A BURNLEY councillor claims the £15million Government cash boost to regenerate housing in the town is "too little, too late".

Councillor Mozaquir Ali believes people's hopes for a huge transformation of the town will not be realised with the amount of money that the town has been allocated under the Elevate East Lancashire programme.

Speaking at a meeting of the full council, he said: "Over the last year or so, one thing we did was raise the expectations of the people in Burnley that it would change the face of the town.

"We have had this announcement of £15m, of which we will be getting only £4m in the first year. But we have nearly 4,000 houses derelict, boarded up and not fit for living in.

"They need to demolished, but with the £15m we will only be demolishing 250 houses in Burnley over two years.

"I think the Government has failed us. This money is too little, too late. It is a shame, a shambles and a breach of trust."

But council leader Coun Stuart Caddy said: "The biggest funding we have had up until now, was £20m SRB funding over seven years. This is £15m in two years.

"There is going to be major change. People will not recognise Burnley in three years' time.

"We need to start talking openly and honestly about the investment. This money is just the start of a 15-year programme of funding. In August or September we will be putting in a second bid for funding."

Executive member for housing and regeneration, Coun Carole Galbraith, told councillors it was an exciting time for the town. She said: "We should be enthusiastic about this and stop thinking about all the negative things.

"This money should help pull in money from the private sector too."