50-479: Towneley Park is owned and managed by Burnley Borough Council and is the largest and most popular park in Burnley , Lancashire , England . The main entrance to the park is within a mile of the town centre and the park extends to the south east, covering an area of some 180 hectares (440 acres). At the southern end of the park is Towneley Hall , a grade I listed building housing Burnley's art gallery and museum. To
100-485: A ceasefire in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war . This group was subsequently known as the Burnley Independent Group. On 17 November, the council was taken over by the new "Co-operative Alliance", which comprised the Burnley Independent Group, Green Party, and Liberal Democrat councillors and had enough seats to hold overall majority on Burnley Council. Following the 2024 United Kingdom local elections ,
150-809: A major tributary of the River Ribble . This includes the catchment of the River Brun , which meets the Calder in Burnley town centre, but not that of Pendle Water . The Calder has its source in the Cliviger gorge which cuts through the Pennines into Yorkshire, very close to that of the West Yorkshire river with the same name . The gorge is located in the south east of the district and separates
200-525: A strange ghostly white apparition that appears by the River Calder . Burnley Borough Council The Borough of Burnley ( / ˈ b ɜːr n l i / ) is a local government district with the borough status in Lancashire , England. It has an area of 42.9 square miles (111 km ) and a population of 95,553 (2022), and is named after its largest town, Burnley . The borough also contains
250-703: A temporary closure of the site, a transfer to another operator, possibly the National Trust , is reportedly being investigated. Gawthorpe Hall on the edge of Padiham is owned by the National Trust but managed by the county council. The county council is also responsible for library provision in the district. As well as the Central Library in Burnley there are smaller sites at Padiham Town Hall , Burnley Campus in Daneshouse, on Coal Clough Lane, and Pike Hill. The mobile library service also serves
300-477: A third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four year term of office. Lancashire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections. The wards are: The district is represented on Lancashire County Council in six divisions : Burnley Central East, Burnley Central West, Burnley North East, Burnley South West, Burnley Rural and Padiham & Burnley West. The boundaries of
350-426: Is also covered by civil parishes , which form a third tier of local government. The council has been under no overall control since 2019. The first election to the reformed borough council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: The role of mayor
400-574: 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 . The district
450-410: Is covered by civil parishes , which form a third tier of local government. The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election , being led by a Conservative minority administration. The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of
500-401: Is covered by civil parishes. The parish councils for Clitheroe and Longridge have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council". Although Ribble Valley is the largest area of Lancashire, it also has the smallest population. The economy of Ribble Valley is mainly rural in nature, with a high proportion of jobs being in the private sector, due to BAE there is
550-636: Is in an adjoining building at 13 Church Street, which had been offices of the old Clitheroe Borough Council prior to the 1974 reforms. See List of schools in Lancashire § Ribble Valley Longridge Town FC Ribble Valley Radio was a community radio station based in Clitheroe, part of the new, third sector of local radio licensed by OFCOM. The project was launched in September 2004. The radio station helped six local residents into paid work within
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#1732782328467600-517: Is largely ceremonial in Burnley. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 2006 have been: Following the 2023 UK local elections the Labour Party ran a minority administration in Burnley council, having 21 seats and 2 short of a majority. However on 5 November 2023 council leader Afrasiab Anwar and ten Labour colleagues resigned from the Labour Party in protest at Keir Starmer 's refusal to demand
650-549: Is situated within over 16 hectares (40 acres) of wooded grounds. Policing Services in the borough are provided by the Pennine division of Lancashire Constabulary based at Burnley Police station, and controlled by Lancashire County Council . Plans are in place to merge the pennine division into the neighbouring eastern division, based in Blackburn. Policing Services of the borough's Railways are provided by Pennine division of
700-598: The British Transport Police – the nearest Transport Police office being in Preston . From 2014, management of the majority of the borough's leisure facilities has been transferred from Burnley Council's sport and culture services department to the Burnley Leisure trust, a registered charity. Overseen by a board of trustees made up of local community members, the trust works in partnership with
