A Labour council leader is urging his fellow council members to ignore a local paper’s environment campaign.

The Nelson Leader started its Keep off the Grasscampaign in an effort to protect seven rural green field sites which had been earmarked for industrial development.

But as councillor Azhar Ali delivered his annual budget speech to Pendle council, he took a sideswipe at the paper’s efforts.

He said: “We must not let the council be driven by press campaigns, but take rational decisions about the long term interests of our borough.

“We simply have to respond to the challenges which face our community by working with and leading our citizens.”

A series of exhibitions about possible uses for the green field sites is set to open in the near future.

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