Ribble Valley

Ribble Valley is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Clitheroe, the largest town. The borough also includes the town of Longridge and numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. It is named after the River Ribble. Much of the district lies within the Forest of Bowland, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The neighbouring districts are Pendle, Burnley, Hyndburn, Blackburn with Darwen, South Ribble, Preston, Wyre, Lancaster and North Yorkshire. History The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of four former districts and parts of another three, which were abolished at the same time: Blackburn Rural District (north of Arley Brook, rest went to Blackburn) Bowland Rural District Burnley Rural District (parishes of Read and Sabden only, rest split between Burnley, Hyndburn and Pendle) Clitheroe Municipal Borough Clitheroe Rural District Longridge Urban District Preston Rural District (parishes of Dutton, Hothersall and Ribchester only, rest split between Preston and South Ribble) The new district was named Ribble Valley after the River Ribble which flows through the area. The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. The Bowland Rural District had been in the West Riding of Yorkshire prior to the reforms, whereas the other parts had all been in Lancashire. The council was granted a coat of arms in 1975, which includes both the Red Rose of Lancaster and White Rose of York, referencing the two historic counties.