Central Park - official announcement

We are thrilled at today's official announcement by South Ribble Borough Council that the fabulous expanse of fields and woodlands and floodplains running alongside the River Ribble from Penwortham to Lostock Hall and Bamber Bridge is now OFFICIALLY the new Central Park. 

Cllr Cliff Hughes has announced that this area will now be preserved as a massive "green spine" across the borough, protecting and enhancing this fantastic green ecosystem for future generations. It will also link to the new Ribble Coast and Wetlands Regional Park along the Ribble Way, and connect across the River Ribble to Avenham and Miller Parks in Preston.

This is a real shout for people-power, and a fantastic cherry-on-the-top of the successful community campaign to save the River Ribble and its remaining green corridor from damaging barrages and inappropriate floodplain and green field development. 

A huge THANK YOU to Cllr Hughes and South Ribble Borough Council for listening!
~

Ribble Barrage and Floodplain Building Developments Take 'Backward Step' - Has The Ribble Been Saved?

BREAKING NEWS... RIBBLE BARRAGE GOES BACK TO DRAWING BOARD!!

The Lancashire Evening Post are reporting today that Preston City Council Chief Executive Jim Carr has stated that the Ribble barrage and the 'plans to redevelop an area of the river in the city and neighbouring South Ribble' have 'gone back to the drawing board'.


you can click on the picture to read the LEP article in full...

The LEP report that whilst 'plans to solve the blue-green algae problem and fix aging gates at Preston Dock will press ahead', Mr. Carr has stated that:

"The riverside element has taken a step back from where we were (before the local elections earlier this year) because of the political changes here and in South Ribble".

Mr Carr continued:

"What we are now relying on is discussing this between the leaders to see what is acceptable to them. Much of the development is in South Ribble and now it is an issue of whether it wants to progress this".


Luckily for the River Ribble, our environment, and our communities, it seems that not only the Labour Councillors in Preston are opposing the barrage and building development schemes - such as Jack Davenport, Bhikhu Patel, and John Swindells (see below for an excellent letter by Cllr Swindells) - but South Ribble Council are also listening to the evidence we have researched and made publicly available, and to the serious concerns raised by South Ribble residents, and seem to have forced a halt to the project.

The new political make-up in South Ribble occurred largely as a result of South Ribblers' concerns about Preston's plans for the Penwortham side of the river - and the successful South Ribble Conservatives campaigned about local concerns regarding Preston's plans for South Ribble - particularly the Riverworks plans for building a huge new urban conurbation on the Penwortham Green Belt and floodplain.

We are extremely pleased that our tireless research, and our innovative blogging and campaigning techniques to let the public know about the real impacts of what a barrage and building developments would mean for our River, environment, Green Belt, floodplains, riverbanks, allotments, sports pitches, and communities, have encouraged Councillors and Council Officials to start to listen, and begin to think about making informed decisions and take the only logical step of opposing the barrage and building development schemes.

Our hope now is that common sense prevails and the barrage and riverside building developments will be consigned from the drawing board to it's rightful place in the dustbin.

Mr Carr's statement will not be anywhere near clear enough for most Preston residents, especially those living in areas that would face an increased flood risk if the barrage and floodplain housing were built, and those who care deeply about the Ribble environment - the council must state absolutely whether the barrage and the associated housing plans are off the council agenda for good, or whether they will later be drawn back out of their coffin like a vampire in the absence of the clear sunlight of public attention, which has been focussed by the Save The Ribble campaign onto this dangerously stupid, irresponsible and highly unpopular project.

We also have major concerns that the Vision Board has still not abandoned it's plans to turn the Southern bank of the Ribble into a suburban extension of 'Greater Preston', there is no doubt that greedy developers have their eyes on this land, and that they still have strong influence over the future of our area.

According to the LEP, Mr Carr also said that what the Governments decides regarding 'targets for new homes' in the area 'would also guide the future of the riverside plans, which centre around new housing overlooking a marina created by the barrage'.

But surely targets for new homes don't specify that these need to be built on the banks of the river or on the Green Belt and floodplains?!!


Any new housebuilding in either Preston or South Ribble needs to avoid building in areas at high risk of flooding - as the Environment Agency advise. Otherwise the new houses and our existing homes will be at even greater risk of flooding, and our beautiful riverside areas, our football pitches and allotments, would be lost beneath tonnes of concrete, ruining their precious contribution to our environment as well as increasing the flood risk to our homes!!

