Lancashire | Archive | 1999 | March


Stories for 3 March 1999

Accrington News

Anger as neighbours face losing their views

RESIDENTS who look set to lose scenic views say they feel powerless to stop more than 100 new houses being built on open space behind their gardens.  more...

Store in £7m centre plan named

A DISCOUNT store chain is at the heart of council plans to create a new shopping complex in Accrington, it was revealed today.  more...

Lottery plea to kick start soccer scheme

A CASH bid to ensure that the Michael Owens of the future spend more time with the ball at their feet is being prepared by Hyndburn Council.  more...

Blackburn Business

Group battling on into 1999

BUSINESS services group Rentokil Initial, owners of the Shorrock security site in Blackburn, has failed to hit its target of 20 per cent profits growth a year.  more...

The gospel of the green baize

SNOOKER firm Riley is helping spread the gospel of the green baize.  more...

Budget briefing

BUSINESS leaders from across Lancashire will be heading for a budget briefing next week.  more...

Russian contract accolade

A MAJOR international contract to train some of Russia's top bosses has been won by the Lancashire Business School.  more...

Blackburn Leisure

SOCCER: Hyndburn and District Boys' League

SOCCER: The biggest shock of the day in the Hyndburn District Boys' League saw Newchurch Forest in the Unders-16 Blue League gaining their first points of the season at the expense of St Anne's and St Joseph's.  more...

SOCCER: Memorial Sunday League

FOR only the second week since November 1998, a full programme of matches were able to go ahead.  more...

TEN YEARS AGO: Police trap drivers

POLICE trapped 70 motorists in two weeks in a clampdown on dangerous driving on the M65 from Accrington to Colne.  more...

TEN YEARS AGO: Fast route fear

WORRIED residents feared that a planned fast route around Mellor Brook would become a "Coroner's Corridor" as the near-perfect straight road would become a race track.  more...

Events in East Lancs/North West tomorrow (Thursday, March 4th)

"Freedom" by Women's Aid, The Wish Centre, 25 Cardwell Place, Blackburn, 10am-3pm. T-shirt and badge-making for women and children relating to domestic violence.  more...

Blackburn News

Shame of our empty homes: Burnley worst in country

BURNLEY'S empty council house problems hit the national spotlight today - with a new survey showing the town has the highest percentage vacant homes in the country.  more...

Crime and nourishment

HOW ridiculous it is that taxpayers' money is being granted to a jailbird to sue Home Secretary Jack Straw because he was refused an extra helping of rhubarb crumble in the prison canteen.  more...

Budget to leave taxpayers gasping

CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown's Budget next Tuesday is, according to the upfront leaks by which Labour announces policy these days, going to be a stinker - as smokers have done him out of more than £1 billion in duty because, nowadays, one in eight cigarettes is smuggled.  more...

Louise needs to get streetwise

UNTIL this week, I did not know that we had got a government-appointed "streets tsar" in the shape of Louise Casey who is being paid £70,000 a year to reduce the problem of homeless people sleeping rough.  more...

Millions wasted on meaningless surveys

The opinions expressed by John Blunt are not necessarily those of this newspaper  more...

Lancashire winning pollution battle

Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy  more...

Vouchers well deserved

MEMBERS of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education at Burnley College were pleased to see that, for once, further education has made the front page (LET, February 20).  more...

Shirkers come first

ACCORDING to a council survey of Blackburn, there is widespread poverty in the town. Where?  more...

TV taking over lives

I AM old enough to recall how welcome TV once was, but, sadly, it has now degenerated into an insidious intruder into family living rooms. It flatters human stupidity and vulgarity.  more...

Match day parking sham

AT about 4pm before the Rovers v Newcastle night match at Ewood Park, the police placed "No Parking" cones along Cravens Brow.  more...

Fur farm cruelty

EVERY year, more than 50,000 mink are killed for their fur after spending their short lives in small, barren wire cages - all for the sake of fashion.  more...

Search for 1960s pals

CAN readers tell me if there are any message boards or information sites in Great Harwood?  more...

Promising attempt to clear the air

IN THE enduring saga over the burning of chemical waste as fuel and emissions at the Clitheroe plant of Castle Cement - a situation that has generated not health concerns among Ribble Valley residents, but also years of mistrust over whether officialdom really cares - there comes an encouraging departure . . . from the very top.  more...

What facilities?

IN your article about the low price of houses near Ewood Park, Blackburn (Letters, February 20), Pauline Perkins stated that local residents "get the benefit of all the fantastic facilities at the club."  more...

Empty council house millstone

BURNLEY Council today finds itself top the league in the country for having the highest level of empty council houses.  more...

New chip offers Moore value

Valerie Cowan Surfs the Net  more...

Children in plea for better future

MAKING parks cleaner and mending broken equipment would be the top priority for children from the North West if they were made Mayor.  more...

Bells ring out to mark historic day

CHURCHES in East Lancashire have played a significant part in keeping the anti-landmines campaign alive.  more...

