ALMOST 10,000 private houses in Hyndburn are unfit.

And another 5,500 homes are in need of repairs or improvement to avoid becoming unfit.

Colossal investment is needed to halt the decline in the borough's private sector housing stock.

The scale of the crisis was spelled out in a report to Hyndburn housing services committee.

Council leader, George Slynn said a phenomenal rate of house building of the beginning of the century had left the council with a major problem.

In some cases, leaning chimneys and sagging roofs affect whole blocks.

Even where general repairs and improvements can be tackled on a one property basis, many owners in deprived areas do not have the money.

At the same time the general down-at-heel appearance of older areas discourages better-off owners from moving into the neighbourhood.

The report to councillors looked at ways of eking out the limited resources likely to be available for the urban renewal programme next year.

The council is also chasing extra funding to support a special renewal project between Blackburn Road, Accrington, and the railway line.

However, there are 36 bids and only four at the most will be approved.

Councillor Slynn said councils across East Lancashire should pull together to lobby the government for more resources.

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