S Clilhcroe Advertiser it- Times, February Jrd,


Craven merger is cold shouldered by councillors


KIBBLE VALLEY councillors have cold shouldered the possibility of a cross-county merger with Craven in the forthcoming local govern­


diseiiss possible mergers, ders, .vet talking about councillors unanimously carving others up. This agreed that securing uni- option in no way brings tary authority status local government closer to should be the Ribble Val- the people.” ley’s primary concern. Council leader Coun. Councillors decided that Bill Fleming said the an enhanced Ribble Valley


ment shake-up. At a special meeting to be looking over our shoul-


should be the second option, a Ribble Valley and Hvndburn merger third, iiibble Valley, Lan­ caster and Wyre fourth and the Ribble Valley and


Craven fifth. They further agreed that a Blackburn, Hynd-


the s ta tu s quo were merger exposes social and unacceptable.


burn and Ribble Valley merger, as well as an East Lancashire authority and


o th e r s , G a r s t a n g , Broughton, Great Har­


an enhanced Ribble Valley would take in, among


Councillors heard that


eroe) commented: “ It seems to be hypocritical to


wood, Rishton and Earby. Coun Bert Jones (Clith-


cultural differences, and may affect tourism. It


' ' ...........


would be very hard to sell the delights of Hyndburn


to potential tourists.” The a r e a ’s fourth


option, a merger with


Lancaster and Wyre, unleashed a storm of pro­ test, particularly from those in favour of a Cra-


veil merger. Coun. Stephen Holt (Clitheroe) said: “This


option is utter nonsense. We have gone past the realms of reality now.” Coun. Bert Jones added: "1 think when the commis­


sioners see this, they will understand why we have three mental hospitals in


COULI) the answer be


new flags bought by the council was given its first airing, it was nearly caned up in a matter of three hours by the indis­ criminate forces pushing it around. But th e winds of


ley literally Hew the flag for a unitary authority, th e symbolism was almost left in tatters in high winds and driving rain. When one of the two


blowing in the wind? When the Rilililc Val­


the area!” Coun. Howel Jones


(Clitheroe) pointed out that when the Lancashire ADC had suggested com­ bining purls of the Ribble Valley with Lancaster, the


area had been “up in arms.” “Yet here we are considering it now, it’s absolutely perverse,” he said. But Coun. Fleming (Bil-


links. But Liberal Democrat


place by way of the Rural Development Commission.


advantages of a merger with Hyndburn included existing shared education and social services, as well as strong communication


leader Coun. Howel Jones said a Hyndburn merger would leave Clitheroe


however, involved the Craven option, which some councillors claimed should be the a re a ’s second preference. Coun. Frank Dyson


The most bitter debate,


dominated by Accrington. He commented: "A Rib­ ble Valiev and Hyndburn


ary is with Craven. I am not suggesting that just parts of the Ribble Valley should join with Craven, but the whole of the bor­ ough. The two areas have a natural affinity.”


Pearson (Slaidburn) argued: “I represent an area that used to be in the West Riding. At a public meeting last week, there was little support for a merger with Craven. A motion was carried that the Ribble Valley


But Coun. Dorothy


(Clitheroe) said: “The Rib­ ble Valley’s longest bound­


cut heme 22321, (Editorial), 22323 (Advertising). Burnley 422331 (Classified) CAMPAIGN UPDATE. .. CAMPAIGN UPDATE. .. CAMPAIGN UPDATE. . . CAMPAIGN UPDATE. .. CAMPAIGN UPDATE. .. CAMPAIGN UPDATE. .. CAMPAIGN UPDATE,. ■ CAMPAIGN UPDATE ■ ■ ■


A note of \ caution \ from VIP 1 visitor /


THERE was a hint of caution when Lady Elizabeth Hanson, deputy chairman of the Association of Dis­ trict Councils, met Ribble Valley resi­ dents to talk about the Local Government


Ribble Valley on Thurs­ day, she addressed local


Review. After arriving in the


chamber and thoroughly enjoyed a whistle-stop tour of the area on Friday, followed by a “thank you” lunchtime buffet for repre­ sentatives of the Ribble V a l le y ’s v o la n t a r y


landowners at an evening reception in the council


services. Outlining the history of


local government, from reorganisation in 197-1 to the present situation, in which the county councils have been losing a large


does not seek special dis­ pensation for a cross­ county Craven merger, effectively ruling the option out.


