Ribble Valley is a local government district with borough status within the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Clitheroe. Other places include Whalley, Longridge and Ribchester. The area is so called due to the River Ribble which flows in its final stages towards its estuary near Preston. The area is popular with tourists who enjoy the area's natural unspoilt beauty, much of which lies within the Forest of Bowland.

The Ribble Valley is statistically the wealthiest enclave in Lancashire and businesses in the area reflect this, some of which include a Michelin listed restaurantand a Bentley car dealership. The area is a popular place with those who wish to relocate from London to somewhere more rural and community orientated.

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the municipal borough of Clitheroe, Longridge urban district, Clitheroe Rural District, part of Blackburn Rural District, part of Burnley Rural District, and part of Preston Rural District, as well as the Bowland Rural District from the West Riding of Yorkshire, hence the addition of the Red Rose of Lancaster and White Rose of York on the council's coat of arms.

Education

Primary Schools

• Salesbury CE Primary School
• St Michael & St John's RC Primary School, Clitheroe
• St James' C of E Primary School
• St Joseph's RC Primary School, Hurst Green
• St Mary's RC Primary School, Langho
• St Mary's CE Primary School, Mellor
• Brookside Primary School
• Waddington & West Bradford C of E Primary School, Clitheroe
• Pendle Primary School, Clitheroe
• Edisford Primary School, Clitheroe
• Sabden Primary School, Sabden

Secondary Schools

• Ribblesdale High School Technology College
• St Augustines RC High School
• Bowland High
• Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Private Schools

• Oakhill College
• Moorland School
• Stonyhurst College

Sport

• The PESL Futsal Cup, Clitheroe

Local Radio

Community Radio

Ribble Valley Radio was a community radio station based in Clitheroe, part of the new, third sector of local radio licensed by OFCOM [53484]. The project was launched in September 2004. The radio station helped 6 local residents into paid work within the radio sector in just 3 years and trained over 100 volunteers to present and produce their own radio shows. The project was not supported by the Borough Council, which caused controversy in the area and local newspaper the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times' held a poll which returned the result that 94% agreed that the Ribble Valley Borough Council were wrong not to fund the project and assist its long term success. Many letters[53485] appeared in support of the project and damning the "short sighted" decision of the council. The whole episode brought excellent publicity and boosted the radio station's listening figures by 400%.

MP Nigel Evans was a staunch supporter and tabled an Early Day Motion at Parliament EDM 979 [53486]calling for "better resources and funding" for Ribble Valley Radio and the new and emerging sector.

However Ribble Valley Radio closed down on 14 October 2007. The radio station closed as it was unable to gain sufficient funding to apply for a licence.

References

1. http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/office_of_the_chief_executive/lancashireprofile/areas/summary.asp?ar=ri
2. http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/valleynews/Michelin-honour-for-Red-Pump.4608915.jp
3. http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/relocation-relocation/episode-information/lancashire-08-06-23_p_1.html
4. Radio station closes due to funding problems