RESIDENTS in Nelson are being encouraged to attend a series of drop-in sessions so they can influence the future development of the town.

The sessions are being held to allow local people to have their say about how to improve their neighbourhoods and the local environment by saying how they want problems, including anti-social behaviour, high unemployment and abandoned housing, to be tackled.

Comments from the public will help consultants to produce a 15-year regeneration plan for Nelson called an Area Development Framework.

The ADF will be used to bid for millions of pounds of Government funding under Elevate, the housing market renewal initiative,

The first of the sessions will be held today between 2pm and 8pm at the Silverman Hall, Pendle Street and Castercliffe Primary School, Marsden Hall Road North.

Other drop-ins will be held between the same times on Wednesda, July 21 at Nelson Youth Centre, Leeds Road and Walverden Primary School, Bracewell Street

Tuesday, July 27 at Community Centre, Manchester Road and St. John Southworth Social Centre, Vaughan Street, Wednesday, July 28 at Hodge House Community Centre, off Regent Street and Unity Hall, Vernon Street.

For further information about the workshops, please contact either: Rose McGinty at Social Regeneration Consultants on freephone 0800 028 20 25 or

Judith Watmough at Pendle Borough Council on 01282 661396.