PENDLE people are being offered a say in shaping the borough's future.

A consultation hopes to discover what services local people want in the next decade and beyond and what their views and concerns are about existing services covering health, housing, education, transport, leisure and the environment.

Comments will form the basis of a Community Strategy for the Borough to be developed by March 2003.

Brian Astin and Jackie Mason, who are leading the consultation, said: "This is not just another consultation. This is your chance to shape Pendle's future. This is about developing services over the next 10 to 15 years that will be delivered by a range of organisations such as Pendle Council, Lancashire County Council, the NHS, the Police, Pendle Local Strategic Partnership and many voluntary and community groups and this consultation will impact on services that all residents in the Borough will use in the future.

"It is arguably the most important consultation carried out in Pendle for many years."

Consultation drop-in sessions are:

Saturday, October 26, Barrowford Civic Hall, 10am to 1pm

Monday, October 28, Northern Technologies, Netherfield Road, Nelson, 6pm to 9pm

Saturday, November 2, Brierfield Community Centre, 10am to 1pm

Wednesday, November 6, Colne Municipal Hall, 6pm to 9pm

Saturday, November 9, Barnoldswick Civic Hall, 10am to 1pm,

Monday, November 11, Barley Village Hall, 6pm to 9pm