I'M A HUGE fan of good ideas. The better the idea, the more excited I get. It's almost kinetic.

Earlier this year Elevate - the group tasked with transforming ugly pockets of housing in East Lancashire - got £103million so it could start work on run-down areas.

It planned to clear some areas up by knocking down homes and building new ones in their place.

Other areas would be getting what we have come to know as "makeovers", with council workers taking over the role of Carol Smillie and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

What a good idea. It meant people would live in some pretty areas for 21st century living. Architects would get to have a bash at designing housing complexes which would improve modern life. I was well excited, I can tell you.

Then came the detail, and with it the opposition to this great idea. What about breaking up communities? What about the pensioners who would be forced to get another mortgage?

Valid points, and the reason why so many people across the area - notably at Redearth Street in Darwen - are fighting the plans.

Some of their houses are very nice and I can see why some people are loath to accept this massive upheaval. But Elevate has valid points too. After all, the end result of this massive project will be better homes for everyone.

I've got to say I side with Elevate on this one. They are a professional body set up to get the best for East Lancashire folk.

They are offering all sorts of help and cash to compensate people who could have to move.

And I think they've picked homes to come down not to annoy locals, but to provide them with better living conditions.

I can't understand why two families who live in a terrace block where 18 neighbouring properties have been condemned, boarded up and burnt out by vandals would not welcome a change.

And change is what it's all about. Because when you have a project, or a change, of this size, there are bound to be upheavals.

But no matter how much you try and sweeten the deal for them, some people just won't budge.

I think it's a British thing. We all love a moan. Too hot? Moan about the lack of rain. Too wet? Moan about the lack of sun. Chance to move into better home with a £3,500 payment to make the change easier? Moan about the disruption.

But the best moan of the past week has been in Baxenden, home of the Nimby, where locals have whinged about plans for a new all weather pitch for youngsters.

But why did Hyndburn Council draw up plans for the sports area in the first place?

They did it to give the teenagers something to do and somewhere to go....because of complaints from local residents about kids hanging around! You can't win, can you?