COUNCIL tenants from four of Hyndburn's biggest estates are set to be given their own voice on the future of their houses.

Residents in areas of Accrington, Church, Huncoat and Rishton have been handed a cash boost to set up their own housing committees.

Under the Government's tenant empowerment scheme, tenants will be able to draw up their own action plans for issues such as requesting repairs from the council.

Tenants groups would hold regular meetings with council bosses to discuss local housing concerns.

Town hall chiefs have set aside about £10,000 each for Spring Hill in Accrington and the Sands Estate, Rishton, as well as Church and Huncoat, as part of their annual housing strategy.

Deputy director of regeneration Ken Bury, said: "The scheme involves studies being set up in the four areas which will take until September to complete.

"Tenants will be given power to make their own decisions, for example, about housing repairs.

"The idea is that they will be able to prioritise what they would like done, rather than council officers saying they're all going to have their houses painted this year, and so on."

The scheme is set to be discussed at a meeting of the council's newly-formed housing regeneration committee tonight.

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