REGARDING Eric Leaver's comments (LET, May 30) on people from the London area moving to Burnley, Burnley and Pendle Community Housing, a non-profit making company, is investing heavily in Burnley, and has set out its commitment over the 30 years of its business plan to invest over £6million per annum.

This shows the company's commitment to improving the lives of its tenants and the community in general.

Many will have seen our campaigns to attract local people to live in our properties. Even though many people have taken that offer up, we still have a considerable number of properties within South West Burnley that are empty.

That is why we have started to look further afield to London and the South East. People in London live for years in bed and breakfast accommodation, in cramped conditions, hoping for a council or housing association home to become vacant.

The London boroughs spend in excess of £50million paying for people on their waiting list to live in B and B.

That is why we are inviting people, through the normal checking process, to consider moving and living in Burnley. These people are not homeless drug addicts or asylum-seekers.

In fact, the company has not housed a single asylum seeker to date. They are normal individuals who seek either council or housing association property in London without success.

The company offers prospective tenants a total lifestyle package that has been developed with our partners from Burnley College, the Primary Care Group, Social Services, Employment Agency, the police and many others to assist them in gaining employment, receiving the appropriate health care, finding schools for their children, etc. Those who have already moved to Burnley and those that are in the process have commented how vibrant Burnley is; it has good shopping and leisure facilities, lots of parks and green open space, and the homes we offer are beyond their wildest dreams in comparison to the properties and the standard of living they left behind in London.

The London boroughs initiative does not exclude local people from moving into our properties. We continue to let the majority of our properties to local people.

The additional revenue in rental income means more services and quicker improvements for all our existing tenants. More people living in the town means more Council Tax, and equals more council services, and more money being spent in the local economy. This is self-perpetuating and will assist the regeneration of Burnley.

Of course, people from London moving to Burnley is nothing new. Lots of people moved to Burnley during and after the Second World War.

So those who criticise the company should first be clear on their facts. Burnley and Padiham Community Housing will continue to play a major role in the regeneration of Burnley, and will not shirk from its responsibilities to invest in Burnley, and always portray Burnley in a positive light.

Eric Leaver's article casts the first stone of doubt, and is typical of many people within East Lancashire who look to knock anything that is positive, and accentuate the negative.

Finally, those who criticise Burnley do nothing to enhance its image. Positive attitudes to the town create more positive attitudes, and assist regeneration.

PAUL BUCKLEY, Director of Housing and Regeneration, Burnley and Padiham Community Housing.