A MASSIVE shake-up of local government in East Lancashire could be on the cards.

The Local Government Commission for England has announced reviews in Ribble Valley, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Local people and interested organisations are being asked for their opinions on how local government could be improved. The commission can recommend changes to the number of councillors, the number and boundaries of wards and the names of wards.

It might also recommend the creation of new wards within each of the boroughs, but cannot review boundaries between local authorities or parishes, nor the establishment of new parish or town councils.

A commission spokesman said: "Our duty is to ensure that local people are fairly and equally represented on their borough councils. The objective of the review is to ensure that, within each local authority area, the number of electors represented by councillors is as near as possible the same, while taking into account the identities and interests of local communities, as well as the need for effective and convenient local government."

The commission expects to publish draft recommendations at the beginning of next year.

Blackburn, as a unitary authority, is not subject to the review.

People are invited to submit their proposals by November 29 to The Review Manager (Lancashire), Local Government Commission for England, Dolphyn Court, 10-11 Great Turnstile, London, WC1V 7JU.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.