Land sell-off gets go-ahead

The scheme, which is set to create between 30 and 50 jobs, involves concrete company Buchans buying up a council-owned plot at Huncoat Business Park and extending its existing factory.

The six-acre site would cost the firm, part of the Amec engineering group, £200,000. If the cash goes straight into the council's private sector housing renewal programme, it would automatically be boosted by a further £300,000 from the Government.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe announced that £50,000 of the £500,000 proceeds would be spent on replacing lead water pipes supplying Hyndburn's older properties.

The proposals were opposed by some Labour members, who wanted to retain the council's freehold on the land and pump rent proceeds into housing repairs over the next decade. At a meeting, council members were told by director of regeneration Nigel Rix, that the scheme presented a vital source of funding for the housing repairs programme.

He said the cash generated by the sale would boost the renewal fund to about £1.5million this year and help the council qualify for future housing improvement funds from the Government.

He added that controls would be added to the extension to combat any environmental problems.

Coun Britcliffe said: "This money will directly benefit the people of Hyndburn. We'll also designate £50,000 to looking at the problem of lead piping, which is dangerous for pregnant women and young children."

Labour councillor Malcolm Ranger, suggested the council's current freehold of the land, which is already leased to the company, would provide £500,000 during the next decade when added to Government cash it would generate.

He urged members to support a plan to retain the land and use the money over a longer period, rather than as part of a 12-month repair programme.

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