Village school gets a new sports area

A new sports area is to be built at a Barrowford school - but residents are unhappy at losing their parking spaces for the development.

Lancashire County Council has granted itself planning permission for the fenced-off pitch next to Barrowford Primary School, Rushton Street.

The multi-use games area (MUGA) is planned for a patch of unmarked land next to the school used as car parking space at the moment, and only pupils will be able to use it.

Pendle Council and Barrowford Parish Council fear that as well as removing the public parking space, the fences will look out of place in the architectural conservation area.

Some 18 residents wrote to the county council to object to the proposal. They said parking was already at a premium in the village, and that losing public spaces would force even more cars into parking on the main road.

Pendle representatives also told councillors that children could be put at risk by using the area as they would have to go out of the school grounds to get to it, along a busy road. Speaking after the meeting Coun Linda Crossley, chairman of Pendle Council's Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee, said she was disappointed the plans had been approved despite people's concerns.

She said: "I don't think that's the right place for the games area. A lot of residents have pointed out that there is another quite large area of land at the back of the school which would be an excellent place for the children to play, though perhaps not ideal for a fenced-off MUGA.

"We were annoyed they decided to go ahead with it because the parish council objected strongly to it, residents objected and Pendle Council voiced its objection but we were all just completely overridden.

"It is very frustrating when local opinions are just not taken any notice of. I'm not sure I would like a child of mine playing there. There will be fumes from the road, and there is always the risk, no matter how well supervised they are, that a child could run out."

County Coun Tim Ormerod supported the proposal, saying that the land had been earmarked as a play area for years, and that the MUGA would help the school meet the government's new requirements for PE.

Source: http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk

Search for crash driver

Police are trying to trace the owner of an Audi A4 which was left smashed into a farm wall.

Officers were called to Barrowford Road shortly after midnight on Sunday.

A police spokesman said: "Whoever was driving ran off from the scene before officers arrived.

"We therefore do not know if the car was being driven by its owner, or if it was stolen. Our inquiries will continue until we trace the keeper, a man from Nelson."

The collision caused significant damage to the car.

Source: http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk

Junction 13 traffic headache

As the start of development works on two major schemes within yards of an already busy traffic junction looms, we ask - what action, if any, is proposed to ease the concerns of local people?

The centralisation of Nelson and Colne College on the main Reedyford site and the development of the Barrowford Business Park on the opposite side of Pendle Water by Peel Holdings have fuelled fear of major traffic problems around the motorway interchange and bypass junction.

There is already heavy congestion at peak periods, causing queues to stretch up the M65 slip road and back up the motorway towards Brierfield at busy times. There are similar problems in the other direction with traffic tailbacks through Barrowford.

Yet in spite of repeated requests, Lancashire County Council has refused to hold meetings with Pendle Council to talk about it – and the blunt message from County Hall this week was: It's your problem, you sort it out.

Pendle councillors raised the matter for the third time in five months at its meeting on Thursday night, when it was revealed no reply had been received to a request for a meeting with County Coun. Tony Martin, Cabinet member for sustainable development, and Environment Director Graham Harding made in October.

And this week, it was revealed in a reply to Coun. Tony Beckett and Pendle Council leader Coun. Alan Davies that the county felt there was no merit in such a meeting as the matter was being handled by Colin Badminton, a former Pendle highways officer who now works for Lancashire Highways.

But County Coun. Martin said this week: "Any questions concerning traffic problems should have been raised before planning permission for the two developments was granted by Pendle Council.

"It's Pendle Council's problem and they should sort it out."

Lancashire's motorway police have promised to keep an eye on the situation around the junction.

Insp. Phil Cottam said that while there had been a number of shunt-type accidents at peak periods, there had been no serious incidents.

"Unlike many busy interchanges, there are no automatic signs or signals at Reedyford and these are expensive to introduce. Many drivers who use the junction regularly know of the problems there. The M65 has brought a lot of business to the area and some of the junctions are working to capacity. The position at Reedyford is something we will be keeping an eye on," he said.

Source: http://www.pendletoday.co.uk

Speed calming for busy road?

Traffic calming and speed reduction measures could be brought in on Barrowford Road if funding is secured from Lancashire County Council's Local Safety Schemes programme for 2007/8.

Whether or not the location, leading out of Colne towards Barrowford, receives funding will depend on the recent injury accident record and competing demands for funding from elsewhere.

If the location is successful in attracting funding, then a comprehensive design scheme for traffic calming and speed reduction measures would be prepared, and a safety audit process undertaken.

In the meantime, there are certain actions which are being considered using existing budgets.

