Pendle's public toilets saved from closure (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Pendle's public toilets saved from closure

5:00pm Friday 24th February 2012 in Brierfield By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

THE Discover Pendle Centre and public toilets were among a number of services saved by councillors in Pendle.

Council shops in Brierfield and Earby and the Manchester Camerata Series were other provisions that were given a stay of execution when councillors set the budget for the next financial year.

Pendle Council’s management team had recommended the closure of the Discover Pendle Centre, at Boundary Mill, Colne, to save nearly £63,000, but councillors felt closing it down in such an important year for tourism would be a mistake.

Coun Mike Blomeley, leader of the council, said: “Tourism has always been important to us in Pendle and in 2012 that’s even truer.

“In addition to the usual events, this year will bring notable anniversaries for us to celebrate, the 400 year anniversary of the Pendle Witches and the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, with our own Colne bandmaster Wallace Hartley playing heroically to the end.

“With the increased profile that these events will provide for Pendle, we believe that now is not the time to change our investment in the Discover Pendle Centre.”

It was also recommended to close six public toilets across Pendle to save £20,000, but this was shelved.

Coun John David, leader of the Lib Dems, said: “These are the type of things that makes life bearable for residents of Pendle.

"It is the little things like this that they notice when out and about.”

The budget for Christmas and Eid decorations was reduced, but only by £15,000, rather than over £28,000.

The management team had wanted to save £44,000 by closing the Brierfield and Earby council shops, but this was rejected.

Coun Blomeley said: “We value the work of our council shops which, in some cases, are a vital hub for our residents, not only to make payments but also to obtain advice and other services.”

In all savings totalling £1.2million were voted through. Council tax was frozen.