PENDLE Council is going "green" to the core, with environmental concerns set to underpin everything it does and how it does it.

In recent years, "environment" has become a political buzzword and a useful vote winner for many councils. But now Pendle is washing off the "green" gloss and getting to grips with real environmental issues on a day-to-day basis.

Under its new Environmental Action Plan the council is facing a root and branch shake-up in the way it operates, determined to "put its own house in order" and hoping to lead by example.

As well as setting out a strategy for the council - one of Pendle's biggest employers - the action plan aims to encourage businesses, voluntary groups and individuals to follow suit.

And the council wants the public to have a major say in shaping the plan, coming up with their own ideas and strategies for a better, greener Pendle for the millennium.

Over 150 people and organisations have already been sent copies of the 68-point draft plan, and a travelling exhibition has been touring the borough to make sure local people can see it and add their own views. Copies of the plan and special questionnaire leaflets are also available at all council offices and local libraries, with the closing date for the consultation period extended to February 6.

Just a few of the ideas already suggested for the plan include:

l Helping local companies to reduce pollution through advice, training and grants for new machinery

l A green commuter plan including car sharing and promoting cycling and walking

l Traffic calming to limit vehicles to a maximum 20mph in residential areas throughout the borough

l Forming partnerships with local businesses and local people to protect the character of valuable buildings.

Each of the 68 objectives in the plan has been given a target date and allocated a person responsible for seeing it through. The council has also appointed a Community Action Network Support Worker, Helen Blyth, dedicated to working closely with community groups and organisations and generating public support for environmental projects.

The action plan can trace its roots back almost a decade, to when the council formed its Environmental Charter Group in 1989.

Coun Tony Greaves, who has helped mastermind the plan, said: "The charter group was helpful in that it got councillors and officers together with external groups, but it was really a talking shop.

"About 18 months ago we came to the conclusion it wasn't making much progress - it wasn't achieving a fundamental change in the way the council worked."

It was that realisation which motivated a fresh new approach, with the formation of an Environment Working Group and now the publication of the draft plan, which has won all-party support in the council chamber.

"The council has put forward this ambitious and positive plan to improve our quality of life and protect our environment," said Coun Greaves. "Now we are urging everyone in Pendle to get involved, not just environmentalists, because it will affect all our lives."

He added that change was a long-term process, but stressed the council was committed to achieving it.

"Let no-one be in any doubt that the aim of this plan is to start changing the way in which every part of Pendle Council operates.

"Everyone is in favour of the environment nowadays, but most policies amount to little more than adding a lick of green paint and then carrying on and doing things in the same old way.

"If this plan is successful it will be the beginning of the most important change in the way the council does things since it was formed nearly a quarter of a century ago."

Anyone wanting more details of the plan or a copy of the questionnaire can contact the council's environmental policy officer Garreth Bruff, on 01282 661984.

Picture shows councillors and officers at the launch of the action plan this week. They are (left to right) Helen Blyth, Labour group environment spokesman Coun Tony Leo, Garreth Bruff, Conservative environment spokesman Coun Sheila Derwent, Coun Greaves, chairman of the Environment Working Group Coun Jo Belbin, and the council's corporate policy manager Andrea Staltmeier.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.