Table Of Content

onsunday LUTON January27,2013 Issuenumber:929 www.luton-dunstable.co.uk £1WHERESOLD Advertising feature. Your normal onsunday is inside LUTON II|January27,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800 You’ve had snow much fun! The TV show that Keep up to date with the Check out the wonderful has made a splash latest news and sport at gallery of readers’ pictures www.luton-dunstable.co.uk with budding divers onsunday onpages24&25 onpage3 LUTON January27,2013 Issuenumber:929 www.luton-dunstable.co.uk FollowusonTwitter:@LutonOnSunday £1WHERESOLD Cops hunting for Ed call off search as body is found BYLAURENARCHELL December 22 after celebrating the [email protected] festive season with colleagues in Roydonthenightbefore. POLICEinvestigatingthedisappear- Inthedaysthatfollowed,hiscarwas anceofa38-year-oldmanfromLuton foundatahotelintheareawherehe havediscoveredabodyinthewaterat was supposed to have been staying RoydonMarina. overnight and his glasses were also Edward Gillespie, of Rosslyn discoveredclosetothemarina. Crescent,waslastseenatthemarina’s Despitethesefindings,therewasno hotel near Harlow, Essex, on Friday, further indication to where Mr December 21 where he attended a Gillespie may have been and police workChristmasparty. continuedtheirsearch. Officers from Essex Police were Specialist officers including the calledtothemarinaatabout10.40am marineunit,policehelicopter,search yesterdayafteramemberofthepublic teamsandpolicedogsbravedthecold onaboatspottedabodyinthewater. weather, ice and snow over the last It was recovered by officers from a monthintheireffortstofindhim. CUPHEROES:JanosKovacsleadstheLutonTowncelebrationsat police marine unit and taken to a JustthisweekEssexpolicereleased CarrowRoadyesterday.Reportandreactiononpages58-60 hospital. CCTV images of a woman who they Hatters in historic win Detective Chief Inspector Stuart believewouldhavewalkedbyhimon HooperofEssexPolicesaid:“Thebody thenighthewentmissing. has not been formally identified but AlargegroupofMrGillespie’sfriends wehavesuspendedoursearch.” MISSING:EdGillespiewaslastseenjust andfamilyhavesearchedextensively He added: “Mr Gillespie’s family beforeChristmasataworkpartyinEssex for him since the news of his LUTONTownproducedthe firsttimeanon-leagueteam havebeeninformedofthisdiscovery. disappearancebrokeandaFacebook biggestFACupshockin hadbeatenatoptierside “Ourthoughtsandprayersarewith He added that the police and the pagewassetuptoappealforinforma- morethantwodecadesof sinceSuttonbeatCoventry thematthisverydistressingtime. coronerwouldnowworktoformally tion and organise the volunteer thecompetitionbybeating in1989.Thewinlandedthe “Wewouldliketoplaceontherecord identifythebody. search. NorwichCityyesterday. Hatters£90,000inprize ourthankstoeveryonewhohasassist- Mr Gillespie was first reported Anyonewithinformationaboutthe The1-0winoverthe moneyandputsthemin edusinoursearchforEdandarevery missingbyhisfamilywhenhefailedto disappearanceofMrGillespieisstill PremierLeaguesidewasthe today’sfifth-rounddraw. sorrythatthenewswehaveissosad.” return home to Luton on Saturday, urgedtocallEssexPoliceon101. letterson10 jobson45 classifiedon49 propertyon39 motorson53 sporton58 2|January27,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|TLUTONoONSUpNDAY cop in ‘dock’ over news01582707707|advertising01582700800 MaNagiNgDiREcTOR newsbriefs MikeRichardson [email protected] CHippYisFOURTHBEsTiNTHEUK plan to axe veterans THEWigmoreFishandChipshop inLutonhascomefourthina NEWSDESK prestigiouscompetition. Thechippywasshortlistedfor GroupEditor:SteveLowe bestshopintheUKinthe [email protected] NationalFish&Chipawards,but