These include high visibility signage, "Slow" markings and rumble areas on the eastbound approach to the bend near the Nelson and Colne College annexe.

Source: http://www.pendletoday.co.uk

In memory of Anthony

A Nelson firm has donated £10,000 to the North West Air Ambulance in memory of a colleague.

Former Barnfield Construction employee Anthony Birchall died in a climbing accident in September, 2004.

A keen climber, Mr Birchall, of Ann Street in Barrowford, was leading a walk up a mountain on the Isle of Skye when he fell to his death.

The firm, based at Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, decided to donate money raised at its 30th anniversary charity ball and auction in January to the air ambulance. More than 300 employees, associates and friends of the company enjoyed an evening of entertainment at a Skipton hotel at the event.

The company thanked numerous local businesses who supported the event by donating prizes for the auction including DVD recorders, iPods and cash.

Barnfield director Sheila Webber presented the cheque to air ambulance chief executive Lynda Brislin.

Source: http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk

Opening win for Barrowford ace

Barrowford's Ian Parkington started the defence of his North West Formula Ford Championship title in fine style, as he won his first race of the year.

Cheshire's Oulton Park was the venue, although his season will also take in the newly revised circuit on the Isle of Anglesey. Competing in the pre-90 class, Ian qualified fourth overall, but was first in class and, considering that the cars in front were built more recently than his, he was delighted with his performance.

He said: "Practice on Friday was very wet, but Saturday's qualifying was nice and dry and I managed to get in a good lap, which put me at the sharp end of the grid. I got a very good start in the race and picked off two cars in front before the first corner.

"I managed to hold station behind the leader fairly comfortably, but on lap nine we encountered a backmarker. The leader got through, but he closed the door on me and forced me onto the grass. I spun but managed to rejoin in sixth.

"I did get back into fifth by the end of the race, which was enough to give me the class victory. The main thing was to score points in the class, but it would have been nice to have made it onto the podium against the newer cars.

"We have totally rebuilt the car from the ground up over the winter, tried a couple of harder suspension set ups and they seem to have worked straight out of the box which is pleasing."

The championship also takes in the Ty Croes circuit on Anglesey, which has had a major face lift and Ian revealed he is "very excited" about racing there.

"It's now a top class venue, a new layout, totally resurfaced and widened and I am really looking forward to racing there, our first event at the circuit is a two day event in May" he said.

Ian receives backing from Hambling Construction of Accrington and Ball Park Engineering of Barrowford and his next outing will be at Oulton Park on April 14.

Source: http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk

Pendle Borough Council election looming

Voters in Pendle go to the polls next month in elections that could change the political landscape.

In Pendle the Liberal Democrats are trying to keep control. They currently enjoy majority of eight with their 28 seats. The Tories have 13 seats, Labour five, the BNP one and there are two independents.

The Liberals are defending ten seats, the Conservatives, six, and Marlene Hill Crane, independent for Craven, hopes to keep her place.

The BNP are fielding candidates in six seats, the Green Party three, UKIP two and there are four independents running.

LibDem members of the executive board hoping to keep their seats are John David, member for environment, and Sonia Robinson, member for urban renewal.

Source: http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk

Mum is wheelie going for it...

A skateboarding mum-of-two has hit on a wheelie great idea to raise money for a cancer charity.

Architect Laura Powell will be jamming with a group of 30-something skateboarders at a fundraising evening on June 2nd.

The 33-year old, of Lupton Drive, Barrowford, organised the over 21s skateboarding jam to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support after losing her grandfather to the illness in 2005. Mrs Powell, who has been skating for just under 20 years, said: "There's a big demand from older people, people who are over 30.

"Usually there's a lot of skaters who are 17-years-old and this can be quite intimidating, so we have the 21 and over age restriction. It will attract more older people."

She got the idea after she read a message on a skateboarding website aimed at middle-aged skateboarders. A chatroom member posted a message about losing his mother to cancer and the 30 responses to his message made her realise how many people were affected by the illness, she added.

Mrs Powell, who has just finished a seven year training course to qualify as an architect, became interested in skating when she was given a board by a friend at school.

She said: "When I was 14 or 15 I was with a friend's who had a skateboard but was not that bothered about skating.

"We spent all day skating and I have never really stopped except forwhen I had the children."

Mrs Powell, who skates with her husband Mark Nutter, is hoping to raise a thousand pounds from the evening. She said: "Hopefully we will get a lot of people turning up to skate and have fun."

The evening, at Interact Skate Park, Burnley, from 8pm to midnight, will also include a raffle with prizes donated by Vans and Girl, two specialists in skateboarding gear. Tickets cost £10 and all proceeds go to the charity.

