UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) provided complementary funding to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), targeted specifically at supporting rural businesses and communities in line with the government’s overall goals of Levelling Up and approach to the UKSPF.

As a district containing substantial rural areas, Ribble Valley was allocated £433,680.

Ribble Valley Council submitted its REPF Investment Plan in November 2022 and the Plan was approved by the Government in 2023.

More than the Council’s initial REPF allocation has been used to support the following 21 projects

New Electric Vehicle Charging Points

Two electric vehicle charging points have been erected in four of the Boroughs rural Villages- Sabden, Slaidburn, Chipping and Ribchester

Safe Access for All

The delivery of a new two-lane driveway with separate pedestrian access at Salesbury Memorial Hall. The new driveway has replaced a previous restricted single-lane drive which was increasingly causing serious problems with congestion, hazardous access and safety issues for children attending Wilpshire Wanderers activities and the Halls other users, who were forced to share access with vehicles.

New Footpath

A grant was awarded to Brabins Endowed School in Chipping for the provision of a footpath

Composting Toilet

Funding was provided to enable the provision of a new composting toilet in Ramsgreave

Car Park

A REPF grant enabled the car park to be resurfaced at the ABC Memorial Hall

Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN)

£150,000 of the Council’s REPF funding was used to part fund the installation of rural broadband in the following villages:

• Knowle Green
• Bolton-by-Bowland and Paythorne
• Grindleton and Sawley

The installation of new Solar Panels

REPF funding was used to support the installation of new solar panels at:

• Chipping and District Memorial Hall
• Hurst Green Football Club
• Grindleton Recreation Ground Charity

New Playground Equipment

Funding to support the installation of new playground equipment was provided for the following villages

• Sabden
• Wilpshire
• Mellor

Coronation Gardens Wiswell

Funding was provided to enable improvements to the open space known as Coronation Gardens in Wiswell

Creation of a new 3G Pitch

Grant support was provided to enable the provision of new 3G pitches at

• Rimmington
• Langho

Creation of football pitches, Wilpshire

The project saw the conversion of two disused tennis courts into additional playing fields that the football club can use. The football club is currently at capacity with their existing playing fields and to enable the club to continue to grow and allow additional children to partake, they are seeking to expand their pitches.