Listed buildings in a Lancashire borough are to be inspected to see if they are in danger of decay or neglect.

West Lancashire Council has received a £19,000 handout from English Heritage to conduct a detailed survey aimed at updating its Buildings At Risk Register.

All 600 Grade II listed properties in the borough, both occupied and empty, are to get a visit from council inspectors to investigate what condition they are in.

English Heritage believes the survey will identify problems and help owners and the authority find ways to rectify them in the hope it will reduce the number of buildings at risk.

Coun Martin Forshaw, West Lancs portfolio holder for planning and development, said: “Preserving our heritage is an extremely important responsibility for the council and maintaining an up to date Buildings at Risk Register provides vital information to help with that.

“I am very pleased that English Heritage have recognised the work we do in West Lancashire and have provided us with the funding to carry our this important work.”

The council says it is also hoped the survey will help tackle “heritage crime” as computer technology being developed through the pilot will allow the council to share the register with other organisations such as Lancashire Police.

Neighbourhood policing teams will then be able to report issues relating to heritage buildings, particularly those which are vulnerable because they are currently vacant or underused.

West Lancashire is one of just 19 authorities in England involved in the pilot. English Heritage says it was selected as it has regularly updated its Building At Risk Register, for all grades of listed buildings, since 1989.

The funding will pay for the survey work including staff training and will enable the results to be more widely available through the development of new computer mapping technology.

For more information on the Council’s Buildings At Risk Register contact Ian Bond, Heritage and Environment Manager, on 01695 585167