PENDLE Heritage Centre is set to apply for a licence to sell alcohol after councillors gave the move the green light.

The Heritage Trust for the North West (HTNW) runs the Barrowford-based centre, leasing the building from the council.

It now wants to diversify what is offered at the centre, to ensure it can keep the sustainability of the facility, and one of the plans is to sell alcohol.

Dean Langton, of Pendle Council, said: “Since March 1997, Pendle Heritage Centre has been leased by the council to the HTNW.

“In November 2011, the HTNW submitted a request to the council to change the way in which they are permitted to operate the heritage centre.

“These changes would, according to the HTNW, enable it to operate in a more flexible way, allowing income to be generated to sustain the site.”

Councillors on Pendle Council’s executive committee agreed to let the HTNW apply for an alcohol licence, and the decision whether to allow or refuse the application will be made by the council’s licensing committee.

The buildings associated with the heritage centre could also be used for other trading activities, such as holiday accommodation or conference and meeting facilities.

The HTNW has held meetings with Barrowford councillors Jonathan Eyre and Linda Crossley to discuss the plans in more detail.