PEOPLE power could stop plans to bulldoze homes in Burnley.

Residents in the Rectory Road area packed the public gallery at Burnley Town Hall last night for a housing meeting and told councillors: "We want to stay."

They are protesting about a plan to spend £3 million on clearing houses in the Cavour Street, Rectory Road, Holme Road and Ashley Street area.

Residents' spokesmen David Sullivan and Iqbal Khan stressed that theirs was a close-knit, multi-racial community who had lived happily in racial harmony for many years.

Mr Sullivan told councillors: "You should take notice that it is our lives you are discussing.

"You are not pulling down a bus stop, you are pulling down our homes.'' There had been no drugs, drunks, burglaries or robberies in the area for at least two years; children were able to play in safety and most of the occupied houses had been modernised inside.

The majority of residents were willing to buy the few empty houses for repair and modernisation and did not wish to move from the area.

Coun Gordon Birtwistle said he was pleased that people power seemed to be stopping a behind-the-scenes decision to clear the area.

Housing needs and strategy manager David Riley said no firm decision had been taken.

It was proposed that a decision should be taken at the June meeting of the Housing Committee on the extent of any clearance. There would then be a period of formal consultation before the committee was asked in August to make a compulsory clearance order.

Housing chairman, Coun Rafique Malik, told the protesters: "Every individual will be consulted before any decision is taken.''

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