Grot-spot crackdown launched in Colne (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Grot-spot crackdown launched in Colne

7:00pm Saturday 7th January 2012 in Colne By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

A CAMPAIGN to tackle Colne’s ‘grot-spots’ is set to be extended to cover the whole town and surrounding villages.

Tens of thousands of pounds have been spent in the Waterside area, over the past few years, tackling fly-tipping and carrying out basic maintenance tasks.

Formerly this was funded by housing market renewal money but it has been carried on with the support of the Colne area committee more recently.

Now residents associations and community groups in neighbouring Horsfield, Vivary Bridge, Trawden, Laneshawbridge and Foulridge are being urged to come up with their own ideas.

Coun Joe Cooney said: “There is money in the pot and I think we should probably look at extending this across the town and villages.”

Area committee councillors agreed and £5,000 will be given to each of the wards, including Waterside, with a smaller proportionate amount for Foulridge.

Coun Tony Greaves, who has championed the Waterside campaign, said: “I think it would be a great help for other areas, along the lines of what has already happened in Waterside, which has been extremely valuable.”

An initial £2,000 will be given immediately to Waterside, and a further £3,000 released when further ideas are forthcoming.

Coun Paul White added: “It would be nice to see the same allocations for the villages because I find that sometimes people there do not realise that this money is available for them.”

Further ideas from Horsfield, Vivary Bridge and the villages will be discussed when the committee next meets in February.