Pendle Brook closure could create new arts opportunity

Pendleton Brook, located on George Street, on the outskirts of Clitheroe town centre, will shortly be closed by Lancashire County Council due to budget cuts.

Ribcaged Productions Theatre Company is applying to LCC for an asset transfer to run Pendleton Brook, for what they say is a “new and innovative approach to providing a centre which will benefit the whole community”.

The proposals, say the company, would see the centre become self-funding and kept as an asset to Clitheroe, rather than being lost, and would be a place which would be beneficial to the whole community.

Ribcaged would run the centre, with their vision being to turn the facility into a multi-purpose Community Resource, Enterprise and Arts Centre.

The proposals would have two purposes – firstly to develop the centre for the community as a business, training, health and well-being hub, used for classes, meetings and office space for start up companies and secondly, to engage people in the arts.

Ribcaged’s Artistic Director Owen Phillips said: “We believe this is an exciting proposition for Clitheroe. We will engage the whole community with a special focus on providing programmes for young people, people with disabilities, people with special educational needs and older people, particularly with regards to health and wellbeing. We are looking for the support of local people and charities who are interested in using the centre to work with us.”

Ribcaged is a registered charity dedicated to people’s active inclusion and participation in the arts. The company develop creative work with a social impact, using theatre and the arts as a mechanism for social engagement have won both local and National Awards for their work.