ROSSENDALE Chartists have slammed the Valley's council for the way it has responded to the Boundary Committee's proposals.

The pressure group -- set up to hold the council to account -- has sent a detailed response to the Boundary Committee for the Local Government Review and asked them to give the people of Rossendale the right to choose between the suggested options for the borough.

The Chartists feel the two viable options would be within a new unitary authority -- either the 'Burpendale' option or the 'Bury' option.

The Boundary Committee have indicated that Whitworth should be linked with Rochdale.

Judith Lord, chair of the Chartists, said: "We show that Rossendale Council has not properly considered the Bury option.

"The council failed to clearly identify the criteria for its decision let alone decide which criteria are most significant.

"Most importantly, Rossendale Council failed to consider the crucially important question of the economy.

"We note, in this respect, the Audit Commission's criticism of the council in the recent CPA report where it says that the council lacks a clear vision for the economic identity of our district."