News

A fantastic walk in the countryside, with views overlooking Accrington is now even easier thanks to the improvement of the paths in the south of Peel Park.

<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Release date: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2013-08-06T00:00:00+01:00">Tuesday, 6 August, 2013</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>People in the borough of Burnley who have an absent vote (postal or proxy) are being asked to provide a fresh signature to help keep records up to date.</p> <p>Absent voters must provide a fresh signature every five years. Burnley Council’s election office has written to those affected, around 1,000 residents, asking them to refresh their absent vote records.</p> <p>Elections officer Alison Morville said: “It’s important that we keep our records up to date and that people who want to vote by post or proxy can continue to do so.</p> <p>“We’ve sent refresh forms to all those affected. These need to be returned, with a fresh signature, by 12thSeptember. If you don’t you will lose your absent vote and will have to re-apply for one if you want to continue voting by post or proxy.”</p> <p>The current refresh applies only to those absent voters whose five year deadline expires 31stJanuary 2014. </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">News category: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-events/general" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel">General news</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-events/residents" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel">Residents</a></div></div></div>

<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Release date: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2013-08-06T00:00:00+01:00">Tuesday, 6 August, 2013</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Burnley Council has become aware that local residents are being contacted by a company offering to lower their council tax banding.</p> <p>Over the past few days the council has received a large number of phone calls from council taxpayers who have been “cold called” by a private company which claims to be able to save residents money.</p> <p>“People are under the misapprehension that this company is working on behalf of the council or the Valuation Office,” said Caroline Lee, the council’s head of revenues and benefits. “This isn’t the case.</p> <p>“Taxpayers can appeal to the Valuation Office to have their council tax band reviewed and it doesn’t cost them a thing. From what we’ve been told, this company appears to be charging an up-front fee, followed by a success fee based on any saving achieved.</p> <p>“We’ve also been told that representatives from the company, which is based in Bury, are calling at people’s homes.”</p> <p>The council’s advice to people is if you think your house is in the wrong council tax band you should contact the Valuation Office yourself. Burnley’s valuation bands can be found on your council tax bill.</p> <p>Council officers have contacted the company and made clear it should not be claiming to be acting on behalf of the council, something the company denied saying.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">News category: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-events/general" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel">General news</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-events/residents" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel">Residents</a></div></div></div>

Motorists are advised that several roads in Clitheroe will close on Friday 9 August, and Saturday 10 August, for the 2013 Clitheroe Food Festival.