Burnley council has launched a wide-ranging community cohesion strategy in an attempt to leave behind its troubled history of racial tension and riots.
The council hopes to explain the knock-on benefits of regeneration to the borough to try to soothe simmering resentment between communities that directly benefit and those that do not.

It plans to use local media, specially trained officers and community events to get the message across.

The strategy, approved by the council's executive on 29 July, also includes training council officers and members, a civic pride campaign and cooperation with police.

The strategy links in with the work of Elevate, the East Lancashire market renewal pathfinder, which is attempting to turn around low housing demand in the area.

Mike Waite, Burnley council's project coordinator, said: "A big part of this plan is to ensure that Elevate makes a big difference to community relations and cohesion.

"We are being very thoughtful about how patterns of housing are created and why people are living in separate communities. We are trying to break down those barriers."

The Home Office's community cohesion unit has granted the council £180,000 towards the work.

Source

Housing Today