Rain doesn't stop play » Housing » 24dash.com

Council Leader Peter Britcliffe and Oswaldtwistle residents braved torrential rain last week to celebrate the official opening of a new garden for residents living in Hyndburn Homes sheltered accommodation.

Doreen Walsh Treasurer of the Byron Close Community Centre said: All the work in the garden has been done by the local youth offending team. The young lads and girls have worked really hard to transform what was a neglected unusable area into a fabulous outside space that we can all enjoy.

Doreen and the Committee applied to Oswaldtwistle Area Council for a grant and was delighted when it was agreed to provide the funding she had requested almost £1,000.

A celebratory lunch for local residents and partners was organised to mark the formal opening of the garden and despite a downpour the rain did not stop everyone from having a good time and admiring the new garden.

Hyndburn Homes residents living in Byron Close, Tennyson Ave, Miller Close and Ruskin Avenue make full use of the community centre which runs regular coffee afternoons and social events. However according to Scheme Manager Joan Singleton the outside space at the community centre was just wasted.

We really wanted to do something with the space outside which looks out on to a nature reserve, she said. With the funding in place I approached the Youth Offending Team who were only too pleased to help and they really have gone out of their way to transform the area.

The youngsters have cleaned up the area; part re-flagged the patio, assembled and stained the flat pack garden furniture, planted new flowers and even built a fence from pallets.

The new look garden has been completed with the addition of shed provided by Hyndburn Homes.

Doreen said: We really want to thank Len Clayton the supervisor of the project. He and his young team have been brilliant and this summer we will be making the most of any nice weather by using our lovely new garden.