Longridge Lagging Behind as a Shopping Centre - Action required

 Councillor Ken Hind , Dilworth ward urged the Ribble Valley Borough Council Policy and Finance Committee at its recent meeting , to take action to identify more sites for job creation and improve the shopping centre in Longridge .

 Ribble Valley Borough Council appointed consultants have concluded that Longridge Town centre needs more office and shop space in order to create new employment, reduce out commuting and promote business growth.

Councillor Ken Hind, expressed concern about the conclusions in the report to the Policy and Finance Committee: ‘ the consultants have concluded that as a retail centre Longridge is not doing as well as it could do, the shopping centre is lagging behind, and captures a low share of the retail spend in the Borough .

‘ Demand for shop premises is lower than the other 2 towns, Clitheroe and Whalley. The town centre lacks a retail core as it is spread up Berry Lane and householders are attracted to the town centre out of necessity rather than leisure. Convenience stores , professional and financial services are most important to the town centre in attracting shoppers.

Councillor Hind told the committee, ’ We need to give greater priority to Longridge as the second largest population centre in the Ribble Valley. The recommendations of the consultant’s should be taken seriously, particularly the proposals to identify more land for retail and commercial development in Longridge and the feasibility of funding an inward investment campaign to promote the Ribble Valley and Longridge. This is a great place to start a business , building on our ability to incubate and develop new businesses . We can promote the high quality of life in  the area.

‘This campaign should seek to stimulate both the office and industrial markets, support and develop both existing and new sites. We have got to learn in the recession that our future lies in manufacturing as well as in service and IT knowledge based industries.

‘As a council we can in co-operation with Lancashire County Council Developments encourage developers to provide new sites for job creation. This must include retail shopping in Longridge and as well as sites for industrial and service industry.

‘The only site identified in the consultant’s report in Longridge is below Chapel Hill and your councillors want to know the views of local people on the use of this site for industry as well as nominating other possible sites. It is logical to work with the Preston City Council, as Longridge is so close to the boundary between the 2 authorities to consider development of sites on the fringes of the town.’