Source: http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk

Car crime gang targets Vauxhalls

Police believe a single gang of criminals is behind three thefts of Vauxhall cars at the weekend. They also suspect the same group of targeting another three cars, also Vauxhalls.

On Friday night, a white Astra, registration S134 ACP, was taken from Rupert Street, Nelson, and a red Corsa, registration number P399 MKV, was stolen from St Paul's Road, also in Nelson.

On the same night, another red Corsa went from Taylor Street, Brierfield, but the car was later found abandoned in Anne Street.

Also on Friday night, a Play Station Portable worth £100 was stolen from a Corsa in Mansfield Crescent, Brierfield, and in Park Drive, Nelson, two men ran from a gold Corsa when they were disturbed as they tried to force open a door.

And on Saturday, between noon and 8pm, registration plates R574 ACK were stolen from a silver Corsa in Barrowford, and later used to disguise a car which drove off without paying from a petrol station in Kelbrook.

Insp Russ Proctor, of Nelson police, said: "We are linking all of these offences because they all target the same make of car and all happened in a similar area at a similar time.

"We would like anyone who knows anything about these incidents, or has seen anyone acting suspiciously around Vauxhall cars, to contact us."

Source: http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk

The White Bear

Source: http://www.lancashireparishcouncils.gov.uk/

Barrowford Locks

Source: http://www.lancashireparishcouncils.gov.uk/

Barrowford Park

Source: http://www.lancashireparishcouncils.gov.uk

Gisburn Road

Source: http://www.lancashireparishcouncils.gov.uk

View down Pendle Water

Source: http://www.lancashireparishcouncils.gov.uk

Pendle Heritage Centre

Source: http://www.lancashireparishcouncils.gov.uk

Former PO to be home or adult store

A man has vowed to open a sex shop if he is not allowed to turn a former village post office into a house.

Andrew Hennessey, who owns the former post office at 423 Gisburn Road, has been battling to convert it into a house after it closed in November 2005.

He was initially denied planning permission in January when councillors called for proof that the shop could not be viably run as a business.

In his latest application, which will go before Pendle Council's Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee on Thursday, he has included accounts which show that the post office made a net loss of more than £17,500 in its last two years of trading.

But planning officers are still recommending it for refusal as the borough has fulfilled its housing provision requirements until 2016, and as the shop does not meet the criteria for an exception to the policy because it is in open countryside.

The shop has been painted black since October, with "XXXX" painted on the front, to suggest it is already a sex shop, in a protest against the planning process.

After his application was denied last time, Mr Hennessey vowed to open the building as a novelty-style sex shop if his hopes for a cottage could not be realised.

As the premise is already allowed to be a shop, Mr Hennessey believes he would be able to sell the items without needing any special permission.

In response to being recommen-ded for refusal again, he said: "I am surprised as I was told I would be supported and it would go through if I supplied these accounts. They can either have a house or a boarded-up shop."

Councillors could still approve the house.

Source: http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk

Manager's sacking 'an obscenity'

A mental heath trust has been accused of sacking a manager while he was suffering from a depressive illness.

John Lobley, from Barrowford, had worked for a number of years as research and development manager for Clitheroe-based Calderstones NHS Trust, an employment tribunal heard.

He accepted that his performance had suffered after his son-in-law died suddenly in 2004, closely followed by his mother's health deteroriating, requiring him to place her in full-time care, the tribunal heard.

Disciplinary action was launched by the NHS trust in early 2006, after he was accused of departing early on a regular basis and a string of unauthorised absences.

He expected to be punished - but not sacked, the hearing was told. Mr Lobley has taken Calderstones to an industrial tribunal, claiming unfair dismissal.

Mr Lobley's counsel, David Humphreys, described the disciplinary process which led to his client's dismissal as an "industrial relations obscenity." The claimant exhibited to his employers the symptoms of a depressive illness and in my submission they ignored it", said Mr Humphreys.

"This is an NHS trust, with a human resources department, and it is almost incredible that they did not do something about it."

An initial disciplinary hearing, chaired by the-then acting finance director David Young, decided that Mr Lobley should be dismissed, the tribunal heard. Then a subsequent appeal hearing, led by Russ Pearce, the trust's chief executive, reaffirmed that decision, the tribunal heard.

The tribunal was told that the system was clearly unfair - as Mr Pearce, who reaffirmed the sacking decision, was responsible for instigating the disciplinary procedure in the first place.

