Local Agenda 21 (LA21)

Foreword

By Councillor Roy Oldham, Leader of the Council

1.1 As Leader of the Council I am very pleased to introduce this Local Agenda 21(LA21) Action Plan for Tameside. I would first of all like to express my gratitude to all those individuals and organisations who over the last two years have contributed to this document. Those who have participated have given their time, energy, knowledge and skills in a spirit of unselfish cooperation that symbolises the ideals behind this initiative. The dedication and enthusiasm that they have brought to the process were an essential element in formulating this Action Plan. Only with the goodwill on the part of all concerned has it been possible to achieve the consensus of views, which was, and continues to be, necessary if we are to see a successful outcome to this process.

1.2 The preparation of this document is a response to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit that launched Agenda 21, a world-wide strategy for sustainable development. Much of Agenda 21 relies on local communities to deliver its aims and Tameside is just one of an estimated two thousand councils across the world which have taken up the challenge issued by the United Nations of producing a Local Agenda 21.

1.3 If we are to move towards a more sustainable future, it is essential that everyone play his or her part. The preparation of this plan has started the process of developing the dialogue and partnerships between individuals and organisations which will be needed to take the action forward. As Professor Richard Southwood, Chair of the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development, states "sustainable development is a continuous process - a journey, not a destination. The key requirement is that we should always be moving in the right direction". Not only is it vital for today's generation that we succeed in this venture, but even more so for the generations to come.