THE future success of one of East Lancashire's most best decorated towns is under the threat, it was claimed today.

Funding for Colne in Bloom could be cut by 'at least two-thirds next year' following a decision made by Pendle Council's Colne and District Committee.

The Conservatives used its majority on the body to push a proposal through to abolish a direct grant of £12,000, replaced by a system they say if fairer for all the district.

Each councillor across the borough will now be allocated a 'horticultural fund' which they can do with as they wish as the Grot Spot Funds is replaced with a new ward-by-ward Environmental Improvements Fund.

Colne has twice been awarded a silver gilt for the large town category in the Britain in Bloom awards, 2011 and 2013, and with seven North West in Bloom titles, six on the run.

The Colne in Bloom committee holds its regular meeting today (((Wednesday))) at the Town Hall where the grant will be discussed.

Cllr Dorothy Lord, who also chairs Colne in Bloom, said: "I don't think it's fair at all. It's a slap in the face. We have had funding cuts for the past two years and we accepted that.

"We are all volunteers and we are doing a job that if the council were to do it it would cost thousands and thousands of pounds.

"It's not just about flowers, we also do litter picking and make sure the town is clean and tidy.

"It's transformed the town over the last 10 years."

Cllr Tony Greaves, the Liberal Democrat group leader, said he is 'mystified' at the move and that the cash for next year's Colne in Bloom will also have to be found from this year’s budget.

He said: “They attacked us for mythical cuts in Colne and now they are making cuts themselves in the very things that they have control over on the Colne area committee."

However, Cllr Graham Waugh, the Conservative committee chairman who represents Foulridge, says his plan will benefit the wider community.

He said: “I want to be fair to all the excellent groups who improve this area, whether they are groups of residents, Incredible Edible or Colne in Bloom.

“In recent years, Colne in Bloom representatives have approached us for their plant order in March, which is the beginning of the growing season, but it is also the time of the year when we are all spent up.

“My plan is to catch up this year by paying them twice, first the money we’ve already pledged back in March and again in March 2016.

"Centralised allocation was not a fair system to all the residents of Colne’s wider area, as it led to some areas on the periphery being overlooked.

"Now ward councillors will get between £3,750-£1,250, depending on the size of the ward, to spend on environmental improvements and choose the most deserving cases across their wards.”