ANGRY councillors claim they have been snubbed by a leading Government minister after Pendle missed out on lucrative assisted area status.

They were left fuming after learning the borough, which relies more on manufacturing than anywhere else in the country apart from ship-building centre Barrow-in-Furness, did not get assisted area tier two status while neighbouring rural Ribble Valley did.

It means Pendle will miss out on hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment to boost industry and jobs. The "poison pill" was sugar-coated with the announcement that Pendle is included in the new third tier of Enterprise Grants Areas which means small and medium-sized firms with less than 250 staff will get extra help and support, including cash grants towards project costs.

The bitter news about assisted areas status came in a letter from Minister of Trade Richard Caborn who turned down a request to meet councillors.

Liberal Democrat councillor David Whipp stormed: "Government ministers are so indifferent they refuse even to meet us. "When you find that Ribble Valley gets assisted area status and Pendle doesn't it's bad enough, but when they won't even meet us it becomes a disgrace.

"The problems in Pendle are far greater than they are in Ribble Valley; the opportunities in Pendle are far greater as well."

"This is a bit of a slap in the face," added Tory group leader Roy Clarkson who described the decision as "ostrich syndrome."

"What have they got to be afraid of in meeting us?"

Labour Coun Azhar Ali said his group was also angry at the decision not to give Pendle assisted area status.

But he argued that the submission for status had already been made to the European Commission and so it was pointless meeting with ministers.

Mr Caborn said the decision on which areas should be granted assisted status had been difficult and complex.

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