HOUSING chiefs have declared they are no closer to tackling Bolton's unfit homes crisis than they were 10 years ago. Cllr Brian Iddon, chairman of Bolton's housing committee, said they have had no money to carry out mass clearance programmes. There are 20,000 homes in the borough which are in need of significant repair and 6,000 are judged unfit to live in.

It is estimated that it would cost £450 million to clear these privately-owned homes or bring them up to standard.

Mr George Caswell, director of housing, said: "Many of these houses are in such a poor condition that it would be uneconomic to repair them."

Cllr Iddon added: "We had this figure of 6,000 unfit homes when I first became housing chairman 10 years ago.

"We have been able to tackle just a handful of these homes in this time."

"But how can we justify people still living in these unfit properties?"

Meanwhile, it was revealed at a housing committee meeting that Bolton has been given the go-ahead to spend just over £10 million on its housing investment programme this year, even though housing chiefs bid for more than £19 million.

Cllr Noel Spencer, housing vice chairman, said: "This money is just a drop in the ocean which covers both the public and private sector.

"It is nothing like the money we need to tackle the problem."

But Bolton has again been given a pat on the back by the Department of the Environment for the housing department's efficiency.

It has been given the ninth highest amount for any council outside London. Only big city authorities such as Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester have received more.

A report presented to housing committee councillors said: "Ministers considered that Bolton's excellent performance had been maintained."

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