A COUNCIL leader says the borough is ‘open for business’ after he outlined a series of ambitious proposals.

Ken Hind, the leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council, has drawn up a series of plans to boost the economy and create new jobs.

One of the council’s new policies is to create an economic development committee, which will be headed by a planning and economic director.

The new director will be charged with leading a team focused on boosting the borough’s economy.

Cllr Hind said: “Our aim is to drive the local economy, maximise local enterprise, create jobs for new and existing residents of Ribble Valley, and avoid being a dormitory borough or drive-out community.

“We need to become a sustainable community, create jobs and infrastructure for the increased population and keep our young people housed and working in Ribble Valley."

The council have said that government cuts to council’s spending power, which has decreased by 40 per cent since 2010, has led to the council having to change their approach in the post-austerity era.

The council leader said: “We need to become a sustainable community, create jobs and infrastructure for the increased population and keep our young people housed and working in Ribble Valley.

“At the heart of our policies will be the rural economy, agriculture and tourism, the latter geared up to attract visitors to our fells, historic monuments and shopping centres.

“We need to create more industrial estates and increase the borough’s retail, leisure and hospitality offer to match the needs of an increasing population.

“Enterprise and innovation will be our watchword – our message: Ribble Valley is open for business!”

Cllr Alan Knox, the leader of the opposition, said: “The plan to create more industrial estates seems unfeasible.

“If the landowners want to sell it will likely go to house building because the value of building houses is greater.”

The opposition leader added that transport links remain a central issue which needs to be tackled.

He said: “In the Ribble Valley we do not have great transport links, particularly in the middle of the borough.”

The councillor also said that the impact of leaving the single market in the European Union would have a negative impact with the cost of imports from the continent expected to be higher.