CLAIMS that drug users and dealers were deliberately re-housed on neighbouring housing estates in Burnley have been denied.

Barclay Hills, Griffin and Holmestrand tenants' group had expressed concerns about what they described as the council's policy.

Head of housing management Margaret Duthie said the council obviously did not have a policy of rehousing drug dealers and drug users and the council did not knowingly rehouse people with a history of anti-social behaviour.

She told Burnley Council's housing committee that action would be taken against convicted dealers through the tenancy agreement.

Action would be taken if there was evidence rather than just hearsay. The council, police and other agencies were all involved in exchanging as much information as was allowed under the Data Protection Act.

The committee was told that cars travelled on to the Brunshaw estate for drug dealing at 3am, 4am or 5am, waking people up.

Coun Jack Alston said it was a problem common to most estates.

Mrs Duthie added: "The important thing is that people tell us where the nuisances are occurring. It doesn't just apply to council tenants."

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