LIBERAL Democrat councillors in Blackburn and Darwen have condemned the closure of two housing offices in the borough.

Housing chiefs at Blackburn town hall were bombarded with complaints from residents in the Shadsworth and Roman Road areas when they were told there offices would close.

At a council meeting, members of the majority Labour group on the council explained that there was no cost cutting going on and all resources would be put into making sure more council officers are on the streets dealing directly with residents' concerns.

But Liberal Democrat housing spokesman Councillor Karimeh Foster said the council had ignored people who had made it clear they opposed the closures.

She added: "I have had meetings with the tenants' association and members of the Shadsworth estate management board and they have all opposed it.

"More than 800 people signed a petition opposing the moves. Clearly the Labour council does not want to listen to the views of local people.

"Even the Labour ward councillors have refused to listen to their own constituents and have slavishly followed the party line. "The estate at Highercroft will see big changes in the near future. A local housing office will be even more important for local people.

"The Shadsworth estate management board is a good example of involving tenants in the management of their estate and the Labour council frequently claims credit for its success.

"The Labour council rewards this successful group by removing its local housing office.

"We want to see the council encouraging such groups. All this will do is demoralise them." Labour housing spokesmen say they have listened to people's comments, via housing satisfaction surveys, and acted on them by making more officers available for work on the streets, dealing directly with residents.

Many residents surveys in recent years have shown the main complaint of tenants is neighbourhood nuisance and they have called for more officers to be working outside of offices with residents.

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