More homes should be built in Mellor area

At the planning meeting on December 12th, the Clitheroe councillors each spoke strongly against the acceptance of this planning application to no avail. Only one councillor from outside Clitheroe supported them. Without more support from other districts in the Ribble Valley, the application was bound to be accepted.

However, more houses have to be built to fulfil the quota set in the still-to-be accepted Core Strategy. In our detailed response to the Core Strategy consultation, Clitheroe Civic Society noted the Enterprise zone at Samlesbury was one of the key expansion areas for business and employment. We proposed therefore it would make economic and environmental sense to build at least half the houses proposed for Standen to be built at the Mellor end of the Ribble Valley, eliminating journeys from Clitheroe to Samlesbury and these houses would be more convenient for Preston and the motorways.

A total of 73 matters were recommended for delegation to the Director of Community Services on December 12th. This is totally unprecedented. These matters should have been resolved before the application was brought to committee, but then that would have been after the Core Strategy Examination.

So, we support the decision of Clitheroe Town Council to “call in” this planning application for 1,040 houses at Standen. These councillors have been elected to oversee the interests of Clitheroe and its inhabitants. This action proves they are doing just that.

Pauline Wood,

Chairman, Clitheroe Civic Society