Historic moment as South Ribble agrees Chorley and West Lancashire merger

South Ribble Council has become the first local authority to formally back a plan to create four new councils to cover the whole of Lancashire.

- by Paul Faulkner

Cabinet members approved the proposal, which would see South Ribble merge with neighbouring Chorley and West Lancashire councils.

The new standalone, or unitary, authority would be responsible for delivering all local services across the three southern Lancashire areas - to a population of just under 359,000 people.

The blueprint would also lead to the creation of a new council to serve a combined Preston, Lancaster and Ribble Valley local authority patch, made up of almost 374,000 residents.