THE millionaire sponsor of the proposed Darwen Academy told a public inquiry he would pull out of the scheme if its decision went against him.

The hearing to decide whether permission will be granted for the compulsory purchase of property on land earmarked for the £34million academy began yesterday.

The inquiry was prompted by residents after Blackburn with Darwen Council lodged a second Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to clear 11 remaining homes and industrial property in the Redearth Triangle area of Darwen.

Earlier this year a government inspector overturned a CPO to buy and demolish homes on grounds that they were unfit to live in.

The second CPO has been sought on the grounds that it is necessary for the good of the area, where derelict homes have been burgled.

Darwen Aldridge Community Acad-emy's sponsor Rod Aldridge, who is contributing £2million to the cost of the Academy through the Rod Aldridge Charitable Trust, appeared as a witness for the council in support of the scheme. And he maintained that he would pull out of the specialist entrepreneural academy if the CPO was not granted.

Throughout the opening there was an overall scepticism about the Academy from over 20 residents.

Yesterday's inquiry began with an opening statement from Blackburn with Darwen representatives, and barrister David Elvin QC followed by a Mr Aldridge. The former boss of Capita, the private company which provides services for the council, said: "Academies are a new type of secondary school aiming to break the cycle of under achievement in areas of social and economic deprivation.

"The message I want to deliver is that all will be welcome and the emphasis on the academy's inclusion policy will reach to all of the community, not just students.

"When the land is available I will deliver, what I believe is, a scheme which will be of considerable benefit to the people of Darwen. I have dedicated four to five years into the scheme and I think that is a fair crack; if this does not happen I will step down as sponsor to the project."

Mr Aldridge stated he could not answer questions on the land earmarked for the site.

The inquiry will consider the purpose of the CPO in terms of the land's suitability for Darwen Academy, whether it will improve the area, socially, economically, or environmentally, if the scheme is financially viable and if Blackburn with Darwen Council could create the academy on a different site.

The inquiry is expected to last for a further five days.