HIGHWAYS chiefs in Lancashire have taken a dim view of Burnley's £130,000 bid for better street lighting.

Burnley's crime and disorder partnership had drawn up ambitious proposals to revamp a number of street lamps across roads in the borough.

But they have now been informed by the county council's environment directorate that the bulk of their scheme has been binned as they are not focussing on crime hotspots.

Investigations by engineering experts from County Hall found that the Burnley bid mainly covered repairs and upgrades to existing stock instead of problem areas.

Environment spokesman Jill Falcous said in a report to councillors: "After close investigation the bid from Burnley for £130,000 was found to be largely a maintenance scheme and to have only a small element of crime and fear of crime reduction measures.

"The total cost of the scheme was £225,000, with £130,000 to be funded by the crime and disorder budget and the remaining £95,000 to be funded by the maintenance budget."

Under the county council's proposals only an initiative covering Lyndhurst Road, offering new lighting with CCTV cameras, has been provided with funding.

The county council had invited bids from the 12 crime and reduction partnerships and seven, including those representing Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, responded to obtain a share of a £200,000 pot.

Two schemes in Rossendale, in Union Street, Haslingden, and Heathfield Avenue, Bacup, costing £2,800, were successful.

Larger initiatives in Pendle - covering Albert Street and Back Victoria Road, Earby, and Bracewell Close, Nelson, costing around £29,300 - were also approved.

Meanwhile the Lancashire Local Burnley committee has agreed funding for the remaining investment in the Lyndhurst Road scheme.

Councillors have also agreed to provide funds for half of a scheme covering the Tennyson Road area of Briercliffe.

Work on an outstanding initiative in Brooklands Road, to replace old and dangerous columns, should also be completed soon.