. . + 4 I CimiEROEADVERTISER&TlMES An Honour Guard provided by the USAF based atRAFLakenheath, Suffolk, remembers the heroic airmen


Dad says he’d rather do time’ than pay fine


An irate resident says he would rather go to prison than pay a car parking fine for being 12 minutes late. Craig Lawrenson, of Duck


Street, Clitheroe. is being chased by bailiffs for £367 after returning late after his daughter's swimming lesson. The Government recently


decided to give drivers 10 min­ utes’ grace before being fined if they do stay too long in coun­ cil-owned parking spaces. Back in 2012 Mr Lawrenson


parked on Edisford Road car park owned by Ribble Valley Borough Council (RVBC) while his daughter had a swimming lesson. He paid sop for an hour’s parking, but was late after his daughter was asked tostayafterher3ominute'sclass. On his return a parking attend- ant was issuing a £25 ticket “At this time I noticed a


foreign number plated car that was receiving no penalty ticket despite failing to show a payment. 1 asked the parking attendant why he was issuing no ticket and received a shrug of the shoulders,” he said. Mr Lawrenson then wrote


to Chipside Ltd who operate theparking fines on behalf of RVBC asking why he had to pay yet foreign cars didn’t. He also withheld his right to pay the original £25 fine until he had thesedetails.Afternumerous letters with Chipside Ltd re­ fusing the request for details and re-requesting the original fine, Mr Lawrenson in each letter continued to reserve his right to pay the original fine without late charges. Eventu­ ally a Chipside Ltd adjudicator advised Mr Lawrenson that “the issue with foreign plated cars had nothing todowithme


and that I was late returning to my car, so owed the fine”. • MrLawrensonpaidtheorig-


inal fine, but has since been chased for late payment. “1 have answered each let­


ter explaining that I wouldn’t be paying the fine.and ex­ plaining the situation in full, and that 1 ‘reserved my rights to pay the original fine with- out.further charges'. I also ex­ plained that I would be happy to attend any court date and that I would rather go to prison than pay thelate fin e,”headded. Bailiffs have now visited Mr


LawTenson’s home with an en­ forcement notice requesting £367 or goods of that value to be removed on behalf ofRVBC. “This £367addedtothe£25


already paid for the extra 12 minute’s parking plus the sop paid at the meter at the time means that the payment re­ quested for 72 minutes park­ ing while my daughter did her swimming lesson on a Satur­ day morning at 9 am equates to £392-50. As stated I would rather do time than pay this.” An RVBC spokesman said:


“We have always operated a 10-minute grace period on our car parks and it is worth noting that the Government now requires other councils to follow our lead. Howev­ er, motorists using council- owned car parks are strongly advised to return to their ve­ hicles within the time allotted on their ticket as we are una­ ble to extend the grace period indefinitely and returning to the car promptly will ensure there is no risk of an enforce­ ment notice being issued. We do not operate a policy of not issuing enforcement notices to foreign vehicles.”


It’s a full 25 years since


By Katie Hammond email: katie.hammond@jpress.co.uk twitter ©clithadvertiser


A unique glimpse into the future of TV was sampled by Ribble Valley villagers when GranadaTelevision setup home to conduct a ground­ breaking technological ex­ periment 25 years ago this week.


Filmed for a documentary entitled “The Television Vil­ lage”, the residents of Wad- dington were helped by Granada to set up a local TV station which broadcast be­ tween 7and 8 pm nightly from the church hall. The idea behind the ex­


periment .was to provide hyper-local news and infor­ mation via a dedicated vil­


lage TV channel and also to see how householders would react to the multi-channel world which was then still in its embryonic stages. A demographic cross sec­


tion of 10% of village house­ holds were given access to the satellite channels and the Independent Broadcast­ ing Authority (IBA) gave their permission for a UHF trans­ mitter to be set up in the pub car park which enabled vil­ lagers to receive the village channel Waddington Vil­ lage TV. It was a resounding hit with viewers, with one industry insider citing that its success came from “local people, without any experi­ ence, making programmes which local people wanted to watch". The main presenters


were villagers including De­ borah Cowking, Jonathan


Brown, James Warburton and Michelle Hornby and programmes on the sched­ ule included the vicar giv­ ing his thought for the day, a Saturday morning children’s programme presented by the village’s youngsters and music from local barbershop singers. Barring one technical


glitch, when sheep nibbled through vital TV cabling leading to the main transmit­ ter, WVTV gained 95% of the available audience, beating even Eastenders and Coro­ nation Street significantly in the ratings. The outcome of the exper­


iment was unexpected - not least to Granada executives. What started as a purely tech­ nological experiment proved that what was so compelling to the villagers was not the technology, but that they


could use it to make their own entertainment. Pro­ gramming didn’t have to be slick to appeal to audiences,


just ultra relevant - this was the true meaning of quality to the viewers at the most ba- sic level. Deborah Cowking said:


