I write in response to concerns raised by residents about the general cleanliness of Chorley and, in particular, the amount of litter in some areas, as well as the role of our refuse and recycling contractor, Cleanaway, in contributing to this.

I'd like to reassure people that the council is aware of these issues and concerns and it's a top priority to do something about it.

One of the first steps is to talk to Cleanaway about the way the service operates and see where it can improve in light of residents' comments. We'll then be putting strict action plans in place to ensure those improvements are made.

The council will also be looking closely at the containers we currently issue to residents as part of our enhanced recycling scheme to see if they are fit for purpose or if there is room for further improvement there too.

I agree that some of them could be unsuitable and we'll be investigating better ways to collect recycling in the future.

I hope these actions will result in significant improvements and a difference to our environment for all to see.

Improving the quality of life for people in Chorley and making it a good place to live are among the council's top-level objectives and this is a major way in which we can make a change for the better.

Thanks to the hard work of local people recycling has proved a huge success in Chorley - where we're currently outperforming the national average and recycling 40 per cent of our waste.

It's really important we support this enthusiasm by providing a first-class service and helping people understand the importance of recycling in our community.

I, for one, will be ensuring I do everything I can to achieve this.

Donna Hall

Chief executive

Chorley Borough Council