RESIDENTS in the Shadsworth area of Blackburn are drawing up a petition against the possible closure of their local housing office.

Blackburn with Darwen councillors will consider the proposal to close the Arran Avenue office and re-locate staff and services to Lambeth Street.

The move comes as part of a reorganisation as a result of the council's new unitary status.

It is also proposed to close down the Roman Road housing office with staff and services relocated to Green Lane.

More than 50 people attended a public meeting in Shadsworth to protest against the planned closure.

Many residents complained that the area was fast losing its services with the district library having been closed in the summer and being replaced with a mobile library service. Phil Richards, director of housing and neighbourhood services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "Following the transition to unitary status, the council agreed a set of corporate priorities.

"These priorities asked us took at the way we provide existing services and ways we can improve them.

"The housing and neighbourhood services department has been consulting with tenants groups and various people about proposals to relocate certain housing officers to provide a similar service from a different place.

"Our aim is to improve the service we currently provide for the benefit of our tenants."

The council's housing and community services committee will consider the relocation proposals at a meeting on Wednesday, September 16.

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