SUNNYHURST councillor and town council deputy chairman Pete Hollings has launched a drive to tackle homelessness in the town.

He was alarmed when local residents alerted him to a growing problem.

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Cllr Hollings researched the issue and found a small number of people were sleeping rough on the streets behind large buildings in Darwen Town Centre and in Bold Venture Park.

There was another group of people ‘sofa surfing’, moving from hostels into temporary accommodation and lacking a permanent roof over their heads.

Cllr Hollings also discovered that many people living and sleeping on the streets lacked regular food and hot drinks, warm clothing and bedding.

A number of ex-service personnel living in Darwen had particular problems regarding the lack of a permanent roof over their heads.

Cllr Hollings contacted Help the Homeless East Lancashire and Darwen Food Larder to see what could be done.

With their help he has set up collection points for food, clothing and bedding in Darwen’s market annex and at the Go Outdoors store in Blackburn.

He also contacted Blackburn with Darwen Council’s housing and neighbourhood boss Yusuf Jan-Virmani to set up a meeting to see who its officers could help.

Groups for former service personnel including Salute and Veterans in the Community are also involved.

Cllr Hollings told Darwen Town Council’s meeting: “I am looking to set up a local volunteering network to help people in these unfortunate circumstances.

“We are looking to get it organised by the end of January.’’ Whitehall ward councillor and Borough Liberal Democrat leader David Foster is fully behind the idea.

He said: “I don’t think we have a big issue with lots of people sleeping on the streets at the moment.

“Bit I think we have a hidden problem with people moving around temporary accommodation in Darwen and sofa surfing.

“I support Cllr Hollings’ actions.

“We need to do something before we have a group of people living rough on our streets.

“In particular we need to get empty and derelict homes back into use to house those without a proper roof over their heads.”

Cllr Hollings said: “I want to get a volunteer group going to tackle this problem with the backing of Darwen Town Council.

“I don’t want to see lots of people sleeping on our streets.

“We need to act early and involve local charities, resident who are concerned and the borough council.

“I hope to have a meeting with everyone involved and Cllr Jan-Virmani before the end of the months to get this off the ground properly.”