VOLUNTEERS are set to take over the running of Darwen's indoor skatepark and BMX arena from the borough council.

The move will save the town hall £60,000 a year in staffing, rates and maintenance costs.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The transfer to the Junction 4 Skatepark Community Interest Company will take effect in May.

Based at the former Blackburn Rovers Sports Academy building next to Darwen Vale High School, the venue is aimed at people aged eight and over and attracts tens of thousands a year.

Since September 2014, it has been run by a team of four council staff opening seven days a week.

The new organisation will mainly staff the skatepark, built at a cost of £120,000, in response to a public petition, with volunteers.

Cllr Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for leisure and young people, said the borough had always intended to hand over the centre to a separate organisation and had invested the cash for staffing and maintenance to get the project of the ground.

Cllr John Slater, leader of the council Conservative group, welcomed the transfer to keep the centre open but accused the Labour administration of wasting more than £300,000.

Before the asset transfer, similar to those used for borough community centres, the new operator had to ‘demonstrate excellent understanding of the sport, the niche target market balanced with a sound financial plan to allow the facility to become sustainable over the next five years’.

Junction 4 Skatepark CiC will take over a 25-year ‘Full Repair and Insuring Lease’ from May 1.

The council will contribute a further £28,400 in the first year of transfer and £3,100 in the second.

Cllr Talbot said: “We always knew we could not afford to run this skatepark in the long term but invested around £60,000 a year to get it going.

“Junction 4 Skatepark CiC is a well qualified group with the knowledge, skills and expertise to make a great success of this popular centre providing recreation opportunities for a group not interested in traditional sports.”

Cllr Slater said: “I am glad Junction Four is staying open but we could not have set it up it this way.

“The Labour administration has wasted £300,000 of council taxpayers’ money by their handling of this project.”