unfortunatelydidnotmanageto makethetopthree. Aspokesmanfortheshoplefta Newsdesk:01582707707 messageonFacebookwhichread: Picturedesk:01582706780 BYADAMTHOMpsON cationsbeyondBedfordshire.”In “Wearestillverypleasedand [email protected] [email protected] November, Luton on Sunday thankfultobecrownedfourthout reportedhow40seniorcopshad of11,000fishandchipshopsin SPORTSDESK THE chief constable of beensentlettersforciblyretiring theUK,dominatingourregionfor Bedfordshire Police is set to themfromtheservicewithanoth- threeyearsinarow!” Generalsportenquiries appearbeforetheHighCourtina er60duetobeforcedintoretire- [email protected] legal battle being brought on mentoverthenexttwoyears. sMsREMiNDERFORCOUNCiLTAX Sportsdesk:01234406224 behalfoffoursuperintendents. ThisweektheSAannouncedit LUTONBoroughCouncilhas Inwhatisthoughttobethefirst wouldberepresenting250officers begunsendingtextmessagesto aDvERTiSiNg ofitskind,thecasewillseechief from five police forces who are thosewhohaveforgottentopay ofthecounty’sforce,AlfHitchcock taking action at an employment theircounciltax. Commercialmanager: (pictured),upagainsttheofficers tribunal.TheyclaiminvokingA19 CllrRobinHarris,portfolio JackieBevan who will be represented by the classesasagediscrimination. holderforfinance,said:“Wewant 01582700800 Superintendents’ Association departmentasawholewhenitis A Bedfordshire Police spokes- tosavemoneyanduseiton [email protected] (SA). applied. Of the 40 forces in womansaid:“BedfordshirePolice servicesforlocalpeople. Advertising:01582700800 It comes after Bedfordshire England and Wales eight have hasmadeanundertakingtothe “AcoupleofSMStrialrunshave [email protected] PoliceinvokedanA19rulinglast adopted regulation A19, and of court that no officers will be resultedinanearly50percent September which forces those those, five opted against going required to retire from the force successratewithinfivedays, Itisaconditionofacceptanceofadvertisement who have given more than 30 ahead with it when we wrote to under this regulation until the beforewewereforcedtospend ordersthattheproprietorsofLocalWorlddo years’serviceintoretirement. them explaining the legal issues resultofthereviewisknown. moneyonpostingreminder notguaranteetheinsertionofaparticular TheSAsaysthatA19shouldbe involved. “However, this situation does letters.” advertisementonaspecifieddate,oratall, applied on a case-by-case basis “We requested that the chief not, of course, prevent officers althougheveryeffortwillbemadetomeet and argues that Bedfordshire constable negotiate with the fromdecidingtovoluntarilyretire AppEALFORDOGFOUNDiNDUMp thewishesofadvertisers;furthertheydonot Policehaveintroducedablanket Superintendents’ Association onthedatecurrentlynotifiedto ANIMALwelfarecharitythe acceptliabilityforanylossordamagecaused condition which they state is ahead of this but it was still themnoratanytimebeforethat, RSPCAisappealingfor byanyerrororinaccuracyintheprintingornon illegal. implemented. inlinewiththeforcenoticeperi- informationafterablindand appearanceofanyadvertisement,andreserve If the superintendents’ hearing “The association represents od,shouldtheywishtodoso.” elderlysmalldogwasfound therighttoeditordeleteanyobjectionable at Manchester High Court next 1,300 superintendents and chief Chairman of the Bedfordshire dumpedinalaybyin wordingorrejectanyadvertisement.Although monthissuccessfulitcouldseean superintendents in England and branch of the police federation, HoughtonRegis. everyadvertisementiscarefullychecked, overhauloftheretirementprocess Walesanditisveryunusualforus JimMallen,said:“Youcan’tputa ItwasdiscoveredonJanuary8 occasionallymistakesdooccur.Wetherefore in Bedfordshire