TWO Rossendale pools are set to receive hundreds of thousands of pounds in investment to ensure their long-term sustainability.

Leisure bosses at the borough council look set to pledge £107,000 for a biomass energy boiler at Whitworth Leisure Hall and a further £146,000 in solar energy, split between the centre and Marl Pits in Rawtenstall.

The move comes just short of a year since Haslingden Pool closed its doors for the last time following “years of under investment”.

Officials at the authority are determined not to let that happen again.

Coun Andy MacNae, portfolio holder for regeneration, tourism and leisure, said: “I’m very supportive of the idea of investing to save money, energy and facilities in the long run.

“Ever since we took over the running of the council, we knew we had to invest in leisure facilities.

“The problem at Haslingden Pool was years of under-investment. We know that if you wait until it’s too late, you get a result that no one wants.”

Coun MacNae added that there is a possibility that the facilities might have to close for a period while the works are carried out, but disruption would be kept to an absolute minimum.

A report into the proposals says the key objective of the plans are: “To create a reliable more efficient method of generating heat from renewable heat source to maintain the pool swimming water, domestic hot water and space heating at current levels.

“This is whilst extracting the financial incentive offered by the UK Government under the non-domestic RHI scheme.

“This scheme is intended to provide a long-term financial incentive to businesses to significantly increase the proportion of heat generated from renewable sources.

“By driving change in a heat sector currently dominated by fossil fuel technologies, RHI is intended to help the UK meet EU targets to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy security.”

The proposals will be decided on by the council’s cabinet at a meeting at Bacup Futures Park on Wednesday at 6.30pm.