AN organisation dedicated to improving the environment could be set up in Darlington, if council chiefs give the go-ahead.

Plans have been unveiled for a Groundwork Trust to be established in the town, and they could be approved next month.

The Groundwork charity is already well-established elsewhere in the region and the West Durham group has formed links with Darlington in recent times.

Now, borough council cabinet members are being asked to extend that organisation to create a new West Durham and Darlington Groundwork Trust.

If approved, the group could work on projects such as helping allotment associations, improving the environment around industrial sites, helping to provide cycle routes, improvements to school grounds and creating heritage trails.

The local trust would have a board, which two councillors could have seats on, as could a member from the private sector. Premises would be found in Darlington to give the project team a base to operate from.

The council would have to contribute an annual fee of £30,000 if the group were to be set up, while a further grant would be provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

A report to the council's cabinet meeting next Tuesday, urges members to approve the scheme.

Councillor Lee Vasey, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for leisure services, said: "Groundwork Trusts have proved very effective in communities elsewhere in County Durham and it is thought that a Darlington group could be of considerable value to the area."