PEOPLE living in 101 houses in Brierfield have been given the news they have been dreading.

Pendle Borough Council has decided to buy properties in Berkeley Street, Claremont Street, Belgrave Street, the side of Veevers Street with odd numbers, and 17, 19 and 27 Clitheroe Road for clearance and redevelopment.

At a public meeting last week residents said they still did not know why their homes had been selected for demolition under a scheme to boost Pendle's ailing housing market.

Councillors had been told to get on with pushing the project forward or risk losing £12million funding by Elevate, which oversees the scheme.

But the council wanted to to consult residents.

Despite putting forward a second option of only clearing Claremont Street, Berkeley Street and 17 and 19 Clitheroe Road to residents last Monday, the council has now decided to back the consultants' original scheme.

Letters explaining the council's decision were delivered yesterday.

Pendle Council leader Alan Davies said: "I understand this is not the news some residents and owners have been hoping for and I am genuinely sorry.

"We only made this decision after a great deal of thought about all the points raised at the various meetings which have been held, and made individually to us."

A compensation package of up to £60,000 is available to people affected by the scheme as long as they move within Pendle.

For details about the renewal scheme call 01282 661396.