Leader’s Viewpoint: Councillor Munsif Dad January 2026
Leader’s Viewpoint: Councillor Munsif Dad January 2026
I would like the begin by saying I hope everyone across the borough had a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. I am looking forward to an exciting year for Hyndburn in 2026.
The New Year heralds change, and one such change on the way is the introduction of food waste recycling across the country. This month, we began delivering 2 brand-new food waste caddies to every home throughout Hyndburn. One smaller, 7 litre caddy to be stored in your kitchen and another, larger 23 litre caddy to be kept outside with your other bins. These will be delivered throughout January and February, ready for when collections start on 1st April 2026, so please ensure you do not leave your caddy out for collection before this date.
We understand this is a big change for people, but we encourage everyone to participate so that we can remove as much unnecessary food waste from landfill as possible, helping to clean up our environment.Instead, the food waste will be recycled to create green electricity, as well as producing a by-product which can be used by farmers as a soil fertiliser. A small change to our daily habits can have a huge impactfor us all.
If you have any questions regarding food waste collections, please visit www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/food-waste/ for more information, including a full list of FAQs.
On the topic of waste. I am pleased to report that last week we approved an increase in fines for fly-tipping. Penalties for improper waste presentation will rise from £75 to £80, while fines for more serious fly‑tipping offences will jump from £400 to £1,000, which is the maximum allowed. The previous fines were no longer a sufficient deterrent and raising them sends a clear message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated in Hyndburn.
Work continues on Accrington Town Square, with the historic Market Hall building being revitalised into a fresh, modern venue. Much progress has been made, and we will soon begin looking to recruit new market traders to join alongside our existing traders, ready for an opening date in November. Construction work is due to finish in July, with an opening date later in the year chosen to ensure a smooth transition from the temporary outdoor market on the Town Square. I look forward to joining you all for the grand opening in November and seeing first-hand the wonderful traders old and new gracing the historic building.Across the square, work also continues to progress on Burtons Chambers, creating a modern and flexible coworking space which will be operated by the company 2-Work.
On the 9th February, 2-Work will be one of many businesses attending Hyndburn Jobs Fair. Sponsored by the Council, the event takes place at Accrington Town Hall and is fully open to the public. There will be real live vacancies from some fantastic businesses on the day.
I would like to extend my best wishes to both Councillor Marlene Haworth and Councillor Dave Parkins, who have been receiving treatment for serious health conditions. At the Council meeting earlier this month, we put forward a proposal which was supported across the council chamber to bestow the Freedom of the Borough, its highest civic honour, onto them both for their tireless contributions to public service. They will receive this honour later in the year.
On another note, the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel previously made recommendations to freeze members allowances at their current rates for 2026/27. This was also supported by the Leaders Policy Board. The Council has made the decision to adopt these recommendations in full as we believe it is the right decision for our members and the people of Hyndburn. This will allow us to save money in the next financial year and continue investing in programmes which will benefit the whole of the Borough.
In Hyndburn, we are so proud of our 11 Green Flag parks and we continue to make improvements. This month, we announced a £140,000 investment to improve the play area in Gatty Park. I am also pleased to see that work is well underway on the installation of fencing around the bowling green at Oak Hill Park, a site which has been previously a target of vandalism. The scheme has been funded by the Council.
Finally, our Local Plan is one of the most important documents shaping Hyndburn’s future. It sets out where new homes, jobs and growth should happen in our borough up to 2040, replacing plans that are now many years old. As part of the ongoing examination, an independent Inspector has asked the Council to consult on a series of changes needed to make the plan ready for adoption. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be asking local people to have their say on these proposed changes, with the consultation expected to commence imminently and to be publicised accordingly. This consultation is an essential step before the plan can be completed, and I encourage everyone to take part and help us make sure the final plan works for all our communities.
ENDS