RESIDENTS told a public inquiry that a high school should be developed instead of the Redearth Triangle as a site for a controversial £34million academy.

Simon Huggill and Allen Walker, who are representing Redearth Triangle residents objecting to the proposed Darwen Academy, raised questions about whether the scheme could be developed on the Darwen Moorland High school site at Holden Fold.

They quizzed Blackburn with Darwen Council's strategy and project develop-ment manager for regen-eration, housing and neighbourhood, John Ryden, who told them: "It could be a possibility."

During the questioning of Mr Ryden, it was alleged by Mr Huggill that the council had obtained money for a housing renewal market programme to renovate houses in the Redearth Triangle.

However, David Proctor, forward planning team leader for regeneration, said the requests made for housing market renewal funds from Elevate were for non-housing purposes, and for the academy in particular.

The public inquiry, led by Inspector Christine Downes, is looking into whether a second Compulsory Purch-ase Order (CPO) to clear the remaining homes and industrial properties in the Redearth Triangle can go ahead.

This CPO from the council comes after a government inspector overturned a previous order to buy and demolish homes on grounds that they were unfit to live in.

Mr Huggill told the hearing at Astley Bank Hotel, Darwen: "If we look at the possibility of the Holden Fold site, one option would be to demolish and rebuild the school because it is not part of any open space in planning terms which is feasible.

"If a school was built and then the present school changed buildings, it could then be demolished and put into green space.

"Is it a feasible plan for the scheme to build a school on the site?"

Mr Ryden replied: "It could be a possibility but it would depend on surveys of the site.

"The council is aware that there will be some interference with rights, particularly to the equipment of property and to homes, but is satisfied that this is necessary and proportionate since there is a compelling case in favour of the proposal for the benefit of borough as a whole and Darwen in particular."