A HISTORIC town hall has been saved from an uncertain future after being taken over.

The grade two listed Colne Town Hall is now under the control of the town council after months of negotiation with Pendle Council.

This follows the move of the Pendle Leisure Trust head office from Colne to Nelson as part of Pendle Council savings initiatives.

The town council has also negotiated the transfer of the former Liberal Club on Newmarket Street, now known as the annexe, and five shop properties underneath the annexe and town hall.

A spokesman for the town council said the deal for the town hall 'avoids the risk of the building being mothballed or disposed of elsewhere'.

Cllr Paul Foxley, chairman of Colne Town Council, said: “We understand just how important the town hall is to the people of Colne.

“This was recently evidenced when over 150 people took the opportunity to tour the building when we opened it up for guided tours as part of our heritage open day.

“Taking on this prominent building brings with it not only a substantial financial challenge, but also a responsibility in how we deal with its heritage properly and find a way to keep it maintained to an appropriate standard.”

The town council is halfway through a project funded by the Resilient Heritage Lottery Fund.

Cllr Foxley added: “Engagement with the Resilient Heritage Lottery Fund was always a key part of our plan and we hope to attract their further support to take this long-term project forward.

“We want the people of Colne to enjoy their wonderful town hall and to see it improve and become better used over the next few years.

“We will be looking to attract substantial external funding to deliver our ambitious aims for the building.”

An options appraisal is under way and a report will be presented to the town council on November 14, which is open to the public.

A public consultation will be held on the afternoon of January 14.

The town hall dates back to 1893 and has housed several Pendle Council departments since the authority was formed in 1974.