HYNDBURN Leisure should make use of planning approval to use Accrington Town Hall for functions to host funerals, a councillor suggested.

Cllr Tim O’Kane suggested the Grade II-listed building, which is owned by Hyndburn Council, would be the perfect venue for holding services and could prove a good income stream.

Chairman of the local authority’s planning committee, Cllr Eamonn Higgins, said it would be up to Hyndburn Leisure if they wanted to but added it would be possible.

He said: “I would imagine they will consider it because it would be a good source of income for them.”

Cllr Kath Pratt said the only issue would be a lack of parking nearby but Cllr Higgins said that problem would be addressed in the future.

The town hall was built as the Peel Institution between 1857-58 as a memorial to former Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel.

In 2014 Hyndburn Borough Council commissioned alterations and refurbishment works to facilitate the building's ongoing uses in leisure, courtesy of current tenant Hyndburn Leisure.

The existing ballroom was fully restored and refurbished and provided with new bar and stage facilities along with access to the refurbished second-floor balcony above the entrance.

Further refurbishments were undertaken to first and second-floor toilets to improve visitor facilities, while the first-floor level kitchen was refitted.

The existing first-floor supper room was also refurbished to maintain Hyndburn Leisure’s ongoing commitments to smaller civic events and social programmes.

But while council bosses say uptake of events at the ballroom has increased since the refurbishment, it is too big for some events and some potential business has been lost as a result.

Proposals were lodged earlier this year to refurbish and alter the reception area, as well as surrounding offices, in order to create areas available for use for small civic ceremonies and business events.

Borough principal planning officer Liz Thornber said: “There will be no change to the outside of the building and it is simply a change of use and listed building consent application."

“Officers have worked closely with Historic England and conservation officers on this. Historic England has no objection to the proposal.”

Committee members voted to approve the change of use and granted listed building consent, subject to the response of the Victorian Society, which has not yet responded to the consultation.