HOUSING estates in Blackburn and Darwen have been allowed to fall into ruin while time and money has been poured in Roman Road, according to the borough's mayor.

Angry Peter Greenwood claimed housing across the borough have been neglected and run down, while housing chiefs have fought a losing battle against a rising tide of vandalism and crime at Roman Road. The comments, made at a housing and community services meeting, sparked off an angry exchange of words between leading Labour councillors.

The row came as councillors looked at a report on the future of the crime-hit estate.

Repeated efforts to attract new tenants to Roman Road have failed and the council is now looking at using private finance to help solve the area's problems.

Coun Peter Greenwood, a former leader of the council and current mayor, said: "We have spent time and money on Roman Road to the gross detriment of every council estate in the borough.

"In Daisyfield and Audley, the effects of neglect and mismanagement are apparent to everyone. Pavements are crumbling and there are water leaks everywhere." He asked: "Why did we decide to spend £160,000 on the estate 12 months ago when we know parts of it are going to be demolished.

"I hope the council plans to spend the same amount of resources in other parts of the borough.

"Every council tenant paid a nine per cent increase in rent this year because of the number of voids in Roman Road. I hope this latest move will see an end to that and a fall in rents next year."

Councillor Frank Gorton added that large parts of Intack and Whitebirk have also been left to rot.

Labour's Andy Kay, the chairman of the regeneration committee, said: "I have never believed in the politics of envy. I am shocked that a member of this council and the Labour group is resorting to the politics of envy.

"We should be working together to solve the problems of all the estates in the borough."

Director of housing Phil Richards added: "I would like to make it clear there are no plans for demolitions and no decisions have been made about the future of Roman Road.

"The council has spent a lot of money on Roman Road over the years and there are still problems on the estate that is why the private developers have been brought in to see what can be done."

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