A food growing project will bring a ‘blighted site’ in Rishton back to life.

Around £10,000 has been allocated from the area council budget to fund the growing scheme at Piggy Park at the top of Westwood Avenue.

A plan has been drawn up for between 12 and 18 allotment sites and will be available for nominal rents.

Coun Harry Grayson, pictured, who is leading on the project, said it is ‘very much needed’ in Rishton.

Speaking at an area council meeting he said: “Piggy Park is a blighted site and it will put the site to good use.

“I see it as an education opportunity. It will be used by schools, community groups, allotment holders and nurseries. It will be a community area that will be fenced off and have raised beds, sheds and polytunnels.

“We will also be looking at allotment holders who have been on the waiting list in the area for a long time.”

Councillors have also agreed to provide £5,000 from the area council capital budget towards resurfacing unadopted streets and back alleys around Rishton.

Coun Ken Moss told the meeting: “Across Rishton we have a lot of unadopted roads and some are in a bad state of repair.

“It’s not something we can wave a magic wand at. It would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to fix them all.”