RESIDENTS are to be given their say on developments in the borough as part of a drive to keep Chorley rural.

Council planning bosses will send out leaflets to thousands of householders - with this year's council tax bills - explaining how they can help shape the future of the borough.

Town hall chiefs are keen to update their land use plan, and the initiative will be designed to safeguard the countryside into the next Millennium.

Local Agenda 21, a scheme which was set up at the Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit, aims to get communities to work together to improve the quality of local life.

Planning chair, Dennis Edgerley, said: "The intention is not to start from scratch, but instead some parts of the existing Local Plan will be rolled forward to form the basis of the new one. This is an ideal opportunity for local people to have a positive say about the future shape of the borough.

"The updated plan needs to be committed to reducing the harm that development can do to the environment."

Town hall bosses are planning a roadshow later this year for the public to comment on issues raised by the campaign, and everyone who returns comments will be entered into a prize draw.

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