Conservatives have welcome the launch of Longridge Town Team, a new venture designed to develop encourage promote the town that will be launched on the 15th September 2010 at the Longridge Civic Hall before civic dignatories councillors and the business people of Longridge . The ''Town Team'' will be responsible for helping to promote and plan the future economic development of Longridge.It was set up by the Ribble Valley Borough Council in co-operation with the Lancashire County Council , Longridge Town Council, local business and voluntary organisations. Members include Conservative Councillors David Smith, Lancashire County Council and Ken Hind - Ribble Valley Borough Counci. Other members include , Rupert Swarbrick, Stuart Carefoot - Longridge Town Council and Alistair Sherret Chairman of Longridge Business Group. Ken Hind Dilworth Borough Councillor explained ''There will be presentations by the Town Team , Business Link and Lancashire County Developments Limited , the economic arm of the Lancashire County Council, to show what they are offering to businesses. '''Town Team's main function is to provide Longridge with a viable sustainable future, creating jobs and maximising local facilities including retail , leisure ,industrial and service. 'Town Team will work in partnership with The Ribble Valley Borough Council, local councils, government , local business and voluntary organisations to achieve it's aim for the betterment of the Longridge community. '' It will identify new development sites for retail and industry with a view to attracting new investment and creating job opportunities . Improve and develop the retail centre of Longridge and conservation area in Berry Lane, look to maximise benefits of the motorway links, encourage expansion in existing businesses, explore potential for hotel development and market Longridge to business. ''With it's partners Town Team will plan for the a better future and encourage outside agencies , developers and businesses to come to Longridge to create the factories , shops, offices and leisure facilities needed to work our way out of the current recession.We will support our partners efforts to speed up broad band and improve the local mobile phone signals on some networks. At the presentation businesses will be invited to join the Longridge Business Group the organisation that speaks for local business . Town team members will be present to meet and talk over business problems and how we go forward. An opportunity will be given for businesses to preview the Station Centre , (Old Longridge Station) which will contain an IT centre which can provide extensive services for local businesses both existing and start ups. Nigel Evans MP for the Ribble Valley added “The Longridge Town Team is a fantastic idea that is seeking to improve the local infrastructure so that businesses are both viable and ultimately successful. I hope that the Longridge Town Team will ensure the prosperity of the town and I am positive that it will prove to be a real asset for local business men and women, employers and employees alike.” |