I STRONGLY object to Burnley Council's plans to demolish 87 homes in Cavour Street, Rectory Road and Ashley Street.

In my opinion, the majority are fit for human habitation - especially in comparison to other areas in Burnley, where not only are houses boarded up and streets strewn with rubbish, but are riddled with drug dealers, burglars and vandals.

Several of the residents have been in their homes for much of their lives and are now either retired or very near to retirement. We cannot simply expect them to 'up and move' when they have worked all their lives to build up a home.

This disruption could lead to ill health - if the worry and anxiety they must already be feeling has not yet taken its toll. Burnley already has several industrial estates with many units unoccupied. Surely, we do not need any more.

Referring to Coun Peter Kenyon's comments, these residents have been sandwiched between an industrial site and a high-speed dual carriageway for several years, but he has never voiced his opinions or shown any concern in the past. I wonder if he would air his views if he lived in one of the houses in question.

Although this area has had its problems in the past, the residents have worked together to achieve what is now a very peaceful and close-knit community.

The council are talking about destroying that community, and about re-housing people where it is more than likely they would end up in far worse areas. Is this a question of people or economics?

They should scrap these proposals and concentrate more on improving the area rather than destroying it.

After all, isn't that what they were voted in for - probably by the same people they are now trying to drive from their homes.

S WINDLE, Rosegrove, Burnley (full address received)

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