Tedd Talks
Live Magazines’ Tedd Walmsley reflects on the local elections and asks why businesses are being held back by planning issues
Well, it didn’t go quite to plan for the Conservative party in the recent local elections here in the Ribble Valley. Having held a majority and control of the borough council for more than 30 years, the results were quite shocking – this is of course, set against a background of losses for the Conservatives across the country. The turnout was only 30 per cent and whilst this is normal, it begs the question as to how strong a campaign was fought by the prospective councillors to woo voters and to get residents to the polling stations.
So, what does it mean? Let’s start with the new composition of the council. Eighteen Tories, down from 26, eight Liberal Democrats, down from 10 and seven Labour (the first time in living memory) two Greens and five Independents, including two dissident Tories, who had jumped ship but retained their seats. With no overall majority, I guess the Independents hold the key for the huge capital decisions that will need to be taken over the next four years.
There is also a potential plot twist – the closely run campaign in Whalley saw the incumbent Ged Mirfin lose to the Independent candidate John Atherton by just six votes. It seems RVBC have messed up, as some residents appear to have cast their votes in the wrong ward – blame an admin error! This blunder has now been taken away from RVBC, who have admitted the mistake, and may well end up in a new by-election in June. You really couldn’t make it up, it’s like a ‘Carry On’ movie but not in the least bit funny. I fear with this hung council, even less will happen in terms of decision-making and that seriously worries me.
Looking to 2024 we will then see a General Election with Nigel Evans fighting in a new constituency geographically, with an epicentre in the new Labour stronghold of Longridge and Andrew Stevenson will be trying to hold on to the new seat of Pendle & Clitheroe. It’s certainly going to be interesting and I wonder if these MPs and their opponents will have learned anything from their local counterparts.
Outside of the elections, there have been lots of incoming messages about planning issues. Businesses continue to be frustrated at the, ‘No – what’s the question?’ culture of both officers and the previous planning committee. I’ve been more concerned at the apparent lack of interest from both teams to visit the businesses in question and to work together on a plan for progress. We all accept that there are procedures and rules in place, but we must encourage businesses to grow and flourish in what is still a perilous economic outlook.
In the spirit of balance, if anyone has any examples of success with planning, please get in touch. Perhaps a re-shaped committee, post-elections, will shake things up?
Whalley looks to be a hotbed at the moment – the cynic in me suggests that the potential of a by- election might have something to do with the noise? Fears around new road links causing danger and moves to fight the inevitable march of new build, have dropped into my inbox. Local residents are signing petitions and being championed by local business and councillors, but I guess the inevitable will follow but will the infrastructure cope?
As we move from spring into summer, I’m hoping to see and hear about a lot of initiatives and events to drive footfall into the towns and villages. I’m going to ask the council, Chambers of Trade, Clitheroe Town Team and anyone else, to provide as much information for us to help promote those summer events – please feel free to get in touch. We are here to help.
As always, I’d ask you to be kind to each other and support our local economies wherever and whenever you can.
The views above are my own and I’d be delighted to get some replies to my questions and will report back on any progress and positive outcomes.
tedd.walmsley@live-magazines.co.uk
