COUNCIL bosses have denied claims that regeneration work in Burnley could grind to a halt over controversial potential sites for travellers.

Under consultations for the borough’s Local Plan, three locations have been suggested to meet an anticipated demand for 28 pitches for gypsies and travellers.

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Up to 15 apiece have been identified for land off Heald Road and Lawrence Avenue, and around five for a site off Marlborough Street.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle fears the suggestions – particularly for Marlborough Street and Lawrence Avenue – will deter the authority’s Doncaster-based housing partner Keepmoat from proceeding with later phases of redevelopment initiatives in Burnley Wood and south-west Burnley.

And an online petition calling on the borough council to drop the proposals, by resident Steve Lupton, has already reached 1,100 signatures.

He claims that local communities were ‘not fully informed of these decisions’ and had been left ‘devastated’ by the sites’ selection.

The row has emerged as demolition work takes place on one of the last remaining empty blocks in Burnley Wood, along Crowther Street.

Bosses at Keepmoat, which has already constructed two phases of housing in Burnley Wood and dozens of new properties either side of Accrington Road, are remaining tight-lipped.

But Mike Cook, the borough council’s regeneration director, said: “Keepmoat is continuing to develop high quality new homes in Burnley Wood.

“The council has a long-standing commitment to work with Keepmoat to regenerate housing in the area and, whilst it’s true housing market conditions are currently challenging across the borough, we are determined to, and confident we will, complete our regeneration programme.”

He said no decision had been taken on the potential sites and urged residents to have their say before the official consultation ended.