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onsunday LUTON January13,2013 Issuenumber:927 www.luton-dunstable.co.uk £1WHERESOLD Advertising feature. Your normal onsunday is inside LUTON II|January13,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800 Wet clothes mystery Top cop says burglars Keep up to date with the as investigations into are ‘not welcome’ latest news and sport at Felix’s death continue www.luton-dunstable.co.uk thanks to new scheme onsunday onpage5 onpage19 LUTON January13,2013 Issuenumber:927 www.luton-dunstable.co.uk FollowusonTwitter:@LutonOnSunday £1WHERESOLD Council is to be sued Busway faces four month delay due to over asbestos death ‘bad weather’ THEhighlyanticipated £82.9mLutonDunstable Buswayprojecthasfallen behindscheduledueto badweather. Theprojectwasoriginal- lydueforcompletionon FridayApril19. BYLAURENARCHELL HoweverLutonBorough [email protected] Councilhasadmittedthat basedonthelatestsched- A WIDOWER is suing the council ule,thecompletiondateis after a coroner ruled that his wife expectedtobeWednesday diedaftercomingintocontactwith June26. asbestosduringherteachingcareer Acouncilspokesman ataschool. said:“Themaincauseof The inquest confirmed that Mrs delayshasbeenprolonged Hazel MacDonald died from epithe- badweatheroverthelast lioidmesothelioma–acancerwhich year. istriggeredbyasbestos.Theinquest “Thecompletiondate followedherdeathonMarch6,2012. includesathreemonth HerwidowerIanMacDonald,69,of periodforcommissioning. Topstreet Way, Harpenden, now “Thisperiodwillinclude, claimsthathiswifeHazelcontracted butisnotlimitedto,test- the terminal cancer from spores at ingjourneytimerunson Denbigh Infant School, on Denbigh thewholebuswayrouteto Road,Luton,wheresheworkedfor25 verifythetimetablefor years. buswayservices,driver After being diagnosed with the trainingandtestingof disease in 2010 it grew and spread variousemergencysce- untilshedied. narios. Asbestoswasonceusedwidelyasan “Thisalsoincludesthe insulation material before the risks completionofcablingfor wereknown.Thediseaseiscausedby CCTVpassengerhelp asbestos fibres being lodged in the pointsandrealtime lungs where they may sit for many passengerinformation yearsbeforethe symptomsoccur. KILLERDUST:IanMacdonaldshowsapictureofhappiertimeswithhiswifebeforeshediedasaresultofdevelopingthe displaysforstops.” Mr MacDonald said: “I am taking diseasemesotheliomawhichiscausedbyasbestosfibresgettingintothelungs Aswellasbadweather, legalactionbecausethedeathofmy workonthebuswaywas wifecouldhaveandshouldhavebeen “Itishorrifictothinknowthatitis asbestos in schools is a significant adultsandchildrenface.” haltedinOctober,when avoided. that dust which may have been problem and puts many at risk of A spokesman for Luton Borough ‘unknownutilityappara- “Hazelnevermentionedtomethat responsibleforherdeath. seriousharm. Councilsaid:“Wecanconfirmthatwe tus’wasfoundundera she was aware that the school con- “I’m not carrying out this legal “During a House of Commons recentlyreceivedaletteraboutthis, stretchofChurchStreet. tainedasbestosorthattherewasany challengeformoney.Iknownothing debate in 2012, the All-Party and the council and the school are Contractorshadtostop workbeingdonetoremoveasbestos. canbringmywifebackwhichiswhat ParliamentaryGrouponOccupational co-operating with an internal workuntiltheyhadestab- “TheonlythingIdorecallisthatshe Ireallywant. Safety and Health emphasised that investigationwhichisnowunderway lishedwhethertheappa- wasoftenannoyedatthelevelsofdust “Myaimnowistogetevidencethat ‘tensofthousandsofschoolchildren to establish the facts so we can ratuswasliveorcouldbe intheairinherclassroomseeninthe theschoolisnowcompletelyfreeof and teachers’ could be unaware of respondtothisclaim. removed. sunlight.Butsheputthisdowntoa