Condemned homes win a reprieve

12:43am Monday 3rd December 2007

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RESIDENTS in five streets earmarked for demolition are celebrating after planning chiefs chose to save their homes.

For the past four years, people living in the streets in part of the Burnley Wood area of Burnley have lived the fear that their terraced homes would be torn down to make way for a new housing development.

But at a meeting at St Stephen's Church, leader of Burnley Council Gordon Birtwistle showed plans to residents that will save a large section of Burnley Wood.

The revised plans mean that Dall Street, Reid Street, Parkinson Street and a stretch of Branch Road will no longer be torn down as part of the Elevate East Lancashire housing renewal programme.

Coun Birtwistle confirmed the homes were to be saved as part of revised plans drawn up following the campaign by local residents.

He added that policing plans would be considered to improve the area along with an assessment of the street scene plan in order to reduce the dumping of rubbish which has blighted the area.

Karen Heseltine, 41, who lives in Dall Street, said that the news had provided a massive boost to the community.

Miss Heseltine, who is secretary of Dall Street Residents' Association, said: "We are absolutely elated. It is as if a huge cloud has been lifted from over our heads.

"For four years you couldn't make plans because you never knew whether you'd need money to relocate somewhere else.

"I have lived here for 15 years and I love my terraced house because it is so hardy as opposed to a new build which is like a paper dolls house.

"I think they (Elevate) have a part to play in rejuvenating the town.

"If we work in partnership we can get something that suits people who live here.

"There is such a negative view of this area of town but I am proud to live here and the perception of the area is wrong.

"I would like to thank the senior members of the council for listening to us and agreeing with us that the terraces did not need to be demolished."

Coun Birtwistle said the u-turn had been prompted by the concerns of residents and many of the houses would be renovated by the council and sold on.

He said: "There is still a lot of houses coming down but the area people wanted to save has been.

"This plan is what the residents wanted and this is what we have done. This has come from the residents.

"Under the previous administration no one knew when the houses were coming down but now they do and the area action plan will run for the next 10-years because that's what we have the money to do."

Elevate was backed by former Factory Records boss Tony Wilson and is fronted by Max Steinberg, chief executive of this Market Renewal programme.

Burnley Council is aiming to regenerate neighbourhoods that are suffering from low housing demand.

As part of this, sections of Burnley Wood were due to be replaced with new housing that residents claimed would displace many currently living there.

A wider consultation into the new plans is still to take place with local residents and interested parties after they go before the council's executive on December 11.

Mike Cook, director of regeneration and housing for Burnley Council, said: "The area action plans for the five neighbourhoods in Burnley, including Burnley Wood, are due to be considered by our Executive on December 11 and our members will be discussing them in detail, and if approved the plans will be the preferred option for the neighbourhoods involved.

"What will then happen is a period of more detailed consultation with residents and other involved parties."