New Xxx blow for townXxx centre

JON MACPHERSON

ACCRINGTON has been ranked in the top three for affordable places to live in England.

Mortgage lender Halifax assessed housing affordability for ‘key workers’ including nurses, teachers and firefighters and found that house prices here are just 3.2 times annual earnings.

This placed Accrington in the top three in Eng- land, behind Bootle and Nelson, and sixth overall in the UK.

The research compared average house prices with regional average earnings of key workers, and homes were deemed unaffordable if they cost more than four times wages. The cheapest places to buy are all in northern England and Scotland whereas, unsurprisingly, the most expensive are mainly in London.

Paul Brown, director of Eafield and Maple estate and letting agents in Accrington, said the survey emphasises the ‘classic huge north-south divide’.

He said: “The reason affordability is so high is because house prices are so low. That’s purely because of the type of properties in this area and being a mill town like most of Pennine Lancashire. We are selling houses at £30,000. I’m not suggesting that they are perfect, liveable properties but where else can you buy a £30,000 house? I think the figures are skewed because we also have a very high rental market by comparison to other areas.”

Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson the survey shows the borough in a ‘positive light’.

He said: “If you want to live somewhere, purchase a property and have more disposable income to enjoy life then Hyndburn is the place to be. This survey shows the positivity of low housing stock prices. Other surveys will show us in a different negative light and we have to address those. We want to provide a better housing stock, increase property values and get better paid jobs into the area.”

Martin Ellis, a housing economist at Halifax, said there is now a clear link between pay and the impact on affordability, with house prices ‘significantly outgrowing the average wages of key workers’. But he added: “More than one in 10 towns are now deemed affordable, compared to just 6pc a decade ago. The greatest concentration of affordable housing is found in towns in northern England, Scotland and Wales. However, there are significant affordability issues for key workers particularly in London and the South East.”

FARM TRIP

CHILDREN from Little Stars Nursery, of Norfolk Grove, Church, enjoyed getting up close with animals on their recent trip to Smithills farm.

They had plenty of opportunities to touch and feed some of the many animals.

Nicola Mortenson, nursery manager, said the children loved the day, adding: “The children had the full farm experience including having a ride on a donkey, meeting the baby animals in pets corner and seeing Rusty the robot milk the cows.”

10TH BIRTHDAY

ACCRINGTON company The CMAC Partnership, celebrated its 10th birthday with a celebration bash.

Guests were treated to afternoon tea and lawn games at a garden party at the Whitehall Hotel, Darwen, on July 7.

Steve Turner, managing director, said: “We have had a fantastic ten years and it has been great to celebrate with everyone who has been part of our journey.”

Four colleagues also received long service awards.

HORSE COURSE

AN evening event and one-day foundation course in Accrington next month is devoted to the topic ‘How do Horses Really Learn?’.

Green Haworth Golf Club will host speaker Melanie S Watson on Saturday, August 5 with a Q&A, food and charity raffle. The course will be held the following day, Sunday August 6, at Spring Vale Farm, Accrington. Tickets £15 (£10 concs) for the event and £70 for the course from 07801 536668 or ali01_uk@yahoo. co.uk