REFURBISHMENT work still needs to be done to the Barlow Institute in Edgworth after the running of the building was handed over to a committee of volunteers.

Blackburn with Darwen Council passed the building over to the the Barlow Committee on December 5.

But Coun Colin Rigby, who represents the village, said he is still waiting to hear back from the council on the work that needs doing.

He said: “The council still has a list of defects that need to be corrected, but they haven’t come back to us.

“They have said after the handover the council will be responsible for maintaining the building as well, but some on the committee would like that in writing.

“To be fair, the council is being quite good about it. We’re a bit of an oddity as we don’t belong to the council, we are held in trust by the parish council.

“So in theory the borough council could just walk away from it. So we should be quite happy.”

Coun Rigby said the main concern is the roof, which has a number of leaks and needs to be fixed. But apart from that there are a number of trivial things like doors not closing properly and window catches being broken that need to be fixed.

The historic community facility in Bolton Road, Edgworth, was dealt a blow when the council announced it was to withdraw its annual funding of £42,000 and pull out all paid staff.

Coun Rigby said: “There are problems to overcome but we will overcome them and the place will run fine.

“I’ve said I will look after the office and I’ve got five or six volunteers helping.

“We’ve got one lad who is a computer whizz so he’s got our diary online and helped us to set up a website.

“I’m optimistic the place will be a success. It won’t be easy but everyone is working hard.”

Coun Damian Talbot, executive member for culture and leisure, said: “We handed the building back to the community at the beginning of December and the responsibility for running the building now rests with the management committee. The council will continue to maintain the building as previously agreed.”

The council said the maintenance will include the problems listed by Coun Rigby.