HOUSING campaigners today claimed victory in their bid to win a multi-million pound boost for the most depressed area of Burnley.

Furious Stoneyholme residents threatened a mass march on the town hall after it appeared their homes had been left out of the biggest home improvement scheme in town.

Battling grannie Audrey Hannah pelted housing committee councillors with fistfuls of pennies in protest against their decision to earmark only 500 homes in the nearby Daneshouse area for the £5 million housing renewal plan.

Householders bombarded the town hall with a 450-name petition rejecting the decision and demanding a change of heart.

And today it was revealed their campaign has paid off - with a new report from housing bosses recommending that a large slice of Stoneyholme should be included in the seven-year action plan.

"It is a victory and one we have won ourselves by forcing the council to see sense," said Liberal Democrat ward councillor Fazal Subhan today.

"The council had built up the hopes of the people for many years, promising them better homes and a better life in Stoneyholme.

"Their previous decision wrecked all that and sent their hopes crashing."

He added: "Although we haven't got the whole of Stoneyholme included in the renewal, it is a big move in the

right direction."

More than 180 Stoneyholme houses will be included in the new plan which goes to the housing committee for approval on Wednesday.

The whole of Brougham Street, Burns Street, Belford Street, Merton Street and Belgrave Street are among those included in the new plan.

The original district of Daneshouse - 500 homes centred on an area between the canal, Danehouse Road and Colne Road - will continue to be included in the major project.

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