02135 SECTION STARTS PAGE 29


EUROPEAH-Wfiiffi HOLIDAVri—


WHAT'S ON STARTS PAGE 19


FEATURES, LISTINGS,


Action group aims to force a rethink on homes blueprint


h i


^ thousand new homes in Clitheroe. In just two weeks the Clitheroe


PEOPLE power is cracking the foundations of plans for more than a


until next Monday, February 20th, so there is still time to sign it.


Residents Actipn Group (CRAG) has achieved its objective of collecting more than 600 local signatures in an online pe­ tition, triggering a full meeting of Ribble Valley Borough Council to discuss new housing proposals for the town. The online petition will remains open


John is coiuitry’s top young gardener


HE’S done it! Bolton-by-Bow- land nursery owner John Foley has become the first winner of the t BBC Youiig.Gardener of the Year,


i t - l U . . T>____


award-winning Holden Clough Nursery with his partner, Kate Lawson (23), beat fierce competi­ tion from 700 hopefuls from across the country to land the title. His knowledge of plants and


itle. The 24-year-old, who runs the


Holden Glbiigh was featured on the BBC programme “Gardener’s World” in July last year following its success in winning its first RHS ■ Gold Award at the RHS Tafton Park Flower show for its plant dis-' play. He was one of 100 contestants.


first hand experience of running his own nursery gave him a distinct advantage over his competitors. John entered the contest: after


‘ . ■ .


■ phone call to say he had been se­ lected for the top 20.


tions and challenges at Manches­ ter, the judges told John that he had made it through to’the finals.


■After another set of tough ques­ ■ TURNTOPAGE3


selected to go the interview stages at Manchester BBC studios, where he had to sit a written exam and was also filmed while being inter­ viewed. A week later he received a


. .


to sign a petition requesting the council to think again.


told the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times: “We want the council to distribute these


A spokesman for the pressure group


pected to absorb a large part of the re­ maining potential housing development in the Ribble Valley up to 2028. CRAG has been asking Clitheronians


Clitheroe (1,040) would be concentrated on a new estate on land owned by Stand- en Estates at the southern edge of the town; A further 75 houses could be sited elsewhere in the town. This means Clitheroe would be ex­


long-terrn blueprint to guide develop­ ment until 2028 - the borough council would allow up to 1,115 new houses to be built at sites in Clitheroe, out of around 3,000 which could be built across the bor­ ough. CRAG’S objection to this strategy will now be heard by all borough council­ lors, not just those on the planning and development committee. Most of the new houses proposed for


As part of its draft Core Strategy - a


houses fairly. The population of Clithe­ roe makes up 25% of the total Ribble Valley population and therefore it is un­ fair that Clitheroe should be expected to accept more than 25% of any new hous­ ing developments.


joint petitions now have in e.xcess of 1,000 signatures. Clitheroe residents should be applauded for their willing­ ness to object to this unfair proposal. There are some very unhappy people out there and RVBC needs to listen to their objections.”


The online petition can be found


at www.feedbackonline.org.uk/peti- tion/5919 and remains open until Febru­ ary 20th.


others to join its campaign. The group’s spokesman added: “We are a small group, so if you can help by collecting signatures in town, at work, in the pub, from your neighbours or any other Clit­ heroe venue please ring 07730 411556 to • indicate your interest.


Meanwhile CRAG is appealing for


Clitheroe residents’ anger regarding this' matter and all the assistance we can get, will help achieve this.”


“We aim to inake RVBC aware of


been amazing, with more than 700 sig­ natures collected in just bvo weeks. We are aware there are still many people wishing to indicate their objection to the excessive housing numbers proposed for Clitheroe and we have also started a pa­ per-based petition. “This started last Saturday and the


“The response to the e-petition has


OF CLEARANCE ROOM : Luggage » 54^56 King Str^, Clitheroe ^ 1 : 0120() "^■1 jpQUJson^ ■ IR DEPARTMENT STORE m


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29