COUNCIL chiefs at Pendle have met housing regeneration bosses behind the Elevate scheme to end fears over future funding.

Elevate, the company set up to manage a massive housing renewal scheme in East Lancashire, had sent a letter to the council warning that it needed to make more progress with the £3million first phase.

And bosses at Elevate said they feared hold-ups -- caused by concerned residents who wanted to know more about the plans -- could jeopardise the whole project.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice had also warned that another £9million earmarked for housing renewal in the borough could be lost unless the council got on with setting plans in motion.

But, after people living in Brierfield protested at plans to knock down housing to make space for new homes, councillors wanted to give residents more time to express their views. And councillors from Pendle's ruling LibDem executive arranged to meet with Elevate to ease concerns over future funding.

The crunch meeting has now taken place and council leader Alan Davies today hailed the the talks as a success. He said both sides had 'cleared the air' and were working on a way forward that would safeguard the funding and pay for new and improved housing in Pendle.

Coun Davies said: "We had what is often called a free and frank discussion on both sides. We agreed a way forward which, we hope and intend, will work.

"We will fulfil our promises to residents in Pendle and, at the same time, secure the many millions of pounds which Elevate have to offer in the next two years."

Elevate chief executive Max Steinberg said: "We had constructive dialogue with the council and they have given us very clear indications they will meet expenditure and output previously set."

The executive has now called a public meeting for residents and home owners in Clitheroe Road at Walter Street School on October 4 at 7pm. The council has promised to report back to Elevate by October 12.