“We had the most amazing time and it was a brilliant experience. News crews de­ scended on the village and we were interviewed by CNN and other national and interna­ tional news channels almost everyday. “The Television Village


was effectively the first re­ ality TV programme to be screened and since then, it’s become much more the norm, but back then, it was so different from anything that anyone had ever seen before. We were all so proud to be a part of it.”


Focus on village car park in Commons debate led by our MP


Ribble Valley MP NigelEvans operators are allowed such led a debate in the House of powers.” Commons on the issue of car Addressing Transport parkingchargesandfineson Minister Robert Goodwill, private land.


Mr Evans said: “Minister, He secured the debate enough is enough. We all


having been contacted by know that this wretched several of his constituents rinsing of the public has to on this issue, particularly end. The disproportionate with reference to The Whal- fines should go, and those ley Arms Car Park.


operators and the hoodlum During the debate Mr side of their operations - Special service recalls Berlin Aircraft tragedy


A dedication service was held to remember six airmen who were killed in the Ribble Valley during the Berlin Airlift cri­ sis. On January 7th, 1949, one of the aircraft involved in the Air­ lift, took off from the American Rhein Main Air Force Base, in Germany, on route to Lancashire’s Burtonwood Air Base, laden with aircraft engines due for servicing. What should have been a routine flight endedin tragedy as the aircraft encountered poor weather conditions and crashed over the Trough of Bowland, killing 1st Lt R. M. Wurgel, 1st Lt L. A. Wheaton, Sgt B. J. Watkinson, Corp N HThesis, Capt. W. A. Rathgeber and Private R. E. Stone. Members of Clithe­


roe Youth Forum recently gathered for a Service of Remem­ brance at Bleasdale Moor to remember them. Despite the wet and windy weather, the service was attended by Trevor Riley, from Royal Air Force Veterans Association, Ted Davidson, Second World War veteran and the local farming community. The US Air Force provided an Honor Guard, who travelled all the way up from RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk. The service, was led by the Rev. Steve Cooper, vicar of Bleasdale and Richard Clark, played the Last Post and Reveille. A memorial stone was also unveiled recording the USAAF airmen and four oth­ ers who were killed during the Second World War in separate accidents in the area.


Evans said: “Agrowing prob- the debt collectors who use lem has resulted from op- oppressive means - have to erators of private car parks be tamed and reined right deciding that a lucrative in- back.” come stream is to be had by Speaking after the debate clobbering motorists who Mr Evans added: “Some peo- use their car parks. The car pie are being hit with a fine parks are cash magnets for of£ioo when the parking fee the operators, who milk the they paid was only £1. This is motorist and use harass- totally disproportionate to ment and threats to extort the offence. Overzealous car money.


parking enforcement is dis- “A good case in point is couragingpeoplefromgoing


The Whalley Arms car park into town and village centres, in my constituency, use by and hurting local trade, thelocalcommunityinavil-


“1 was pleased to be able


lage that is strapped for car to raise this issue in Parlia- parking places. Local coun- ment and hope that the de- cillors Terry Hill and Joyce bate has shed light on the Holgate and I have received issue and will encourage numerous letters of com- the Government and local plaint from individuals who authorities to act to protect are incandescent that the motorists.”


I www.clitharooadvertiser.co.ukThursday, March26,2015 Thursday, March 26,2015 www.clitheroeadvartiser.co.uk CLTTHEROEADVERTISER&TIMES I


Extra surgery slot for patients over Easter


Doctors set to open an extra weekend surgery


byFaizaAfzaal (aiza.afeaal@ipress.co.uk Twitter@clithadvertiser


‘Trespass’ teens target football club


Residents are being asked to dial 999 following a spate of anti-social behaviour at Clit­ heroe Football Club. The club’s chairwoman


Anne Barker explained that the problem has been on­ going for months, but with the lighter nights approach­ ing local residents’ help was needed to catch the culprits. “The residents on Taylor


