THE public inquiry into Pendle Council's proposal to compulsory purchase 62 homes in the Whitefield ward of Nelson has ended but a decision is not expected for another three months.

Solicitors and barristers representing various witnesses gave their closing submissions yesterday at the Civic Hall.

Eian Caws, barrister for English Heritage, told the government inspector Philip Asquith that they had always accepted there was a need to improve housing, economic and social conditions in the renewal area but that the proposed clearance had not taken into account the community and heritage interests.

He said: "We are dealing with a very deprived area where the housing is generally small and much is in poor repair. Nevertheless only someone who is determined to do so irrespective of the observed facts could deny that there is an active market, that houses do change hands for value on a frequent basis and that, with the implementation of group repair schemes as well as environmental and public realm improvements, that value is likely to increase.

"There may be, as is said, a need to remove a significant amount of pre-1919 terraced housing from the housing stock but it is contrary to the public interest to axe that which has heritage importance and is valued by the community it serves without a thorough examination and understanding of other circumstances in which such reductions may be made."

Conrad Rumney, barrister for Pendle Council, said the evidence given by the council's witnesses demonstrated that the order lands had been suffering from low housing demand and a situation that could fairly be described as market collapse.

He said: "The fundamental cause of the low demand is not disrepair and demand will not be restarted by group repair. Were the repair option to be pursued, rather than clearance as part of a strategy of a mixture of repair and clearance, then the low demand in the order lands will most likely persist. The repair option will not result in a sustainable community. The heritage considerations are very far from being of a significance anywhere near substantial enough to justify implementing an unviable repair scheme. A practicable alternative strategy is required. The option of clearance of the order lands is part of such a practical strategy.

"This comprehensive approach to the problem of housing renewal in Nelson is not an ad-hoc approach. The Council makes no apologies for not having applied the term "holistic" to its comprehensive strategy. It's strategic approach is consistent with and furthers the aims of the Housing Market Restructuring Initiative and the East Lancs Pathfinder. It presents the best chance of furthering the aim of a sustainable community in Nelson West."

Martin Carter, speaking for Heritage Trust for the North West, said: "The HTNW's commitment is demonstrably even greater now than it was at the time of the original inquiry. HTNW has now set up the subsidiary construction trading company which has ten employees.

"Renovation of property at Maurice Street shows that HTNW has appropriate and realistic plans for the restoration of properties in the area affected by the CPO.

"The approach of HTNW and other objectors is one which would lead to a more comprehensive and more integrated approach to the regeneration of not just the order lands but the wider area of Nelson West."