The next meeting of THORNLEY WITH WHEATLEY PARISH COUNCIL will be held on Monday 4 August 2025 commencing at 7 pm at Thornley Old School.
Agenda details will be available on the Meetings:Agendas page and posted on the Parish Noticeboard at least 3 days prior to the meeting.
SPEED ISSUES ALONG CHIPPING ROAD
At the Parish meeting held in May 2024, residents raised concerns regarding the speed of traffic on what is known as Chipping Road. The Parish Council agreed to contact the Highways Authority to report the concerns raised, which we did and the response from the Highways District Lead Officer was read out at the Parish meeting held in May 2025.
Residents at the May 2025 Parish meeting continued to feel concerned about the speed of traffic (the speed limit on this stretch of road being 60 mph) particularly with regard to traffic travelling along the section from Longridge and past the Derby Arms. The Parish Council was asked to contact the Highways Authority again. We emailed the Highways Authority regarding the perceived speed issue and also asked if it would be possible to have a “Caution, concealed entrance” sign before the bend approaching Thornley School. The response from the Highways District Lead Officer is as follows. The reference to “Town Council” should read “Parish Council”
“Thank you for your email on behalf of the town council regarding Chipping Road.
Firstly, a note on road names. According to Ordnance Survey, this road appears to be called Longridge Road. According to our preferred source, the National Street Gazetteer, part of the route is called Chipping Road and part is called Chipping Lane.
For this analysis, we have looked at the section of the road between the Derby Arms (junction with Moss Side Lane) to the start of the 30 zone in Longridge by the cricket club. As with any road with a predominantly rural aspect and without a system of streetlights, the speed limit here defaults to 60mph.
We expect drivers to understand that the speed limit is just that, an absolute limit, not a target, and that they may need to drive more slowly depending on the conditions they find. Along with other highway authorities, when assessing adherence to speed limits we look at the "85th percentile" of traffic. This is the speed at which 85 percent of traffic travels at or below. The 85th percentile for this route is 45.5mph. The road also enjoys an exceptionally good safety record, with no injury collisions anywhere on the route examined. Given the excellent safety record and extremely good overall adherence to the speed limit, we are not proposing any new safety interventions here.
I am sorry if residents have had frightening experiences as pedestrians on the more narrow sections of the footway between these two points. However, it is worth noting that we have many miles of similar roads with no footways at all.
We would not consider concealed entrance warning signage for a private access.”
The first response from the Highways District Lead Officer did also suggest that
“If residents witness regular incidents of nuisance or dangerous driving, they can contact the Police directly either by the non-emergency telephone number 101 or on the Lancashire Constabulary “Do It Online” webpage, with a record of the registration numbers of the vehicles”
We are posting this information to update everyone on the action we have taken and the response received.
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Forest of Bowland National Landscape informed Parish Councils that it was offering 6 Parish Councils a grant to purchase and plant a Landmark Tree to celebrate its diamond anniversary. The Parish Council submitted an Expression of Interest which was successful. We have now planted a Rowan Tree (also known as Mountain Ash) on Jeffrey Hill for wildlife and visitors to enjoy.
We planted the Tree close to a memorial bench which many years ago was jointly donated by the Parish Council and Peel Estates Ltd in memory of a Thornley resident who was tragically killed in 1986. The bench had fallen into disrepair (first photo below) so the PC agreed to refurbish it and our Chairman carried out the required work (second photo). A new plaque has also now been fixed to the bench.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Help to make your community better for biking. For more information follow the link below
Community Transport in the Ribble Valley
The Little Green Bus is a community transport service which operates in the Ribble Valley. Please click on the link to find out more about the service provided.
Foster Carer Recruitment Campaign
LancashireCC need more foster carers & they are looking for people just like you who can provide a safe, loving home for a child in need.
Whether you work in a caring profession or not, you could have the skills & experience to make a good foster carer, & full training is provided.
Find out more about benefits & support if you #FosterForLancashire https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/fostering/foster-with-us/benefits-and-support/
Cycling and Walking Networks
Do you have ideas on how cycling & walking networks could be improved in your area? @LancashireCC need your feedback on their draft #Activetravel network map, please help by completing a short survey https://lancashire.citizenspace.com/lcwip-engagement-stage-2/
️Safer streets
Cleaner air
Healthier people
SUPPORTING HOUSEHOLDS WITH DEBT AND COST OF LIVING ADVICE
Ribble Valley Borough Council has appointed a debt and cost of living advisor as part of its ongoing commitment to its Household Support Fund (HSF) programme.
Originally introduced in October 2021 by the Department for Work and Pensions, the current phase of the HSF programme, which has resulted in Ribble Valley Borough Council being awarded £240,000 for 2023/24, is aimed at providing help for residents with inflationary changes and the ongoing significant rising cost of living.
To strengthen the service provided, the Council has appointed a debt and cost of living advisor to both assist residents who wish to apply for the HSF fund and to help residents who feel they may need additional support and benefit advice.
Nicola Hopkins, Ribble Valley Borough Council’s director of economic development and planning said: “The cost-of-living crisis continues, and more and more households are struggling to make ends meet.
“Through the ongoing provision of the HSF, Ribble Valley Borough Council is seeking to support our most vulnerable residents and the appointment of a debt and cost of living advisor further strengthens this. Provision of such support via other agencies in Ribble Valley can be challenging to access, which is why Ribble Valley Borough Council is initiating this service.
“As a first step, the advisor will be contacting all those residents who have received a voucher to see what further support could be provided. This could be ensuring that all benefits available are being received or could be to simply offer support for those who are struggling with debt or other financial matters.
“The service is open to anyone who lives or works in Ribble Valley, and we would urge any residents who feel they may need support or advice to get in touch.”
The debt and cost of living advisor will be available on Wednesday afternoons, and all-day on Thursdays and Fridays. Contact can be made via the customer services team by telephone on 01200 425111.
Further information regarding the Household Support Fund can be found on Ribble Valley Borough Council’s website: Help for Households – Ribble Valley Borough Council
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Click on the link to see details of the Cosy Homes in Lancashire initiative.
Please click on the link to view an open letter from the Ribble Valley Climate Action Network to Ribble Valley Borough Councillors, RVBC Climate Change Working Group, Lancashire County Councillors for the Ribble Valley regarding the climate and nature emergency.
Open_letter_from_Climate_Action_Network_re_climate_change.pdf
Please click on the link below to learn about The Access to Work Mental Health Support Service
Services provided by the Homewise Society - click on the link below
Details of services provided by the Homewise Society.pdf
CAP Debt Help
Please find below details of debt help for the Ribble Valley area provided by Christians Against Poverty in Clitheroe
Time to get Walking
For information on walking in Lancashire please click on the link below
Share the Load
If you are feeling low and struggling to cope check out the link below
How to report a Highway fault - click on the link below
The Rural Services Network
The Rural Services Network seeks to provide a voice for rural communities by representing rural services, networking between rural service organisations and establishing and broadcasting best practice in rural service provision. Click on the link below to visit the website for more information.