HARD-PRESSED housing bosses are to consider selling off empty and unpopular council homes to a housing association or private developer.

The sell off plan will be considered by Rossendale's housing committee on Monday following a steady rise in empty council houses in Bacup and Stacksteads.

One in 12 council properties in the area is empty and councillors will be told the crisis is worsening by the month. But any suggestion of selling council houses will put the council at loggerheads with the town's estates managament board, which oversees the day-to-day running of council properties and has pledged to "fight to the end" to keep homes in council ownership. The loss of council tenants has continued despite efforts by the council and the EMB to market empty homes. The biggest problem lies with two-bedroomed houses on the Pennine estate, and flats and bedsits at Underbank House.

On Pennine estate, 11 out of 18 two-bedroomed homes on Hawthorn Road and eight out of 14 two-bedroomed homes in Thorn Gardens are empty. A stark report to councillors from director of housing David Taylor says: "There is no demand for these properties."

Mr Taylor adds that he intends discussing possible options for the estate with housing associations and private developers.

Underbank House, a sheltered development of three one-bedroomed flats and 26 bedsits, is currently undergoing renovation, with eight bedsits due to be turned into four flats during the current financial year.

But Mr Taylor points out that that would leave 18 bedsits needing conversion with no plans timetabled. He says: "On this basis I propose to discuss with housing associations the possibility of transfer of the scheme for refurbishment." But Rita Walker, secretary of the Bacup EMB, is adamant Underbank House should be kept in council control and has pledged to "fight to the end to retain it."

She said: "The board will do everythIng in its power to retain control at Underbank House. To sell the flats and bedsits would be a blatant disregard of the management agreement and the needs of local people."

The EMB believes council property which becomes empty should be repaired and decorated to a higher standard before it is offered to new tenants.

Mrs Walker said decorating allowances were not adequate for tenants on benefits or low incomes and added: "For the council to expect incoming tenants to clean up the mess that some outgoing tenants leave is very unfair."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.