16 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, March 11 th, 2010


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


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Ciitheroe422324(Editorial),01282426161 (Adverfising),Bumley 01282 422331 (Classified) This is a threat to S Perfectly matched -• I 6’ c /


our rural lifestyle THE planning application for the


, UK’s largest dairy farm submitted by Nocton Dairies in south Lin-


cohishire is of great concern to us. While the average UK dairy herd


currently has around 70 cows, this intensive system would see 8,100 cows kept indoors for most of their lives.


The proposed enterprise is being


hailed as “a flagship for the next gen­ eration of the UK dairy industry”. We support Compassion in World


Farming’s belief that the thousands of cows involved at this level of pro­ ductivity are at high risk of a range of health and wehare problems, such


as lameness, poon body condition and infertility. Wher^ eating grasses and other


vegetation at pasture is natural for cows, these animals will be kept indoors for most of the year, with lit­ tle time for rest, eating and process­ ing food to maintain their high levels of milk production. We are concerned that grazing will


play a very limited part in their diet, with the cows allowed out only in the short period each year when they are not producing milk (if the weather permits).


- In addition to animal welfare con­ 1:


cerns, there is the threat to the rural life and the livelihoods of dairy farm­ ers in the UK whose farms face a serious risk of closure. Small scale producers, with the


potential for higher wehare, may be unable to compete with pricing and supply in an already difficult mar­ ket. Opening one 8,000 cow unit could, ultimately, mean closing down over 100 smaller-scale farms. We urge the planning authorities


to carefully consider the implications for UK dairy farming, were they to grant permission for Nocton Dairies’ new farm. We believe dairy production must


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provide a good life for cows, with access to pasture throughout the grass-growing season and a decent living for small dairy farmers. . We are concerned that this wish is


unlikely to be achieved in large-scale factory fanning of this type. You will see from our address that


we live in the Kibble Valley, where we understand Nocton Dairies are already operating. We very much regret that this


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method of “factory farming” is hap­ pening on our own doorstep. SHEILA and WILLIAM GOODMAN; Somerset Ave ■ Wilpshire .


. Valley good quality


has impressed us MY wife, Amy, and I have a holiday cottage in the Lake District, to which we drive on many a weekend. Our choice of journey either takes


us through Settle and Kirkby Lons^ dale or the A59, through the Ribble Valley to the M6. By -the: time we get to the


Clitheroe area, we are usually ready for lunch and - even speaking as a Yorkshireman - we are impressed at the range and quality of eating establisments in the area, despite recent comments by Mr Winner. I notice that in the current week’s


edition you have some very compli­ mentary comments about Clitheroe’s cafes, so, with your per­ mission I would like to put in a good word for the pubs. One we have recently come across, almost by acci­ dent - as it is not directly on our


www.ciitheroeadvertiser.co.uk Follow the debate at Write lo: The Editor, Cmhcroe Advertiser and Times, 3 king Street Jciithcroe BB72EW or e-mail: roy.prcnlon@easlIancsnews.co.uk our


route - is the Assheton Arms in the beautiful little village of Downham. In these dismal days when country pubs are fast disappearing it is a rare


treat to find such a gem of an estab­ lishment. The place does not appear to have


changed for about 50 years, and I don’t suppose that it has, which is very much part of its charm. The food, a lot of which is seafood, is excellent and not pretentious and it is so nice to find such an unspoilt tra­ ditional country pub. I suppose Michael Winner would


find something sarcastic to say about the lack of jus and scented food piled in a stack, but it was just what we wanted. We will continue to take the Rib­


ble Valley route to our holiday cot­ tage to see if we can find any more gems like this one. Your local paper is interesting and informative and we always pick one


up as we drive through to read in our Lakes retreat. PETER H. BOOTH Wilsden, Nr Bradford


