LOTTERY cash to the tune of £30,000 will make sure that Chorley celebrates the new Millennium in fine style!

The Millennium Commission confirmed this week that the grant has been earmarked for Chorley following a joint application by the council, Chorley Partnership and Chorley Millennium Group. And, a large portion of the grant is to be used to stage a large outdoor festival in July 2000.

John Wilson, leader of Chorley Borough Council, said: "Although we have been granted £29,300, and that is money which we can now use to ensure that when it comes to celebrating the millennium, Chorley will be able to do so in style.

"Our partnership approach has obviously won favour with the Commission and we believe it will make a real difference."

He added: "A number of elements will make up the borough's celebrations. However, the highlight is certain to be a massive Chorley Festival which, it is anticipated, will be staged around July August 2000."

Mr Cyril Scott, of Chorley Millennium Steering Group, believes Chorley's Millennium celebrations should involve three key elements.

He said: "The highlight would be the Chorley Festival, but our intention though is that the first element would be a series of training courses for local groups who are planning to organise events in 2000.

"Finally, we would like to encourage local umbrella groups, such as Chorley District Arts Association and the District Sports Council as well as schools and Parish Councils to set about organising their own millennium competitions and events.

"Everyone is looking forward to the dawn of the new Millennium and we feel certain now that here in Chorley we can make it an occasion and a year to remember."

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