after the Castle Keep.”


As the church has no funds avail-'


able to finance any project he said it would have to rely on grant-making bodies and the generosity of individ­ uals to fund any scheme.


the beginning of a very long road and.one which all of us need to undertake carefully and prayerfully,” said Rev. Froud.


“I must emphasise that this is just A view of St Mary’s imposing spire from the church gates I'm l ix J i .17 Offer - - X - : . ^


WITH summer just around the corner, thoughts are turn­ ing to the garden and, once again, this year 'grow-your- own' vegetables will be all the rage.


Now, thanks to www.clitheradvertiser.co.uk, you can harvest your own . crop of potatoes with our great value patio potato 'grow- , pod'. Click online to take advantage of our great offer of two pods, plus two varieties of seed potatoes, for only £9.99 plus P&P and in as little as seven weeks you could be enjoying up to 261b of your own new potatoes.


N


istered organ donor?


You voted: 50% I


50% NO:


Simply click on to http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/campaign/offerlist- ing.aspx to get growing.


spire on St Mary's Church, Clitheroe stay or go?


New vote: Should the


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News from the RIbble Valley, 24 heurs a day^f bayla week


P o n d S 5


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1-:--: f Top s i til


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I www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk Ciithetoe422324 (Editorial), 01282 426161 (AdverUsing), Burnley 01282 422331 (Classified) wvirw.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk C l ith e ro e A d v e r t is e r& T im e s , T h u rsd a y ,M a rch 11th,2010 3


Rural future in danger, warns a senior adviser


by Duncan Smith 7


SO many young people are being forced out of the coun­ tryside to find homes, jobs and support th at the long­ term future of rural areas like the Ribble Valley is in serious jeopardy. Th a t is the s ta rk warning


delivered to the Government by its own rural advocate. Dr Stu­ art Burgess. I t is based on evidence he has


gathered from communities in all parts of rural England about the fears, aspirations, challenges and needs of yoimg people. In a report delivered directly


to the Prime Minister, Dr Burgess says: “Wherever I go, I hear deep concerns - that chal­ lenges with housing, work.


transport, training and social exclusion are preventing young people from living in the coun­ tryside. Without young people to provide a workforce, rural economies are unable to fulfil their full potential and rural communities can go into a decline. “On top of this, lack of broad­


band and mobile phone coverage in many rural areas is hitting young people and businesses alike - be it through recruitment and employment, better access to learning and support services or enjoying the connectivity that has become an everyday feature of urban youth culture, such as joining a social network or getting internet help with homework.” The Commission for Rural Communities, of which Dr


Burgess is chairman, has pub­ lished a “State of the Country­ side” update, setting out the sta­ tistical facts of rural life for chil­ dren and young people, includ­ ing the current rate of outward migration. Dr Burgess added: “My clear


message is that challenges for rural young people need address­ ing positively and urgently, and that failure to act will put the future viability of our rural conmnmities at risk. “I t is essential to break the


cycle of low aspirations and, instead, inspire yoiing people to fulfil their potential and play an active role in our society. “My personal commitment is


to seek ways of increasing the engagement of rural young peo­ ple with these issues which so clearly affect their futures and


find ways of harnessing their enthusiasm and creativity to find imaginative new solutions which will benefit us all.” As well as calling on policy­


makers to demonstrate a better understanding of the challenges facing rural young people. Dr Burgess’s report puts forward practical solutions, including: • Flexible planning to create


more affordable rural housing. • New ways to meet employ­


ment and training needs in more isolated areas. • Greater efforts by schools


and universities to raise young people’s aspirations. • A renewed focus on provid­


ing integrated public transport; and • A push to improve mobile


phone coverage and broadband services in rural areas.


Village schools and communities have got some wheels!