South Ribble and Preston Councils must give a clear guarantee to the people that the greenbelt and floodplain land by the Ribble is sacrosanct, and will be kept as a beautiful green and natural area for the public to enjoy forever.

Also today, the LEP have published an excellent letter from Cllr John Swindells in which he states:

"Until May I was Preston City Council's cabinet member for environment and sustainability. During my term I discussed the Ribble barrage with many groups and organisations including the RSPB, Environment Agency, the Anglers Conservation Association etc. All these organisations were united in their total opposition to the barrage. In fact I never spoke to any organisation who voiced their support for the barrage."


you can click on the letter to read it in full...

Councillor Swindells continues:

"There followed the LEP survey where an overwhelming number of Prestonians were against the scheme.

I also attended conferences in Cardiff where I discussed the Cardiff Bay scheme. I discovered that the scheme had an original estimate of £40m but eventually cost £200m and now needs £20m per year spent on it to mitigate the environmental impact it has had.
Far from the saviour of Cardiff it has proved to be a millstone around the city's neck".

As far as the implications for the River Ribble are concerned, John Swindells continues:

"This year much of the flooding in England has been caused by land drains not being able to take the rainfall. The Ribble's land drains empty at low water, these drains will be permanently under water if the barrage is built. To remedy this the cost of new drains can only make the scheme uneconomic.

"With this floodtide of opposition and evidence I am staggered that the Vision Board continues to favour a feasibility study.

"Much of the Riverworks scheme has a lot going for it but the barrage would destroy a unique environment and would put Preston at severe risk of flooding".


In his letter Councillor Swindells raises a number of serious issues - not least the spectre of Preston Vision Board...

Whilst Preston Council have been forced to slow down on the barrage by having to listen to South Ribble's opinions on the issues, to whom are Preston Vision Board accountable...?

We watch and we wait, and meanwhile the Ribble continues to flow...

You can contact us at savetheribble@tiscali.co.uk

Riversway & Middleforth Election Candidates Blast Ribble Barrage and Green Belt Building Proposals

Riversway in Preston and Middleforth in Penwortham are two seats up for re-election where local residents have expressed strong opposition to the proposed Ribble barrage and massive housing and business development ideas earmarked for the Green Belt and floodplain area on the Penwortham side.

Riversway has one council seat up for grabs in the Preston City Council Elections, May 2007. The ward includes the Broadgate area, which is one of the areas that will be most affected by the increased flood risk and other adverse side effects of the Riverworks Barrage and the associated floodplain housing proposals. The issue of the barrage could be crucial in deciding who is elected.

Now we have clear statements on Riverworks from the two main candidates in the election.

Sitting Councillor, former Mayor Bhikhu Patel in the latest 'Riversway Labour Rose' seems to speak for all 3 Labour councillors in the ward when he says

"We have recently carried out an extensive consultation regarding the Vision Board's proposals for developing the docks and the barrage across the River Ribble. We support the views of the residents who are against the proposal to build the barrage"

Bhikhu says he is more in touch with local residents because he is the only candidate to actually live in the Broadgate area.

Meanwhile, former councillor Elaine Abbot, the Respect Party candidate for the area has blasted Preston City Council and the Vision Board for the Barrage in local information sheet 'Broadgate News':

"Consider the Ribble Development plans. Who are the Preston Vision Board, and does any member live in your area? I doubt it. They are a small number of unelected people with a clear interest in going against the wishes of residents. Their views are clouded by their aim to bring big business to Preston. Yet Preston Council claims it is consulting with us on this issue.

Respect supporters point out that while individual Labour councillors are now making statements against the barrage, their party leaders (and the leaders of the Tories and Liberals) on the Preston City Council Cabinet still back the proposals and point to the fact that Labour MP David Borrow sits on the Vision Board and is thus part of the quango pushing the barrage idea.

Both Bhikhu Patel and Elaine Abbott have done useful things to help the Save The Ribble Campaign, we leave it up to the local voters to decide who they believe will fight most determinedly against the Ribble Barrage and Housing ideas when they cast their votes.

Here is a link to Save The Ribble's official position on the May elections

The other candidates in the Riversway ward are Wilf Gavin (Liberal Democrat) and Ronnie Smith (Conservative) we have not heard anything from these candidates about their position on these issues yet, and invite these candidates to share their views on the Ribble Barrage and housing plans with the people of Riversway by commenting below, or emailing us - we will give Wilf and Ronnie's positions equal prominence to Bhiku and Elaines, once we actually know what they are...

