But it appears they have been – the current Muslim festival of Ramadan clashes with the planned meeting of the Nelson council on September 24th and members agreed to put the meeting back two weeks.

British National Party member Brian Parker objected to the delay, saying religion should not have a bearing on when meetings are held.

Given that point of view, then, presumably Coun. Parker would not object if a meeting of the council was arranged for December 25th?


PLANS to jail people for possession of knives are to be welcomed – even if, as the Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert says, they are overdue.

For far too long, far too many people have got away with carrying bladed weapons and claiming they had them for use in self defence.

Now it looks as though that flimsy excuse will not wash any more, and being found in possession of a knife will be, in the words of a recent Court of Appeal ruling, "treated with the seriousness it deserves".

The Sentencing Guidelines Council has told magistrates anyone who carries a knife in dangerous circumstances should be jailed for a minimum of six months.

And although more lenient sentences such as fines will still be available to the courts, the likelihood is that offenders will be sent down.

Not before time.

Mr Pendle has never felt the need to arm himself with a knife when he ventures out on to the streets of Colne – and he has never met anyone who does either.

The truth is people who carry knives do so for one reason and one reason only – to use them in the committing of serious criminal offences.

They are the sort of people who act tough when they brandish knives in front of other people – but whose knees turn to jelly when they are disarmed and face their would-be opponent on a level playing field.

The courts now have the powers to get these people off our streets – and they should not hesitate in using them to the full.


THE pictures published in this newspaper two weeks ago of the "It's A Knock Out" competition held by Daisy Communications at Bull Holme brought back happy memories for Mr Pendle.

The manic games played on the television series of the same name in the 1970s, many of them involving water, and the commentary of Stuart Hall, who was often convulsed in laughter at the chaotic goings-on in front of him, are some of the favourite TV moments of his youth.