A NEW minibus for joint use by a small cluster of Ribble Valley schools and the local community has arrived at Bowland High School. The bus, which has been funded by Lan­


cashire County Council, aims to incre^e the learning and extended services capaci­ ty of rural schools. Castle Vehicle Leasing is providing the


Ford Transit Trend minibus, which has been specially adapted for wheelchair access by James Alpes, in Clitheroe. Our picture shows, from left to right,


Helen Dakin, Bowland extended services co-ordinator, Judy Bateman, Bowland school business manager, Keith Rawlmson, of Castle Minibus, Alison Goossens, of James Alpes, Robert Maude, headteacher at Chatburn Primary School, Maureen Stansfield, headteacher at Bolton-by-Bow- land and Grindleton Primary School, and Judith Metcalfe, associate headteacher at Thorneyholme Primary School, D unsop Bridge with the new minibus.


Volunteer Chris is safe from Chile earthquake


- by Peter Monk


WHALLEY mum Mrs Trish Wiggins breathed a sigh of relief when her son phoned from the earthquake-shattered region of Chile.


• Her son, Chris, has spent the


past 12 months working in an orphanage in Santiago, Chile, close to the epicentre of the dev­ astating earthquake. . He is working for the non-prof­


it making volunteer organisation V.E. Global, which was initially founded in 2004 as Voluntarias de


la Esperanza. . Chris is working with children,


many o f . whom are either, orphans or homeless and some of whom have suffered serious abuse and neglect.


Unlike the UK, Chile has no


welfare state and many of these youngsters would find them­ selves back on the street if it were not for organisations like VE Global. The earthquake, one of the


largest ever recorded, has destroyed many of the roads around the capital, although the major part of the damage to the country was further south. Chris’s mother, Trish, together


with friend Joe Boylan, went out to Chile last summer and spent some time visiting Chris and helping out where they could. They were so moved by the


plight of the youngsters that on their return to the Ribble Valley they decided to try and raise funds for the orphanage in Santi­ ago.


Trish and Joe are both mem­


bers of the celebrated local choir the Blackburn People’s Choir, which base decided to give its services for free and put on a con­ cert at Whalley Village Hall next Saturday, March 20th, starting at 7- 30 p.m. The choir’s concerts are always


lively affairs, with music to suit all tastes and with the occasional opportunity for the audience to sing as well. There are still a few tickets left


and the fund-raising has become all more pressing following news of the earthquake. All the money raised will go to


the orphanage and if you want tickets they are available for £6 (£4 concessions) by phoning 'Trish on 01254 824934 or Joe on 01282773380.


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It’s D-Day for Lidl’splanto


build new store


S U P E RM A R K E T chain Lidl’s plans to build a new store in Clitheroe could be given the go-ahead tonight. Members of Ribble


Valley Borough Council’s planning committee will meet to decide whether to follow their officer’s recommendation to approve plans submitted by the German super­ market giant. Lidl wants to demolish


the existing Shawbridge Mill a t Shawbridge Street, Clitheroe, and build a new supermarket with a net sales area of 1,007 sq m and a 57- space car park. Members of Clitheroe


Town Council have raised no objections to the plans, although they are concerned that the Lidl sign is too large and will have an adverse effect on Peel Street residents. Several le tters have


been received regarding the application, with concerns raised about the effect the development will have on property val­ ues and, -questioning whether the town needs a fourth supermarket. The scheme involves


alterations to the current access to the site by retaining a main access from Shawbridge Street with no vehicle access from Peel Street. Other key applications


to be discussed at tonight’s meeting include plans for a support centre for substance misusers off York Street, Clitheroe, and two applications regarding the Primrose Mill Housing Scheme, Clitheroe. To view the full plan­


ning agenda for tonight’s meeting log on to the borough council’s website at: www.ribblevalley. gov.uk


Valley council tax to rise by just 0.6%


COUNCIL tax in the Ribble Valley continues to be the lowest in the region. Taxpayers are only fac­


ing a 0.6%, overall coun­ cil tax increase for 2010/11. Members of Ribble


Valley Borough Council approved the budget and set the council tax at the full council meeting on 'Tuesday. The revenue budget for next year is £7.2m. and


has been arrived at after finding savings of £405,000. The borough council’s


share of the overall coim- cil tax bill is 9.6%, giving a band D charge for Rib­ ble Valley Borough Council of £140.69. The council continues


to strive to provide cost effective and efficient services while charging the lowest district council tax throughout Lan­ cashire.


arm. an d Coffee Shop


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