NEWLY appointed housing minister Hilary Armstrong is set to get an invitation to see living conditions in Pendle.

Councillors hoping for a new approach to housing needs were ready to despatch the invitation practically as soon as the ink from Tony Blair's pen was dry.

The move was sparked by Liberal housing spokesman David Clegg and will be put to fellow councillors at next week's annual meeting of the council.

Cash-starved Pendle is currently facing the threat of penalties for not selling off its council houses. Local councillors want the threat lifted.

Mr Clegg said the threats had included cutting back on grant aid.

He added: "We hope that the new government will have a different policy but up to now we do not know what their policy will be.

"So, on behalf of the tenants, we are taking early action to ask for a change of mind."

Former housing chairman David Whipp said: "Pendle has a good record as a council house landlord, and one reason is that Liberal councillors over the years have insisted on spending money to keep the council estates in good order.

"We did this because they are both people's homes and public assets."

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