COLNE’S blues festival could be cancelled and leisure centres forced to close for two days a week to plug a £233,000 financial black hole.

The future of Barrowford Civic Hall, catering services at two leisure centres and the entertainments programme at The Municipal Hall at Colne is also under threat by the shortfall.

But political leaders in Pendle have vowed they will fight to maintain the leisure service, in the wake of the economic downturn, rising energy bills and terrible summer weather.

Pendle Leisure Trust, which manages the facilities on behalf of the borough council, is facing a budget crisis.

Entry fees rose by five per cent in December, generating £57,000, £78,000 has been taken from reserve funds and another £80,000 is set to be handed over by Pendle council, to deal with this year’s budget shortfalls.

But despite income and council grants totalling £4.98million, along with the price rise, £233,000 is still needed to fulfill the trust’s £5.27million spending needs.

Another admissions hike would provide an extra £62,000, for a five per cent rise, or £124,000, if a 10 per cent increase is passed.

This leaves just under £100,000 which has to be found in order for the leisure trust to balance its books.

Shutting Pendle Leisure Centre, West Craven Sports Centre and Seedhill sports ground would save £100,000.

And proposals to stop the entertainments programme at The Muni and axe Colne’s rhythm and blues festival would save a similar amount.

Other alternatives include five-day opening at the Nelson, Colne and Barnoldswick leisure centres, a reduction in either weekend or bank holiday opening hours at West Craven and Colne, or a two-week Christmas closure for all three centres and Seedhill.

The box office at the trust’s HQ in Albert Road, Colne, is under threat and Seedhill could shut at weekends.

Coun Anne Kerrigan, Pendle council’s leisure executive member, repres-enting Liberal Democrats, said she was reluctant to impose any cuts.

“If we are going to get people fit and active then making cuts is not on my radar,” she said.

Coun Mohammed Iqbal, Labour group leader said that the council’s grant to the trust had effectively been reduced year-on-year.

“The level of grant for Pendle Leisure Trust should be restored to what it was before the current admin-istration came to power,” said Coun Iqbal.

He also proposed that the council should use reserve funds to meet the leisure trust’s cash shortfall.

Coun Tony Beckett, Tory leader, said his party was still finalising its budget proposals, in consultation with council accountants.

“Hopefully we will be able to ensure that as few cuts as possible are made,” he said.

Phil Storey, chief executive of Pendle Leisure Trust said the organisation had been affected by a number of factors, including energy bills rising by more than £90,000 since October.

Noel Buckley, landlord of the Crown Hotel in Albert Road, Colne, added: “The blues festival brings people to pubs and shops all over Colne and is very good for trade.”

The executive meets to discuss the budget on Tuesday and the Lib Dems decision will be presented to a full council meeting on February 19.