A FORMER civic hall is to become a haven for young people following its transformation into a music and arts centre.

The Grand, York Street, Clitheroe, is emerging out of the old site of the civic hall and Grand Cinema that occupied the building for many years.

Due to open in October 2007, the music and arts centre will be full of hi-tech music equipment as well as performance space that will host various music, arts and design projects.

The project is being overseen by christian charity Oasis UK which took over the management of The Grand and the Clitheroe Skate Park in January.

The professional recording studios and performance venue will aim to engage young people and the whole community and will have a cyber café with 12 computer stations.

The site was purchased by John Lancaster who made his millions running Ultraframe Conservatories. The Lancaster Foundation then passed on the running of the project to Oasis.

A public consultation is underway at the moment to find out what the people of Clitheroe want from the venue and 20,000 questionnaires have been issued.

A plan for the future direction of The Grand will be issued in July and it will outline what services The Grand will offer over the next 12 months.

David Wilson, who is overseeing the project for Oasis, said: "The response at the public consultation was overwhelmingly positive.

"Residents of York Street, the street where The Grand is, were concerned about opening times and people coming out of the venue. We reassured them, that we would be working closely with the council on these matters.

"Numbers 18 and 16 York Street have been purchased and will be used for activities connected with The Grand's service to the community."

The skate park, in Woone Lane on the corner of Clitheroe Castle, was opened last April and has proved a hit with youngsters across the borough.

Throughout the past 12 months, the park has been managed as part of the £1million scheme to revamp the Grand Theatre.