A COUNCIL is in the running for a share of £1m to develop its ‘green’ policies.

Kirkburton Parish Council wants to help people in the area ‘go green’.

It has made it on to the shortlist of the Big Green Challenge, a prize fund run by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta).

There are 100 groups across the country on the shortlist, all challenged with coming up with imaginative ways to tackle climate change in their communities.

The parish council wants to promote the use of renewable energy and cut carbon emissions in its area.

It is one of the first parish councils in the country to come up with a policy on renewable energy.

It has given money from its budget to support local groups who want to introduce renewable energy into their buildings.

However, with the £1m prize from the Big Green Challenge, the council would hope to expand this scheme and carry out work on community buildings across its area to make them more energy- efficient.

The council also wants to be able to support residents who want to save money on their energy bills and use renewable energy in their homes.

Solutions include installing solar panels, insulation or providing energy-efficient items such as low-energy lightbulbs.

Action has already been taken. In the next three weeks Burton Village Hall in Highburton is having solar panels fitted to its roof.

Clr Andrew Cooper, a parish councillor for Farnley Tyas and Thurstonland, submitted the bid to the Big Green Challenge.

He said: “It’s good news to be through to the shortlist. We are trying to push the policy this year. If we get it right in Kirkburton the things we achieve could be taken up across the country.

“We are hopeful and are going to put a lot of effort into getting that money.”

Shortlisted groups have until June to complete detailed plans about how their ideas will work and have them assessed.

Then in July, a panel will whittle the finalists down to 10 groups. Each will receive £20,000 towards its project, plus advice and support. One will be chosen as the contest’s overall winner.

Nesta chief executive Jonathan Kestenbaum said: “This is the first time a model like this has been used to encourage people to tackle climate change.

“We want to see communities getting behind the projects in the region.”

To find our more visit www.biggreenchallenge.org.uk