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'A fantastic place to do business'


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THIS year will mark the 20th anniversary of Nigel Evans being first elected as Conserva­ tive MP for the Ribble Valley. Over the inter­ vening two decades he has come to know the Valley and its people very well, not least those who make up its vibrant business and industrial scene. Here the veteran MP, and now Deputy Speaker of the House of Com­ mons (pictured), gives his assessment of how the land lies for those doing business in the Ribble Valley.


• AT the Budget 2011 the Government cut the main rate of corporation tax to 26%, and by


- 2014 it will reach 23% - the lowest rate in the G7 and one of the lowest rates in the G20. It was a huge sign by the Chancellor that he


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low Government borrowing rates to lend to busi­ nesses at low rates. New loans and overdrafts to businesses with a turnover of less than £50m. will


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Autumn Statement designed to help promote growth. Mr Osborne has confirmed the credit easing programme, which will underwrite up to £40bn in low-interest loans for small and me- dium-sizcd businesses and an initial f Ibn. will be made available through a Business Finance Partnership, investing in smaller and mid-sized businesses through non-bank channels. In addi­ tion SMEs will be able to take advantage of the small business rate relief holiday which has been extended for a further six months. The National Loan guarantee scheme will use


wanted Britain to be open for business. He followed the Budget with measures in the


be eligible for the scheme and it should reduce in­ terest rates by 1% and the Regional Growth Fund will be increased by £lbn to £2.4bn until 2014/15. The aim is clearly to make businesses viable


the fruits of this environment. Rowland Bioen­ ergy, based on the Downham Estate, is a business that supplies wood chips and wood pellets for environmcntally-friendly heating systems right across Lancashire and its surrounding counties and has just opened a new 8,000 sq ft storage and processing unit; Total Foodservice is one of the


again and to encourage businesses to start up or indeed expand their existing operations. In the Ribble Valley we are beginning to see


largest independent catering wholesalers in the North of England and recently opened its new £2.9m. depot in Clitheroe and I am also aware of other businesses, such as Waitrose, that are soon to start trading in our area. ■


The addition of high speed broadband, pro­ vided by local companies such as Boundless, can


to do business. Too often the Ribble Valley is thought of as purely an agricultural economy, but we only need to look around the towns of Clithe­ roe, Whalley and Lonjgridge to see that local busi­


only be a positive thing for businesses. The North West is a diverse and fantastic place


success and we should not forget that we have two of the great UK engineeritig companies in our area, BAE Systems and Fort Vale. We are also fortunate that the Ribble Valley attracts tourism, which has continued to be a growing industiy. I hope that 2012 will represent a genuine op­


nesses, restaurants and shops can not only survive butthrive. - The business park at Waltbn-le-Dale is a great


portunity for businesses in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire and across the UK I know that Ribble Valley Borough Council and South Ribble Bor- : ough Council continue to work hard alongside Lancashire County Council in the best interests : of our businesses.


. •


you are facing or issues with the banks, let me know and I will ensure that these problems are heard at the highest levels of government.


riencing any type of difficulty to get in touch with me. ■ If there are specific bureaucratic problems that


in place, that red tape is being slashed and that everybody wants to see the UK encouraging busi­ nesses large and small. To that end, I would like anybody who is involved in business that is expe­


I believe that the infrastructure has been put


THE local economy across Lanca­ shire and the UK has faced a difficult two to three years arid Ribble Valley is in no way immune.to the economic dowtum, writes Coiiri. Michael Ran- son. Leader of Ribble. Valley Borough Council.


- During this time we have seen job losses 7 |


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Initiatives such as The Clitheroe Food Festival and the Ribble Valley Food Trail


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and the UK economic situation remains a serious one. We have a growing and sue-. cesful tourist industry, but with less money available our tourist providers are finding things tough. ;


tion in particular are facing difficult times, but locally here in Ribble Valley we are seeing frequent welcome news of new and existing businesses starting up and expanding, which is evidenced by the new take up rates on our high streets and busi­ ness parks..: Nevertheless, we can’t be complacent


warning that the coming year is likely to be a difficult one and forecast that the Bank of England base rate will remain at its current level of 0.5% for the entire year. Whilst this may be positive for homeown­ ers, as riiortgage costs will remain low, the value of savings will continue to fall as in­ terest is lower than inflation. In business sectors, retail and construc­


economy in Ribble Valley and its busi­ ness community remain resilient, with new start-ups and continuing low levels of unemployment. Some of our smaller manufacturing companies are doing well, boosted by success in overseas markets. Most of the leading UK economists are


at BAE Systems, Berrys of Longridge, Ul­ traframe and Hanson’s Cement (formerly Castle Cement). We cannot rule out fur­ ther employment contraction in our larger • employees. However, despite these setbacks the


POSITIVE OUTLOOK: Coun. Michael Ranson, leader of Ribble Valley Bor- oughCouncil


ing on stream locally in 2012, such as the new Economic Zone at the BAE Systems site at Samlesbury.to bring new jobs to the area, the Regional Grovv^ Fund, support' for growing businesses in Lancashire, the Youth Contract to help the youth unem­ ployment and a Growing Places invest- . ment fund to s ^ u la te local economies; - These proposals, alongside a growing


are a couple of examples of events that lift the profile of the Ribble Valley, highlight our new and emerging food producers, and take us a step further in establishing the Ribble valley as the county’s premier food destination. New Government initiatives are com­


"In business sectors, retail and construction in particular are facing difficult times, but local­ ly here in Ribble Valley we.are seeing frequent welcome news of new and existing businesses starting up and expand­ ing, which Is evidenced by the new take up rates on our high streets and business parks."


. growth in the year ahead, but we have to jje diligent ensure that help and support is targeted to both individuals and busi- nesseswhere and when its needed. Ribble Valley Borough Council is de­


r Lancashire County Council and the LEP, we intend to explore all opportunities to develop our industrial land supply to'at­ tract new businesses and so provide sus­


tainable employment opportunities in our Borough. -


termined to do all in its power to facili­ tate economic growth and, working with


role for the Lancashire Economic Part­ nership, represent significant hope for a slow, but steady and sustained economic


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