PARISH Councils could be implemented throughout Hyndburn amid government talks of creating elected regional bodies to control services, such as social services and education.

A recently published government white paper promotes the creation of regional assemblies which could see Hyndburn joining forces with Manchester and Liverpool to create one regional authority for the North West.

But Coun Ian Ormerod, leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, believes that local people still need to have a say and that parish councils would give them some control over their immediate area.

Speaking at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting he said: "If we do go into a unitary government, it makes the case for town councils or parish councils as local people need to have a local say.

"There is legislation to allow us to 'parish' and we would be failing the residents of Hyndburn if we didn't put these facilities in place before regional government comes in."

Area councils were brought into Hyndburn under the previous leadership and serve the eight main areas of the borough.

But Coun Ormerod suggested an area the size of Accrington would be too large so boundaries would have to be reconsidered.

This changeover from area councils to town or parish councils could be brought into effect in two years if voters decided in a referendum that regional assemblies were the way forward.

Early ideas for creating regional assemblies, he said, suggest an elected council of 35 members but in his opinion this was not enough.

Coun Ormerod continued: "There are 76 MPs in the North West and I think 76 is a much more reasonable number for an elected council.

"Thirty-five would finish up with Lancashire having maybe only four seats. It would be a nonsense and I will not be supporting it if they force it through at that level.

"But if they are talking 70 plus, it would be a completely different ball game.

"There are debates going on already about how the county could be carved up with respect to a north west general assembly.

"There will be a vote for everyone in a referendum and, assuming it takes place, people will be able to make their own decisions and vote accordingly. However, it is early days."

The North East, which showed a lot of enthusiasm for the scheme, will be the first area to be balloted followed by the North West if that is successful.