Chair appointed for Ribbleton Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board

Sir Mark Hendrick MP has today (8 May 2026) announced the successful appointment of Cheryl Taylor as Chair of the soon to be established Ribbleton Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board.

The Government funded Pride in Place programme and its Board will oversee the spending of £20m of regeneration funding over the next ten years in the Ribbleton ward.

Cheryl Taylor, Chair of the Ribbleton Pride in Place Board

Local Leader

After a successful recruitment process held by the Preston MP, Ribbleton Ward Councillor Pat Varty and overseen by Preston City Council, Miss Taylor is appointed to Chair the Neighbourhood Board, which will be entirely made up of local people.

Miss Taylor has extensive knowledge of the area and its needs, having served as a Headteacher at Grange Primary School for sixteen years. She will continue to serve as Co-Head at the school alongside this new voluntary role.

Neighbourhood Board

The Neighbourhood Board will bring together residents, local businesses, grassroots campaigners, workplace representatives, faith leaders, and community organisations.

Communities will be able to help decide how to spend the funding on what matters most to them; from improvements to pavements and shared spaces, to investing in culture and green spaces, amongst other things.

MP Support

Sir Mark said: “I am extremely pleased with Cheryl’s appointment as she has years of experience of working in Ribbleton and knows its communities well. She has the skills, vision and leadership experience to head a successful Board. But more importantly, she is committed to Ribbleton, its residents and this programme.”

Newly appointed Chair, Cheryl Taylor said: “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed Chair of the Ribbleton Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board. Grange has been my community for many years, and it has shaped my commitment to improving opportunities for local people. However, I am very clear that this role is about serving the whole of Ribbleton ward. The Pride in Place programme represents a genuinely new way of working, and I am really looking forward to connecting with residents from across the ward, listening to their priorities and making decisions together to ensure this investment delivers real, lasting benefits for everyone.”

Preston City Council representation

Ribbleton Ward Councillor Pat Varty said: “I am exceptionally pleased that we’ve got the right person for the job. Cheryl has had a good look around the Ribbleton ward and is willing to go out and speak to residents and I’m thrilled that we’ve managed to fill this post with the right person.”  

Jane Meek, Interim Director of Community and Wellbeing at Preston City Council, added: “The City Council offers a warm welcome to Cheryl Taylor on her appointment as the Chair of the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board for Ribbleton. Following this huge step in moving this programme forward, we are continuing to work with the MP for Preston, Sir Mark on the appointment of other Board members from the local community and businesses in the area. We will also be supporting the Chair in setting up the governance procedures and processes, as is the remit of the City Council.

“The funding empowers local people to generate ideas to shape and boost pride in their communities, which will have a real impact for years to come and we would encourage those in the area to find out more and to get involved.”

Next steps

Following the appointment of the Chair, the next stage will be to recruit individual Board Members and establish the Neighbourhood Board. Alongside the Member of Parliament, the Chair and Ribbleton Councillor Pat Varty, the other Board Members will be responsible for delivering a ten-year, community-led regeneration plan.  The Board will strictly be made up of individuals who live, work or who have a connection with Ribbleton.

Interested in Joining the Board?