FUNDING for £8million worth of house clearance and refurbishment schemes are now said to be ‘at risk’.

Hyndburn Borough Council said it was taking emergency financial measures after spending £1.5million of an expected £8million in grants for West Accrington, Burnley Road and Woodnook that are now in doubt.

The anticipated funding from the Homes and Communities Agency this year was to cover West Accrington schemes of £1.8million for clearances, £2.2 million on land and business purchases, £1.2million on refurbishing homes and £300,000 on 'neighbourhood management' in West Accrington, Clayton, Peel and Barnfield.

Other plans had included £300,000 on environmental schemes in China Street, Park Road and Blackburn Road and £1.5million on purchases in Woodnook and £700,000 on refurbishments in the Woodnook and Burnley Road neighbourhoods.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: “The truth is that we just don’t know what will happen at this stage, but everybody is anticipating sharp cuts.

"There had been a lot of spending announcements before the election, which could have been money pledged that simply wasn’t there.

"At this stage, just because it was promised doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.”

The council is now preparing for a ‘worst case scenario’ where none of this funding will be confirmed.

This would see the council forced to fund the £1.5 million of schemes they have already committed to, from its own resources.

Officers have now used emergency powers to put aside £716,518 of available funds towards the anticipated £1.5million bill.

Councillors had approved the year’s worth of schemes, subject to funding being confirmed, in February.

However, they approved initial spending of £1.5 million before the agreement was signed so works could begin between April and June this year.