Mental health cash boost for hospital

HOSPITAL staff were given the perfect tonic today after the Government paved the way for new life to be breathed into mental health services.  more...

Baby arrives at school in a rush

BABY Mohammed Hassan Lehri just couldn't wait to go to school - he was born in a car outside!  more...

Blackburn actor is new Coronation Street heart-throb

A HUNKY actor from East Lancashire will set hearts racing when he makes his Coronation Street debut tonight.  more...

Blitz on car tax dodgers

POLICE have launched a clampdown on drivers who do not pay their road tax.  more...

Blackburn Sport

You bet he was worried!

Peter White on the funny side of football  more...

Rovers defender can face Everton in relegation showdown

STEPHANE Henchoz has been released by Switzerland to play in Blackburn Rovers' crunch relegation battle with Everton at Ewood next Wednesday.  more...

Robertson wants to secure Clarets future

MARK Robertson is ready to play through the pain barrier to help Burnley pull clear of relegation trouble.  more...

CRICKET: Horridge leads county assault

CHORLEY'S Roland Horridge will again lead the Lancashire Cricket Board's three-pronged assault for honours this season.  more...

RUGBY UNION: Blackburn enter promotion zone

Lymm 13 Blackburn RUFC 18  more...

CRICKET: Barnoldswick bad luck

BARNOLDSWICK have been hit by another hammer blow in their search for a new professional.  more...

TENNIS: Bates set for Burnley date

One of the biggest stars of British Men's tennis is set to play a special charity match at Burnley Tennis Club this weekend.  more...

SNOOKER: McCullough test

Ian McCulloch is out to stop John Higgins from clocking up a quickfire hat-trick of titles in the Thailand Masters today.  more...

Olympic champions: Film will record victory of working-class heroes over public school toffs

Special report by Peter White  more...

Robertson wants to secure Burnley future

MARK Robertson is ready to play through the pain barrier to help Burnley pull clear of relegation trouble.  more...

Henchoz can face Everton in relegation showdown

STEPHANE Henchoz has been released by Switzerland to play in Blackburn Rovers' crunch relegation battle with Everton at Ewood next Wednesday.  more...

Bolton Business

Watson puts fizz in to Pleasureland

WATSON Steel of Lostock, Bolton has completed its latest leisure project at Pleasureland, Southport.  more...

Help desk tops for answers

THE giant United Utilities company has won recognition for its internal help system.  more...

Equality boost not a threat

BOLTON College Consultancy Services say equal opportunity legislation should be seen as a chance to boost companies - and not as a possible threat.  more...

Hi-tec Pestokill in control

PESTOKILL Pest Control of Leigh won the Private Sector Award in the DATAS Professional Pest Controller of the Year competition for 1998.  more...

Bolton Leisure

What's on in and around Bolton, Thursday, 4.3.99

THEATRE, MUSIC & DANCE THE Phoenix Theatre Company present Hindle Wakes at Chorley Old Road United Reformed Church Hall at 7.30pm. Tel: 840448.  more...

REVIEW: Robbie Williams - The Rogue Returns to the Enormodome Tour.

Manchester Evening News Arena. Plays again tonight. SPEECHLESS isn't often a word you can use to describe Robbie Williams, but even the biggest of egos would have been hard pressed not to have been genuinely moved by his adoring fans.  more...

Bolton News

Rats of the week

I'd like to nominate the two lads for Rats of the Week, who stole my mum's Vauxhall Cavalier from outside my mum's office. My mum had lent the car to me as I had to go to hospital in the morning, and had decided to get my washing dry as my dryer had broken. I parked the car outside the office, went in for some change, came out and it had gone.  more...

Anna looks at Bolton folk through keyhole

By Nick Jackson TV producers of a show which challenges celebrity investigators to track down the true occupants of a house are searching for a Bolton home in which to film.  more...

From the BEN files

25 YEARS AGO  more...

Volunteer plea from mental health support team

A BOLTON charity which offers help and support to the mentally ill and their families is looking for volunteers.  more...

Addicted to booze at 14

DESPERATE Bolton children as young as 14 are contacting alcohol abuse experts to get help with their addiction.  more...

Mum's appeal to green-fingered thieves:

A BOLTON woman believes thieves stole her mammoth yucca plant - to pass on as a Mother's Day present.  more...

Support all round

THANK-you to reporter Janet Hughes, for publishing in full my statement in the BEN (February 23).  more...

Council houses set for a revamp

MORE than 700 council tenants are set for major improvements to their homes.  more...

States' survey

I HAVE read with interest the many letters published on the never-ending attempts to include the addition of fluoride to the domestic water supply, a substance being a waste product of principally, the aluminium and fertiliser industries - it is also one of the most toxic substances known to man, a number of its compounds containing lead and other heavy metals.  more...

On top of the world! Bolton company takes over as No 1 holiday tour firm

BOLTON-BASED Sunworld was celebrating today after taking over as the country's top holiday tour firm.  more...

OPINION: Draconian measures

COME on! They are not drugs barons who need their property confiscating or even armed robbers who are using their cars as getaway vehicles.  more...