This was the result in the last Riversway ward council seat election in 2006:

Crompton Linda Labour 501

Abbot Elaine Elizabeth Respect 318

Gavin Wilfred Ronald Lib Dem 221

Balshaw Jane Conservative 196

Meanwhile, in Middleforth - the Penwortham Ward at high risk from the potential impacts of the barrage and building developments being proposed for the Penwortham Green Belt and floodplain - both the Labour candidates and the Conservatives have made strong statements about these proposals.

David Bretherton and Gaynor Bretherton, the current Labour Councillors for the ward, are standing for re-election. In their latest election newsletter, they state:

'They want to see the green spaces in Middleforth improved and maintained';

'They DON'T want a barrage on the River Ribble';

'They want to see the river tidied up for the benefit of the wildlife and enjoyment of visitors'.


The South Ribble Conservative newsletter makes it clear they are 'committed to fighting ANY moves to build on our green fields and open spaces'.

Still no word from the Lib Dems in this Ward...

Contact us at savetheribble@tiscali.co.uk and let us know what YOUR candidates are saying - and contact us if you are a candidate with views on the Riverworks "Visions" for our river and green spaces...

Council Elections May 2007

The elections for council seats in Preston and South Ribble are here again, and in some political parties election literature, the threat by Preston Vision Board to barrage the Ribble and build 4000 houses in its floodplain is like the 'elephant in the room that nobody mentions' - they are sticking their heads in the sand like ostriches, and hoping that this threat to local people and our river doesn't become an election issue.

Meanwhile, one party, standing in many seats across Preston, has the headline 'Save The Ribble' prominent in its literature and is asking very legitimate questions about the Preston Vision Board. The Save The Ribble Campaign is not aligned to any political party, but it is clear from this that SOME local candidates are taking this issue very seriously.

We at Save The Ribble have even been asked by some local residents to stand in these elections ourselves, as 'Save The Ribble' candidates. We decided not to do this, this time, and we also made a clear decision NOT TO ENDORSE ANY PARTICULAR CANDIDATE OR PARTY this time round.

There has been a small number of local politicians over the last year who have been brave enough to take a clear and public pro-Ribble position and make open statements against the idea of a Ribble Barrage. These include Labour Councillor John Swindells, Respect Councillor Michael Lavalette and Conservative MP Michael Jack.
Labour Councillor Bhiku Patel is now openly opposed to the barrage proposal, and Labour Councillors David Bretherton and Gaynor Bretherton in Penwortham are now openly opposing the Ribble barrage and "Vision" to build on the Penwortham Green Belt and Flood plain.
Two or three other councillors have privately given the Save The Ribble Campaign very valuable information and advice, including one former Mayor. Too many local politicians however have kept silent on this subject, meekly toeing the 'party line' and failing to ask questions of the unelected and unrepresentative 'Vision Board' that seems to be making all the real political decisions in Preston and South Ribble, others have taken great pains to 'sit on the fence', often making themselves look ridiculous in the process as it is clear that many local residents - and some local Councillors - recognise the damage these particular Riverworks proposals will bring to our local and national environment, and to our lives.

Our advice to the public in these elections is to ask canvassers the following questions:

1. What is your candidates' position on the Ribble Barrage proposals?

2. What is your candidates' position on the 4000 houses proposed to be built on the Ribble Greenbelt?

3. What has your candidate done practically to support the Save The Ribble Campaign, and to oppose the Barrage and Housing ideas?

4. What is your candidate going to do over the next year to oppose the Barrage and Floodplain Housing ideas?

Do not accept vague answers and fence sitting!

We invite all candidates in these elections to post their own answers to these 4 questions in the 'comments' section below.

We at 'Save The Ribble' have members from all political persuasions, and some of us simply distrust politicians intensely. We will be watching our councillors from all the political parties closely over the next few months, and their performance in publicly opposing the barrage and greenbelt housing plans will determine whether we decide to endorse them, or even to stand against them as 'Save The Ribble' candidates in May 2008.

