HAPTON'S annual council taxpayers' meeting takes place tonight in the school at 7.30pm and it is hoped that many of the villagers will attend.

Speakers are to be PC Tony Himycz, Councillor Charles Bullas and Peter Stubbs.

NELSON Arion Male Voice Choir will perform on Saturday at St Leonard's, 7.30pm. All funds raised will go towards the Bell Appeal. The event is being sponsored by Hapton haulage firm Fagan and Whalley.

WORK is scheduled to start on the White Water canoeing facility at Padiham Weir. An access road from Shuttleworth Mead Business Park to the weir will be constructed.

Three pools and drops, lined with cobbles and boulders, will provide the White Water conditions which are necessary for canoeists and which will assist the movement of fish.

A building will be constructed to provide changing rooms and canoe storage and there will be a car park with viewing areas for visitors.

In time it is hoped that the whole area will be linked to the Linear Park former on the tracks of the old railway line.

The area will be landscaped throughout.

PLANNING permission is being sought to re-open an empty shop at 23 Burnley Road, Padiham, as an estate agents. The owners of 1 South Drive wish to erect a conservatory and 4 Valley Drive is to have a shower room.

COUNCILLORS are to visit Langdale Road where an application has been received to enclose open space into adjoining properties. Concern was expressed when councillors heard that the land was already being developed. The visiting councillors will report back to the full council.

COUNCILLORS unanimously rejected an application to re-open the former florist shop next to the car park in Church Street as a hot food takeaway had been received. Their concerns were not only about another takeaway in Padiham but that the shop in question is in a conservation area. The proposal received an almost unanimous rejection.

THERE have been requests from the public that the town hall be left open so that people who are interested can view the famous Water Clock when it is restored. DCouncillors were worried about security but deputy Mayor Bob Clarke agreed to 'man the post' occasionally from noon to 1pm through the week.