Police with the totakeachiefconstabletocourt. priceon30years’experienceand atthetopofEddiwickAvenue askadvertiserstoassistusbychecking national secretary of the SA, “Wearenotaradicalorganisa- theinsightofofficersatthatlevel. whichjoinsHillboroughCrescent. theiradvertisementscarefullyandadvise Graham Cassidy, warning of tionbutwefeelinthiscasemem- “It is a vital appeal. If it is RSPCAanimalcollectionofficer usimmediatelyshouldanerroroccur.We ‘ramifications beyond bershavebeentreatedunfairly. successfulIfeelitwillberepeated KateWrightsaid:“Thedoghas regretthatwecannotacceptresponsibility Bedfordshire’. “Thisisthefirstsuchcaseofthis across the country and it could hadnumeroustestscarriedout formorethanoneincorrectinsertionandthat MrCassidysaid:“Ifyou’regoing type and dependent on the out- open the flood gates to similar andsincehecameintothe norepublicationwillbegrantedinthecase touseA19youhavetolookateach come of the case and what the reviews. centre’scarehehasstartedtoput oftypographicalorminorchangeswhichdo caseindividuallyandlookatthe judgesaysthiscouldhaveramifi- “A19neededtobechallenged.” onweight.” notaffectthevalueoftheadvertisement.To ensureconsistentlyhighservicelevels,callsare Charity begins campaign to tackle catalytic converter thefts randomlymonitoredbyasalesmanager. DiSTRibuTiON CRIMESTOPPERS has launched a the UK economy around £770 “We have heard of ambulance this expensive and inconvenient 01582390365 new campaign to tackle thefts of millioneveryyear. servicevehiclesbeingputofaction crime. [email protected] valuablecatalyticconvertersfrom Metaltheftingeneralisseeinga duetothiscriminalactivitywhich “Youcanplayyourpartinhelping Ifyouhaveaqueryregardingthedelivery carexhaustsystems. steadydecreaseacrosstheeastern istrulydespicable–innocentlives to keep our community safe by ofyournewspaperorwouldliketojoin Theftsofthemetal‘cats’asthey region but the theft of catalytic are being put at risk due to the contactinguswithinformationon ourteamasateenageoradultnewspaper are known, have seen a dramatic converters is still rising and can greedofthieves. catalytic convertor thefts, or deliverercontactourdistributiondepartment increaseinthelastthreeyears. oftenbeconnectedtootherforms “Anyonewithavehicleispoten- indeedanytypeofmetaltheft,you onthetelephonenumberabove. They can cost thousands of ofserious,organisedcrime. tiallyatriskofbeingavictimbutin mightknowabout. pounds to replace. ‘Cats’ help Terry Pearce, from the Eastern particular van users and 4x4 “Wewanttoknowwhoisstealing LEaFLETDiSTRibuTiON reduceharmfulexhaustemissions Region Special Operations Unit, owners.” them, who is handling them and fromvehicles. said: “We are funding Ann Scott, Crimestoppers’ east- wheretheyaregoing”. 01582390357 The aim of the charity’s cam- Crimestoppers to run this cam- ernregionalmanager,said:“Every “Youhavenothingtofearbycon- mailto:[email protected] paignistoencouragethepublicto paignnotonlybecauseitiscosting day people trying to get to work, tacting the independent charity www.mailboxdistribution.co.uk playtheirpartinprovidinginfor- the UK economy millions, but taking the children to school or Crimestoppers.Wenevertakeany Totargetyourbusinessmessagebyleaflet mationaboutthistypeofcrime– because of the human impact it drivingtheirelderlyneighbourto personal details or ask for your withinourdistributionareasthenplease withmetaltheftasawholecosting canhaveonthecommunity. the doctors are being affected by nameandwedon’ttraceorrecord.” 