Local candidates who have so far replied to questions from their local residents regarding the Ribble Barrage and Ribbleside Green Belt and Floodplain developments are:

Salim Desai, Labour candidate standing against Michael Lavalette in Preston Town Centre Ward has stated his strong support for the Ribble and countryside areas as a natural environment, and said 'I personally am yet to be convinced regarding the benefits that these propositions hold... I am totally against making this land available to developers so that they can profit at the expense of Preston Rate Payers...'
In his leaflet, delivered through doors in the area, Salim Desai's only mention of this issue is that he has 'already consulted residents... about the proposed River works project' - the consultation undertaken by a few local councillors was, however, ONLY regarding the Docks proposals, and unfortunately limited to a couple of areas of Preston;

Steve Bennett, Labour councillor for Bamber Bridge North says:
"The footpaths that run alongside the river through the parks and to the city centre are a pleasure to walk and I believe a unique asset to the whole area. The river has been improved to a degree that it is now one of the finest fishing rivers in the country and is cleaner than anytime since the industrial revolution. I would not like to see any of these improvements and amenities jeopardised by any ill thought out proposals. If the proposals reach the consultation phase I would certainly oppose the scheme and I am sure that there will be considerable public pressure to reject the plans".

Cliff Hughes, the Conservative councillor for Lostock Hall, was not specifically asked about the barrage and building developments but spoke to a local resident about the local area from Lostock Hall down to the river, and he seems to be passionate about keeping the existing green fields as they are... He suggests that the Friends of Walton Park form a trust to protect the area... Any local residents at Lostock Hall who have more definate comments from Cllr Hughes or any other candidates regarding the barrage and building developments, please let us know...

Gaynor Bretherton and David Bretherton, Cllrs for Middleforth Ward, Penwortham, have moved to a more definate stance since declaring that, as far as the barrage is concerned, 'we will be against any proposition as it presently stands' as they state in their Election Newsletter that they 'DON'T want a barrage on the River Ribble' and that they 'want to see the green spaces in Middleforth improved and maintained' and 'want to see the river tidied up for the benefit of the wildlife and enjoyment of visitors'. Regarding the building developments, David and Gaynor say ,'We would like to see more investment being put into tidying up the river which would enhance the environment for the wildlife and which in turn would perhaps encourage more people to enjoy the unspoilt facilities it has to offer... We think its a brilliant idea to extend the Local Nature Reserve for local visitors so in principle we would be against the idea of build on the flood[plains]';

The South Ribble conservatives have published a declaration that they 'are committed to fighting ANY moves to build on [South Ribble] green fields and open spaces' (Common Sense Election "Special Edition" p3), but make NO MENTION of the Ribble barrage proposal...

Other Councillors who have previously expressed their concerns regarding these developments are:

Cllr John Coombes, Fylde Borough Council Leader;
Cllr Paul Cummins, Sefton BC, Environmental Protection Department;
Freckleton Parish Council made a declaration of opposition to any Ribble barrage scheme...

Here is the full list of Preston City Council Candidates
and South Ribble Borough Council Candidates

Contact your Councillor and the other candidates standing in your Ward, and let us know what they reply...

We will be watching all these councillors and candidates carefully to see whether over the next year, they turn their words into genuine pro-Ribble actions.

Contact us here at savetheribble@tiscali.co.uk or post your comments below...

South Ribble say NO to Unitary Merger! And Brockholes Appeal Deadline Approaches

The surprise news of the day is that the merger between Preston and South Ribble Councils is off. South Ribble Borough Council voted last night not to go ahead, after listening to the overwhelming pressure of public opinion.

We can only salute the councillors of South Ribble for being brave enough to admit that they were wrong to support this merger idea, and for representing public opinion by rejecting it.

Without the merger it will be far more difficult for Preston to push ahead its 'Riverworks' ideas, as their advocates will now need to push them through three planning committees instead of just one.

This sudden and unexpected change of heart is an immense blow to Preston City Council’s leaders, who now see their big business inspired ‘expansion and growth at any cost’ agenda overwhelmingly rejected by ordinary people. Suspicion of the ‘Riverworks’ proposals and fear for what they might mean for the greenbelt between Preston and South Ribble was one of several factors that led many people to oppose this merger.

Almost 90% of local residents who responded to South Ribble Borough Council's consultation process REJECTED the potential merger, and for a broad range of reasons.

Save The Ribble Campaign asked several pertinent questions about what a merger and Unitary Status might mean (see 15th October article) for the Ribble and Green Belt areas if the overall control of the River Ribble and its green belt was in the hands of Preston City Council (keen to pursue their Ribble barrage and green belt building developments) rather than shared between themselves, South Ribble Borough Council, and Lancashire County Council, as it is at present.

