A CITIZENS' Panel will be launched in Burnley next week after a fortnight of Local Democracy Week events.

The launch will take place at a "Local Democracy Question Time'' chaired by BBC TV's Nigel Jay at Burnley Town Hall.

The panel will have 1,000 members, randomly selected, who will be consulted regularly by the council on matters of local concern.

Members of the question time panel will be Coun Stuart Caddy, Burnley Council leader; Chris Daggett, editor in chief, Burnley Express; Carl Speight, town centre manager; Coun Margaret Lishman and young community leader, Nasir Ilyas.

A mobile exhibition has been visiting local parks and the town centre to allow people to discuss their views on parks and open spaces with council staff. The majority of events will take place next week and will include an exhibition and drop-in event at Burnley College shop in Manchester Road where councillors and council staff will hear people's views on local issues Monday to Saturday from 11am to 3pm.

Two events are taking place in south west Burnley. On Tuesday from 7-9pm there will be a young people's discussion at Stoops and Hargher Clough Community Centre, Venice Street when youngsters can say what they want from the council.

The next day at the Cabin, off Venice Avenue, a drop-in and talk session will be held from 7-9pm.

In North East Burnley a similar drop-in event will be held at Briercliffe shopping centre from 2-4pm and from 5-7pm when issues are likely to include road safety, car parking, use of vacant mills and housing development.

A cleaner, safer Padiham and the needs of young people in Padiham are matters likely to come under examination at a similar meeting at Padiham Methodist Church, Ribble Street, on Saturday, September 25 from 10am-12.30pm.

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