THE transfer of a historic visitor centre in Darwen to a voluntary group will finally take place on Saturday.

The borough council has agreed terms for the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods to take over the building, which dates from the 19th Century, at the beauty spot.

Leisure boss Cllr Damian Talbot has signed off the ‘licence to operate’ for 12 months from Saturday, April 1, saving £20,000 a year.

He hopes the arrangement will become permanent with the friends group staffing the premises and the borough maintaining the building and paying running costs.

Cllr Talbot said: “It is expected to open at weekends initially but the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods have ambitious future plans.”

Talks between Blackburn with Darwen Council and the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods started last summer after cuts in Government grants to the borough put the centre’s future in doubt.

The building, the former ‘Woodman’s Cottage’, is to be renamed in tribute to Dennis Gillibrand, the founder of the Darwen beauty spot’s friends group who died aged 82 in August.

Already the group has plans to develop the hub and extend opening hours with a launch event over the Easter Weekend.

The group is also working on a ‘masterplan’ with details expected to be published next month.

Cllr Talbot has said the deal struck with the friends group has been a ‘protracted process’ and includes outlines for future developments for the centre.

They include partnerships with a variety of new stakeholders including Newground and Blackburn College, securing external funding from Greggs to develop the kitchen garden area, seeking small grants and generating additional income by hiring out the centre for small parties.

Annette Sultana, secretary of the friends group, said: “This is good news for the centre, the beauty spot, our group and the wider public.

“I am pleased it has gone through and we have plans to expand the use of the centre, and the woods in general.”

Cllr Dave Smith, who represents Sunnyhurst ward, said: “It is good news the deal has been agreed.”