750-484: The Burnley Parliamentary constituency are the same as those of the borough. The council is based at Burnley Town Hall on Manchester Road, which had been completed in 1888 for the old town council. The council has additional offices nearby at the old Burnley Building Society building on Parker Lane. The Borough of Burnley roughly covers the upper part of the catchment basin of the River Calder ,
800-632: The South Pennines to the east from the area known as the Forest of Rossendale to the south. After passing through Burnley, the Calder turns around Ighten Hill forming part of the northern boundary and exits the borough at the west once it has flowed through Padiham . The exceptions to this occur along the southern boundary. The River Irwell and its feeder Whitewell Brook both have their sources on Deerplay Moor in Cliviger . Another tributary, Limy Water begins in Dunnockshaw and supplies
850-622: 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. The parish of Simonstone was transferred from Burnley to Ribble Valley in 1987. Ribble Valley Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lancashire County Council . The whole borough
900-458: The housing association has since grown and diversified into construction, support and training. The council is still able nominate tenants, prioritised by need, to Calico and the other associations that provide accommodation in the borough. All have agreements stipulating that they will allocate approximately half of their vacancies to council nominees. Burnley Council's development control team deals with planning permission applications within
950-487: The 'Burnley Independent Group', which forms part of the council's administration with the Liberal Democrats and Greens. The next elections are due in 7 May 2026, where a third of seats will be up for election. Since the last boundary changes in 2002 the council has comprised 45 councillors representing 15 wards , with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with
1000-585: The 15th-century Whalley Abbey vestments, but also has its own chapel – with a finely carved altarpiece made in Antwerp around 1525. The art gallery contains important Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite works by Burne-Jones , Waterhouse , Alma-Tadema and Zoffany , watercolours by Turner and local artist Noel H. Leaver, a collection of Lancashire furniture, the Whalley Abbey vestments, natural history and local social and military history relating to
1050-526: The Alliance fell one short of a majority, with only 22 councillors. Despite this, the Alliance members agreed to continue their arrangement and continue running the council, relying on the independent mayor to use his casting vote in their favour in case of a drawn vote with Labour and the Conservatives. As of May 2024, the council's composition is: The ten independent councillors sit together as
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#17327823284671100-588: The Burnley Bondholders scheme, an initiative which brings together local firms to promote Burnley as a place for business saw Burnley awarded an Enterprising Britain award from the UK Government in 2013, for being the 'Most Enterprising Area in the UK'. Burnley Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lancashire County Council . Much of the borough
1150-724: The Clowbridge Reservoir. All three flow south into Rossendale. Catlow Brook forms part of the northern boundary (from the Coldwell Reservoirs to Walverden Reservoir) before continuing as Walverden Water into Nelson in Pendle. The banks of the Calder on the western boundary lie approximately 70 metres (230 ft) AOD , but the hilltops on the eastern side—also the border between Lancashire and West Yorkshire —exceed 450 metres (1,480 ft) in several places. Hameldon Hill (409 metres (1,342 ft)) stands in
1200-551: The Greens as the 'Green and Progressive Liberal Group'. The next election is due in 2027. Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 40 councillors representing 26 wards , with each ward electing one or two councillors. Elections are held every four years. The council is based at the Council Offices on Church Walk in Clitheroe, which was purpose-built for the council in 1980. The council chamber
1250-462: The PCT operates the network of GP surgeries, and recently opened 2 Primary Health Care Centres in the borough (St. Peters Centre in 2006 and Briercliffe in 2007). In 2000 Burnley Council transferred its stock of around 5300 council houses to Burnley & Padiham Community Housing. Re-branded as Calico Homes in 2004, a nod to the cotton fabric historically so important to the area's economic success,
1300-521: The Towneley family. The Deer Pond in Towneley Park is a Local Nature Reserve . According to folklore, the hall was haunted by a boggart . This spirit appeared once every seven years, just prior to the death of one of the residents. The boggart was linked to 'Sir John Towneley', who in life supposedly oppressed the poor of the district. According to writer Daniel Codd, there are later stories of
1350-671: The area. The borough council owns and manages six Green Flag Award parks: Ightenhill Park, Padiham Memorial Park, Queens Park , Scott Park , Thompson Park , and Towneley Park . In addition it is also responsible for the maintenance of over 500 hectares (1,200 acres) of public woodlands and informal open spaces including: Byerden Holme Linear Park in Stoneyholme; Cemetery Wood near Rosegrove; Healey Heights in Rosehill; Rowley Lake and woodland in Brunshaw. Additionally Gawthorpe Hall
