03-07-2025
Calls to promote town's market and produce beyond annual festival
Increased promotion of the revamped Clitheroe Market and getting higher sales of local produce throughout the year, beyond the summer Clitheroe Food Festival, needs more focus, borough councillors have said.
The market and locally-grown food were raised at Ribble Valley Council's latest Economic Development Committee meeting by Conservative and Green councillors.
One councillor said he was surprised at, in his view, the committee's low number of big economic development projects.
It came when the committee reviewed its spending on large one-off projects, called capital spending.
Clitheroe Food Festival takes place on August 9 this year, with smaller events in the week leading up to it, called Ribble Valley Taste Fest.
The market has undergone a revamp Meanwhile, Clitheroe Market has had a £250,000 upgrade and other parts of Clitheroe have had improvements too by the borough and Lancashire County Council.
However, responsibility for the market currently sits with Ribble Valley's Health & Housing Committee, but that arrangement has now been questioned.
At the economic committee, Conservative Councillor Kevin Horkin said: 'I have always been interested in this committee, but I'm constantly amazed at how little happens.
"This is economic development – this should be the engine room of the authority.
'We had a wonderful market traders' discussion before this committee meeting. There was a lot of energy expressed there and, OK, some rough-and-tumble too.
"But I think the market should come under the remit of this committee. Why does it come under the Health & Housing Committee?
'One thing said at the discussion was that there is not enough marketing of Clitheroe Market. It needs to come under this committee.
"Councillors need to think about what they want for the future. The market is more than 1,000 years old.
"It's looking fabulous now, but I think it sits with the wrong committee. How can we move it forward?'
Nicola Hopkins, the borough's director for planning and economic development, said she would look at it.
Conservative Cllr Simon Hore, the leader of Ribble Valley Council, said: 'I'd be happy to progress this. But I think we would need the full council's approval.'
Fellow Tory Cllr Richard Newmark, new chair of the economic committee, said: 'It's a good idea, and it could be covered by Tom Pridmore, the council's tourism officer, who attends this economic committee.'
Mr Pridmore had earlier given an update on his work around tourism, hospitality and travel sectors.
Regarding local farm produce, Green Cllr Gaye McCrum said: 'Rather than just having a food festival once a year, I would like to see how we can develop opportunities for people to buy more food grown in the Ribble Valley as soon as possible?
"So food is fresher and involves less transport, less 'food miles'."
Conservative Cllr Robin Walsh added: 'I totally support these ideas."
