A HOUSING association has been blasted by councillors after failing to let three houses it bought from the council four years ago.

Now Ribble Valley Council has warned Manchester-based Space that it will go to court to seize back the properties unless they are repaired and let soon.

The houses are in Whitewell Drive, Siddows Avenue and Hayhurst Street, Clitheroe. The council understood Space would carry out minor repair work and then work with the council to let the properties to people in need of accommodation.

That has yet to take place as Space has been unable to allocate funding to the houses, which local councillor John McGowan said could be used to help alleviate the borough's shortage of low cost housing.

When 26 council owned houses became available earlier this year, more than 600 people applied to move into them.

Coun McGowan told a full council meeting: "As we have a situation like that, I'd like to see the council bring these houses back to a liveable standard. These houses are in a dreadful state of disrepair which wasn't the case when Space bought them.

"It is disgraceful this has been allowed to happen. One year waiting is bad enough, but four is no good whatsoever." Council housing committee chairman Charles Warkman said: "If Space can not guarantee the properties are going to be renovated and occupied in the very near future we will consider the use of compulsory purchase powers."

Andrea Lowman, business development director for Space, funded by the government's Housing Corporation, said: "We are committed to supporting regeneration across East Lancashire and are therefore disappointed we have been unable to obtain funding to help us develop these three much needed houses. We are hopeful of reaching a positive decision by the end of May."