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. news01582707707|advertising01582700800 LUTONONSUNDAY |www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|January27,2013|3 Fears for the future of youth clubs ANGRYresidentshavesetupacampaign theauthoritytriestomake£500,000of plansmayputstaffatriskofredundancy. tosavetheiryouthfacilitiesafterlearning savingsfromtheintegratedyouth CllrWaheedAkbar,executivemember thatanumberofclubsmaybeclosedin service’sbudget. withresponsibilityforchildren’sservices, thenextwaveofcouncilcuts. Atpresent,theservicedeliversseven said:“Aswearefacedwithseverecutsin Sinceitwasrevealedthatthefacilities council-runyouthcentresonschoolsites, theyouthservice’sbudgetwehaveno atPutteridgeHighSchoolandSundon part-timeyouthclubs,twoyouthbusesas choicebuttoreviewhowwecanmeetthe ParkYouthClubcouldbeclosedinabid wellascommissioningyouthservices needsofourmostvulnerableyoungpeo- tosaveLutonBoroughCouncilcash, fromvoluntarycommunitysector(VCS) ple.Officershavecomeupwithanumber worriedusershavetakentoFacebook organisations. ofproposals.HoweverImuststressthat andTwittertohighlighttheirplight. Otherproposalstosavethecashinclude thesearenotsetinstoneandwereallydo Dozensofmessagesusingthehashtag askingvoluntaryandcommunitysector welcomealternativesuggestions. #saveputteridgeyouthwerepublished organisationstomanagepart-timeyouth “Weneedtohearyourviewsonwhat usingthesocialmediasitesanditwas centres,anddevelopingateamofyouth impacttheseoptionswillhaveonyou, confirmedbytheauthoritythatthehead workerstotargetpeopleinvolvedin yourfamilyandthelocalcommunity.” ofyouthserviceshadbeenmadeaware anti-socialbehaviourthroughthe Consultationontheproposalswillrun ofthecampaign. deploymentofamobilebus. fromFebruarytoAprilandareportwith Theseproposalswillbeconsultedonas Theauthorityhasadmittedthatthese theoutcomeswillbepresentedinApril. TV show inspires new generation of divers BYLAURENARCHELL INSPIRATION: BRAVE:Linda [email protected] OlympianTom Barkerprepares Daleyteaches todiveintothe MOREthan200peoplehavesignedup thestarsto Inspirepool to take diving lessons in the town dive thankstosmashhitTVshowSplash! The live Saturday night programme, whichisfilmedinthenew£26mInspire swimming pool in Luton, shows OlympianTomDaleyteachingcelebri- tieshowtodive. Theshowhasbeenaratingswinnerfor ITVandisalsoprovingahitwithswim- merswhohavesignedupintheirdroves toreplicatethemovesdemonstratedby theiridols. Celebrities including TV presenter Linda Barker, Sugababe Jade Ewan, comedian Omid Djalili and reality TV starJoeyEssex,havealreadytakenthe plunge,withvariousdegreesofsuccess. Cllr Hazel Simmons, leader of Luton BoroughCouncil,said:“Wearedelight- ed that millions of people across the countryaretuninginandgettoseethe worldclassfacilitieswehaveatInspire: LutonSportsVillage. facilitieswehavetoofferatInspireand willgeneratefromSplash!willenableus “Overthepastfortnightwehaveseen thisishelpingustoachieveourgoalto to purchase portable springboards an increase in the number of people increaseparticipationinsport.” whichwillallowustoincreaseourdiv- expressing an interest in diving, with GraemeKentofActiveLutonsaid:“We ingcapacityby25percent.” morethan200signinguptoourlearnto havealreadyhitourtargetnumbersfor • Has the television programme divecourses. ourlearntodiveprogrammeswhichwe encouragedyoutotakeupdiving?Letus “Overallit’sfantasticnews,astheTV werenotexpectingtoachieveuntilthe knowbytweeting@LutonOnSundayor programmeisshowcasingthefantastic thirdyearofourplan.Theincomewe visitingourFacebookpage. 