BURNLEY people are set to be consulted by the council over a £500 million regeneration programme.

Council staff have decided to ask residents in three areas of the town for their views on what has been described as the, "biggest opportunity" for revitalising the town.

Mike Waite is part of a new council team with a specific remit to bid for Elevate money. He said: "The views of local people are very important to shaping an East Lancashire plan for Elevate, this is the biggest opportunity we have to make a positive change to the town."

Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, made the announcement earlier in the year that nine areas in England and Wales can bid for a share of £500 million Elevate regeneration money. Burnley is one of the towns included in an East Lancashire Elevate area.

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People living in Burnley Wood, Daneshouse and Stoneyholme and South West Burnley will be asked to tell the council how they want their communities re-shaped and Neighbourhood Action Plans will be drawn up.

But the project is aimed at breathing new life into all of the Burnley borough.

Mr Waite added: "We will be going into each area with options that are not set in stone that will feed into an action plan."

That plan will eventually be presented to the Government before a decision on how much cash Burnley is given.

Mr Waite said: "We want to use Elevate to bring resources into the town that feed a vision for the area as a whole. We have a commitment to the borough as a whole; we are not just concentrating on these three areas, it will roll out and the idea is to make a positive change to the town."

The council is hoping that by spending any grants from the Elevate programme wisely it will be able to make a lasting difference to a town where property prices have slumped and run down housing blights large areas.

But housing is not the concern for the council and talks have also been held with health agencies, community workers and businesses.

Burnley has already secured £900,000 this year and council leader Stuart Caddy has pledged his commitment to the programme. Coun Caddy said: "We are committed to using Elevate to tackle problems of low demand housing and social issues so that there will be a rise in confidence and prosperity in the borough as a whole."