1400-590: The borough are provided and controlled by Lancashire County Council . Fire and rescue services in the borough are provided by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and controlled by Lancashire County Council. Health services in the borough are provided by East Lancashire Primary Care Trust and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust , with additional services provided by the North West Ambulance Service and North West Air Ambulance . The Hospital Trust operates Burnley General Hospital , while
1450-484: The borough of Burnley" but generally known as the corporation or town council. After elections, the corporation first met in January 1862 when Burnley's first mayor was appointed. When elected county councils were established in 1889, Burnley was considered large enough to provide its own county-level services, and so it became a county borough , independent from the new Lancashire County Council . The modern district
1500-616: The borough of varying ages and sizes. The largest are: There are also a number of smaller sites throughout historically industrial parts of Burnley. Burnham Gate Trading Estate was the site of Duckett's earthen sanitary ware works. Smallshaw & Chestnut Business Park was built over part of the railway sidings connected with Rose Grove railway station . Elm Street and Gannow Business Parks along with Healeywood Industrial Estate all incorporate converted Victorian cotton mill buildings. Empire Business Park, located between Rosegrove and Lowerhouse also opened in 2008. Education Services in
1550-556: The borough, subject to appeal to the Government Planning Inspectorate . The council adopted a new planning framework in July 2018, which sets out the overall development strategy for the district up to 2032. The museum at Towneley Hall is owned, funded and managed by the borough council. Queen Street Mill Textile Museum is owned and operated by Lancashire County Council. Since cost-cutting measures saw
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1600-496: The council since 1974 has been as follows: The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Ribble Valley. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 1999 have been: Following the 2023 election and subsequent changes of allegiance and by-elections up to July 2024, the composition of the council was: Two of the independent councillors (both former Liberal Democrats) sit with
1650-650: The council to deliver cultural services, leisure facilities, sport and play development, and promotion of healthy lifestyles. As of 2021, the trust operates the following sites: Also the council's green spaces team still manage sports pitches and courts at: Briercliffe Recreation Ground (football), Ightenhill Park (tennis), Padiham Fennyfold Playing Fields (football), Hapton Recreation Ground (football), Prairie Playing Fields (football, rugby), Scott Park (tennis), Sycamore Avenue (juniors football), Towneley Park (football, tennis), Queens Park (football, tennis). Refuse and Recycling Collections, and Street Cleansing services are
1700-508: The district had shifted slightly to 87.4% white and 11% Asian, with other ethnic minorities and mixed-heritage people at 1.6%. At the 2021 census the population was 94,646 (an increase of 8.7% from 2011). The population density then 8.55 inhabitants per hectare (2,210/sq mi; 855/km ). The gender makeup of the population was 46,797 male and 47,849 female. 56.8% of residents aged 16 and over were classed as economically active, with 3.6% unemployed and 6.7% long-term sick or disabled. Although
1750-517: The district was 91.8% white and 7.2% Asian, with the other ethnic minorities and people of mixed heritage making up the remaining 1%. A 2010 report commissioned by the BBC and compiled by Experian ranked the borough as having the second lowest property prices in England, this combined with GCSE results and crime rates, led to the borough being ranked as the worst place in England. By the 2011 census
1800-617: The family died out in 1878 and in 1901 one of the daughters, Lady O'Hagan, sold the house together with 62 acres (250,000 m) of land to Burnley Corporation for £17,600. The family departed in March 1902. Between 2005 and 2011, the Heritage Lottery Fund granted £2.1 million to help fund a major programme of restoration of the Park, which is grade II listed . The hall is a grade I listed building . The hall not only contains
1850-403: The largest employers continued to be in the same sectors, the mix had changed to wholesale and retail trade including motor vehicle repairs 19.6%, health and social work 17.2% and manufacturing 14.4%. The ethnic makeup of the district then 82.5% white and 14.7% Asian, with other ethnic minorities and mixed-heritage people at 2.8%. There are several industrial estates and business parks within
1900-465: The north are golf courses and playing fields and to the south 24 acres of broadleaf woodland. On the southern boundary is a working farm called Towneley Farm with pastures and plantations extending eastwards into Cliviger . The hall was the home of the Towneley family from around 1200. The family once owned extensive estates in and around Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire . The male line of
