MAJOR regeneration projects will be taking up the bulk of Rossendale Council’s spending for the coming financial year.

Ongoing initiatives such as the Spinning Point scheme in Rawtenstall, costing £5.2million eventually, to create a new bus station and offices, are central.

Another £1.5m is earmarked for the Bacup Townscape Heritage Initiative, as builders move on to the former REAL building in St James Square.

Supporters of HAPPI, the Haslingden Pool community effort, have also had £100,000 set aside towards the revival of the old East Avenue baths.

Elsewhere, the only other significant spending will be for ongoing maintenance and replacements.

Around £100,000 has been pinpointed to replace parks service vehicles and £20,000 and £10,000 set aside for paths and playground overhauls respectively.

Another £125,000 is scheduled to be spent on maintaining buildings owned by the authority, while £10,000 has been left for emergency works, such as bridge and culvert repairs, to top up an existing balance of £90,000.

Councillors heard around £1.14m of the 2017-18 programme will be funded through internal borrowing.