PMBA

Gisburn's planning application for a significant upgrade of the existing car parking facilities has been given the OK by Ribble Valley Council. The application submitted in March is for an ambitious upgrade to the car parking and main trail head. It's hoped that the car park can be relocated from Cocklet Hill to an area close to Stephen Park. As well as many additional car parking spaces there will be a toilet block, new trail head signage, skills loops and a hard standing for a temporary catering facility. Mention of a permanent cafe is made in the application although is not part of it. It is hoped in the longer term that the new tenants of Stephen Park will be able to open a cafe as part of their new business

It's also proposed that there will be a new area opened up to host events such as the Gisburn Dirty Dozen giving another range of possibilities for how Gisburn is used.

The application was approved on the 27th of June with a number of conditions including a a requirement that the development must have begun three years from the date of the approval.

Some work may start in the very near future as the Forestry Commission team can start clearing the site of existing trees, however funding for the main build is still being sort. P.M.B.A. is currently investigating how we can help support the plans with the possibility of a making a funding application in our own right for developing the skills loops for example.

Full details of the planning application and the councils decision including copies of the various documents submitted to support the application can be found on Ribble Valley Councils planning department website here.