THE reopening of an inquiry into a controversial clearance scheme for a rundown district of Nelson has been postponed.

The hearing into plans to clear the Whitefield ward was due to begin on November 5 but has been put off by the Secretary of State.

Pendle Council, the authority behind the slum-clearance scheme, has been told by the Government Office North West that the MInister asked for the postponement after a number of people requested it be held outside the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan.

The authority has pledged to work with the government to obtain a revised date as soon as possible.

Janet Bradbury, the council's Executive Director for Regeneration, said: "A public notice of the proposed re-opening was put into the local paper on Wednesday, October 16, for publication on Friday, October 18, but we were informed by letter on October 17 that the Government had decided to postpone the inquiry and re-open it at a later date.

"This was because of requests by local people not to go ahead on November 5.

"Pendle Council will work with the Government to get a revised date as soon as possible. The council is concerned about the continued uncertainty and difficult conditions being suffered by people living in the area because of the further delay.

"We will re-advertise the public notice at the appropriate time."