CONVERSION work at a sheltered flats scheme in Bacup has uncovered nearly £35,000-worth of repairs which need to be carried out.

Underbank House in Burnley Road is being converted from bedsits into one-bedroom flats and a progress report will be made to the corporate services committee tomorrow. The report says that exterior timbers are rotten and require replacement and the gutters and rainwater pipes need to be removed and renewed at a cost of £12,906, including £4,178 for scaffolding.

In addition, the roof of Underbank House needs temporary repairs to ridges and broken tiles costing £2,000.

But councillors will be told the roof has a limited lifespan and while the scaffolding is in place the building should be re-roofed at a cost of £25,760.

Rossendale Maintenance Service is carrying out the conversion and the report recommends it should be contracted to carry out the woodwork, drainpipe and roof replacement work.

This would be subject to a satisfactory negotiation of the contract price.

The work would be funded from the unallocated major repairs allowance budget.