The Keep Australia Beautiful Council will be putting towns across the Lithgow Local Government area under the microscope next week in the 2008 assessments for the annual Tidy Towns awards.

This year’s assessor, Phil Bryant, will be scoring Lithgow’s effort throughout Monday and again on Tuesday morning.

He will then go on to Wallerawang, Portland, Cullen Bullen and Rydal, assessing special projects undertaken by hard working local committees.

There are 98 towns across NSW nominated for judging this year.

The winners in the various categories — including the prestigious State’s Tidiest Town — will be announced at Dorrigo on November 1.