A CIVIC society has hit out at a council's decision not to spend money on three dilapidated listed buildings following an award from the English Heritage Society.

Blackburn Civic Society is angry the borough council has no plans to spend English Heritage grant cash on the Church Street Pavilions.

As the Citizen revealed last year, the long-standing eyesores have been earmarked for demolition by planners.

"We feel very strongly about the omission of the Pavilion buildings," said civic society buildings at risk sub-group chairman Richard Prest. "It's vital these important buildings are restored for the benefit of future generations.

The council's development services department has targeted around 30 occupied and unoccupied buildings for cash from the windfall.

Development services officer, Jane Reeve, defended the decision not to spend money on the Pavilions.

"These buildings need much more than £60,000 spending on them so we felt the money would be better spent on other buildings. However, we welcome any suggestions of how to restore them to their former glory."

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