MODERN society treats lands as an unlimited resource. It is used for building, roads and agriculture.

Most new development is unsustainable. It destroys the countryside and wildlife habitats, increases traffic congestion and pollution, and uses up natural resources.

Farming is becoming more intensive. Pesticides and factory farm methods have led to habitat destruction and landscape damage.

We are destroying the resources on which we ourselves depend today, and on which future generations will depend. Sustainable development in town and country:

TOWNS need to develop as sustainable neighbourhoods which minimise energy use and the need for travel.

The challenge is to reverse the trend for car-based out of town development, and to create attractive urban areas where people want to live and work.

The countryside needs to be protected from development which may damage landscape and wildlife habitats and agricultural land. The challenge is to develop ways of managing land which will respect the environment. FACTS:

Bolton has a population of more than 260,000 in 100,000 households;

Nearly half of the borough is urban land;

52pc of the borough is countryside and designated Green Belt;

In 1995, 62pc of new homes in Bolton were built on "greenfield" sites;

Over 5,000 houses were built during the 1980s, mostly in the outer areas of Westhoughton and Hulton Park;

Land has been allocated for nearly 7,000 new houses between 1991 and 2001. Out of town shopping floorspace in Bolton has tripled since 1985. Travel to work by car grew by 13pc in the 1980s, while bike, bus and walking became less popular.

2pc of Bolton (287 hectares) is derelict land;

Between 1984 and 1994, 25pc of agricultural land has been lost;

Woodland covers only 3pc of Bolton, half the national average;

8pc of Bolton's land area is protected wildlife habitat - sites of special scientific interest and sites of biological importance. PROPOSALS:

Concentrate new development in existing urban areas by building new houses on re-used urban land and preventing development in the countryside and Green Belt. The Unitary Development Plan approved in December 1995 will put this into practice;

Improve the quality of urban areas and make them attractive places to live and work by: regenerating run-down areas, re-using derelict land, promoting the town centres and protecting Bolton's heritage;

Safeguard and increase the variety of wildlife in Bolton by preventing development which damages protected habitats and improving management of land to encourage wildlife;

Protect open land and countryside from development by preventing development in the Green Belt; Conserve mineral resources and minimise the impact of mineral working by using recycled waste instead of new material in road construction;

Encourage sustainable agriculture and forestry, protecting and restoring traditional features such as hedgerows, by advising and assisting farmers and landowners;

Protect, plant and manage trees and woodland through the Red Rose Forest initiative; increasing woodland to cover 30pc of open land in the next 40 years.

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