Ribble Valley rally plans announced

3:20pm Saturday 26th February 2011 in Gisburn Photograph of the Author By Nazia Parveen, Reporter

IN TALKS WITH COUNCIL Clive Molyneux IN TALKS WITH COUNCIL Clive Molyneux

HIGH-powered rally cars could be snaking their way through country lanes in the Ribble Valley after plans for a major motorsports event were revealed.

Motor sport enthusiasts based in Blackburn who founded the world-renowned Tour of Mull have turned their attention closer to home.

Clive Molyneux, 52, a member of the 2300 Club of Blackburn, is planning to create a multi-million pound special stage rally in rural Lancashire using roads in the Trough of Bowland, including Longridge, Dunsop Bridge, Whitewell and Gisburn.

It is hoped the event would attract top level-drivers and thousands of spectators.

Mr Molyneux's father Brian founded the Isle of Mull event, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009. It attracts hundreds of visitors and competitors every year giving a huge boost to the economy of the small Scottish Island.

Mr Molyneux said he has been in talks with officers at Ribble Valley Borough Council to create a similar event in the area.

"Historically, the Ribble Valley is a well known venue for night time rally's because the roads are ideal for our sport and the area would be perfect for this type of event." said the father-of-one, who lives in Ramsgreave, Blackburn.

The Motor Sports Association, which governs the sport in the UK, is currently lobbying parliament to have the law changed making it easier for roads to be closed so that rally events can be held.

Mr Molyneux added: "We are hopeful that the legislation regarding road closures will be changed as the future of this event is heavily dependent on it.

"We have already contacted the council outlining our plans and we are now in the process of collating some more information that they have requested.

"An event like this would bring an influx of people to the area increasing tourism and boosting the economy by millions."

The 2300 Club was formed by members of the Mullards Car Club in the 1960s and currently boasts around 30 members.

Comments (7)

6:05pm Sat 26 Feb 11

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

I wonder how they will cope with all the cyclists on the country roads?
I wonder how they will cope with all the cyclists on the country roads? Michael@ClitheroeSince58

11:30pm Sat 26 Feb 11

montecassino says...

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58 wrote:
I wonder how they will cope with all the cyclists on the country roads?
And all the Ramblers ?
[quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: I wonder how they will cope with all the cyclists on the country roads?[/p][/quote]And all the Ramblers ? montecassino

10:43am Mon 28 Feb 11

ribblered says...

montecassino wrote:
Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58 wrote: I wonder how they will cope with all the cyclists on the country roads?
And all the Ramblers ?
and all the horse riders and local people who live there?

I guess they don't matter...
[quote][p][bold]montecassino[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: I wonder how they will cope with all the cyclists on the country roads?[/p][/quote]And all the Ramblers ?[/p][/quote]and all the horse riders and local people who live there? I guess they don't matter... ribblered

3:46pm Wed 9 Mar 11

33_ejb says...

Such a blinkered view above !

An event like this brings in Millions of £ into the area, people using local accomodation, shops, pubs, resteraunts and much much more

It brings in people from all over the country, some of which will have never been to the area and will no doubt visit again if they like what they see

It also brings in Media from all over the country and sometime further, with TV, newspapers, Magazines all reporting on the event

the roads would be closed to the public, with plenty of advance warning and would always be alternative routes to most places, and the roads would only be closed for a few hours

If cyclists, horse riders and walkers cannot do without going out for a few hours on one day a year then surely that makes them the selfish ones ?
Such a blinkered view above ! An event like this brings in Millions of £ into the area, people using local accomodation, shops, pubs, resteraunts and much much more It brings in people from all over the country, some of which will have never been to the area and will no doubt visit again if they like what they see It also brings in Media from all over the country and sometime further, with TV, newspapers, Magazines all reporting on the event the roads would be closed to the public, with plenty of advance warning and would always be alternative routes to most places, and the roads would only be closed for a few hours If cyclists, horse riders and walkers cannot do without going out for a few hours on one day a year then surely that makes them the selfish ones ? 33_ejb

7:10pm Wed 9 Mar 11

god Im bored says...

33_ejb wrote:
Such a blinkered view above ! An event like this brings in Millions of £ into the area, people using local accomodation, shops, pubs, resteraunts and much much more It brings in people from all over the country, some of which will have never been to the area and will no doubt visit again if they like what they see It also brings in Media from all over the country and sometime further, with TV, newspapers, Magazines all reporting on the event the roads would be closed to the public, with plenty of advance warning and would always be alternative routes to most places, and the roads would only be closed for a few hours If cyclists, horse riders and walkers cannot do without going out for a few hours on one day a year then surely that makes them the selfish ones ?
Well done Clive & good luck with this.
Ribble Valley council are notoriously difficult to deal with, so best of luck!!
[quote][p][bold]33_ejb[/bold] wrote: Such a blinkered view above ! An event like this brings in Millions of £ into the area, people using local accomodation, shops, pubs, resteraunts and much much more It brings in people from all over the country, some of which will have never been to the area and will no doubt visit again if they like what they see It also brings in Media from all over the country and sometime further, with TV, newspapers, Magazines all reporting on the event the roads would be closed to the public, with plenty of advance warning and would always be alternative routes to most places, and the roads would only be closed for a few hours If cyclists, horse riders and walkers cannot do without going out for a few hours on one day a year then surely that makes them the selfish ones ?[/p][/quote]Well done Clive & good luck with this. Ribble Valley council are notoriously difficult to deal with, so best of luck!! god Im bored

11:14pm Wed 9 Mar 11

exclitheronian says...

We have roads up here on Mull that make the Trough of Bowland look very much like a motorway. We also have a few horses,numerous deer, most of the year a good number of cyclists and to cap it all a huge number of people from Englandshire who should never have been given a driving licence in the first place given their inability to handle single track roads.
All of the aforementioned have managed for over 40 years to co-habit more than happily with the "best Rally in the World" without incident or disaster.
The people of the Isle of Mull have benefited from millions of pounds into the local economy, and will forever be grateful to the 2300 club and the late Brian Molyneux, not simply for additional income but for the very many real and lasting friendships made.
I would encourage the people of the Ribble Valley to grasp this opportunity with both hands
We have roads up here on Mull that make the Trough of Bowland look very much like a motorway. We also have a few horses,numerous deer, most of the year a good number of cyclists and to cap it all a huge number of people from Englandshire who should never have been given a driving licence in the first place given their inability to handle single track roads. All of the aforementioned have managed for over 40 years to co-habit more than happily with the "best Rally in the World" without incident or disaster. The people of the Isle of Mull have benefited from millions of pounds into the local economy, and will forever be grateful to the 2300 club and the late Brian Molyneux, not simply for additional income but for the very many real and lasting friendships made. I would encourage the people of the Ribble Valley to grasp this opportunity with both hands exclitheronian

6:49pm Fri 18 Mar 11

stevenmyers says...

This sounds like a great idea and just what the uk needs right now. the influx of people to the area would be a masive economy boost for the area for years to come. cyclists ramblers and anyone else who use the roads would hardly know it was there as has been said before the roads would only be closed for a few hours.

best of luck to the 2300 club, if anyone can pull this off in a way to please everyone its these guys
This sounds like a great idea and just what the uk needs right now. the influx of people to the area would be a masive economy boost for the area for years to come. cyclists ramblers and anyone else who use the roads would hardly know it was there as has been said before the roads would only be closed for a few hours. best of luck to the 2300 club, if anyone can pull this off in a way to please everyone its these guys stevenmyers

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