NEARLY £300,000 is to be spent on improving the Railway Street area of Brierfield.

A number of public area schemes will go ahead after funding came from the £1.33million Pendle Council received from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Among the first projects to benefit from the £280,000 will be mock windows and doors on empty homes to make them more attractive.

A similar scheme, called Bored with Boards, was launched last summer in Southfield, Nelson, while the first example was in Reed Street, Burnley, in 2011, when the scheme made national headlines.

Julie Palmer, senior regeneration officer in Pendle, said: “The schemes involve a range of public realm, environmental, open space and streetscape improvements, to create attractive, greener residential environ- ments and to create a more positive image of the area.

“Initial design proposals are currently being prepared for the individual schemes. Liaison is also taking place with LCC highway engineers, the council’s parks and locality teams.

“In order to make an early and positive impact, a ‘mock window/door art’ boarding-up project is being explored for some of the long-term vacant houses for implementation in the spring. This type of project has proved very successful in Southfield and has uplifted the street scenes.”

Other projects likely to be included are the creation of an avenue of trees near the mosque in the Sackville Street area. Further trees will be planted along the Railway Street and Bridge Street area, as well as enhancements to the bridge and improvements to the road surface. New railings and improvements to the facilities at the Sackville Street play area will also go ahead, and new benches, bins, artwork and planting will be installed at the surrounding park.

The proposals go before councillors next week and the schemes are subject to further design work, as well as costings.