Save The Ribble Campaign are pleased that local democracy is alive and kicking in South Ribble, the Borough Council clearly listening to residents' concerns.

It is time for Preston City Council to start listening to public opinion too, and be big enough to admit that they were wrong to think about such irresponsible and dangerous ideas as putting a barrage across the Ribble and building over 4000 new houses in its floodplain.

There are lots of lessons here for both Preston City Council and for those of us who wish to defend our river from the Riverworks ideas:

* Public pressure, if it is large enough and determined enough can make a difference.

* People are not prepared to accept ‘growth at any cost’ – our green spaces and our river are precious to us.

* Politicians and officials who are brave enough to admit they were wrong, and listen to ordinary people are almost as endangered as the Ribble’s Atlantic Salmon – let’s celebrate such brave people when we find them!


BROCKHOLES WETLAND APPEAL.
A huge WELL DONE to all those who have responded so generously and sent donations in to the Wildlife Trust Brockholes Wetland Appeal -
but THE WILDLIFE TRUST ARE STILL JUST £16,500 SHORT OF THE TOTAL NEEDED and the DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING!

A fantastic £33,500 of the £50,000 target has been raised so far - in just a couple of weeks - but the Wildlife Trust still urgently need £16,500 before 15th December 2006 to SAVE BROCKHOLES WETLAND, on the banks of the River Ribble, from development, and preserve this irreplaceable wildlife habitat for the environment and for local people FOREVER!!

Buy a Gift of Wildlife and support the Brockholes Appeal for yourself or a loved one - what a fabulous present that would make! No matter how large or small the donation, IT WILL ALL COUNT! And all donations will be recorded on a special Roll of Honour to be kept at the Brockholes site.

You can download the Donation form here and send it with your cheque -
made payable to "Birchall Blackburn Escrow Account (Brockholes)" - to:

BROCKHOLES APPEAL,
FREEPOST PR983,
PRESTON
PR5 6BR

If you wish, you can write Save The Ribble on the form so that the Wildlife Trust can see which route your donation has come from.

Your £10 donation will bring the Wildlife Trust another £300 towards the purchase and improvement of the site, under the terms of the "match funding" criteria whereby the £50,000 raised by 15th December will release a further £1.5 MILLION from other funding sources!!!

£20 will release a further £600...

If you give £100 you will be invited to a special celebration event (and the Wildlife Trust will get a net £3,000 towards Brockholes!);

£10,000 will enable you to name a birdwatching hide after yourself or a loved one;
PLEASE SEND IN YOUR DONATION TODAY - THERE IS LESS THAN A WEEK REMAINING TO SAVE BROCKHOLES FROM DEVELOPMENT.

Read more about the
Brockholes Wetland Appeal.

Contact us at savetheribble@tiscali.co.uk

Article by Riversider and Reigh Belisama.

Will Unitary Authority Status be a Threat to our River and Greenbelt?

Last month both Preston City Council and South Ribble Borough Council voted in favour of merging and becoming a single unitary authority. Both councils are now working on feasibility studies but both councils have already stated that they recommend a merger and the formation of a single “super authority”.

South Ribble councillors have agreed to ask local people what they think of this proposal while Preston City Council have so far been silent on the matter of public consultation.

Councillors argue that a unitary authority can deliver improved services. However, the question many local residents are asking is how the proposed single unitary authority will affect our River and Green Belt.


Preston City "vision":
Preston City Council already have proposals for developing on the Green Belt in South Ribble. As long ago as 2005, PCC’s Big Lottery bid was staking a claim for the Riverworks project as the core of a new city centre for Preston which viewed South Ribble as part of a wider Preston City. (Of course the Big Lottery bid failed due to Preston City Council’s lack of public consultation!)
PCC want to develop “a new city along an underutilised river valley that currently separates two halves of (the) established urban structure” of Preston and South Ribble.

The Council see the Riverworks project as a symbol for the new City region, viewing their proposed Ribble barrage and Central Park building development as “connect(ing) together the two halves of the city” (PCC Lottery Bid Appendix A: RiverCity Project).

These ideas are reflected in the Central Lancashire Sub-Regional Spatial Strategy, a document drawn up GVA Grimley (property advisors and consultants) for a partner group which includes Preston City Council and South Ribble Borough Council. This document argues for “the major location for growth…..in the wider Preston area which ‘straddles’ the River Ribble”, building on Penwortham Green Belt a “new sustainable community supporting the growth of the City centre” (Central Lancashire City p.24).