Street have been sent a letter asking them to be on the look out for any suspicious behav­ iour at the club, but I would also like to appeal to the res­


idents of Highmoor Park to also keep a look out as those living on the estate will have a better view of the ground,” Anne explained. “The police have a key to


the ground and have made checking the ground part of their rounds. “However, it would be a


great help i f local residents can also keep a look out and let the police know as soon as they see anyone trespassing so that they might be in with a chance of catching them.” Anne added that teenag­


ers aged between 13 and 15, with the lighter nights draw­ ing in, would soon be tres­ passing on the ground to play football. Other older teenagers,


meanwhile, use the ground as a recreational area to smoke and drink out of their par­ ents’view. “We are all volunteers at


the club and although there has only been bits of damage it all takes time to sort out and is needless," Anne said. A spokeswoman for Clit­ heroe Police told the Clithe­


roe Advertiser and Times that here has been a marked increase in anti-social be­ haviour and the number of people trespassing in the grounds during the evening with evidence of alcohol and drug use found. The most recent incident


has resulted in damage being caused to a gate and net. The Neighbourhood Polic­


ing Team at Clitheroe Police Station is asking residents to phone them on 101 if they see anyone acting suspiciously on the pitch after hours.


Patients with urgent health problems in the Ribble Valley will be able to see a GP over the Easter weekend.


Doctors in Clitheroe and Whalley are collectively open­ ing an extra weekend surgery. Patiepts registered with


Castle Medical Group, Pend- leside Medical Practice and Sabden and Whalley Medical Practice willbeabletoseeaGP on Saturday, April 4th, from 9-30 am until noon at Whalley Medical Centre and on Mon­ day, April 6th, from 9-30 am until noon at Clitheroe Health


Centre. Dr Ian Whyte, clinical lead


for the Ribble Valley at NHS East Lancashire Clinical Com­


missioning Group and a GP at Sabden and Whalley Medical Group, said: “We have collec­ tively taken this decision to offer this extra surgery over the Easter weekend so that patients are able to see a GP if necessary and therefore take the pressure off other heajth services. “If patients aren’t sure


which health service is right forthem,they can ring thefree


NHS 111 number. This is avail­ able 24 hours a day including bankholidays. Patients will ei­ ther be given the appropriate healthcare advice or directed straightaway to the local serv­ ice that can help best. That could be A&E, an out-of-hours doctor, an urgent care centre or a walk-in centre, an emer­ gency dentist or a late-open­ ing chemist.” Appointments willbe avail­ able by ringing 01254 823273


on Saturday, April 4th, and 01200 413535 on Monday, April 6th, from 9 am on the day of the surgery. • Health officials are also


warning residents to use hos­ pital emergency services ap­ propriately and wisely over the Easter bank holiday peri­ od. Many people attend urgent services when it is unneces­ sary and they could be better treated elsewhere. Making an avoidable visit to the emergen­ cy department takes hospital teams away from their role, which is to help those with life-threatening situations. This includes conditions suchaslossof consciousness; persistent, severe chest pain; breathing difficulties and se; vere bleeding that cannot be stopped. If someone is seri­ ously ill or injured, and their life is potentially at risk, 999 should be called immediately.


Ribble Valley’s long serving determine what will happen visitors to the exhibition the Member of Parliament Ni- tothepaintingoncetheexhi- opportunity to compare and gel Evans is to be painted in bition has finished.


contrast the face they know


pastel by local portrait artist Work on the painting to the character I will paint. John Rotherham.


started at the end of Janu- 1 want to capture Nigel the He will completethe work ary with an initial consulta- man, away from his role as


as part of a new exhibition tion and photosho’ot. John local MP and backbencher.” and it will be unveiled to Ni- will determine the final Nigel has expressed his gel Evans and the public on source image to use and ere- excitement at being immor- Sunday May 10th-just three ate preliminary sketches for talisedin pastel and has given days after the General Elec- working up into the finished John complete creative free- tioninwhichMrEvanshopes portrait over the coming domonthefinishedportrait. to retain the seat he has held weeks. since 1992.


He will see the painting for The artist explained that the first time at the unveiling. The unveiling will take choosing Nigel as a subject. The full exhibition, “Ppor-


place at 1 pm at S@BB (Studio for the portrait was a delib- traits by John Rotherham”, at Bashall Barn) Art Gallery, erate decision: “I felt it was is currently showing at S@ Bashall Eaves. Discussions important to choose a sub- BB Art Gallery, Bashall Barn, are currently taking place je c tw h o is known locally Bashall Eaves (BB73LQ) and between Nigel and John to and in the public eye, to give will run until May 31st..


Valley’s MP will be captured on canvas


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