A REFURBISHMENT of Blackburn's travellers' camp, costing £E500,000 is being lined up after councillors approved a bid for government cash.

Council bosses will now put together an application to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for their share of a £17million pot being made available.

Around 100 people, including children, live on the site,near Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park ground in 20 permanent caravans.

If the money is secured by the council, improvements to drains, redevelopment of toilet and shower facilities and the provision of a site supervisor would all be made possible.

In a report to the executive committee, Coun Gail Barton, executive member for resources, reported that the physical condition of the site was very poor.

The two service blocks were in a poor state of repair and housed dilapidated toilet and washing facilities.

She said blocked drains, litter and fly-tipping were all persistent problems.

"The facilities at Ewood do not match those provided by neighbouring authorities.

"Similar sites in Bolton and Bury have recently been upgraded to a modern layout arrangement.

"Each ptich also has its own toilet facilities, which are built in blocks of four." The last site supervisor, who also provided tenant support and made sure those at the camp received help from council departments when needed, was not replaced when he left several years ago.

Coun Barton added: "The non-replacement has coincided with further deterioration in the condition and behaviour of the site.

"Anti-social behaviour by children when workmen visit the site to attend repairs is common, with uncontrolled dogs presenting a further nuisance.

"The unauthorised parking of caravans by relatives of residents visiting the site is increasingly taking place.

"Despite these difficulties, there is reasonable dialogue between property staff and residents as to repairs and collections." Application for the cash must be submitted by January next year.

The Government will pay for 75 per cent of work, or £375,000 in Blackburn's case if the authority gets the money. Traveller Michelle Lee said: "All the other sites in the area are regular renewed but this has not been touched for 13 years. We are rent-payers here, it's not free and we pay council tax like everyone else."