PLANS to improve the look of a town centre appear to be scuppered following the announcement of a council’s budget.

Hyndburn Council has announced its new budget which will see £828,000 investment in improvements to homes for people with a disability, a further £1.2 million investment in Accrington town centre, and £1.7 million invested in housing regeneration.

At the meeting, councillors also agreed plans to invest £400,000 to improve waste services, including the rollout of new wheelie bins to replace the bags and boxes used for recycling.

Hyndburn residents will have to pay 2.1 per cent extra on council tax.

Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson described setting the budget as the “hardest challenge” since taking control of the council in May 2011.

However, conservative councillors said budget cuts in the amenity of the area will continue to make the borough look ‘bare’ and ‘bland’.

Cllr Terry Hurn, who is the deputy leader of Hyndburn’s Conservative Party, said: “We don’t want to reduce interest in people coming to Hyndburn and the town centre.

“Personally I think the area looks so bare and bland."

Cllr Tony Dobson, who is the leader of Hyndburn’s Conservative Party, said: “There are differences in our outlook around the capital budget.

“The control group decided to remove floral hanging baskets from the town centre and put them as a budget saving.

“We seem to be the only council moving from the market town centre."