A PLAN to spend £115,000 to give Clitheroe a facelift is under threat after the majority of the funding was withdrawn.

In June last year, it was announced that the money would form part of a £2,613,860 investment in the town by the end of 2018.

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Under the plan, the Clitheroe ‘townscape’ project would see £115,000 given for work to improve shop fronts, streets and public features.

However no work was carried out during the 2015/2016 financial year and Lancashire County Council, which had agreed to contribute £60,000, has now withdrawn from the scheme.

Ribble Valley Borough Council has said that officers are now working on what enhancement works can be carried out by the remaining budget in this financial year.

In a report to Ribble Valley Council’s Policy and Finance Committee, director of resources Andrew Cook, said: “No expenditure was undertaken on this scheme in 2015/16.

“£60,000 of the scheme funding was based on a contribution from Lancashire County Council, with the balance of £55,000 funded by this council.

“Following in-year discussions with LCC it was confirmed that LCC would only commit the £60,000 funding effectively to core maintenance work.

“Enhanced town centre improvements were the main focus of this scheme for Ribble Valley and as such it was not seen as appropriate for Ribble Valley’s funding to be used in this way.”

“Consequently, it is proposed that this scheme is reduced.”

When the project was announced in June 2015 the council said that it would also try to secure third-party funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other external partners.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council, said: The budget needed for an extensive scheme of high-quality enhancements to Clitheroe town centre would be considerable, and we had discussed contributing £60,000 on the basis that this may act as match-funding to help attract further investment from elsewhere.

"The proposed scheme was not able to attract further funding, however this budget will still be spent in Clitheroe to improve the condition of the existing roads and pavements."