THE chairman of a residents’ action group is calling for more schools to be built in a borough.

Steve Rush, who chairs the six-year-old Clitheroe Residents Action Group, has slammed Ribble Valley Council and Lancashire County Council for their lack of ‘forward planning’, and stresses the need to create new schools in Ribble Valley, particularly in Clitheroe.

Since the adoption of the core strategy in December 2014, Ribble Valley Council has committed to building 280 homes a year to meet with the requirements set by the Government.

The chairman recently submitted a Freedom of Information request to Lancashire County Council to find out if any more schools will be built in the near future to cope with the increased house building in the area.

Responding to the request, the council said: “We have no current plans to build new schools but the need for a new school will be monitored.”
Mr Rush, 63, said: “Everybody agrees we need more housing but what is sadly lacking is the amount of infrastructure that goes with it including the school situation.

“Both Lancashire County Council and Ribble Valley Council need to monitor the situation because if nothing is done there will end up being no places for any children to go to school in Clitheroe and people will start looking to move away from the area.”

“FThe crux of the matter is forward thinking is needed rather than this type of horse-has-bolted approach.”

Cllr Ian Brown, who lives in Clitheroe, said: “I have said many a time there is not the infrastructure to deal with all this housing not just the schools.

“I’m happy to speak with any residents to discuss these issues.”
County Cllr Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Local housing development in the Ribble Valley has led to increased demand for places in the area and we are looking to provide the extra places needed by expanding existing schools rather than establishing new schools initially, in line with the council’s policy.

“Plans have already been agreed to expand Whalley Church of England Primary School, Langho, and Billington St Leonard’s Church of England Primary School and St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School by an extra 35 places at each school. 

“We are also currently consulting on the expansion of Barrow Primary School which would provide an extra 70 places, if agreed by the county council’s cabinet at its meeting in March 2018.”

“We will monitor this situation on an ongoing basis and will do what needs to be done to ensure that we have sufficient places in the area.”