A LEADING Pendle councillor has accused the Government of creating the slums of the next century by cutting back on housing cash to local authorities.

Liberal Democrat David Whipp said the Government was starving councils of cash to pay for housing repairs and renovation, allowing properties to fall into disrepair.

"Unless we get realistic funding for the chronic crisis we've got in our housing I charge the Government with creating the slums of the next century," said Coun Whipp.

His comments came as Pendle Council's services committee last night agreed a timetable leading to the declaration of the borough's second neighbourhood renewal area (NRA) in the Bradley and Whitefield wards of Nelson.

The Nelson West NRA, as it is known, has been delayed for several years because of lack of Government cash.

But housing officers are confident that enough money will be made available from next April to allow widespread repairs, renovation and demolition of the poorest properties to go ahead. The Government has yet to announce its decision. "This has been long overdue and it's good to see something happening," said Councillor Mohammed Ansar.

"People in Bradley and Whitefield have been looking forward to this," added Councillor Sabbir Ahmed. "The people there deserve it."

But Coun Whipp warned: "Unless there is a sea change in the Government there's no chance at all of another NRA being declared before this one is finished in another decade's time."

Two public meetings will be held in the autumn to allow local people to have their say on the renewal area and every household affected will be sent a letter asking for its views. The NRA will be formally declared in March if everything goes to plan.

The committee agreed to award a single contract for repairs to five blocks of houses in the borough's other NRA in Southfield, Nelson, to Baas Construction for £724,874.

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