4|January27,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800 news01582707707|advertising01582700800 LUTONONSUNDAY |www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|January27,2013|5 Father reveals his disgust at robbers BYCARLMUNGAZI [email protected] AMANwhowaspunchedandthreatenedwitha knifewhilstwalkinghis19-month-olddaughter has spoken about his ‘disgust’ at the robbery attackwhichhappenedinbroaddaylight. GarethParry,33,wholivesinthetowncentre, waspushingChloe-GracealongWindsorStreeton TuesdayJanuary15when£45wasstolenfromhim. Aftertheattackataround10am,therobbersfled thesceneinthedirectionofHastingsandDumfries StreetandBedfordshirePolicehavesincelaunched awitnessappeal. Garethsaid:“Ithappenedreallyfast.Oneofthem hadacigaretteinhishandsowhentheycalledme overIthoughttheywantedtoborrowalighter. “But when I got closer one of them demanded SHAKEN:MrParryandhisdaughterChloe-Grace moneyandIlaugheditoffinajokeymanner.Then oneofthempunchedmeinthefaceandbrought Hesaid:“It’shardtoexplainbutIfindithardto outaStanleybladesoIgavethemthemoney. trustpeoplenow.SinceithappenedIamalways “Iwantstraighthomeaftertheattack–luckilyI suspiciousofpeopleonthestreet. livedfiveminutesaway–andwhenIgothomeI “IfsomeoneiswalkingbehindmeI’mwondering calledthepolice. whatthatpersonisupto. “BeforetherobberyhappenedI hadjustwith- “It’sdisgustingthatthiscouldhappenwhilstI drawnalargeamountofmoneywithmypartner waswalkingmykid. butshetookmostofitsoitwasagoodthingshedid “My partner has also been shaken up by it thatotherwiseIwouldhavelostalotmoremoney.” becauseifthesepeoplearewillingtorobaman Since the incident, Mr Parry said he has been walkingwithasuchayoungchild,whatwillthey lookingoverhisshoulderwhenonthestreet. dotoawoman?” Brave teen fends off thieves A13-YEAR-OLDboywho “Itchangedmyviewson “Ithinksomethingneedsto foughtoffwould-berobbers peoplemyageforawhileandI bedoneaboutcrimelikethis hassaiddefiantly:“Theydidn’t wasstereotypicalofgroupsof butIdon’tknowwhat.” deservetogetmystuff”. boyswalkingonthestreet. Aftertheincidenttheteen Theteen,whoLutonon “ButafteraboutthreeweeksI saidhisfriendsthoughthewas Sundayhasagreednotto wentbacktonormal. bravetodefendhimselfinthe name,kickedandpunchedhis “ThesecondtimeIwas mannerthathedid. wayoutofapotentialrobbery walkingandthesetwoboys Buthesaidhewouldnottell onSaturdayJanuary19. askedformybag. otherstodothesamebecause Hewaswalkingtohisfriend’s “Itookoutmyphonetotext thereisachancehecouldhave houseforasleepoverwhentwo myfriendandaskhimto beenseriouslyinjured. otherteenagersapproached hurryup. Theboy’smotherhassaidshe himonEdwardRoad, “Oneofthemtriedtogetmy felt‘angry’whennewsreached Dunstable. phonebutIkickedhiminthe herabouttheevent. Itwasthesecondtimeinsix stomachandthenhittheother Shesaid:“IfeltangrywhenI monthsthatanincidentsuch oneintheface. heardwhathadhappened. asthathadhappened. “Ijustthoughttheydidn’t Yourfirstinstinctasaparentis Hesaid:“Thefirsttimeit deservetogetmystuff. totryandprotectyourchild. happenedIwaswalkinghome “MyfirstreactionwasthatI “Initiallywethoughtthere andIwasstoppedbythese hadtogetaway.Onewasin wasnopointingoingtothe boyswhoaskedformystuff. frontofmeandtheotherone policebecausetheyneverdo “ButIsaidnoandwalked wasbehindme.Ineverreally anythingaboutitbutIwasfed awayfromthem. thoughtaboutit. upsowedecidedtotellthem.” 6|January27,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800 nMews01582E707707P|advertisingw015827008a00 rning over LUTONONSUNDAY |www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|January27,2013|7 EU business laws BYLAURENARCHELL portlocalbusinesses.” [email protected] MrVanOrdenalsomet with Central AN MEP has revealed BedfordshireCouncillor thathebelievesfartoo Budge Wells and much ‘unnecessary Assistant Director of legislation’ is coming Environment,LizWade, out of the EU and is to discuss some of the damagingbusinesses. infrastructure develop- Leader of the ments in progress and ConservativeMEPteam the challenges being