asbestos.” beingexposedeverydaytoasbestos. “It would be inappropriate to However,theauthority problem of working in an old and MalcolmUnderhill,solicitorforMr “This latest tragedy highlights the comment further until this has assuredresidentsthatthe draftyschool. MacDonald, said: “The presence of risk of serious ill health that many concluded.” projectwas‘ontrack’. letterson10 jobson45 classifiedon49 propertyon39 motorson52 sporton58 2|January13,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|PLUTONaONSUrNDAkY ing prices increase news01582707707|advertising01582700800 MaNagiNgDiREcTOR newsbriefs MikeRichardson [email protected] POPULATIONSTUDY despite £1.4m profits ANEWstudyhasrevealedthat whiteBritonsmakeuplessthan NEWSDESK halfthepopulationofLuton. Thefigurescompiledbythe GroupEditor:SteveLowe UniversityofManchestershow [email protected] thatwhiteBritonscomprise45per centofthepopulation,Pakistanis makeup14percentand Bangladeshissevenpercent. Newsdesk:01582707707 BYLAURENARCHELL year, while a Carers’ Permit has includingthoseinVicarageStreet Thestudyaddedthatdespite Picturedesk:01582706780 [email protected] increasedfrom£23to£38. carpark,Luton,arebeingreduced, thetownbecomingmore [email protected] Elsewhere,theon-streetparking somebyasmuchas23percent. ethnicallydiverse,81percentof CHARGESforcarparkshavebeen around Leagrave railway station “Parkingchargeshavebeenthe residentsinLutonsaidthey SPORTSDESK increased by Luton Borough hasincreasedby33percentforan subjectofanextensivereview.The identifiedasBritish. Council even though they have alldaystay,whichhasdisappoint- council has also agreed that the Thereportsaid:“Wealready Generalsportenquiries rakedinalmost£1.4mprofitinthe edlocalcommuters. prices for on-street charges and knowfromothersourcesthat [email protected] lasttwoyears. Keith Mason, 33, from Lewsey carparkchargeswillbefixedfor Britishidentityisfeltatleastas Sportsdesk:01234406224 Figures published by the Farm, Luton, said: “I’ve had threeyearsuntiltheyarereviewed stronglybythoseofminority Institute of Advanced Motorists enoughnow. in2015. ethnicityasthoseofwhite aDvERTiSiNg show that the authority made “Not only have I been hit with “Thechangeswereadvertisedon Britishethnicity.” £764,000inprofitfromcarparks increasestotraintravel,butnow December 9 and have also been Commercialmanager: in2010/2011and£624,000inthe the prices to park my car have displayed on ticket machines in CASETOBEHEARDAGAIN JackieBevan followingyear. goneuptoo! carparks. AJURYhasbeendischargedinthe 01582700800 Despite the profit figures a “Thechargehasincreasedfrom “Nofeedbackwasreceivedand caseofSultanKhan,whois [email protected] number of price rises have been £3to£4aday.Apoundincrease sothechargeswereimplemented accusedofthemurderofa Advertising:01582700800 implementedatcarparksacross doesn’tsoundlikealot,butover onJanuary5. mother-of-threeatherhome [email protected] thetownthisweek. timeitalladdsup.” “Thechargesforon-streetpark- inLuton. The price of an hour’s parking New charges for parking have ingaroundLeagraveStationhave ShobnaJethwam,44,wasfound Itisaconditionofacceptanceofadvertisement hasgoneup10pinCrawleyRoad, also been introduced in Hitchin beenincreasedby33percentfor deadinherButelyRoadhomeon ordersthattheproprietorsofLocalWorlddo Chapel Viaduct, South Road and Road,BurrStreet. alldaystay–from£3to£4forall September9,2011. notguaranteetheinsertionofaparticular SilverStreet. A spokesman from Luton day peak parking – but this still Thecase,whichwasopenedto advertisementonaspecifieddate,oratall, In addition, the cost for a BoroughCouncilsaid:“Notallcar represents excellent value for thejuryonTuesday,wasstopped althougheveryeffortwillbemadetomeet Residents’ Parking Permit has parking charges are