TWO well-known local businessmen will step down when Bolton and Bury Chamber takes on a new role in April.

Chairman Richard Hurst and President David Arkwright will not be part of the team which will launch and develop the new chamber of commerce.

It aims to be a dynamic force for local business throughout 2001 and beyond.

The current Chamber, formed through a merger of the old chamber of commerce and Bolton Bury Training and Enterprise Council, will see many of its activities transferred to the government's new Learning and Skills Council and Small Business Service.

The current board has split into two groups to manage the transitional arrangements.

One will focus on the transfer to the LSC and SBS while the other -- the interim board -- will plan the chamber's future.

Mr Hurst, chairman of the Richard Threlfall Group Ltd, said the latest membership figure of 1,200 showed that the chamber movement in Bolton and Bury was flourishing and the organisation in great shape for the future.

He went on: "The new board will continue to uphold the Chamber's central role as a powerful networking and lobbying agency, but it will also reinvigorate it to serve the real needs of a modern membership.

"Having served the local Chamber for over ten years, I believe it is now time for me to step down and let the new regime fly the flag for local business."

He said he would maintain an advisory role to the interim board.

Mr Arkwright, Senior Partner at Cyril Morris Arkwright Solicitors, said the board and members' council had dealt superbly with a difficult agenda over the last 18 months. He added: "We are now in a position to really get behind the launch of a new Chamber movement which will benefit local business people for many years to come.

"The new regime will bring fresh and innovative thinking to a well-established business institution, but naturally I will be delighted to help wherever I can."

Mr Richard Bindless, Chief Executive of the current Chamber, said: "Top priorities for the interim board will be to choose a new Chair who will also combine the role of President, appoint a new Chief Executive, agree a new business plan and organise an April election to decide on a permanent board structure."

He added: "For my own part, I will continue to work for both boards, acting as Executive Director for the interim board until such time as a Chief Executive for the new Chamber is appointed."

New members joining the interim board are: Mark Sheen of Barlow Andrews accountants, Jan Barnes of Boardmans (and chair of the Chamber's MOSAIC women in business group), Nigel Samuel of Charles Turner & Co, Peter Green of Bolton and District Hospital Saturday (and President of the Junior Chamber) and Professor Alan Kitson, Dean of Bolton Business School at Bolton Institute.

Existing directors moving across are: Andrew Dickson of St Andrews Travel, Angela Campbell of the Erskine Corporation, John Waters of Newsquest, Paul Dickinson of Fluidair Ltd, Peter Weidenbaum of Trumeter, Cllr Derek Boden of Bury Metro, Richard Bindless and David Arkwright (until April).