_______________ Burnley ‘no’ to Ribble Valley


THE Ribble Valley is too affluent to merge with Burnley in the forthcoming Local Government Review, Burnley councillors decided. They fear that if Burnley joins forces


chunk of the education network, she opened on a bright note for the Ribble Valley, comparing it with the sm a lle s t agreed authority in Wales, Angle­ sey, with (>(>,000 popula­ tion, and Cleveland with 90,000.


sh e re mi n d ed he r audience, looking to the


The commission was,


formation of authorities of around 230,000 to 250,000 population. “The councils should get together to try and come up with an agreed solution,” advised Lady Hanson, whose own home is in Sussex.


intent on fighting to become a unitary all-pur­ pose a u th o r i ty , i ts


If the Ribble Valley was


MP is not for after county


change were ephemeral and the Ribhlc Valley's symbol stood the lest of time.


lington) argued that the Ribble Valley had “quite a lot in common with Wyre,” which was also a rural area and might enhance tourism potential. Coun. Stan Thomas


with the Ribble Valley it will damage the town’s street crcdibil ity and could result in the loss of aid that goes to deprived areas. Coun. Hath Readc


CLITHEROE’S bat­ tling Labour cam­ paigner Ron Pickup has demanded an apol­ ogy from Ribble Val­ ley’s Tory MP from the floor of the House of Commons, following Lancashire County Council’s High Court victory last week.


(Mellor) added that links between the Ribble Valley and Wyre were already in N|f


told a special meeting of Burnley Council that being linked with an affluent area such as the Ribble Valley would dilute the town’s bargaining power to get funds to tackle problems.


replies Mr Nigel Evans, who was a strong critic of the county council for its decision to go to court in its fight for survival as Local Government Com­ missioners map out the future for Lancashire. Mr Pickup wants Mr


“Not in a million years,”


Nigel Evans to apologise to council leader Louise Ellman for criticising the county for risking money on the legal battle. The county council had


taken its fight to the High Court in London over plans to replace the pres­ ent two-tier system of local government with uni­ tary authorities. I t c 1 aimed th a t a Government guideline to


Environment said it intended to appeal against the decision. In a letter to the MP,


guideline was unlawful — and awarded costs to the county council. The Department of the


Mr Pickup writes: “ I expect to see you offering an apology to Louise Ell­ man from the floor of the House of Commons and


the Local Government Commission made its abo­ lition and replacement all but a foregone conclusion before the commissioners had g a t he red t he i r information. The judge ruled that the


pledging your support for the retention of Lanca­ shire County Council as the effective and efficient unit of local government for this county, whilst at the same time ensuring the Ribble Valley will remain a convenient democratic institution for the delivery of effective local services in this rural constituency. “ It is now perfectly


obvious that it is the Con­ servative party and the Tory Government that continues to be both the big w as ter of public expenditure and forever shows its incompetence to manage the financial and econmic affairs of this nation. “1 implore you to seek to


persuade the Government not to waste any more tax­


payers money appealing the decision of the High


50,000-plus population must also unite in vocifer­ ous support, she advised.


here is the whole question of r u r a l E n g la n d . Everyone knows where the Ribble Valley is. It has an identity in a rural area. Everyone knows where the Cotswolds, for exam­ ple, are.” Suggesting that there


“The one chance there is


could be a string of rural pearls throughout the country, including the Rib­ ble Valley, she said the question quite obviously was, “What is best?” The ADC had put the


transition cost at £G00m., which, she said, would not necessarily come out of the council tax, but would be a long-term debt and, in some cases, not a debt at


turning victory


Court and now to canvas amongst your parliamen- taly colleagues that the Review of Local Govern­ ment should be abandoned in its present form.” Speaking by telephone to the “Advertiser and


status as this would offer the most efficient local government for a rural area.