being moneyforcommuters,”addedthe byJudgeAndrewBrightQCon thewishesofadvertisers;furthertheydonot increased from £29 to £48 per increased–asignificantnumber spokesman. Thursdayafterlegalarguments. acceptliabilityforanylossordamagecaused Itisduetobeginagainbeforea byanyerrororinaccuracyintheprintingornon Follow the sign to make your ‘delveries’ newjuryatStAlbanscrowncourt appearanceofanyadvertisement,andreserve onMonday.SultanKhan,51, therighttoeditordeleteanyobjectionable deniesmurder. wordingorrejectanyadvertisement.Although everyadvertisementiscarefullychecked, EAGLE-EYED readers have spotted WINTERWEATHERWARNING occasionallymistakesdooccur.Wetherefore the same spelling mistake on two DRIVERSandpedestrianshave askadvertiserstoassistusbychecking signsonthesameroad. beenurgedtotakeextracareasa theiradvertisementscarefullyandadvise One street sign at the bottom of spellofcolderwintryweatheris usimmediatelyshouldanerroroccur.We Hazelbury Crescent, Luton reads expectedtomovein. regretthatwecannotacceptresponsibility ‘Supermarket delveries’ (sic) and Residentsarealsorequestedto formorethanoneincorrectinsertionandthat pointstowardsanearbySainsbury’s. lookoutforelderlyandvulnerable norepublicationwillbegrantedinthecase Unfortunatelytheerrorisrepeated family,friendsandneighbours,as oftypographicalorminorchangeswhichdo onanothersignacrossthestreeton theMetOfficehasissuedayellow notaffectthevalueoftheadvertisement.To DunstableRoad. alertforwidespreadicethis ensureconsistentlyhighservicelevels,callsare One resident said: “I could not morning. randomlymonitoredbyasalesmanager. believemyeyeswhenIsawthis. Thechanceofsnowcontinues “Surely the people who put up the throughthedayandnextweek. DiSTRibuTiON signwouldhavenoticedatthetime CllrDaveTaylorsaid:“The thatthespellingwasn’tright. counciliswellpreparedforwinter 01582390365 “Iftheydidnotspotitfirsttime,you andduringacoldspellour [email protected] thinktheywouldnoticesecondtime. highwaysengineersmonitorthe Ifyouhaveaqueryregardingthedelivery “Maybeitisjustasignofthetimes, situationaroundtheclockand ofyournewspaperorwouldliketojoin andpeoplearen’treallytoointerested treatasmanyroadsaspossible ourteamasateenageoradultnewspaper inspellingandgrammaranymore.” whenappropriate. deliverercontactourdistributiondepartment A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: “Butclearlyit’snotpossiblefor onthetelephonenumberabove. “The signs are part of the adopted ustotreateveryroadsowe highway network and are therefore concentrateresourcesonkeeping LEaFLETDiSTRibuTiON the responsibility of Luton Borough thebusierroutesclear.” Council.” Drivershavealsobeenadvised 01582390357 We did ask the authority whether tochecktyretreaddepthsand mailto:[email protected] they were responsible for the signs, pressures,anti-freezelevels,and www.mailboxdistribution.co.uk andwhethertheywouldbereplaced, theconditionofwiperbladesand Totargetyourbusinessmessagebyleaflet buttheywereunabletorespondtous batteries. withinourdistributionareasthenplease beforeourdeadline. SIGNOFTHETIMES:Roadsignfeaturingthe‘delveries’spellingerror callthetelephonenumberabovefor informationandprices. onsunday LUTON WhERETOFiNDuS 28KingStreet,Luton, BedsLU12DP www.luton-dunstable.co.uk Phone:01582700800 Fax01582700801 Officeopen9am-5.30pmorby appointment. Publishedandoriginatedbyadivision ofLocalWorldLtd.Registeredofficein EnglandNo.08290481,POBOX10177,50 StGeorgeStreet,Leicester,LE18ED. £1wheresold TherecycledpaperconTenTofUK newspapersin2011was78.9% Theenvironmentisimportanttous.Luton onSundayisprintedonpaperproduced fromenvironmentallymanagedforests. pleaserecyclethisnewspaper. hereisasimplewayofkeepinguptodatewith events24hoursadayon www.luton-dunstable.co.uk allyouhavetodotouseourQrcodeis