To achieve this it is proposed that “consideration needs to be given to strategic Greenfield release” thus “a review of the greenbelt south of the River Ribble should be considered” (ibid p.18/19).
Some South Ribble Borough Councillors have made it clear that they see the Green Belt as “sacrosanct”. But the question is whether that opinion would hold sway in a unitary authority council chamber particularly in view of the stated support of the leadership of both South Ribble Borough Council and Preston City Council for the Riverworks Vision.


Economic viability?
According to PCC, without the barrage (which threatens the most important estuarine river in Britain, if not Europe) and massive housing development and business park (on South Ribble Green Belt), Preston and the surrounding area will enter a “spiral of decline” and become a centre “for the retired, the disadvantaged and the unemployed” (PCC Lottery Bid).

However, Preston and South Ribble are already economic growth areas:
- South Ribble is already “one of the most prosperous districts in Lancashire in terms of employment potential and wealth” (PCC Submission to Boundaries Committee for England: Proposal for a New City of Preston Council).

- Preston is already “experienc[ing] one of the fastest rates of employment growth across all NW districts in the last 4 years (+35%)… Economic forecasts for this …area suggest a growth rate over the next 10 years well in excess of the regional average” (Lancashire Economic Partnership and The Northern Way Central Lancashire City Region Development Programme p.7)
- and all without causing potentially disastrous consequences to the River Ribble and surrounding Green Belt.

Whilst it is recognised that continuing economic growth is important, economic development which is so detrimental to the environment is not sustainable development and will cost more in the long term trying to put right the damage caused (the environmental impacts of the Cardiff Bay Barrage currently costs the Welsh Assembly more than £20 million every year).

Economic wealth is also not the only determinant of quality of life, and it is increasingly recognised that quality of life is determined and measured by access to our natural and unspoilt environment (Government Quality of Life Counts Report).


Residents' Concerns:
In response to residents concerns about the proposed Ribble barrage and development on Green Belt/Floodplain:

- Preston City Council leaders and officers have dismissed concerns as “scaremongering”, and have dismissed requests for public consultation about their Riverworks "vision" before delivery strategies and business plans as “accusing the council of not following correct procedure”. Under their Local Development Framework (currently in progress) policies about Green Belt (Policy DC1) and internationally protected conservation sites (Policy DC5) are under Review. Whilst in some areas PCC does show a willingness to support and enhance green spaces (such as the Local Nature Reserve on Fishwick Bottoms), so far residents are still waiting for consultation, and answers to their concerns about Riverworks.

- South Ribble Borough Council leadership has expressed support for Riverworks, but has shown willingness to engage with residents concerns, and have stated aims in their Local Development Scheme (see p.25) to protect the Green Belt.

- Lancashire County Council policy emphasises the protection of the River Ribble, Green Belt and Floodplain (Joint Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-16, policy 21) – a view supported by Lancashire County Council officers.

Under the current local government structure Lancashire County Council may therefore have a moderating influence on development proposals for the River and adjoining green belt.
Unfortunately, this moderating influence will be lost if Preston and South Ribble merge as a unitary authority as Lancashire County Council will no longer have an influence on planning decisions in Preston and South Ribble.

Whilst South Ribble residents are still waiting to hear how South Ribble Borough Council will consult them regarding the merger with Preston and bid for unitary authority status, and Preston residents are still waiting to hear whether they will be consulted at all, residents both sides of the Ribble can register for consultation in the Local Development Framework process which will form the blueprint for development over the coming years.

Concerned residents can also raise the issue of the potential threat to our River and Green Belt posed by unitary authority status with their councillors.

contact savetheribble@tiscali.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION IN SOUTH RIBBLE

Promote what you love about living in South Ribble.

A photography competition has been launched to celebrate the diverse nature of the borough by South Ribble Partnership. They are looking for photos of real people to be entered in the following categories

Living in south Ribble
Working in South Ribble
Visiting South Ribble
Playing in South Ribble.

The photo should be accompanied by a caption which explains what you think is great about South Ribble.

Closing date is 18 August 2006.

For more information and entry details phone 01772 625302 or email asmith@southribble.gov.uk.

Prize is £100 voucher for photographic equipment but more importantly the winning photos will form part of an exhibition and will be used in promotional materials for member organisations within the partnership.


An opportunity for all you budding photographers that have been sending such good work to the blog to reach a bigger audience and promote our beautiful river ribble!

Good luck!