Following a meeting of the Conservative Group in which the strongest concerns were expressed by Councillors. Ken Hind leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council has urged Lancashire County Council not to close the booking hall and ticket office at Clitheroe Railway station and bus interchange as the County Council look for savings in their budget
Paul Elms, the Deputy Leader of the Council states, “It is right that the ruling Conservative Group on Lancashire County Council look for savings in their attempt to balance the books but this is a step too far. Closing the Rail Interchange Office cuts across vital economic development initiatives that the Conservative administration on Ribble Valley Borough Council has in train, in particular campaigning for the re-opening of the cross border rail route to Skipton in Yorkshire and beyond further opening up the Ribble Valley as a Tourist destination and growing the visitor economy. This measure is incredibly short sighted and will undermine Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Tourism Destination Management Plan. I strongly urge a re-think on behalf of the County and will be letting Geoff Driver, the Leader of the ruling Conservative Group know in meetings that are coming up in the new year the strength of feeling both within the Conservative Group and more widely amongst the General Public that this is a mistake!”
Senior Councillor, Ged Mirfin, former Chief Data Officer of the North West Development Agency, states, “This decision was taken before Chris Grayling’s announcement about the opening up of local and rural branch lines closed under the infamous Beeching reforms which closed a large part of Britain’s rail network, isolating towns and villages in the process. I’m sure Geoff Driver will recognise the economic opportunities created by this announcement and abandon this budget cut giving Ken and Paul the opportunity to engage in discussions with Northern Rail about opening up the line which goes through Hellifield which is currently accessible to freight traffic to passenger traffic as it already is on a limited number of weekends and on special days during the summer months allowing travellers to go as far afield as Settle. Short-term budget cuts like this are in danger of undermining initiatives to bolster the Northern Powerhouse in areas like the Ribble Valley. This is an easy win which I’m sure Ken and Paul will point out to Jake Berry, the Northern Powerhouse Minister in upcoming meetings they have arranged with him on this and a number of other issues vital to the economy of the Ribble Valley.”
The matter is currently being considered at Cabinet Meetings at County Hall and so on behalf or RVBC and and all Clitheroe councillors Ken Hind has written to Geoff Driver, and Keith Iddon, the Cabinet member responsible for transport urging a rejection of this proposal.
''Our officers have reported that at the LCC Cabinet meeting it will proposed to close the information and ticket office at Clitheroe Station interchange as a measure to save money .On behalf of RVBC I write to ask you to reconsider this cut in public provision.”
''We have been led to understand that LCC own the building but RVBC contribute to staffing and interchange upkeep and cleaning costs. This at a time when rail passenger users are growing, infrastructure is being improved and shortly new rolling stock is to be introduced. The closure will be perceived very much as service reduction by the users of trains and rural bus services.”
''As a local authority RVBC is concentrating on developing the A59 corridor and improving our rail links to Blackburn, Bolton and Manchester Victoria as well as urging the reopening to passenger traffic of the link to Hellifield which will connect Clitheroe, to Lancaster, (west coast main line ),Leeds and Bradford, This will help drive our tourist trade, bringing visitors from Yorkshire , help improve employment links for residents going to Manchester and travel for our sixth formers and students going to local colleges.”
''RVBC policy is to drive the local economy to create more jobs and become a more sustainable community .This is a proposal which works against what we are trying to achieve.”
Ken Hind adds, “If the proposal passes the Lancashire County Council Cabinet it is understood that there will be a period of consultation. On behalf of all concerned I urge all rail and bus users utilising the Clitheroe interchange to take part in the consultation to press the County Council to change its mind ''