A DILAPIDATED house in Foulridge could remain in its current condition after council staff said it did not qualify for the "problem sites" scheme.

Under the scheme, run by Pendle Council's planning department, buildings can be constantly monitored to ensure they are brought up to scratch.

Resident and former councillor Roger Abbiss asked Pendle Council's Colne and District Committee at its April meeting to place Rosemere, a house in Skipton Road, Foulridge, on the list, complaining that the run-down, empty house, was causing major problems for neighbours.

But in a report back for the committee's May meeting, which will be held on Thursday, planning manager Neil Watson said the house, although in poor condition, was structurally sound, and therefore could not be dealt with by the planning team.

He said the only action possible was a notice to force the owner to remove rubble and rubbish, and to add the house to the council's empty properties database.

Mr Abbiss had told councillors that the house had been "making life a misery" for years.