ALL-OUT elections could see a political change in Rossendale because most of the seats are marginal.

There will be a change of council leader because Coun John Holt is not standing.

It is the first all-out election since as long ago as 1976 and it will see voters going to the polls in 14 wards because of boundary changes, one more than the last borough elections in 2000.

The issues voters will consider could be crime and disorder, because the borough's towns have had a large number of problems in the last year, particularly with juvenile nuisance.

In Haslingden three teenagers have already had anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) served on them by the courts and in Bacup Rossendale Council is midway through court proceedings for two ASBOs on local teenagers.

The future of derelict eyesore Ilex Mill in Rawtenstall is still uncertain because, although a development company is interested in the building, the council is still waiting to find out whether English Heritage will have to be repaid money it gave to Rossendale to buy the premises.

A multi-million-pound scheme for the redevelopment of Rawtenstall centre, including demolition of the town hall and building a new one, a new bus station and more shops, is still in the pipeline.

Plans for a bypass in Waterfoot are also out for consultation and could see a major change to the road network which links the towns of Bacup and Rawtenstall.

Besides Labour and Conservative there is one Independent, one no specified party and one Socialist Alliance Party candidate.

There are several unusual candidates seeking power in Rossendale.

Roy Beaven is standing as an Independent in the Helmshore ward after being deselected by the Conservative Party.

In the Greenfield ward, former councillor Noel O'Brien is returning to the fray, this time as a candidate for the Socialist Alliance.

Community services committee chairman Stephen Birtwell is also going it alone this year in the Worsley ward.

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