ANGRY residents are protesting about proposals to demolish their homes in Colne and Brierfield.

Last month it was announced that Pendle had been given £12million in Government funding under the Elevate housing renewal programme.

Proposals on how to spend that money, drawn up by consultants, were discussed at a meeting of Pendle Council's Executive Committee last night.

Council leader Councillor Alan Davies told residents, who packed the public gallery, that the council would be consulting with residents on those proposals.

Speaking at the meeting Robin Whittaker, of Holden Road, in Brierfield, one of the streets under threat of demolition to make way for new housing, said: "This is naturally causing a lot of stress and anxiety. This is a period of great uncertainty." He was speaking on behalf of 13 residents who have signed a protest petition.

Mr Whittaker said: "Our main objections are that we would lose our exceptional views across the valley. We enjoy relative quiet and seclusion among excellent neighbours."

He added that a lot of the uncertainty came from a lack of information about the future and urged councillors to ensure that residents affected were kept fully informed.

A resident of Mason Street, in Colne, but who did not want to be named, raised similar concerns.

She said the council had used a photograph of her house and garden in a display about the future of Colne as an example of how they wanted all housing to look, and yet under the consultants' proposals it is to be knocked down. She said: "There is no way you would be able to compensate us for what we have.

"There are problems with anti-social behaviour in this area of Colne, but perhaps you should be investing money in dealing with those problems, rather than pulling down decent houses that structurally sound and provide accommodation for the working classes."

Coun Davies said the area committees for Colne and Brierfield would work out the best way to discuss the proposals with residents.

He said: "We want to say yes to Elevate - we do want the money and we do want things to change. But none of this will happen without consultation with residents."

The council agreed to the proposals in principle, subject to consultation with the area committees and residents in Colne and Brierfield.