Families across Chorley will be able to attend a bonfire and fireworks display in Astley Park this year after Chorley Council announced it was working with one of the town’s major tourist attractions Botany Bay and local employer FI Real Estate Management to organise an event on Friday 6 November to mark the traditional bonfire celebrations.

The Astley Park bonfire and fireworks will take place on the park’s playing fields from 6.30pm on Friday 6 November with the bonfire being lit at 7pm and the fireworks display launching at 7.30pm.

Entry to the event is free but there will be collection buckets with voluntary donations going to the Mayor of Chorley’s charities, which include HomeStart Central Lancashire, St Catherine’s Hospice and Derian House.

Labour candidate Thomas Gray (known as Tommy Gray) was elected as Borough Councillor at the by-election for the Euxton North Ward following the departure of Councillor Mike Handley due to ill-health.

The votes were recorded as follows:
Thomas Gray (Labour Party) 697
Alan John Platt (Conservative Party) 443
Christopher Suart (UK Independence Party) 76

The turnout was 34.68%

We would like to remind you about the arrangements for the Remembrance Sunday commemorations this Sunday, 8 November which is open to members of the local community.

If you would like to join the Mayor of Chorley, Councillor Marion Lowe, and take part in the procession please assemble in the Lancastrian at Chorley Town Hall no later than 9am. The procession will depart at 9.15am, making its way to St Laurence's Parish Church for the services which will commence at 9.45am. For those of you who do not want to take part in the procession you are asked to make your way directly to the church and be seated by 9.30am.

Following the service, the Mayoral party will proceed to the Cenotaph for a service which will include the Act of Commitment, two minutes' silence and the laying of wreathes.

Following the service at the Cenotaph, tea and coffee will be served in the Lancastrian.

As part of our Get Up and Go programme the Community Development Team will be on the Flat Iron carpark on Friday 6 November with the Fire and Rescue Services mobile sports cage.

The aim is to provide a diversionary activity for young people to help try and reduce mischief and antisocial behaviour over the Bonfire night period. Young people will be able to take part in football related games and challenges with music and refreshments supplied throughout the night. There will also be a mobile rock climbing wall.

Actor, Sean Ward, who recently played Callum Logan in Coronation Street, will be heading to Chorley to switch on the town’s Christmas lights.

Organised by Chorley Council, the Christmas lights switch on festivities will start at 3.30pm on Saturday 14 November.

There will be a Christmas market along Fazakerley Street and Rock FM will get the party started on stage with another great line-up of amazing performers including X Factor’s Misha B. Additionally, there will be performances from up and coming acts including, singer Chris Atkinson and girl band, Distracted

The Council is currently undertaking a consultation on the planning application validation checklist.

The updated current validation checklist (published in September 2013), reflects the requirements of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill, the Framework and the National Planning Policy Guidance.

The intention of the document is to assist applicants when submitting planning applications and to ensure that planning applications can be validated on receipt.

One of last year’s brightest events is back bigger and better as the jewel in Chorley’s crown is once again transformed with brilliant LED spotlights and artistic performance for one weekend only.

Astley Hall will be joining in Chorley’s Christmas celebrations with the return of the special event Astley Illuminated on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November.

Between 5pm and 10pm, people will be able to see and photograph the historic house beautifully lit inside and out with magnificent LED spotlights and over 200 candles. Plus, this year the Hall will also come alive with dance and music thanks to funding from Arts Council England and there will be special screenings of the performances in the Walled Garden.

Café Ambio will be open serving delicious hot food and drink and the Walled Garden and various trees in the park will be lit as part of the event.

Chorley Council with assistance from the Friends of Astley Hall is inviting people to come and view the spectacle as visitors get a rare opportunity to see Astley Hall lit in dramatic lighting and brought to life with theatrical music and dance on a wonderful winter’s night.

Chorley’s Santa Express is back to whisk families on a magical journey from Chorley town centre through Astley Park to meet Father Christmas at Astley Hall.

The Santa Express will be running between Chorley Council's offices on Union Street in Chorley town centre and Astley Hall every 20 minutes between 10am and 4.30pm every Saturday and Sunday in December from Saturday 5 December until Sunday 20 December. The Santa Express will take families to meet Father Christmas as he takes up residence in Astley Hall’s Inlaid Room in the run up to Christmas

The latest newsletter from Chorley Time Credits has been released.

To find out about events taking place across the borough on the run up to Christmas and beyond see the latest edition of What's Happening magazine which is out now.

A Coppull man who threw the cigarette he had been smoking on the ground now faces a bill of nearly £700.

Alex West, 24, of Lancaster Street, was found guilty of littering in his absence by magistrates sitting at Chorley after he failed to appear at court. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £452 and a £22 victim surcharge.

The court was told that West was seen to throw his cigarette on the floor by a council officer who had been driving along Clover Road, in Chorley. She stopped and asked him to pick it up but he laughed and was verbally abusive. She then issued him with a Fixed Penalty Notice which he failed to pay despite reminders being sent to him.

The maximum penalty in respect of the notice was £75. However the defendant need only have paid £50 if he had made payment within 10 days.

A brand new 3 minute video briefing on local policing issues in Chorley has just been launched. “CopCast” will be broadcast each month to give you an insight into some of the current policing initiatives and problems in the Chorley area.

The Constabulary will be highlighting some examples of the work that our local officers do to help keep Chorley a safe place to live, work and visit and will also be giving out some crime prevention advice to help you keep yourself and your property safe.

You can also follow them on Twitter @chorleypolice and like their Facebook page for regular updates on what’s going on and look out for more Copcast videos over the coming months.

Read the latest news from our partners by clicking on the links below:

If you have visited the Council's website recently, you may have noticed that the homepage looks different. We have updated the website in a bid to try and encourage more people to do things online.

A strip of icons now appear on the homepage and the layout of the existing images will alter slightly. These changes will improve compatibility with mobile devices and also make the icons more prominent.

You can still find all the information you need by using the search facility.