EXTRA help should be given to tenants living along a raft of streets in the heart of Colne, housing bosses will be told.

Proposals to include 200 homes in a new selective licensing area – safeguarding the rights of householders and guarding against rogue landlords – have been drawn up for the town’s Waterside area.

But the far-reaching scheme, covering an area roughly bordered by Exchange Street, Cambridge Street, Fountain Street, and Colne Lane, does not go far enough, a senior councillor has told a meeting of Colne and District Comm-ittee. Coun Tony Greaves believes a series of additional streets should be included in the licensing area before it is ratified by Pendle Council’s executive.

He said: “This is a big issue and will be the first selective licensing area in Pendle, and one of only 10 probably in the country, under the Housing and Regeneration Act.

“There are around 200 homes in the proposed area and I believe the proportion of private rented housing is somewhat higher than else-where. But we should get the area right for this, rather than rush things through.”

Coun Greaves said the council’s executive should consider incorporating Know-sley Street, Chapel Street, Earl Street, Duke Street, and both sides of Exchange Street.

The bottom end of Walton Street, described recently by Coun Philip Boyle as one of the most rundown in Pendle and peppered with repossess-ed properties, should also be selected.

Parts of Colne Lane included within the boundaries should also be reviewed as most were in private ownership and were not reflective of the remainder of the area, the commitee also heard.

Another bid by the Colne committee to have Hawley Street, Thomas Street, Harold Street and Knotts Lane considered for selective licensing has been put on the back burner for now.

Coun Greaves said that future housing regeneration work should still bear in mind the condition of these streets.