A SENIOR councillor fears the number of empty houses in Pendle could ‘rocket’ in the struggle to cope with funding cuts.

In the last 12 months, Pendle Council’s specialist empty homes officer has worked hard to drive down the number of long-term empty properties in the borough by 161.

This was achieved by putting direct pressure on private sector property owners to explain why their houses were empty and what they were doing to bring them back into use.

But despite the positive results, there are still 896 empty houses in Nelson alone, and council officers have now drawn up ways of driving that number down. It is hoped the achieve-ments of the last year, coupled with the planned action will help reduce anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping and improve the borough’s image.

But Coun Mohammed Iqbal, execu-tive member for regeneration, said he feared Government cuts could mean the number of empty houses rising again.

He said: “It’s good that the number is being driven down by specialist officers who target that. Unfortunately, cuts in funding to areas like Pendle will mean the number of empty properties will rocket again.

“The council won’t have the money to acquire them and do them up and private sector landlords will have no interest left in that area.

“I’m getting worried that while over the last year we have seen a decrease, the future could look bleak. These cuts could set us back 20 years.”

Paul Lloyd, Pendle’s housing standards manager, said a number of empty houses in Nelson had been identified as priorities as they required urgent renovation.

These included two houses in Pine Street, as well as others in Hartley Street, Poplar Street and Lancaster Gate.