NEARLY £900,000 in extra cash could be coming to improve Pendle if three bids by the council are successful.

Council officers have applied for £651,000 for a group repair scheme in the St Mary's Conservation Area which is part of the Nelson West Renewal Strategy.

A second bid has been submitted for £130,000 for resident's anti-crime measures, which would include the use of security lighting and CCTV on council houses in Marsden and Vivary where problems of crime and the fear of crime have been identified.

It is designed to tackle particular problems, improve the safety and environment of the areas making the areas more attractive areas in which to live, thereby reducing the risk of them becoming areas of low demand.

The third bid was for £100,000 for the remodelling of council estates.

The proposed scheme is aimed at reducing on-street parking and increasing demand in Glenroy Avenue and Belgrave Road by redeveloping a derelict garage site in Colne to provide parking for residents and remove what has been described as 'an eyesore'.

It has been discussed briefly with group leaders and is part of the Elevate East Lancashire scheme aimed at rejuvenating local housing -- prompted by the government's Pathfiner project.

A working group of four Liberal Democrats, three Labour and three Conservative councillors will play a key role in all Elevate proposals, including monitoring projects and agreeing bids.

The Early Intervention Programme, which includes the additional £4million which has been allocated to East Lancashire, marks the start of the major Pathfinder programme to restructure East Lancashire during the next 15 years.

A council spokesman said: "The Pathfinder is a real opportunity for Pendle to begin to tackle the problems of low demand housing and to restructure the market.

"Work has begun on the Early Intervention programme and together with the allocation of a further £862,000 for schemes in 2003 and 2004 will make a tangible start in Pendle."