downloadaQrreaderapptoyoursmartphone- therearelotsoffreeonesavailableonline.Then scanthecodeandourwebsitewillloadforyou. Anews0158n27077g07|adveertising0r1582700a800 t report over LUTONONSUNDAY |www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|January13,2013|3 councillors’ allowances BYLAURENARCHELL pendentreport,writtenbyan independent panel and they [email protected] should be allowed to say whatevertheylike. THE leader of the Liberal “What is the point of the DemocratsinLutonsaysheis council appointing an inde- ‘astonished’ that a report pendent panel if someone is regardingmembers’allowanc- thengoingtocensorwhatthey es will not be discussed at a say?Thisisadisgracefulsitua- council meeting because the tion,it’sakickintheteethfor chiefexecutivehasnotseenit. the independent panel and I The document, which was hope the panel members created by an independent express their outrage in panelofresidents,isbelieved suitableterms.” tosuggestthemembersallow- Whentoldthattheauthority ancesshouldbereducedfrom had delayed the presentation £7,500to£7,000. ofthereportasthechiefexec This decrease would be of hadn’tyetseenit,CllrFranks moresignificancetotheleader added:“Iamastonished. of the council, the executive “Therearelotsofreportsthat members and leaders of the the chief executive doesn’t opposition, as the base rate lookatorsignoff–especially figureactsasamultiplierfor nowthathehasthreehatsto furtherallowances. wear with responsibilities for The report was due to be othercouncils. discussedatameetingofthe “I’mprettysurethatthisisn’t full council on Thursday, thereasonthereporthasbeen January15. removedfromtheagenda,but Herethecouncilwouldhave whetherwewilleverfindthe hadthepowertoeitheraccept realreasonout,Idon’tknow.” or reject the recommenda- A spokesman for Luton tions, but the item has been Borough Council, said: “The mysteriously removed from chief executive had not seen theagenda. thereportandthereforewith- Liberal Democrat leader drewitfromtheagenda. Councillor David Franks told “Thereportwillbediscussed Luton on Sunday: “It’s clear at the next meeting of Full someonedoesn’tlikewhatthe Council on Wednesday ASTONISHED:LiberalDemocratleaderDavidFrankssaidthatthe report says but it is an inde- February20.” reportshouldbediscussedasplanned,onJanuary15 MPs slam new benefits legislation NEARLY20,000familiesin ingtaxcreditsandchild farepoliciesaretargeting “Icompletelyrejectthe Lutonwillbeworseoff benefitwillbecappedata thework-shyandbenefit government’scampaignto undertheGovernment’s riseofonepercentperyear, ‘scroungers’,butithasbeen demonisethepoor.” controversialBenefit lowerthanthecurrentinfla- revealedthattwothirdsof GavinShukerMPforLuton Up-ratinglegislation,say tionrateof2.2percent. thosewhowillloseoutare Southadded:“KelvinandI thetown’stwoMPs–Kelvin Thechangesarepartofthe peopleinwork. votedtoprotecthardwork- HopkinsandGavinShuker. government’s£15billion LutonNorthMPKelvin ingfamiliesinLutonby MPsvotedontheBill, packageofwelfarecuts Hopkinssaid:“Thecutis opposingthisBill.Those coinedthe‘strivers’tax’,in whichwereannouncedin aboutthesameinmoney affectedwillbethepeople Parliamentearlierthis theChancellor’sAutumn termsasthecutinthetop whoarealreadyfacingthe week. Statementlastyear.George rateoftaxfortherich,so risingcostofliving,whoget Undernewlegislationall OsborneandDavid thatthepoorarepayingfor upearlytogoandworkto workingagebenefitsinclud- Cameronsaythattheirwel- thebillionaires’extracash. providefortheirchildren.” 