1950-415: The parts of Padiham parish outside the urban district) was abolished in 1983, being absorbed into Simonstone. Simonstone was subsequently transferred to Ribble Valley in 1987, with some adjustments to its boundaries with neighbouring areas. In 2007 a proposal to merge Burnley with neighbouring Pendle Borough Council to form a larger unitary authority was rejected by the government. The creation of
2000-643: The population as 89,542 and the average ( mean ) age of residents was 37.7 years. The area of 11,070 hectares (42.7 sq mi; 110.7 km ), giving a population density of 8.09 inhabitants per hectare (2,100/sq mi; 809/km ). The gender makeup of the population was 43,408 male and 46,134 female. 64.3% of residents aged 16 to 74 were classed as economically active, with 0.8% long-term unemployed, but 8.9% classified as long-term sick or disabled. The largest employment sectors were manufacturing 29.3%, wholesale and retail trade including motor vehicle repairs 18.2%, and health and social work 12.9%. The ethnic makeup of
2050-597: The population was 87,059 (a decline of 2.9% from 2001). The average age of residents had increased to 39.4 years. The population density then 7.86 inhabitants per hectare (2,040/sq mi; 786/km ). The gender makeup of the population was 42,794 male and 44,265 female. 66.1% of residents aged 16 to 74 were classed as economically active, with 2.1% long-term unemployed and 7% long-term sick or disabled. The largest employment sectors continued to be manufacturing 17.9%, wholesale and retail trade including motor vehicle repairs 16.7%, and health and social work 15.7%. The ethnic makeup of
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2100-406: The project and damning the "short sighted" decision of the council. The whole episode brought excellent publicity and boosted the radio station's listening figures by 400%. MP Nigel Evans was a staunch supporter and tabled an Early Day Motion at Parliament EDM 979 calling for "better resources and funding" for Ribble Valley Radio and the new and emerging sector. None of this was sufficient to save
2150-687: The radio sector in just three years and trained more than 100 volunteers to present and produce their own radio shows. The project was not supported by the Borough Council, which caused controversy in the area, and local newspaper the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times' held a poll which returned the result that 94% agreed that the Ribble Valley Borough Council were wrong not to fund the project and assist its long-term success. Many letters appeared in support of
2200-423: The responsibly of the borough council, and these services are currently contracted to Urbaser Ltd. The borough Council has signed up to Lancashire's Municipal Waste Management Strategy, which specifies that the borough must recycle or compost 56% of all waste by 2015 and 61% by 2020. Ribble Valley Ribble Valley is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire , England . Its council
2250-648: The southwest corner, forming part of the boundary with Hyndburn . The Burnley Way , a 40-mile (64 km) waymarked circular footpath, visits much of the district, also passing briefly into the Calderdale district of West Yorkshire. It is considered to start/end at the Weavers' Triangle Visitor Centre at Burnley Wharf on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal . Download coordinates as: The borough contains eight civil parishes . The parish council of Padiham takes
2300-402: The station and on 14 October 2007 Ribble Valley Radio closed, because it was unable to gain sufficient funding to apply for a licence. A new group, known as Ribble FM, was formed in 2011 with the aim of applying for a community radio licence in the third round of licensing by Ofcom. Ribble FM was set up by The Bee founder Roy Martin and includes local directors and trustees. The whole borough
2350-705: The style "town council". The central part of the borough, roughly corresponding to the pre-1974 borough of Burnley, is an unparished area . The parishes are: Padiham was also unparished from the abolition of its old urban district council in 1974 until a new parish was created in 2002, covering a similar area to the old urban district. The borough's population has fallen from a high of 130,339 in 1911 to an estimated 87,700 in 2005. Between 1991 and 2001, it fell by 2.6%. Its employment rate of 59.0% places it 261st out of 376 local authorities in England & Wales; just 12.6% of its workforce are graduates, placing it 325th out of 376 local authorities. The 2001 census recorded
2400-423: The town of Padiham along with several villages and surrounding rural areas. The neighbouring districts are Rossendale , Hyndburn , Ribble Valley , Pendle and Calderdale . The town of Burnley had been governed by improvement commissioners from 1819. The commissioners were replaced in 1861 when the town was made a municipal borough , governed by a body formally called the "mayor, aldermen and burgesses of
2450-581: 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: 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
2500-483: Was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , covering the whole area of two former districts and part of a third, which were all abolished at the same time: The new district was named Burnley after the area's largest town. It was granted borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Burnley's series of mayors dating back to 1862. The parish of North Town (which had been created in 1894 from
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