A MEETING is set to be held later this week to establish a friends’ group for a Whalley community centre.

Residents attended a public meeting earlier this month after reports that the centre, based at the Old Grammar School in Station Road, could close if more volunteers to help run it were not found. The centre is currently run by trustees who are writing to more than 10 residents who have expressed an interest in helping to run the centre.

Coun Terry Hill, who is a trustee, said that it was ‘very positive’ that so many people have said that they want to get involved. The community centre is in the Grade II-listed former grammar school which was built in 1725 and extended in the early 19th century. It had been leased by Lancashire County Council since 2006, but they pulled out in October last year citing budget cuts.