Why referendum


on EU is needed AS the UK Independence Party can­ didate for the Ribble Valley at this year’s general election I would like to respond to Robin Parker and explain why a referendum on EU member­ ship is essential to the people of the UK. We have a serious economic prob­


lem in Britain and yet we continue to pay £40m. a day for EU member­ ship. This sum of money would pro­ vide annual salaries for 18,000 nurses or build one new hospital every three days. In return for our contribution we


receive nothing, except the EU decide 75% of our laws and impose them. We have no say or any means of changing their laws. The EU has assembled an undemocratic super state and individual countries have lost their identities and their sover­ eignty. While we live in a time of reces­


sion, with an economy similar to that of Greece, we are squandering money in other countries by being a member of the EU. Our farming is in desperate need of a cash injection, and reduction in bureaucracy, but the EU is only interested in subsidis­ ing French farmers. We pay for Eastern European -


countries to build new ihotorways, install sewer systems, build under­ ground railways and car factories. In the UK we cannot afford to


maintain our roads, with the holes getting deeper and wider. All we hear about is reducing budgets, cutbacks etc while we pay for other countries to improve and thrive. • The UK has a serious population


overload because we have to operate an open borders policy with other EU countries. While it can be argued that a multi-cultural society can benefit a country, this only happens if all the services can cope. The NHS, education, housing,


prisons, employment (to name a few) cannot operate efficiently and yet I do not see the EU passing any of our


' etters


money back to help us improve in these areas.


•We must remember that for every


migrant worker, there is a British worker claiming unemplojmient ben­ efit. With Turkey (population 78 million) waiting in the wings to join the EU then our unemployment sit­ uation will get worse and more unemployment equals more benefits,. paid for by the UK taxpayer. To the individual, continued EU


membership will see higher bills for food, gas, electric, council tax, flights, car repairs etci We will have to use more expensive


and potentially health threatening light bulbs and drive round with our car lights on all day. All this while the EU parliament


pays itself huge salaries. The new president is paid £320,000 a year, which is more than the President of the USA. The overall richest European


country is Switzerland and it is not a member of the EU. It trades freely with the rest of Europe, as would we, if we withdrew from the undemocra­ tic Eiu-opean Union. Prior to signing the Lisbon Treaty


oiu" Government promised us a refer- endum and then reneged on the promise, we have to ask ourselves why?


If it was important enough to


promise a referendum why was one not held?


Previous generations fought so


that we could live in a democratic society. We owe it to future genera­ tions to sort out this mess so they can enjoy a democratic society also. Hopefully, you can now see the


Importance of a referendum to the UK. STEVE RUSH UK Independence Ribble Valley Mearley Syke,


Cutting speed limit


is a waste of time HAVING thought about the matter for a week, it would appear that the proposed new 50 m.p.h. speed limit between Gisburn and (cutting through the j^gon) Newsholme is a complete waste of time. Anyone who knows the said


stretch of. the A682 will know full well that if you attempt to go around the tightest bends on this section of road at 50 you will end up as an acci­ dent statistic in the scenery. The main danger, “unofficial time


trial bikers” from Nelson to Kirby Lonsdale (return), are not interested in any speed limits an3Tway. It does no help having the 40


m.p.h. bend signs at the bottom of the hill into Gisburn when even a HGV can go round at 60 in complete safety. . Perhaps we have now reached a


point where speed limits are set so ridiculously low in some places that even when they are there for a gen- • nine safety reason people ignore themanyway. Never, mind - yet another few


thousands of council tax wasted on the altar of the road safety quasi- religion.: ■ I suspect that most of the money involved in implementing said speed


limit went on the parasites in the offices. No wonder Lancashire County Council cannot afford to grit places like Twiston - so much for the Tories allegedly saving money. GORDON PYE, DownhamRoad, Chatburn -


Why I fill up on


fuel out of town ON Saturday last (March 6th), nine miles down the A59,1 filled my car up with diesel at 112.9 pence per litre. The price on the same day at


