Councillor: Darwen's never looked so bad

8:58pm Wednesday 7th November 2007

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A DARWEN councillor believes the town has never looked so bad and is calling on the council to speed up demolition work.

And Coun Paul Browne has been backed by Darwen MP Janet Anderson in his claim that empty homes in designated regeneration areas such as Redearth, Hindle Street and Harwood Street, are blighting the landscape.

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But he was criticised by a Labour councillor who said that Coun Browne had caused delays to the scheme by supporting campaigners who were against the Darwen Academy being built in the Redearth Triangle.

Coun Brown said: "I've never seen my town look so bad.

"At the moment we've got all these empty houses but only one street - Hindle Street - has been knocked down.

"They've just started on Crewson Street but things need geeing up.

"Redearth is also a blot on the landscape, and I feel sorry for the people who live in houses who overlook it."

Coun Browne said that he believes when the regeneration work in the town is complete, Darwen will be "100 per cent improved", but at the moment, the area is in a "poor state".

He said: "At the moment we're down. We're in limbo because nothing is happening with the rows of empty houses.

"I've been on to the executive directors of regeneration at the council to see what can be done."

Coun Dave Smith, who represents the Sunnyhurst ward, said: "Paul Browne is being hypocritical because he supported the argument against putting the academy on Redearth, which delayed the process.

"If the delay hadn't have happened, the houses would probably be down by now."

As a member of the ruling coalition in charge of the borough, Coun Browne said that was is "not afraid to stick his neck out" to represent the people of Darwen.

He said: "Blackburn with Darwen is a big area and I always have, and always will, stick up for Darwen.

"Blackburn seem to be getting a lot more demolitions in their area."

Darwen and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson said she "completely agrees" with Coun Browne, who last week annouced he was staying with the Liberal Democrat group after saying the week before that he was defecting to the For Darwen Party.

She said: "My son and his girlfriend came to visit me in Darwen last week after not visiting the area for a while, and where shocked at the deterioration of the town."

She added: "I also know that the residents are very concerned about how long the demolitions are taking and we still do not know what will be going on all the sites.

"I'm fully behind Paul - the council needs to get on with the demolitions."

Leader of the council, Colin Rigby, said he was also keen to demolish empty properties, but correct proceedures had to be adhered to.

He said: "I can understand Paul because it is a mess when you drive through, but we have to go through the democratic process and allow people to challenge the inspectorate in places like the Redearth triangle if they so wish.

"The work must be pretty imminent on Redearth because there is a period of six weeks for people to challnege the decision, and that is nearly up.

"I really hope they don't challenge the decision, because this would slow down the regeneration further.

"We want to see the place vibrant again and frankly, the delays are costing us money."

Last month the Government approved plans to clear homes in Redearth following a public inquiry.

Work is due to begin in the Spring.