A MULTI-MILLION pound plan to turn Padiham Weir into a canoeing and fishing centre moved a step closer after councillors agreed to pay £10,000 towards it the project.

The money will make up the £70,000 needed to develop the abandoned weir site -- set to be renamed Red Rose Rapids -- into a regional canoeing centre.

The project, which will cost £3.6million in total, has already been secured but the £70,000 is still needed to take make it Sport England category two status, meaning of regional and national importance.

Councillors were warned that refusal to release the funds would mean the project would stop. But at a meeting of the council last night they agreed to hand over the cash.

The project will see the creation of a canoe slalom course and a canoe run, fish pass, changing and training facilities and public viewing areas.

It is expected to draw people from all over the North West as there are only three other national sites at Northampton, Teesside and Nottingham.

Speaking before the meeting, Coun Barry Guttridge, executive member for leisure on Burnley Council, said: "This project is great news for the people of Padiham and for the borough as a whole. It will help regenerate the area and bring in vast numbers of visitors who will boost the borough's economy. It will help revitalise Padiham and provide the town with something to be proud of."

Part of the plan should lead to salmon and sea trout travelling further up the River Calder, providing new leisure opportunities for anglers.

Almost £3.2million funding has already been secured for the project which is due to get off the ground next year. The cash has come from a variety of sources, including Sport England, who have given £1.6m; the North West Development Agency, £600,000; Lancashire County Council, £150,000, and the East Lancs Partnership, £250,000.

The Environment Agency also contributed £370,000 to fund the fish pass, which will provide a route to by-pass the weir.

There is a current shortfall of almost £500,000 although this is expected to be made up by the existing project partners.

The stretch of the Calder running through the site was constructed in the 1950s to control cooling water for the now demolished power station.