HOUSING chiefs in Hyndburn have hit back at MP Greg Pope, after he urged them to do more to tackle nuisance neighbours.

Mr Pope called on Hyndburn Council to use new powers under civil law to make anti-social behaviour orders against troublemakers, after what he called 'a summer of discontent' in Accrington and Huncoat.

But Hyndburn's housing business chairman Coun Russell Davies, said Mr Pope had only reported five cases of nuisance to the council since the Tories took over in May - and they had all been dealt with.

Coun Davies said: "There has been no summer of discontent in Hyndburn. The anti-social behaviour orders which have been made by other councils have not yet been proved to work. Those councils are waiting for decisions from higher courts.

"Hyndburn Council does not want to waste time and money pursuing these orders until we are confident they will have the right result."

Coun Davies said there had been 49 reported cases of nuisance in 1998, but only 16 cases so far this year.

He said that crime in Huncoat had been reduced between April and August and that housing staff had used its existing legal powers to tackle nuisance neighbours.

Coun Davies said: "As the result of five letters from Mr Pope, there have been two eviction notices served in the Spring Hill area - and the three other disputes have been settled amicably.

"It's no use Mr Pope telling us what to do - he should be working with us. If he knows about any other cases of nuisance, then he should tell us.

Coun Davies, of Lancaster Drive, Clayton-le-Moors, said: "Mr Pope is sitting in his ivory tower - he should come and live on an estate like mine for a while and see what is going on."

He said the council already dealt firmly with nuisance tenants in its own houses, but said it was harder for the council to act against private landlords.

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