RESIDENTS have cautiously backed a £230,000 council plan to demolish a deserted street and build new homes.

Senior councillors are next week expected to rubber stamp the clearance of Duckett Street, in the Trinity area of Burnley, so new properties can be built.

The street, which is behind Accrington Road, has been empty for several years and council bosses have seized 21 run-down homes using compulsory purchase powers.

However, four more need to be acquired before the site can be cleared and building work, headed by developer Keepmoat, can begin.

Malcolm Tibbs, 65, who lives in nearby Blannel Street, said work on Duckett Street was long overdue.

He said: “The houses have been empty for about four years now and they are full of rats.

“I think it’s a good idea to knock them down and build new ones. It will certainly be better being able to see new homes from my window.”

Accrington Road resident Christine Ainsworth, 37, whose home backs on to Duckett Street, said the plans should have been floated five years ago.

Meanwhile, ‘facelifting’ work done on her house using money from regeneration agency Elevate had left footprints in cement on her front yard and poory-finished cemented walls, she said.

She added: “It’s not a bad idea but there is a lot of land further up Accrington Road they could have built on.

“If they do build new homes in Duckett Street, they need to be good quality ones.”

So far, Burnley Council has spent almost £1.1million on buying up 21 properties in Duckett Street.

On Tuesday ((7)), executive members will be asked to approve a further £230,000 to be spent over the next two years.

Coun Martin Smith, regeneration executive member, said: “One of the things we are making sure happens is that the properties being built are high quality so that they are attractive to people coming into the area.”

He said Keepmoat was currently working on other developments in the Accrington Road area and added: “Things are looking very positive down in south west Burnley.”