A COMMUNITY building in Bacup could be sold within a month unless local residents show an interest in taking it on.

Bacup Hub, in Burnley Road, has been a popular venue for a variety of community and leisure activities over the past five years but owner Catherine Chadwick is keen to sell it.

She has set local community groups keen to show an interest in taking on the facility a deadline of a month to get in touch, before the building goes on the open market at around £500,000.

Catherine said: “I wouldn’t say I have lost my passion for it, but priorities have changed, I’ve now got three children and other businesses to focus on and I don’t have the time to focus on the Hub as I would have liked.

“It is a great facility. When I first took it on we had a lot of events and it was very popular, but I would like someone with the enthusiasm I had five years ago to come in and keep it going as a community facility.

“I’m an Ossy girl, so a local group doesn’t have to be in Bacup. It can be within 15 or 20 miles as long as they have the passion for it.”

Catherine recently invested £105,000 on a soft play centre which will remain in the facility.

“I think a month is long enough for someone to show an expression of interest in taking it over,” she said.

The building has been valued and is ready to be listed commercially.

Cllr Jimmy Eaton said: “I would be very sorry to see Bacup Hub go.

“I know Catherine has tried to keep it going and she has spent a lot of money on it, although I think it still needs more work.”