I hope all the residents of Hyndburn are having a happy and healthy new year. We have much to look forward to in the coming year and with just a few months left of my Mayoral year I am pleased to say my calendar is already filling up with some wonderful engagements. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many people from our community throughout the past year, had the honour of attending some fantastic events and would like to remind everyone that myself and my Mayoress, Bushra Khan, do still have some availability to come along to a community event or open day that you may be part of. People can book by emailing: the mayoraloffice@hyndburnbc.gov.uk or filling out the online form on the Hyndburn Council website.

This month our community has also come together to celebrate our successful bid to the Government’s levelling up fund. I know there are plans in the coming weeks to have a display with all the plans, information and timeline for these projects on show in Accrington Market Hall, which I am really looking forward to unveiling. So far over £40 million has been secured for our borough, which is very exciting. It is really important that future plans are developed for our community, by our community, and therefore I encourage everyone to take part in any discussion at every opportunity.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone about the importance of supporting our local independent businesses and traders across the borough. January and February are difficult months for many small businesses, by choosing to shop locally you not only get personal service, you are supporting the local area. We have some excellent highstreets to explore and throughout my mayoral year I have had the privilege of travelling across Hyndburn to the various townships and seeing everything that is on offer.