Times” on Tuesday, Mr Evans re je c te d the


request for an apology. “Not in a million years,” he said. “I still say it was a gross waste of public money when there is an independent commission working on the matter. “The money for the legal


man has pledged her sup­ port for the fight to retain the county council and the p r e s e n t 14 d i s t r ic t councils.


action has to come from the public purse, whether the costs are paid by the Government or the county council. “ I t ’s not up to Ron


tinue to support Ribble Valley’s case for unitary


officer Mr Bill Alker, who is steering the borough's bid for unitary status, says the High Court victory for the county council will have little effect on its own bid for unitary status. “The decision isn’t sur­


Ribble Valley Council


Pickup and it’s not up to me what happens.” He said he would con­


Meanwhile, Louise Ell­


prising, but at the end of the day it won’t make a


great deal of difference. The Government is still proposing to create uni­ tary authorities which will be bigger than the dis­ tricts and smaller than the counties," he commented.


all. It was further esti­ mated that reorganisation would bring about esti­ mated savings of some £150m.


Coun. Tony Jackson, who introduced Lady Hanson, said he felt passionately about the Ribble Valley, which, he believed, had a good community identity. He r e f e r r e d to the exchange visit of the bor­ ough’s chief executive, Mr Ossie Hopkins, to Los Altos, California, and reminded those present that Los Altos, with a population of 22,000, man­ aged all its own services. “With 53,000 people there is no reason in my mind why we could not do a bet­ ter job than that.” Director of environmen­


Ribble Valley Mayor


update of the Local Government Review, out­ lining why it was felt that


tal services Mr David Mor­ ris gave the audience an


the process of reorgan­ isation was having to be tackled again. It was, he said, to make local govern­ ment more accountable, more effective and to save money. The decision on the


future of the Ribble Valley would be made by the end of July, shadow local auth­ orities would be formed in 1995 and by April 1st 199G, new local authorities would be in place. Although the Ribble


Valley was looking at other options, Mr Morris stressed that first and


on t h e e x i s t i n g boundaries.


RIBBLE VALLEY DISTRICT WIDE LOCAL PLAN YOUR CHANCE TO COMMENT


Ribble Valley Borough Council have prepared a new local plan


for the whole borough. This plan will guide all planning decisions up to 2001. It will eventually replace all existing local plans. The plan is available in draft form and public comments will be welcomed.


EXHIBITIONS The plan is now being exhibited at the council offices in


Clitheroe and at Clitheroe. Longridge and Whalley libraries. It can be examined during normal opening hours.


YOUR COMMENTS The Borough Council would welcome your views on the plan.


Any comments, whether supporting or objecting to the plan, will be presented to the council's planning and development committee. Forms for making comments are available at the exhibitions and also from the Borough Council.


WHAT THE FLAN SAYS The following sections give a summary of the plan, for full


details please read the whole document.


GENERAL All development proposals should provide a high standard of


design together with appropriate landscape quality. The majority of new development should be directed towards


Clitheroe, Longridge, Whalley/BlUington and Wilpshire. The sites of Brockhall and Calderstones hospitals and the Barrow Printworks will also have some development.


Bolton-By-Bowland Grindleton Osbaldeston Simonstone Chatburn Chipping


the village of: Barrow


Newton Sawley Pendleton


Copster Green Downham


Dunsop Bridge Mellor Brook Sabden Wiswell Worston


Hurst Green Reed Langho Mellor


Rimington Waddington Ribchester West Bradford


Slaidburn Tosside


special justification exists. The plan acknowledges the need to protect and improve the


Development in other areas will normally be restricted unless


environment, discourage the production of waste and pollution plus the need to protect important features. HOUSING Land at the following locations is allocated for residential


development:


