HYNDBURN is going for gold for a second time in a bid to regenerate the borough.

The council and a host of business and community organisations - working together as the Hyndburn Partnership - have already hit a £3.8 million jackpot to revitalise central Accrington.

This time, they are hoping to secure another slice of the cash cake to spread across a broader area of the borough and are drawing up innovative housing and community safety schemes.

The bid for the government's Single Regeneration Budget is still being formulated but will embrace projects tackling housing, employment, environmental and community needs.

A police constable has been seconded for three months to work on crime prevention ideas.

There are also hopes of extending the closed circuit television system to Oswaldtwistle and Great Harwood.

Councillor Len Dickinson welcomed the possibility of cash to refurbish run-down council homes. But he urged caution on building up the public's aspirations about CCTV only to see them dashed.

He said: "We should not be shouting too much at the moment exactly where the cameras are going to be."

Hyndburn Policy and Resources Committee has formally agreed to take part in the bid and support the Partnership with officer time.

Council leader George Slynn said: "The Hyndburn Partnership is working very hard to assess all the needs of the borough and to bring together the people and projects which will make up a successful bid for government support."

Partnership members are working to come up with good ideas within topic groups covering economic development, education and training, health and community, environment and transport, housing and crime.

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