‘Really refreshing’: Reaction to council chiefs’ alternative vision for future of Lancashire

In a lecture about community wealth building, he said people’s lives in Lancashire can be improved if councils and others support new co-operatives and mutual organisations, so more money is kept locally, as reported separately.

Student Ariel Akina, who is from Clitheroe and originally Texas, is studying politics, philosophy and economics at Lancaster. Speaking after the ‘Preston Model’ lecture, she said: “I wasn’t aware of community wealth building before this talk. I was aware of co-operatives but what Preston is doing now sounds really refreshing.

“I’d be interested to see this trickle-down to Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley area. Preston is a hub with lots of people, transport and developments. But it’d be good if the Ribble Valley could move towards this approach and move away from a more conservative mindset.

“The lecture mentioned shops and banking and how we might change things for the future., So there are other alternatives to consider. These would help people to take things on locally and move us away from grievance politics.”

Ben Perkins, from Southport, is studying politics and history at Lancaster. He said: “Preston does not perhaps have a great reputation traditionally so seeing some of these changes is really inspiring.

“I’m doing a project with the Lancashire Combined Authority, looking at civic collaboration and residents’ involvement in regions. I think the Preston Model is really interesting and I’ll be looking more at community wealth building.

“In the talk, I was surprised how many regions and nations elsewhere are following this approach. We all know the UK has not invested in infrastructure for generations so we need new ideas and methods for the future. This is politics beyond Westminster.

“Also, I was interested to hear about Lancaster City Council. I wasn’t aware of some of the work going on in Lancaster, which is smaller than Manchester or perhaps Preston, which we hear more about in the north-west. But the combined authority is trying to do these types of things. ”

‘IDEAS INTO ACTION’

Josh Forward, from Chorley, is studying international relations and peace studies. He said : “It was really interesting to hear about ideas being put into action in Preston over the past 10 years and since Brexit. Also to see data and hear about potential opportunities and challenges for the future.

“Preston was historically a busy city but has struggled over the past 30 years, like Blackpool. These places and others have been through a lot and seen many changes. ”

Joseph De Sousa lives in Chorley but is originally from Wales. He studies economics, politics and international relations.

He said: “I had no idea the new Preston cinema is part of all this. My wife studies in Preston and I go there a lot. I was very impressed with the co-operation between different organisations and the council in Preston. People there are thinking about the real, local economy rather than just a financial balance sheet.

“I get very frustrated with mainstream politics and economics in Britain. There are many examples of co-operatives elsewhere, including the Basque country and Switzerland.”

COUNCILLORS’ QUESTIONS

Earlier in questions, Preston Council leader Matthew Brown highlighted how Lancaster City Council was doing some similar work to Preston, for example with local energy production, housing improvements and the emphasis on local jobs, contracts and other benefits from the Eden Project in Morecambe.

In the audience, Lancaster Green Coun Tim Hamilton-Cox agreed. He cited Lancaster’s Burrow Beck solar farm, renewable energy at Salt Ayre leisure centre, development of a 30km fibre network and a locally-owned data centre.

But Lancaster Green councillor Sam Riches asked Matthew Brown if the Ribble Valley was a good fit for a 2028 council merger with Lancaster and Preston?

She said: “I’m really interested in the real living wage but how do you see Preston and Lancaster’s working relationship with the Ribble Valley in the future? The Ribble Valley seems extremely different.”

Matthew Brown replied: “The Ribble Valley is amazing in many ways, with towns like Clitheroe and Whalley, and the Forest of Bowland. The green agenda could work well.

“I know the Ribble Valley is Conservative-run and we have Labour and Green-led councils. But, for communities and businesses, I think it’ll be a good fit. I would like the Ribble Valley to tackle low pay – but I think it can work geographically.”

Green Coun Sally Maddocks asked how community wealth building could work in rural areas. Mr Brown replied: “Ten years ago, we made sure local schools were fed by Lancashire farms. Also, a large contract can be broken into individual, smaller contracts for eggs, meat or vegetables. There are also land trust opportunities to be had, so people are not price-out of rural communities.”