A VEHICLE ban covering part of Clitheroe town centre is being discussed by council officers.

The plan to close a section of the town centre to traffic on ‘a number’ of Saturdays in the summer is part of a bid to increase footfall to the Ribble Valley town.

The idea for a ‘pedestrian-friendly space’ was raised at a recent meeting of the Clitheroe Town Team made up of councillors, business leaders and council officers.

Ribble Valley Borough Council will hold talks with Lancashire County Council to discuss the possibility of a trial run.

If it is successful, the plans will be put out to public consultation and could be enforced every Saturday or every day.

Ribble Valley borough councillor Kevin Horkin, who owns several businesses in the town, said: “We wanted to try and create a community space that was given back to walkers.

“We are focusing on Castle Street and it could be closed to traffic on three or four Saturdays in the summer when we have the biggest footfall.

“The plan would be sympathetic to businesses and automatic bollards could be installed to allow deliveries at certain times.

“It’s much too soon to talk about the possibility of closing the street to traffic every Saturday or full-time and that would only ever be considered if the trial is a success and the public consultation is positive.”

Terry Longden, Ribble Valley Borough Council’s head of engineering services, said: “We are holding discussions with Lancashire County Council with a view to carrying out improvements to road layout and usage in Castle Street but the details have not been decided yet.”