Residents are now able to give their views on Chorley Council’s budget proposals.

Councillors agreed the plans at Executive Cabinet last Thursday and now we want to hear from people before any final decisions are made in March.

You will be able to take part in the budget consultation at chorley.gov.uk or by calling into our offices, on Union Street, paper copies will be made available for those that require them.

We’d urge you to get as many residents as possible take part and all comments will need to be submitted by Sunday, 15 February.

There are lots of activities available to book this half term, including bird box making, Chinese New Year arts, mini football and street dance

Join us in Chorley town centre on Saturday 4 April to cheer on Britain’s professional cyclists as they race-off on a 116 mile course around the Chorley Borough in the opening round of the British Cycling Elite Road Series for 2015.

Council tax bills for 2015-2016 will be sent out to approximately 48,000 properties in March. It is expected they will start to arrive week beginning 16 March.

Customers can view their council tax details online by registering for our e-Citizen service, this includes checking a balance and any payments made as well as viewing any correspondence we may have sent. The most convenient way to pay is by direct debit and customers can also set up a direct debit using our website.

Business rates bills will go out to around 3,300 business properties to arrive from 11 March.

Also, 8300 benefit notification letters will be sent out to housing benefit claimant’s advising them of the new benefit entitlement amounts for 2015-2016. These letters are expected to land with customers from 12 March onwards.

Customers may be able to find the information they need on our website and are also able to request many other services using My Account and the Do it online facility.

Following feedback from the last Chorley 3 Tier Liaison the annual planning in practice training session will be held in March in the Lancastrian commencing at 5.30 for refreshments. Further details will be sent to Parish Councils directly.

Representatives from Town and Parish Councils are welcome to attend - please contact Cathryn Filbin to book your place on cathryn.filbin@chorley.gov.uk or call 01257 515123.

The works are being carried out by Network Rail involving the replacement of two bridges in the Adlington area. Network Rail looked at alternatives to full scale bridge replacement, but this was not possible on these bridges, hence the roads will need to be closed and traffic diverted for the duration of the works.

Doing only one bridge at a time would have severely delayed the overall project completion and would have meant a significantly longer period of disruption to Chorley and regional rail users.

We are continuing to work with Network Rail and Lancashire County Council, who are both responsible for the works, to review the temporary infrastructure which has been put in place and will consider whether further adjustments to signing and parking restrictions are necessary. However, it is hoped that the issues should settle down as drivers get used to the new arrangements.

A fun festival for all the family is set to make its return to Chorley, and local authors and story tellers are being sought to take part.

Chorley is celebrating after winning Fairtrade Town status at the first attempt.

This means the town has been received formal recognition for adopting measures which provide decent working conditions and pay for farmers in developing countries.

The next meeting of the 3 Tier Liaison will was be held on Wednesday, 15 April.

If you would like to request an item for the agenda please contact Ruth Rimmington on 01257 515118 by 20 March.

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