PENDLE Council plans to transfer four of its 11 parks to town and parish councils and slash the maintenance budget for the other seven.

The borough executive has approved proposals for the change of ownership of the Barrowford Memorial, Victory and Letcliffe Parks and Valley Gardens.

It said the other seven would have their budgets for grass-cutting, flower beds, shrubs, sweeping and cleaning cut by 25 per cent, saving £90,000.

It is looking to transfer its remaining parks to town and parish councils in the future.

Tory group leader Cllr Joe Cooney has accused the borough’s Tory/Liberal Democrat leadership of trying to force a ‘one size fits all’ solution on the whole of the borough.

At the full Pendle Council tomorrow night, when the proposals come up for final approval, he will urge a more flexible approach to the issue and a thorough review of parks maintenance.

Lord Greaves, the authority’s LibDem deputy leader, thanked Barrowford Parish Council for its offer to take over its local park and Barnoldswick Town Council for agreeing to take responsibility for the other three.

He blamed government cuts requiring a further £1.5million savings for 2017/18 for the need to make the changes.

Lord Greaves said: “We are in truth now down to the bone.

“It’s a distressing position to be in but the Government is giving us no choice at all.

“We are talking to the town and parish councils in each area and asking them if they can make up some or all of that amount.”

Barrowford and Barnoldswick councils will pay for maintenance this coming year and take over their parks in Spring 2018.

Cllr Cooney said: “They are trying to force a one size fits all solution on the other town and parish councils which is wrong.

“They need a more flexible approach and look again at the costs and contracts for maintenance of the other seven which are very important to residents.”

The other parks are Alkincoats in Colne; Marsden, Victoria Walverden in Nelson; Heyhead in Brierfield, Ball Grove in Trawden and Sough between Kelbrook and Earby.

Lord Greaves said the town and parish councils could add between £2 and £5 a year to their average council tax something the borough was prevented from doing.

Cllr Nadeem Ahmed, council parks boss, said: “We hope other Town and Parish Councils will also be able to help out, but that is obviously entirely up to them.”

“Whatever happens we will continue working to try to reduce the impact of these cuts as

much as we can.”