OUTDATED central heating will be replaced as part of a £200,000 council home improvements scheme.

The money will be spent on newer, more efficient systems in dwellings owned by Rossendale Council.

The work will go hand in hand with a three-year programme aimed at saving energy in all the Valley's 28,385 homes.

The housing committee has approved a programme of central heating replacement covering 52 homes in Brooklands and Jubilee Close, Helmshore; Bacup Road, Dobbin Close and Eastwood Crescent, Cloughfold and Dean Fold, Water.

The £200,000 also includes £64,000 to be spent on converting eight empty bedsits at Underbank House, Bacup, into four one-bedroomed flats.

The committee was told that where possible old boilers would be replaced with more efficient condenser boilers.

Tenants would be allowed a redecorating allowance of £50 for living rooms and £40 for others affected by the work.

Councillors will also be given a list of council-owned property which does not have any central heating.

The fuel-saving programme is part of a national scheme to improve energy efficiency by 30 per cent over 10 years.

A database of all the Valley's properties will be prepared by council officers in Rossendale.

The work will include establishing who owns every property, identifying typical house types and carrying out a detailed analysis of fuel use.

Some of the work will be carried out by council staff and councillors have given the go-ahead for consultants to be hired to provide specialist help.

Two energy efficiency seminars will be held for councillors, council staff and residents.

These will take place on February 10 and March 3.

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