PENDLE Council has been accused of earmarking houses for demolition in Nelson before public consultations had even taken place.

The allegations were made by barrister for English Heritage, Eian Caws, during the public inquiry in to the council's decision to compulsory purchase houses in the Whitefield area.

Mr Caws pointed out to the council's principal environmental health officer, Paul Yeomas, that a report to the Pendle Services Committee in January 2000 -- which was before the public consultation in to whether there would be a clearance area -- stated there would be an 'inspection of all houses to be cleared'.

He said despite the renewal area covering more than 1,700 properties, the council had only received 131 valid responses to a newsletter asking residents to choose their preferred option, whether it be clearance, renewal or both.

Mr Caws said: "The council took the decision for clearance in response to the majority of votes cast. The majority vote was 45 out of 131, the second 43 votes, the third 34 and fourth 15.

" It was really a very close run thing and there was little by which you can say there is a clear view of which action to follow."

The barrister also claimed that despite Engish Heritage asking for relevant documents from the council they were not handed over, that the council expressed a need for funding for a 'clearance programme' before consultations had finished and that the council had not considered heritage issues.

He said: "By May 2000 when the full bid was made to the North West Development Agency for SRB6 funding, it appears the council subject to statutory procedures was pursuing a clearance programme which involved 400 dwellings."

He suggested that the scale of the proposed clearance was not publicised to the public until May 2000 and the significant opposition to the plans was not mentioned in a report prepared by Mr Yeoman in September 2000.

Mr Yeoman responded by saying that there had been some confusion over which documents had been requested by English Heritage.

He said the clearance area was declared after the consultations and was based not only on the responses to the newsletter but also on the public meetings and exhibitions.

The council officer said the council had been trying for funding for whichever option was chosen but said that by November 1999 the indication was that the three options including clearance were the most popular.

In relation to heritage issues, he said: "The council considered what the heritage issues were and on the advice of their officers determined that there weren't any."

The hearing continues.