MUSIC mogul Anthony Wilson gave school pupils the chance to air their views on controversial plans that could shape the future of East Lancashire at a debate yesterday.

The man behind bands like New Order and The Happy Mondays,recently co-authored Dreaming of Pennine Lancashire, a report that set out plans to re-brand the region.

He visited the City Learning Centre at Towneley High School, Burnley, to discuss the ideas with youngsters from six schools in the Burnley, Pendle and Accrington.

Councillors, school staff and retired MP Peter Pike were also at the venue, which was filmed by TV crews as part of Local Democracy Week.

Students were told about how the Pennine Lancashire initiative would emphasise the countryside and boost tourism by creating a football-based theme park, a Pennine playground of tourist attractions and extreme sports; developing new public spaces in town centres and redeveloping buildings alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and hosting international events.

As part of the interactive project -- aimed at introducing youngsters to local government and how it affects their lives -- pupils were also asked for their views on the Building Schools for the Future scheme and Elevate initiative.

Pupils from Edge End, Barden, Walshaw, Towneley, Moorhead, Mansfield and Ivy Bank high schools were asked to stand in 'yes', 'no' or 'maybe' categories when asked questions about the various subjects and explain their decisions.

Jordan Roberts, 12, of Towneley High, was against any change for East Lancashire and said: "Lots of money has just been spent doing up the learning centre at Towneley but under the proposals it's going to be demolished, which is a complete waste of taxpayers money that our mums and dads have helped pay for.

"I don't see why everything has to change. I like things the way they are and changing the name to Pennine Lancashire would be pointless."

But Mansfield's 14-year-old Holly Duerden was in favour of change. She said: "The new school in place of Mansfield they are planning to build would be just round the corner so people wouldn't have to travel any further.

"It would be better for everyone to have a new purpose-built school, although I probably won't see the benefits as by the time the new school is built I would have left."

Mr Wilson, who chaired the debate, said: "The kids were wonderful. Just over half of them were modernisers and the other 40 per cent were nostalgic romantics. It was great to see so many 12 year olds involved.

"We had some fantastic debate which gave a balance of those who were about modernising and taking East Lancashire into the future and others who had equally important arguments about the past."

Gordon Birtwistle, Coalclough with Deerplay councillor, said: "It was a positive event which saw the pupils get involved in important debate about the area's future.

"The majority agreed that we should knock their houses down but they also said we can't just take someone's house away and leave them with a minimum amount of money.

"On the schools subject I believe schools have a community and when you take the building away you take the community away.

"Yes, we do need new buildings. I am quite happy for the Government to give the area £150million because it's not very often funding comes to this area, but schools should be put back where they were originally to keep communities together."