A NEW campaign has been launched to safeguard Lancashire’s beloved old buildings.

English Heritage is compiling its Heritage at Risk register and is urging people to help save local properties that people fear may be at risk.

Bosses at the charity said that there are fears that with the current economic situation there could be many historic buildings falling in to disrepair.

Henry Owen-John, regional director for English Heritage, said the project aimed to find out how much of the county’s industrial heritage was at risk of neglect, decay or even demolition and to raise the debate about what needs saving and how.

Examples of industrial heritage cited by English Heritage in Lancashire included the remaining parts of the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary, the Weavers Triangle in Burnley and Higher Mill at Helmshore.

Mr Owen-John said: “Everywhere one looks in this area there are visible remains of the Industrial Revolution, that great era spanning from 1750 to World War I, when Britain led the world.

“But much of this industrial heritage is now at risk and the current economic climate isn’t helping.

“Owners are finding it hard to look after their buildings as well as their businesses.

“Developers are cautious about taking on vacant industrial buildings and public bodies and regeneration agencies are less able to support schemes for re-use.

“There are no easy answers but we’re determined to see what can be done to help.

“Our industrial past is too important to ignore.”

English Heritage said it aimed to get owners, developers, local people, voluntary bodies, academics, professionals and politicians involved in debating the future of industrial heritage before it is too late.