NEIGHBOURHOOD pride will ensure that eyesore scrubland in Bacup is finally made useful for residents.

People living in Pine Street had asked Rossendale Council for permission to restore spare land next to a block of 12 garages.

Funding has now been secured from Regenerate Pennine Lancashire, the former Elevate housing market renewal body, to support the project.

And councillors have now approved proposals to allow the plot to be used as communal garden space.

Homes in Pine Street have been the subject of extensive remodelling over the past 12 months, with external and yard walls being re-rendered, guttering replaced, existing pipework painted and gates refitted.

Close to the scrubland there are also six garden plots, three of which have been leased out to nearby householders.

Work is now set to be undertaken to remove a large patch of Japanese knotweed, at the Rockcliffe Lane end of the land, with a wildflower meadow created and fruit trees planted to replace old ones.

Land next to back streets will also have patios created and there will also be a communal lawn feature.

Mr Forster said: “This would improve the appearance of the area from the adjacent properties and roads and also create useable space for residents.

The maintenance of the land will be carried out by a residents group, under licence from the council.