THE leader of Pendle Council has made a personal appeal to Housing Minister Hiliary Armstrong to visit the area after she spurned a similar request from the MP.

Mrs Armstrong's officials say her diary is full, but Councillor Alan Davies is urging her to see local needs at first hand.

He said: "People in all parts of Pendle are pinning great hopes on the new Government,

"But we are very concerned and indeed a bit alarmed that the new housing minister doesn't even seem to want to come and talk to us.

"In the past we have always been able to get a housing minister here, regardless of of the Government party, when we asked for one.

"I hope my letter will now do the trick. Anything less than coming to see for herself will really letting Pendle down."

In his letter Mr Davies told the minister for local government and housing that many of the area's problems centre on the older houses which make up 60 per cent of the borough.

He said: "All the local authorities in East Lancashire tried many times to make the last government understand the particular local circumstances we are faced with.

"These attempts succeeded only in bringing to the area many of your predecessors but did not result in anything tangible for the districts.

"It is my hope that you will agree with Pendle that some of our difficulties can be solved with just a little good will."

Mr Davies added: "Pendle has proved that it can carry out investment in ways that transform areas and give really good value for money."

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