+ ISSUE NO. 6,857 I YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE


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THURSDAY


OCTOBER 2ND, 2014 £1


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PICTUEBOR OST FOTHHSPICE


R EO ' S E E P A G E S save Valley’s by J ulie Ma g e e


julie.magee@jpress.co.uk Twitter@c!ithadvertiser


An emergency meeting was heldthisweekto rally local supportagainsttheplanned closure of Clitheroe Job Centre.


The meeting was held at the St Mary’s Centre, Clitheroe, with trade unions urging members working and living in the Rib- ble Valley to attend and share views as well as information on the proposal. In a joint statement, Ian


; Gallagher (Blackburn TUC) and Peter Billington (Lanca­ shire TUC) said:.“The Depart­ ment of Work and Pensions consultation exercise on the proposed closure of the Jobe entre is lasting a mere four weeks and ends on October 7th (next Tuesday). “If the closure goes ahead,


members of the public who currently use Clitheroe Job-


centre would have to travel to Blackburn. “The DWP says this is on­


ly ‘n miles away with good transport links’. This ignores anyone who lives to the east of Clitheroe town centre. For, example, Gisburn is 18 miles away from Blackburn and Chatburn is 13 miles away. “Not everyone has their


own transport .and the cost of using public transport has to be met from Jobseeker’s Al­ lowance of £57-35 a week (age 16 to 24) or £72-40 a week (25 or over). “The proposal also has im­


plications for the wider is­ sues of how public services are maintained in rural areas and of how smaller towns like Clitheroe can remain viable.” A DWP sp o k e sm an


claimed the proposals “take into account the needs of the most vulnerable claimants in Clitheroe, who we appreciate may not be able to travel to Blackburn”.


He added that DWP advis­


ers would be available in an office a short distance from the current Jobcentre in Clit­ heroe, but Mr Billington said no specific details had, as yet, been provided. Captain Elizabeth Smith,


of he Salvation Army Corps in Clitheroe, who helped launch a weeklyjob club about a year ago, said: “We believe Clithe­ roe needs more help for the unemployed, not less. “If theJobcentre was to


close we feel it would have a wide reaching affect on the community and only make it harderforsometobreakoutof the cycle ofunemployment.” • More reaction to the closure plan - see page 8


Let us knowyour views on the plan to close Clitheroe ' Jobcentre


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Royal visit honour for Stonyhurst


The Princess Royal planted a tree at Stony- Trust’sFirstWorldWarCentenaryWoods hurstCollege aspartofitscommemoration Project.Some30ioaksaplingsarebeing of the 100th anniversary of the First World planted by the Cadet Force at the college as


^ p> a tributeto the serviceman who were pupils


Princess Anne’s visit last Wednesday was at Stonyhurst or lived in Hurst Green and inhercapacityaspatronofthe Woodland died in the WWI or another conflict.


Family announcements 34 • Your letters 14 & 17 • Village News • 15-17 • Farming News 20 • Motors 35 • Sport 45-48


faith stronger than the oak


, Wiswell Lane, Whalley, BB7 9AF ................


^ ■ -i, i" ^ - r # — - w . www.oakhillcollege.co.uk Independent Catholic Day School for boys and girls of all faiths aged 0 to 16. Open to all


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