IN a fight to stamp out gobbledygook Bury Metro has agreed to go for a Crystal Mark award given by the Plain English Campaign.

Work has already begun to ensure that the Local Authority's Annual Report, Housing Report to tenants, and the Precept Leaflet for Council Tax bills are all worded in language that everyone can understand.

Bury Metro's Personnel Sub-Committee Chairman, Councillor Trevor Holt, said: "In the past, and quite rightly so, it has been pointed out from time to time documents, letters and forms produced by the Council are not at first glance the easiest to understand.

"Through our on-going staff training programme we are tackling this problem and now, with the support of the Plain English Campaign, we are targeting three of our specific publications.

"At the end of the day it is as much to our benefit as it is to the public to ensure that our documents are easy to understand and readable by everyone.

"If they are not, then it can hinder the job we are trying to do and that is to serve the people of Bury."

Local Authority staff have already met to discuss the changes that will need to take place and there will be an ongoing consultation with the Plain English Campaign to get things just right.

Councillor Holt added:

"We are not saying that the three publications concerned are particularly badly worded but, as with everything, there is always room for improvement.

"I am sure that everyone would agree that getting rid of gobbledygook is definitely a step in the right direction."

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