fortheEastofEngland, faced. This included Geoffrey Van Orden, transport, waste and issued the warning socialfunding. during a visit to the CllrWellssaid:“Itwas Woodside Industrial good to meet with Estate in Dunstable, to VISIT:LizWade,GeoffreyVanOrdenandBudgeWells Geoffreyandgraspthis meet local business opportunity to learn owners. “Fartoomanylawsare andmediumbusinesses more about how we During the meeting, comingoutoftheEU. into larger businesses mightbeabletoaccess the group raised con- “I want to reduce that will fuel our Europeanfunding. cernsabouttheamount unnecessaryregulation, economicrecovery. “It was a very useful ofnewregulationsthey particularly when it “This is why it’s so time spent discussing havetokeepupwith. originates from pleasing to see such some of the key MrVanOrdensaid:“I Brussels. close collaboration infrastructure develop- spend a lot of time on “I have sympathy for betweenthebigandthe ments in the area and thebignationalissues– smallbusinessesfacing small in the regulatory the impacts on local trying to reshape our a mass of regulation sphere – that all too business. relationship with the withadditionalburdens oftenprovesabarrierto “Wealsotalkedabout EU, immigration, ter- placed on them by suchatransition. the future European rorism – but it is most insurers. “Central Bedfordshire fundingfrom2014-2020 importantthatIunder- “With good advice Councilhasagoodtrack and the importance of standwhatishappening fromexperts,costsand record in accessing usingthisataverylocal on the ground across difficulties around someoftheavailableEU levelinordertohavethe the east of England, regulations can be funding. sortofimpactswewant with our businesses, reduced.” “Itisimportantthatwe to achieve for our resi- schools, and road and “As we all know, it is use every opportunity dents and local busi- railsystem. the growth of smaller to get funding to sup- nesses.” 8|January27,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800 Students not put off by higher fees THEUniversityofBedfordshire’s(UoB) admissionratehasnotbeenaffectedby ahikeintuitionfees,despiteUCASfig- uresshowinganationwidedecline. Governmentofficialssetthelimiton thenumberofstudentsuniversitiescan registerandinSeptember2012,UoB managedtorecruit2,907–15more thantheirquota. Aspokeswomansaidthatwhilstallits full-timehonoursdegreesforunder- graduatescost£9,000,£4mayearwas ADMISSION:TheUoBexceededitsstudenttargetlastyear spentonbursariesandscholarships. Capital to hear some of county’s court trials BykAThryNcAIN traveldowntothecapitalforthehearingwhichcan, [email protected] onoccasion,lastseveralweeks.Theircostsarethen coveredbytheCrownProsecutionService(CPS). ANUMBERofcriminalcourtcasesarehavingto AspokesmanforHMCourtsandTribunals(HMCTS) betransferredtoLondonaftertoomanycoming said: “HMCTS is committed to ensuring trials are into Luton meant some could face substantial heardasexpeditiouslyaspossible. delaysinbeingheard. “To this end cases may be transferred to other TherearesomanytrialsgoingtoLutonCrownCourt locationswherethereisavailablejudicialandcourt- fromacrossthecountythatthefivejudges,andone roomcapacity. visitingmember,cannothearthemallwithouthaving “Weroutinelyseektoidentifyappropriatecases tosetthembackbyseveralmonths. thatcouldbetransferredtoalternativevenuesin Asaresultsomelistings,includingfiveofthecurrent ordertoachieveearliertrialdates. mostseriouscases,havebeensenttotheOldBailey, “When making such decisions, the impact on andthreeotherstoSouthwarkandBlackfriarsCrown victimsandwitnessesiscloselyconsideredandthe CourtsinLondon. effectoftransferweighedagainstthemeritsofa Victimsofcrimeareaskediftheywouldbewillingto moretimelyhearing.”