TOWN leaders are set to approve a new plan to tackle the problems of flytipping and rubbish across Burnley and Padiham.

Council bosses have drawn up a series of schemes which they hope will improve the look of the town and help keep it clean a concern top of most people's priorities for the council.

The ideas, set to be passed by Burnley Council's Executive tomorrow include: l Establishing litter teams to target the main routes into the borough and provide a quicker response to clearing up flytipping.

l Prioritising problem areas where park rangers will take enforcement action against littering and dog fouling offences.

l Increasing resources to deter and punish "enviro-crimes" such as flytipping, littering and dog fouling.

l Increasing the frequency of cleaning and enforcement work and by better co-ordinated work with other organisations in certain "hot spot" areas.

l Developing a promotional campaign concentrating on education, enforcement and promoting community clean- ups.

l Improving how people can report problems and ask for help.

Acting chief executive Mick Cartledge said: "We're aware that littering, fly tipping and dog fouling are three of the issues that are top of people's concerns.

"Burnley Council is committed to working with local people to tackle these issues and with their help we can work together to create a cleaner Burnley.

"We know more needs to be done to clean up our streets and spare land and this action plan looks at ways of how we can do that. However the council can't do this on its own. We need support from local people to do it."

Mr Cartledge added: "The majority of people take a pride in their community and wouldn't dream of dropping litter or dumping their rubbish on someone else's doorstep or allowing their dog to foul without cleaning up after it.

"However there is a minority of people who don't care and who spoil the area for everyone. It's those people that we particularly need to work with."

The plans were welcomed by litter campaigner Pete Tarren, of Peace Street, who said: "I agree entirely with what the council are trying to do as the problem of littering and fly-tipping has been getting worse over the last couple of years."

The Executive is recommended to approve the action plan when it meets tomorrow.