A SCHEME to breathe new life into some of Hyndburn's most deprived areas could be set to expand.
Plans are being drawn up to regenerate Accrington's Peel and Barnfield wards as part of the Elevate scheme.
Unveiling the plans at the first area council meeting, Councillor Tony Dobson said: "We want to put a detailed plan together to put foward to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who will look at it and see how much can be spent."
He added: "We are trying to get some money in. The problem with the borough council is that we spend 99 per cent on public services so we have to go cap in hand to the Government to spend on big projects. But we are confident we will see some light at the end of the tunnel."
He added that residents have a vital role to play in the regeneration and this could be achieved through the Accredited Landlord Scheme.
He said: "It is people's mindsets we need to change. When someone throws a carton of milk over their wall, they think it's not their property anymore. We need to make them become more responsible."
County Councillor Wendy Dwyer said: "I have represented Woodnook for 10 years and there are a lot of decent people here. These are the people we are fighting for."
"We need to educate people. We carried out a rubbish clean-up in Barnfield and people said we were mad giving our time. But we are trying to put out a message and gradually that will come through."
Hyndburn is set to receive around £11M in funding to regenerate some of its most run-down areas, including the Lower Antley Street area of West Accrington, Church and Clayton-le-Moors.
But Councillor Paul Barton, who is the chairman of the new area council, added: "I have had people ringing me up asking when this money is coming in. People are getting anxious and we shouldn't get our hopes up until the money is there."