Crumpax Avenue. Longridge. Primrose Lodge, Clitheroe (Subject to other policies being met). Littlemoor House, Sabden. Park of the former Clitheroe Auction Mart site. The former council depot, Wilpshire. Longridge Depot, Berry Lane. Land at Bawdlands, Clitheroe. Land at Nelson Street, Low Moor, Clitheroe. Land off. Old Back Lane, Wiswell. Council Depot, Station Road, Whalley. Land off Pendle Avenue, Chatbum. These sites are expected to provide a total of 220 new dwellings


in the period to 2001. A programme of demolition and rebuilding is planned at Tower


Hill, Clitheroe. Policies to help solve housing needs and provide affordable


housing are included.


The plan contains guidelines for the conversion of buildings to houses.


n \ . . .... “■ T - ! \ ----- '\- .. 1


________________ __________ _________________ -.T.V


Small scale development may be allowed on suitable sites in Qisburn Holden


RIBBLE VALLEY DISTRICT WIDE LOCAL PLAN


Pre-Deposit Consultation Draft


ENVIRONMENT The landscape and character of the Forest of Bowland Area of


Outstanding Natural Beauty is to be protected and conserved. Most of the remaining countryside is designated as an area of


special landscape and is to be protected. The open parts of the southern fringes of the borough are


designated as green belt. Important features of the natural and built environment will


receive specific protection. These include: conservation areas; listed buildings; sites of special scientific interest; other important wildlife or geological sites; ancient woodlands; important trees; sites of archaeological importance; and historic parks and gardens.


The council will encourage the beneficial re-use of derelict,


disused and obsolete land and buildings. Environmental improvements measures will be undertaken in


various locations.


INDUSTRY AND EMPLOYMENT The following sites are allocated for industrial development: Land at Salthill, Clitheroe, Land at Chapel Hill. Longridge and Land at the former Barrow Printworks.


It is anticipated that there may be a shortfall in industrial land


provision over the plan period. In the event of this a reserve area of industrial land is allocated to the north of the existing industrial


land at Salthill. The council will actively encourage the relocation of bad ’


The council will try to resist the loss of sites used for employment.


neighbour industries or industries operating from obsolete land or premises.


TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY In making decisions on development proposals the council will


attach considerable weight to the availability and adequacy of public transport; how well related the site is to the main road network; the accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and people with reduced mobility.


The plan safeguards land which may be needed for highway


improvements. The council will try to provide car parks where serious problems


exist. A bus terminus will be provided on land adjacent to Clitheroe


Station. A new car park will be provided to the south of the Ribchester


safety and accessibility of pedestrian routes, especially those which are widely used.


by-pass when it is completed. The council will try to make improvements to the environment,


SHOPPING Proposals for small or large scale shopping developments will


normally be approved in Clitheroe town centre. The former auction mart site will be redeveloped to provide an


improved market and car parking facilities. Small scale facilities will normally be approved in the centres of


Longridge and Whalley. The council will try to retain village shops. Proposals for garden centres, farm shops, factory shops, hot


food take aways and temporary uses such as car boot sales will all be detennined in accordance to the plan.


RECREATION AND TOURISM The borough council will normally approve proposals which


This can be applied throughout the borough. The plan sets out standards which will be applied to all


extend the range of tourism and visitor facilities in the borough. A standard for recreational land provision is set out in the plan.


applications for major outdoor recreational uses such as golf courses and uses such as caravan sites which have a major impact on the landscape.


AREA POLICIES There are three policies in the plan which refer to the.


redevelopment and re-use of large sites in the borough. These relate to: Primrose, Clitheroe; Brockhall Hospital; and Calderstones Hospital.


ALL comments should be sent to the council by 22 April 1994.


Copies of the local plan can be purchased from the council priced £20 (plus p & p) or a limited number can be borrowed for a returnable deposit. A free booklet which explains the local plan process is also available.


Ribble Valley Borough Council Council Offices Church Walk Clitheroe BB7 2RA


foremost was still a uni­ tary Ribble Valley based


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