EXCITING news for the Gawthorpe Environment Group who have received planning permission to convert the former tobacconist shop at 28 Burnley Road into their headquarters.

Refurbishment, which will be in keeping with the building, will start shortly and the headquarters will be open to the public in January.

GEM is looking for sponsorship for a proposed new tree sculpture on the Long Plantation.

There are already two sculptures in place and there is no doubt that they are a wonderfully effective use of 'sick' trees.

Anyone interested in sponsorship or who wishes to help GEM in any other way should contact Steve Taylor, 25 South Drive, Padiham.

THE recent floods saw water over quarter of a mile wide at Altham and the traffic lights at Wyre Street were also flooded.

GEM believes that there is an urgent need to develop the flood plains already in existence.

These stretch from above the Baxi factory to Barden Lane and from Shuttleworth Mead to Fennyfold.

MARKET town initiative members are hoping that information access units - Links system - will soon be available both in Padiham and Hapton.

These will give vital information 24 hours a day to the public. This will include important help details and local information.

It will be funded by both the county council and the private sector.

PADIHAM Green pupils recently put in a court appearance at Burnley magistrates' court.

They were invited there by magistrates to see justice being enacted.

Girls from the school have recently been introduced to the joys of football by members of Burnley Football Club.

Headyeacher Paul Stamp would like to thank both the magistrates and BFC for the way they worked with the pupils, who thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

A MEETING, called by Hapton residents worried about the proposed Hapton Colliery animal waste incineration unit, was held at Rosegrove Unity Club.

However, many people from other parts of Burnley also attended as they felt that the incinerator will not only affect Hapton.

Business representatives from the Rossendale Road estate and Network 65 also expressed their concerns.

They were addressed by County Coun Marcus Johnstone, Coun Steve Caddy, leader of Burnley Council, and Hapton Coun Andy Tatchell.

Some Hapton parish councillors also attended.

All of them assured the meeting of their objections to the proposal.