Giving evidence earlier about the impact of the disciplinary hearing, Mr Lobley said: "I just thought they would have looked after me and taken into account the work I had done for the trust in the past."

Mr Humphreys added: "The claimant absented himself from work and all they could think about was the effect."

One comment made to him during the appeal hearing, when his depression was highlighted as a possible contributory factor to his behaviour, was that he "was not alone in that", the tribunal heard.

He claimed that he had been given permission to work from home on Thursdays and Fridays - but conceded that he had often left early on other days.

Ed Morgan, Calderstones' counsel, told the hearing that Mr Lobley's line manager, John Caldwell had arrived at his office frequently to discuss work and not been able to locate him. Mr Caldwell, in his evidence to the tribunal, denied there had been an agreement over home working between the pair.

The three-strong panel reserved a final decision on the case until a date to be fixed.

Source: http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk

Mountain climb for disabled boy

An uncle is to scale one of the world's highest mountains to raise money for his severely disabled nephew.

Dave Bateson is attempting to raise £4,500 by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, the largest free-standing mountain.

The money will buy a wheelchair and stairlift for 14-year-old Ryan Padgett, who suffers from muscle wasting disease muscular dystrophy.

Ryan has lost his mobility and is in need of 24-hour care.

Dave, 29, a freelance website developer from Barrowford, will push himself to his physical and mental limits as over 40 per cent of people who attempt the climb turn back before reaching the top. Temperatures range from 30C at the base to minus 20C at the summit.

Dave said: "I was wanting to get into mountaineering and I was told Kilimanjaro was one of the best and most challenging to start with.

"I've been training three or four times a week, swimming climbing and going to the gym. I'll be training all year to make sure I'm physically in great shape, but I'm under no illusions as to just how tough it will be. For me the altitude will be the biggest test, as there's no way I can replicate that before I go." Dave is no stranger to challenges, having prev-iously competed in rally driving at a national level and recently walking 85 miles across England following Hadrian's wall.

Dave hopes to secure sponsorship by June and climb in September. Ryan is very close to me. When I'm not training in the great British weather, the motivation will come from the charities I am supporting. Money raised will also be going to Oxfam."

Source: http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk

Top artist to take up residence at mill

An internationally renowned artist is heading to Barrowford to spend four days creating a special piece.

Julian Beever's chalk-on-pavement artworks have become world famous for their clever use of perspective. They make what appears to be a distorted and smudged picture a three-dimensional masterpiece from the right angle.

Julian will be taking up residence at Higherford Mill, Barrowford, for four days.

He will create a special piece of art on the mill's stone floor, chatting to visitors while he works.

Julian, who also creates murals, oil paintings and collages, was invited to the mill by Mid Pennine Arts, the trust behind the Panopticons scheme which has seen sculptures built in Wycoller and Cliviger.

His contribution will be the Land project, which has run alongside the Panopticons, and focused on community art using the environment and surroundings.

Gail Knight, of Mid Pennine Arts, said: "He perfectly matches the criteria for the Land project and we really wanted to work with him.

"We approached him and he was thrilled with the idea. He's working for us for a very small fee considering that he really is an international artist and it's really exciting that he's coming to take part."

Although the trust has seen a sketch of the artwork Julian has planned, exactly what he will be drawing is being kept a closely-guarded secret.

He will arrive at Higherford Mill on Thursday to begin drawing out his work, and will be finished by Saturday. On Sunday, he will show off the finished piece and talk about it to visitors.

Mrs Knight said: "We hope to keep it there for a few days but ultimately, because it is chalk, it can't stay forever and will have to be washed away. He expects them to be gone within a few days - a large part of the nature of his art is the process of it being created and then destroyed.

"We hope lots of people will come and see him - he will be happy to chat to people as he works, and it really will be spectacular when he is finished."

Source: http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk

Singers scale Kilimanjaro

Four local singers with an average age of 64 are back in the area after climbing the highest mountain in Africa.

Nelson Arion Male Voice Choir conductor Frank Smith and choir members John Shaw, of Barrowford, Frank Barnes, of Earby and Ian Haydock, of Trawden, successfully scaled the 19,340ft high Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and hope to raise more than £2,000 for Pendleside Hospice.

The four were in a party of seven climbers who made the ascent, setting off at midnight and taking seven-and-a-half hours to reach the summit.

But there was little time for celebrating on the mountain top - Mr Shaw said temperatures were as low as minus 20 degrees.

"We saw the sun rise as we neared the top which was very spectacular," he said. "We hope to have raised around £2,000 and would like to thank all those who have contributed through sponsorship."

Source: http://www.pendletoday.co.uk