Back to Bridgefields

Our investigation in 2001 began, as it had in 1999, in Bridgefields, Blackburn. At first glance, the estate seemed much as it had been two years previously. Rows of shuttered houses with their roofs missing, fences vandalised and piles of rubbish in their gardens made a dismal impression. After protracted negotiations, the proposed redevelopment had fallen through. A new set of plans was unfolding. Local authority tenants in Blackburn-with-Darwen had recently decided to vote for the transfer of the entire housing stock to a registered social landlord, which had pledged to carry out demolition of 1,100 surplus council homes in the borough, to attempt to bring supply in line with demand, and to begin a programme of improvements to the remaining homes. Of the homes earmarked for demolition, 149 were in Bridgefields, and it was hoped that their removal would bring the number of empty homes on the estate to less than 40.

Meanwhile, several of the worst streets, full of long-term empty homes, had already been demolished, shrinking the estate and making room for a children’s playground in the middle. Other youth facilities had improved, with the voluntary youth project expanding into a larger and more visible venue, and more outreach work being provided. The local school had received funding for learning mentors and out-of-hours study support from the EAZ. However, the housing office had closed, because the number of properties no longer justified its presence, and so too had the general store, leaving the estate without a shop for the first time in over 15 years. Some respondents put the closure of the shop down to intimidation and thefts. “They even had to keep the coffee behind the counter”, one said, while others argued that it had just become uneconomic, partly because of the dwindling numbers of residents and partly due to the high level of black market sales of tobacco and alcohol, which otherwise would have generated some profit. Attempts had been made to attract other retail chains to run the store, offering subsidised business rates, but no one was interested. The residentrun food co-op had also folded.