4|January13,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800 news01582707707|advertising0N1582700e800 w police LUTONONSUNDAY |www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|January13,2013|5 Xmas drink appeal in Felix driving drops investigation THE number of motorists drink-driving over the Christmas period hasdropped. Police arrested 80 BYLAURENARCHELL people for testing positive, refusing or [email protected] failing a breath-test from December 1 to DETECTIVES are trying to track January 1, which is 11 down a man who apparently fell lower compared with into the river in Bedford town the same period in the centreaspartoftheenquiriesinto previousyear. thedeathofLutonmanFelixYorke. InspectorColinBonner Officers are investigating two fromtheBedsandHerts reportedincidentswhichmayormay Roads Policing Unit notbelinkedtoFelix’sdeathasthey said:“It’sencouragingto try to piece together his last see a decrease in the movements. number of people put- Bedfordshire Police are also ting themselves and appealingforinformationastowhy others at risk by drink- the25-year-oldwouldhavebeenin ing and taking drugs Bedfordatthetime,andbelievethis before driving over mayholdthekeytotheinvestigation. Christmas. Felix (pictured) was found in the “Butwhilepeoplecon- RiverGreatOuseonNewYear’sDay tinuetofloutthelaw,my near to the junction of The messagetothemisour Embankment and Shaftesbury work to combat this Avenue. dangerouscrimedoesn’t Police and the fire service had stop now the festivities already searched the banks of the areover.” river where it runs under Prebend Police and Crime Street on Friday November 30, and Commissioner Olly againthenextmorning. Martinssaid:“Thiswel- Thiswasinresponsetoacallfrom come fall in drink and amemberofthepublicwhohearda drug-driving arrests splashfromtheBoroughHallsideof underlineshowsocially the river at about 7.15pm and unacceptable driving believed it was a person falling or while impaired has jumpingintothewater.However,no become. traceofanyonecouldbefound. Person Unit said: “We know that “PersonallyIhavelong A week later, having seen a Felix’sphonewaslastactiveat7pm believedthereisnosafe newspaper report about the river onFridayNovember30,andthatit alcohollimitfordriving search, another witness contacted wasinBedfordatthattime.Wealso otherthanzeroandIam policetosaythathewasinthearea haveareportofsomeonefallingin gladthatthisviewtoois ofVictoriaRoadonthesameevening thewaterataboutthesametimeand increasinglytakingroot. at about 9pm, when he was also the report of a man with wet “I support the call for approachedbyamancarryingwet clothesabouttwohourslater. membersofthepublicto clothes. “These three things may not be reportdrinkdrivers. Themanwiththewetclothesasked linkedinanywaybutwewouldlike “Drink driving is a the witness for a cigarette and totracethemanwiththewetclothes killer and we have a explained he had fallen into the to see if he can clarify any of the responsibilitytoprevent water and lost his rucksack along informationwealreadyhave.” it.” withapictureofhisdaughter.He’s Inthemeantime,officersarestill If you know a drink describedasawhiteman,agedinhis awaiting the results of DNA tests driver call 101 and tell 30s, about 5ft 10ins-11ins tall, with whichwouldconfirmthatthebody Bedfordshire Police brownhair. foundintheriveronNewYear’sDay where and when they Although he was carrying wet isthatofFelix,whohasbeenmissing drink.Ifyouknowsome- clothes,hewaswearingdryclothes sinceNovember30. one has been drinking including black nylon calf length Anyone with information should and is about to drive, trousersandblackCroc-styleshoes. calltheMissingPersonUniton01234 alwaysdial999. Sgt Gavin Conder of the Missing 275317. 6|January13,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800 Jnewso015827b07707|sadvertisingg015827o00800 as Jessops LUTONONSUNDAY |www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|January13,2013|7 closes Luton store BYLAURENARCHELL [email protected] PHOTOGRAPHIC store Jessops hasbecomethefirsthighpro- file retail casualty of the year aftergoingintoadministration. All187remainingoutletsofthe highstreetchain,includingthe store in The Mall, Luton, will nowbeclosingwithatotalloss ofaround1,370nationwide. It is believed that the Luton branch employs a number of staffinpart-timeandfull-time positions, and these jobs will nowbelost. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)wereappointedadminis- tratorsonWednesdayfollowing a ‘significant decline’, and BLEAKPICTURE:JessopsphotographyequipmentshopinLutonisbeing announcedthestoreclosureson closedafterthecompanywasplacedintoadministration Fridayafternoon. Thestore,whichsellscameras closureofall187Jessopsstores “This is a sad day for Jessops and photography equipment, atthecloseofbusinesstoday. anditsemployees.Wearevery followsaraftoffirmsthatwent “Regrettably,thiswillresultin gratefulforthesupportwehave into administration in 2012 around 1,370 job losses across receivedandwewillensurethat includingComet,ClintonCards, thestoreswithfurtherjoblosses employeesarepaidastheyassist JJBSportsandGameGroup. likely,induecourse,atthehead theclosure.” Jessops,whichwasfoundedin officeinLeicester. PwCsaidalthoughJessopshad Leicesterin1935,had192stores “The stock will be collected astrongreputation,itscoremar- intheUK. over the coming days and kethaddeclinedsignificantly. On Friday Rob Hunt, joint returnedtoacentralwarehouse. Jessops will not honour cus- administrator and partner at Itwillbereturnedtosuppliersif tomervouchers.However,Tesco PwC,said:“Itisapparentthatwe theyareentitledtoit.Asaconse- willgiveafullrefundtoanycus- cannotcontinuetotradeandas quenceoftheclosure,Jessopsis tomer who had recently aresultwehavehadtomakethe nolongerabletoacceptreturned exchanged Clubcard vouchers difficult decision to begin the productfromcustomers. fortokenstospendwithJessops. 8|January13,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY Village left in tnewhs0158e2707707|dadvertiasing01r582k700800 after cars strike pylon BYLAURENARCHELL [email protected] RESIDENTS are demanding actionatanaccidentblackspot where car crashes are cutting powersuppliestotheirvillage. According to families at least four cars have ended up in a ditchandhitanelectricitypylon along Sundon Road, Houghton Regis,inthelastmonthalone. Buteverytimethesupplypole isstruck,thewholeofChaltonis leftwithoutpower. Thelatestincident,whichhap- pened at 1.30am on Thursday, left the village in the dark for ninehours. Oneresident,whoaskednotto be named, said: “There have CRASH:Thelatestcartohitthesupplypolelefttheentirevillageof been accidents over the last ChaltonwithoutpowerforaroundninehoursonThursdaymorning coupleofyearsbutoverthelast month it has become a real to10.30am. “Wehavealreadyplacedverge blackspot. “It doesn’t sound bad as it is markerpostsaroundthebend. “Ofcourseweareveryworried overnight,butitmeansthatpeo- “The chevrons were damaged about the wellbeing of the plewenttoworkwithoutashow- before Christmas and due to a motoriststhatarecomingoffthe erorahotbreakfast–andwith largegasmainintheimmediate roadanditisaconcernthatone the cold weather making a area,Transcosaidthattheyhad day someone might be very return,itisarealworry. to be present when we were badlyhurtorevenkilled. “I don’t know what can be doingthedigging. “Atthesametime,theresidents done,butthereneedstobesome “Thisdelayedourworkbutthe inthevillageareregularlybeing actiontaken.” chevrons have now been left without light and heating, Central Bedfordshire replaced. whichisaninconvenience. Councillor, Budge Wells, said: “We are also aware that the “Afterthelatestcarendedupin “We are aware that there have electricity company are plan- theditchonThursdaywewere beenanumberofloss-of-control ning to move the supply pole leftwithoutpowerfrom1.30am crashesatthisbend. awayfromthebend.”