Look at Roman Road's good points, say residents

People who bought homes from the council in the early 1990s say the decision to demolish more than 100 houses on the estate gives the rest of the Blackburn the wrong impression about the area.

And they would like the message to be heard loud and clear across the borough that the estate has its good points.

Blackburn with Darwen Council decided to demolish homes on Cockermouth Close, St Bees Close, Fishmoor Drive, Seascale Close, Levens Close and Silloth Close, because many were empty and nobody wanted to live in them.

But residents say nobody will ever move to the estate if it carries on getting bad publicity without people ever seeing the good side of what goes on.

Housing company Maunders bought several council homes to sell to new buyers.

And it is those home owners who say they are fed up of the tide of bad publicity. Gary King of Idstone Close said: "There have been problems in the past but a lot of the people who caused them have been moved on. Many of the homes have been revamped and a lot of people are happy to live here. But that side of things never seems to be reported.

"There is still a bit of a problem but no more than on any other estate in the area. There are lots of people who live here are fed up with the bad publicity. It is time for the other side of the story to be put."

Higher Croft Councillor Andy Kay said: "There is a strong community on the Roman Road estate who want to carry on living there."

Town hall housing director Phil Richards added: "There is a very stable community at Roman Road now with a very good spirit.

"The estate has a lot of good facilities, it has a credit union, a football team, good schools and a successful majorette troupe. Despite all the negatives there are a lot of positives at Roman Road and that is a credit to the people who live there."

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