COUNCILLORS have approved plans outlining the the future of five Burnley neighbourhoods.

The Area Action Plans (AAP) show what the Council recommends should take place to regenerate Burnley Wood, South West Burnley, Daneshouse/Duke Bar/Stoneyholme, Piccadilly/Trafalgar and Padiham.

Area Action Plans are used to aid decisions about the use of land, planning applications, where existing regeneration funding should be spent, attracting further regeneration funding, and justifying compulsory purchase orders.

The council has put together its preferred options' following an exhaustive process that included gathering and processing over 2000 responses from residents and stakeholders collected last year.

Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: "Plans are not just shapes on a map, they affect people's everyday life; decisions such as whether to invest in their home.

"People want to know what is going to happen and when it is going to happen. We will deliver more certainty; these plans deliver more certainty, but we have to do so in a way prescribed by government."

Residents living in the Dall Street, Reid Street, Parkinson Street and a stretch of Branch Road in Burnley Wood were told that their homes would no longer be knocked down under the revised plans at a meeting two weeks ago.

They had mounted a long campaign to convince councillors to think again about plans to demolish their streets.

Councillor Birtwistle added: "Difficult decisions have had to be taken in producing these plans, but the reason as to why the Council has chosen a particular change will be available to residents when we begin the formal consultation in February."

The plans currently show what is proposed to take place in each of the areas but once these are approved in February a timescale for the works will be revealed.

Councillor Birtwistle added: "The Council has to follow the Government's guidelines for consulting on these plans, which means that we cannot take them out into neighbourhoods for people's thoughts until February, following a further Executive decision, but we can do is make sure people can get the information they need now."

The Council has arranged for residents are able to view the plans at the Planning Offices on Parker Lane, The Contact Centre also on Parker Lane or through visiting www.burnley.gov.uk Residents with a specific enquiry about where they live can call the AAP Lines - special telephone numbers to answer enquiries about what is proposed for the future of their home.

Dial Burnley Council on 01282 425 011 then dial the following extensions: General Enquiries - 2538; Burnley Wood/Healey Wood - 2539; Piccadilly/Trafalgar - 2543; Daneshouse/Duke Bar/Stoneyholme - 2542; South West Burnley - 2543 abd Padiham - 2541.