A PEOPLE-friendly action plan will take Pendle's green charter into the new millennium.

Council chiefs have drawn up a 68-point charter with initiatives to cut pollution, clean up the environment, make better use of natural resources and generally improve the quality of life in the borough.

They will be bidding for cash aid to clean up old industrial sites and even encouraging people to grow their own food.

In a nutshell, all parties on the authority say they will not make a move in future without an eye on the impact on the environment.

And they want the public to have a major say in how best to deliver the package - and also come up with their own ideas to build a better future.

Proposals have been sent to more than 150 people and organisations and a travelling exhibition has been touring Pendle to encourage townsfolk to become involved.

Ideas suggested in the action plan include helping local companies reduce pollution through advice, training and grants for new machinery.

A Green commuter plan, including car sharing and promoting cycling and walking as means of transport.

Traffic calming to cut speeds to 20mph in many residential areas.

Forming partnerships wit local business and local people to protect the character of valuable buildings.

The council aims to lead by example by changing the way it works.

Spokesman Coun Tony Greaves, said: Let no-one be in doubt that the aim of this plan is to start changing the way in which every part of Pendle Council operates."

He added: "Now we are urging everyone in Pendle to get involved, not just environmentalists, because it will affect all our lives."

The speed and degree of change will be largely dependent on financial resources available and at the moment there is no extra cash in the kitty.

But councillors believe that by cutting the budget cloth to suit environmental need, they can make a difference in the run up to the new millennium.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.