SIXTY grand is going begging in Mosley Common.

Wigan Council has £60,000 of lottery and coalfield regeneration cash to pay for an environmental project that will transform the area - and it wants local people to decide how the money should be spent.

Already lots of ideas have been put forward, such as clean up schemes, landscaped areas, better play facilities and nature trails. Now the council is inviting residents to a 'Planning for Real' event at the end of January to look at all the suggestions and put them in order of importance to locals.

Andrea Marshall of the council's planning department explained: "As a former coalfield community Mosley Common is benefiting from funding that can give the area a chance for an environmental make over.

"We have already asked people for their ideas this event will look at all the suggestions put forward, arrange them in order of importance and need to the community, and decide what is practical and feasible with the money available.

"We want people with a positive attitude who want Mosley Common to stand out to come along and let us know what they think should happen. Without the community taking part we will not truly know what they want. This may be the best chance to say what will happen with the funding."

Anyone with an hour to spend is invited to Lindale Hall, Lindale Road from 7-8pm on Thursday, January 26. Light refreshments will be provided. Andrea Marshall and John Latham, tenant participation officer for Wigan and Leigh Housing, will be on hand to listen to the views put forward.

The project has to be completed by October 2006. Further information is available from Andrea on 01942 488021.