THE community is set for a boost thanks to the new Darwen Vale High School after it was revealed that all its facilities would be opened to the public.

The new school, set to be opened in September 2012, will have a new floodlit astroturf pitch, as well as an activity studio and a health and fitness suite, which will be open to the community at any time during the day or night.

There will also be a music practice room for local bands or theatre rooms which will be open to the public.

The transformation of the school under the £203mill-ion Building Schools for the Future programme, is set to be given the go-ahead by the borough council's planning committee tomorrow.

Councillors have been warned that the scheme must be approved by the end of this week due to Government deadlines or the council will face inflation costs and ‘non- recoverable set-up costs’ of £55,000 per week.

But the plans are recom-mended for approval and there is not expected to be any problems during the meeting at Blackburn Town Hall.

A report to the committee says: “The development provides for the replace-ment of a sub-standard school which is not suitable for modern teaching tech-niques and will be jointly used by the community.

“The school will be open to the community at any time during the day and evening.

“The school will be care-fully zoned to ensure sec-urity and well-being for pupils, whilst also feeling welcoming to visitors.”

If approved, most of Darwen Vale’s existing building will be demolished and rebuilt, but the Grade II-listed frontage and wings will be retained. The main entrance will be replaced with two-storey glass panels.

New facilities will include a community library and an outdoor, partly-covered am-phitheatre.

It will be eco-friendly, with allotments for school dinn-ers, and roofs will be topped with grass to blend in with their surroundings.

Bosses have pledged to use up to 60 per cent of local labour on site and will guarantee to interview local tradespeople.

The school will temporarily relocate to the former Darwen Moorland School site at Holden Fold, Darwen, from September 2010 while the building work takes place.