5 Liberal and Labour Councillors have tried to derail the multi million £ Clitheroe Market Quarter Development Plan led by Councillor Alan Knox Liberal leader, by the use of a procedural device ''to call'' in the decision to progress the development. The request follows the decision of the Policy and Finance Committee of the Ribble Valley Borough Council to go ahead and finalise the Clitheroe market quarter development design, negotiate a contract and finalise the costings.
Ken Hind Leader of the Conservative Councillors Group commented, ''This is 4th attempt in 20 years to regenerate the centre of Clitheroe. This decision has been carefully thought out and follows the approval of a tender from Barnfield Developments who are providing investment estimated to be £9 million to redevelop the centre of Clitheroe. This investment could be put in danger by the actions of opposition parties..This is the third design produced by Barnfield which due to the call in cannot be shown at the moment to the market traders, the shop keepers and public. The design is a result of widespread consultation, public meetings, a detailed survey carried out by Infusion and meetings with interested groups. The Council have listened to the public and it is now time to deliver. The impact of the call in request is to suspend any progress.and perpetuate uncertainty for market traders shop keepers and the public."
''This is a cynical attempt to attract electoral support 12 months before a council election.The project received widespread support in the Policy and Finance committee in the true spirit of local government democracy. Why was the Leader of the Opposition Councillor Knox not jumping up and down about this issue when he was a member of the Policy and Finance Committee which on the 30th November 2015 approved the Barnfield tender for the Clitheroe Market Quarter Development? (minutes attached) The Clitheroe Advertiser 8 weeks ago carried an old picture of Alan Knox smiling at the launch the Clitheroe Town Centre Masterplan including ''sweeping changes'' to our flagship market from an issue in November 2009 - still not a brick has been put in the ground or a plan approved. My message to opposition parties is don't just support the initiatives to plan improvements to Clitheroe Town Centre, support the delivery of them for the benefit of the public."
''This project is not just about rebuilding the market which is only one element. The present market has only been on the current site since the late 1980s. The project is about the regeneration of Clitheroe town centre with facilities to attract greater footfall from customers and halt the march of charity shops. It is even more essential today than ever before, as if nothing is done the success of the Holmes Mill development will move the centre of gravity of Clitheroe Town Centre, to the other end of town, grouped around the brewery, Sainsbury.s, Homebase and the Emprorium."
''Clitheroe and Whalley Town centres also face a further potential competitive threat from out of town retail shops that could emerge on the A59. Time is running out for Clitheroe. The town centre cannot wait another 10 years for opposition parties to make up their minds."
''To deal with this problem as Leader of the Council I have called an Emergency Committee of the Council for this Thursday to see if we can resolve this issue. If we cannot it will go to Full Council on the 10th July when a decision will be taken. Following then we hope to be able to unveil the outline of the plan first to the market traders, the Chamber of Trade and then to the public for all to see."
''This is a community project for the benefit of Clitheroe and whole Ribble Valley and should not be turned into a political issue despite the late conversion of the opposition parties to rejecting it."
Note to Editors
Attached are the minutes of the meeting approving the award of the contract to develop the Clitheroe Town Centre and Market Quarter contract. Present were Councillor Alan Knox as a member of the committee together with Councillor Maureen Fenton (Labour) as an observer. Both are signatures to the call in request.
Also attached is the front page of the Clitheroe Advertiser from November 2009 picturing Councillor Knox.at the launch of the Clitheroe Town Centre Masterplan including the market redevelopment.