MP takes a walk on the wild side

CAMPAIGNING residents gave local MP Ruth Kelly a tour of their 'threatened' wildlife haven. The Friends of Star Lodge stepped up their fight to save the Horwich beauty spot. They fear the lodge will soon be filled in and built on following the closure of the bleach and dye works, Star Vale, this month.  more...

The Daily Poem: Waterloo Cup

Eyes alert, head held high,  more...

Double delight for driver Roy

AFTER years spent behind a wheel, Roy Hughes has notched up an amazing double by passing his advanced driving test TWICE.  more...

It's not sport

I AM writing, as manager of Lexus Greyhound Rescue, about the Waterloo Cup which is once again taking place.  more...

Inspectors praise work after re-visiting school

A BOLTON secondary school has improved since inspectors last visited it four years ago.  more...

MPs who see the world for Commons

LOCAL MPs have been on trips to America, and received jewellery from Arab Princes, the new Register of Member's Interests published at Westminster has revealed.  more...

Murdererd PC's brother in `stop race jibes' plea

THE brother of a murdered police officer who had been a Bolton teacher has hit back at critics who insist on branding the police racist.  more...

Where are all the soccer specials?

WORRIED transport chiefs are to press for more trains on match days at the new Horwich Parkway station.  more...

Enough medicine

PLEASE add my name to the number of people who object to fluoride in our drinking water?  more...

Cancer victory grandma battles on to save others

GRANDMA Alex Farrimond has been struck down with cancer twice - and both times she has won through.  more...

Council clean-up scoops awards

BOLTON Council has captured two prestigious national Tidy Britain awards for its work to improve the local environment.  more...

For he's a jolly good 2000 Fellow

BOLTON should celebrate the Year 2000 by creating as many Millennium Fellows as possible, says a Bolton MP.  more...

Hospital waiting list cut by 100

BOLTON hospital bosses have cut their waiting lists slightly despite massive pressures on staff and services.  more...

Simple measure to stop landlords extorting cash - MP

A LOCAL MP has told Housing Minister Nick Raynsford of a simple means to stop unscrupulous freehold landlords forcing extortionate sums from leaseholders.  more...

Clampers to get tough with car tax cheats

ROAD tax dodgers who save their car for weekend jaunts will have no escape when a new "clamp and crush" campaign is launched today. Clampers working for the Swansea based DVLA are patrolling with the police in a bid to trap the dodgers. The first pilot scheme was launched at the end of 1997 - but this time the clamping team will be working throughout the weekends as well as on weekdays and nights as before.  more...

Fantasy filming

I WONDER if any gay man who socialises in Manchester's gay village recognised an accurate representation of their lives in Channel Four's Queer as folk. I cannot say that I did.  more...

A lack of loos

OVER the past few weeks I have been reading the letters about dog and cats doing the natural functions or, as other people say, "fouling". Do dogs and cats have no rights? I am sure they have been on this earth just as long as we have.  more...

Tax talk's too high

WHY are Bolton Council talking of a council tax increase of 4.5pc which is way above what it should be?  more...

Bolton Sport

Wanderers made to suffer

By Gordon Sharrock: Huddersfield 3, Bolton Wanderers 2 DEAN Holdsworth believes Wanderers have come too far to slip back into their bad old habits. The story of last night's thriller at the McAlpine Stadium - a sporting injustice if ever there was one - had an all too familiar ring to it.  more...

No panic - Todd

COLIN Todd denied point blank today that Wanderers' promotion hopes were on the slide.  more...

Trio back in business

GUDNI Bergsson is back in business to give Wanderers a well-timed tonic.  more...

No panic - Todd

COLIN Todd denied point blank today that Wanderers' promotion hopes were on the slide.  more...

Burnley News

Shame of our empty homes: Burnley worst in country

BURNLEY'S empty council house problems hit the national spotlight today - with a new survey showing the town has the highest percentage vacant homes in the country.  more...

'Give us play space and make it safe'

MAKING parks cleaner and repairing broken equipment would be the top priority for children from the North West if they were made Mayor.  more...

John seeks publisher for hospitals history

AN amateur author is battling to get his book on the history of hospitals in Burnley and Pendle published after efforts by health chiefs to fund the project fell through.  more...

Clitheroe News

Whitehall talks over cement works

COUNCIL chiefs have attended an urgent meeting at Whitehall over pollution from a cement works in Clitheroe.  more...

Darwen News

Downpour puts drivers in danger

DRIVERS could be in danger from floods caused by heavy rain in Lower Darwen, residents have warned.  more...

Nelson News

Camera ballot backs bid for CCTV

CAMPAIGNERS fighting for CCTV security cameras in Pendle have claimed a ballot taken among local people proves they back the idea.  more...

Rawtenstall News

Pub attacker gets three years

AN ATTACKER who kicked a disabled landlady in the face and then turned on her husband is behind bars for three years.  more...

Pensioners in call for fairer TV deal

A PENSIONERS' campaigner is raising a petition to get a fair agreement over TV licence payments for older people.  more...

  
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