Rutland Street/Blackburn road area

Atarah · 13-08-2004, 13:49

Earlier this year, a new scheme called "Elevate" won £103 million of Government money - this is to breathe new life into East Lancashires towns, which of course Accrington comes under. It was revealed that one in 5 homes in the area are unfit to live in??????
The scheme will involve various councils using private developers to pull down thousands of rundown council and privately owned houses, many of them pre 1919 terraced. They are to be replaced by a smaller number of modern houses. In Accrington's case, this is going to affect along Blackburn Road area, Rutland Street and surrounding areas.
Work on a new, huge, health centre is also in the pipeline, but not until Spring 2006.
Property owners in the affected area will be given the chance to NEGOTIATE (?) with the Council over the sale of their homes and businesses, until CPO's (Compulsory Purchase Orders) are used in Spring/Summer 2005

The first demolition work to take place in Hyndburn was this week, when part of the former Rutland Street garage was levelled off, whilst locals watched! This kicked off what is to be referred to as Project Phoenix. All materials knocked down will be re-used.

Tealeaf · 13-08-2004, 14:14

Congratulations to HBC on their Orwellian "Newspeak".....they launch a scheme involving demolition & they call it "Elevate"......what awill to call a scheme involving building things.."Flatten?"

Ceejache · 13-08-2004, 15:06

By the time the council gets round to negotiating with anybody it will be Summer 2005 - judging from the tardiness of their reply to Kipax (3 and a half weeks and counting.....)!

Hopefully this will brighten that area up a bit as at the moment (and for many years now) it is slumlike? Surely they aren't the only pre-1919 terraced houses in Accrington though?!

Perran · 13-08-2004, 21:54

Lets face it, the area could do with a total rebuild. I know a few houses are well looked after but on the whole its a shambles. Not exactly the impression you want to give to visitors to the town when they first arrive. I would turn round and drive straight back out!

WillowTheWhisp · 01-09-2004, 22:46

My house is pre 1919 but it isn't in such a state as this lot. How come there's such a difference? How did that area of town become so run-down?

Bagpuss · 01-09-2004, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

My house is pre 1919 but it isn't in such a state as this lot. How come there's such a difference? How did that area of town become so run-down?

I have an opinion on why this area has gone downhill or at least contributed to the problem but unfortunately I would have to use the banned word so I am unable to add to this thread, call me what you want, racist or whatever but you know I could be right on this one ???

littlemo · 02-09-2004, 00:32

is that the church end of blackburn road? I dont remember

Darby · 02-09-2004, 05:45

Quote: All materials knocked down will be re-used.

What as? Aggregate? Foundation ballast?

Mo: Yes its before you get to Lonsdale Street (Antley) in the direction of Church - left hand side!

WillowTheWhisp · 02-09-2004, 06:52

Most of Blackburn Road between Church and town centre is equally grim.

yerself · 02-09-2004, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

My house is pre 1919 but it isn't in such a state as this lot. How come there's such a difference? How did that area of town become so run-down?

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Most of Blackburn Road between Church and town centre is equally grim.

I read somewhere, earlier this week, can't think where though: "People create slums, they don't create themselves." Draw your own conclusions as to the decline of this area of town.

WillowTheWhisp · 02-09-2004, 10:36

At one time there were a couple of empty houses just down the road from me and they made the place look a total eyesore. One was "boarded up" with a sheet of thick cardboard and needless to say all and sundry broke in, getting up to goodness knows what.

More recently the (rented) house next door had tenants who did a very interesting make-over - all of which reflects on the value of the surrounding area.

pendy · 02-09-2004, 12:39

They may be old houses, but surely they were as well built as many others in the town which are still habitable and useful. It is a great shame to the council if they have been allowed to become derelict - it takes time for a well-built house to get to that stage. What will they replace them with? - bog standard boxes, built of brick, so that you could be anywhere in England? We need to replace old housing stock with new, yes, but they must be kept in character. There is some wonderful property along Blackburn Road, between Sacred Heart as was and the town centre, some good traditional, and very large, houses.

My Great Aunt Agnes lived in Rutland Street, the first house she ever had with electric light. She didn't trust it though, she used to say that if the gas leaked you could smell it, but the electricity could be all over the house before you knew!