RESIDENTS in the North Valley area of Colne have been assured they will be consulted over plans for housing renewal.

North Valley is to the north of the town centre and includes pockets of delapidated and vacant terraced housing.

Councillors plan to spend more than £2.5m on the area as part of the Elevate housing renewal programme.

Plans include clearance of 68 houses in Bright Street and Mason Street to create space for new housing.

However, at a meeting of Colne and District Committee last night council bosses assured residents nothing was set in stone and that they would be fully consulted.

A period of consultation will now be launched which will include information packs for all those affected as well as face to face meetings with the council.

Brian Cookson, of Pendle council's regeneration team, said: "We recognise there has been considerable public disquiet, particularly about demolition and clearance.

"We are now taking Elevate forward and we have to think very carefully about the strength of feeling and to do a much better job of consulting."

Council leader Alan Davies added: "It is right that now we go out and talk to people with a cast iron guarantee that no decisions have been made."

Other plans affecting Pendle include the total renovation of more than 100 houses and the potential demolition of 128 houses in Brierfield, and repairing a further 55 properties in Colne.