Ribble Valley Conservative Councillors have rejected Pendle Borough  Council's proposals  to break up and  leave and  Lancashire County Council and form an East Lancashire Unitary Council with  Blackburn, Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Ribble Valley. 

Ken Hind Longridge Councillor and leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council commented '' We have had no formal request but we view the prospects with disquiet . This potential unitary will be predominantly urban and industrial and have little in common with the rural  Ribble Valley." 

''The Council has not yet considered RVBC’s position formally.  Any approach to join such a unitary authority by these authorities will result in a  recommendation to Council that we do not join by the current Conservative  administration.  Our commitment to the public is to remain as part of the Lancashire County Council area within a 2 tier council structure, where our independence is preserved and the strong voice of Ribble Valley residents will be heard and best represented."

''Ribble Valley is  a rural local authority not urban and should government order by legislation Ribble Valley to  form part of  a unitary authority I will  advise the council to look for other local authorities  to form a unity which are of a similar rural nature with shared problems."

''We recognise that Lancashire County Council has its problems but Ribble Valley has   4 County Councillors who represent our interests and punch above our weight for the Borough . In a vast East Lancs unitary we will be constantly out voted, risk having a lot more houses dumped in the Borough and be a cash cow from business rates and council tax for the towns of East Lancashire. Places like Chipping Ribchester and Longridge which look to Preston as their major urban centre will feel alienated  in a new East Lancs unitary authority."

''We are happy to work in partnership with our neighbouring councils but as an independent entity  in co-operation with them but  not dominated by them. Big is not always beautiful.''