Clitheroe's one remaining filling sta­ tion was 118.9p. Unleaded petrol prices were 116.9 and 111.9 respec­ tively. I wonder what proportion of Clitheroe motorists now fill up out of town? ANTHONY A. COOPER, Peel Park Avenue, Clitheroe


Support for call to


ban veil wearing I HAVE just read the story in your paper regarding the UKIP annoimcement that it wants a ban on the veil and head-to-toe covering of women. Well done that party — it is about


time someone stood up for our rights in this matter. I have travelled and worked for


over 12 years in Arabic countries and have an authorised English version of the Koran, and there is nowhere in it that states a woman must be cov­ ered from head to toe. I have also been informed by a


high ranking cleric in Saudi Arabia that it is, in fact, only a local custom to have a woman to wear a veil and that this goes back to before Islam became a religion. What the 60 million people of the


vote. NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED


We need to leave


this expensive club I OVERHEARD the other day some pensioner friends of mine dis­ cussing how to save on expenses. The outcome for one was that he


was not renewing his golf club mem­ bership. “It is costing too much,” he stated. I thought after that he was a wise man, who knew his financial capabilities and had the sense to address them. It came to my attention just


recently a statement from the Gov­ ernment that we will have a debt of £175 billion for 2010. Also I have read an article from


the Taxpayer’s Alliance that our EU contributions for this year will reach a staggering £125 billion. Now the question is: due to the


UK are annoyed at is that a few him- dred people can dictate to the others what they can or cannot wear. It is about time the discrimination on wearing hoods or helmets or - as the old age pensioner found out - a flat cloth cap - is well and truly scrapped or enforce the non-wearing of the veils. Well done UKIP, you have my


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Clitheroe Advertiser&Times, Thursday, March 11th,2010 17


fact that we are in debt, should we not be dropping out of an expensive club that not many people wanted to join in the first place? I wonder where the £12m. went to


that was allotted to the Clitheroe Community Hospital. Any answers? RONLOEBELL, UKIP, Ribblc Valley


A poem in memory


of Grandma Lliy THIS is a poem written in meniory of “Grandma Lily”, who introduced her family to Swales Cafe. The third and fourth generations


of her family still visit the eatery in Wellgate. Titled “After all this time”, the


poem is in memory of Lily David­ son: Look mum I’m stiU going in Swales Cafe


Thank goodness some things never change


Now another generation, your grandchildren and great-grand­ children


Are finding it all the rage. Pie and peas, scones with cream The friendly staff, quite a team They haven’t gone for the wine bar look


In fact it’s quite unique. It’s homely, it’s welcoming just fan­ tastic


I ’ve never bettered their cream scones


From Devon to the Dales It’s quite a gem in Clitheroe Long may you continue “Swales” S. WILSON Address supplied


Is this a record


for Pendle Hill? IT has been a frightfully cold winter so far for 2009/2010, and the other day something dawned on me that could possibly be a record of some kind for the Ribble Valley side of Pendle Hill. Albeit only a small amount at


times, but the Great Hill has had snow on it every day since the first heavy deluge we had around the December 17th, 2009. That is 75 days so far this winter


that there has been a white patch on it. Surely this could be some kind of record, as I have never known the Great Hill to have a white patch on


it for such a long length of time. I think this definitely warrants an


investigation. Call me dull and bor­ ing, but I love snow! SAM CHAPMAN, Broxup Cottage, Holden


Show the QLR how


grateful we are CONGRATULATIONS to Ribble Valley Borough Council in bestow­ ing the Freedom of the Borough to the Queen's Lancashire Regiment. Bruce Dowles ( letters page,


March 4th) should remember that if it was not for our armed forces, who have in the past given their lives for


our freedom, he and other like-mind­ ed people might not be allowed to


have a voice in today’s freedom-lov­ ing press. ■


Hopefully, many citizens in the


Ribble Valley and beyond will turn out and offer their congratulations and best wishes to the men and women of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.


,MARTIN JAMES, Grindlcton Clhheroe .


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