Fresh plea for visitors to stay away from Valley's beauty spots over Bank Holiday weekend

But visitors are being asked to consider staying away from the picturesque borough’s popular beauty spots in order to protect the health of local residents.

The Government is now allowing people to exercise outside as many times a day as they wish, as well as drive to the countryside, as long as they respect social distancing guidance while they are there.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s grounds maintenance and street cleansing teams have been working hard to ensure the area’s green spaces are in tiptop condition for people to enjoy as the lockdown starts to lift.

And given the good weather there has never been a better time to enjoy the parks at Clitheroe Castle, Edisford and Brungerley in Clitheroe, and St John’s Field in Longridge, plus Pendle Hill - one of the area's biggest tourist attractions - after signs appeared telling walkers to stay away.

Stuart Carefoot, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s community committee, said: “Parks and green spaces are great for your health and wellbeing. They allow you to stretch your legs, get some fresh air and stay positive. It’s great that we can all now get outdoors more and our grounds maintenance and street cleansing teams have been working hard behind the

scenes to keep our parks and green spaces in tiptop condition.

“While many of you will want to get out and about in Ribble Valley’s beautiful countryside and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the safety of our residents remains a priority, plus most services are still closed. If you are a resident, please stick to social distancing guidelines when out-and-about in the borough. But if you are a prospective visitor, please consider whether if it might be better for everyone if you enjoy the outdoors closer to home. If you do stay away, please accept our thanks and be assured of a warm Ribble Valley welcome in due course.”

If you do get out and about over the bank holiday and beyond, here’s how to enjoy yourself and stay safe:

● Stay two metres apart and avoid gathering

● Stick to countryside paths and leave gates as you find them

● It’s lambing season, so keep your dog on a lead in fields

● Remember shops, cafes and toilets, remain closed

As Ribble Valley enters the recovery phase, you can keep abreast of changes to council services in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, at ribblevalley.gov.uk and through the council's social media channels. And don’t forget if you need assistance, such as collecting prescriptions, housing, financial and debt advice, help with shopping, or simply want to chat,

contact the Ribble Valley Community Hub at 01200 414597, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.