THE former owners of an East Lancashire shopping centre have left taxpayers with a £206,000 bill, councillors have been told.

Bosses at Pendle Rise Management (NW) Ltd, in Nelson, failed to hand over any business rates to Pendle Council, from their arrival in July 2017 until the start of this year, an executive meeting has heard.

The Lancashire Telegraph revealed late last year that the council had lodged a petition to wind up the company.

And now it has emerged that, of the 32 cases recommended to be written-off, 26 relate to the ex-management at Pendle Rise.

Dean Langton, chief executive, said: "No business rates have been paid by Pendle Rise Management (NW) Ltd since it became liable in July 2017, which totals £206, 620.91.

"It has no realisable assets, which means that there is no prospect of being paid the debt."

Mr Langton also said an allowance is factored into the authority's budget for bad debts each year. The write-off level this year in Pendle is 1.1 per cent.

Councillors have been told while a claim against the management company has been lodged with the Official Receiver, there was little hope of any money being recouped.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, Labour group leader on Pendle Council, said: "Clearly the council tries to help people who are in genuine need but this level of debt is unacceptable.

"I would call on the administration to recover as much of this money as they can, to benefit the genuine law-abiding taxpayers of this borough."

Cllr Paul White, the Conservative council leader, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

In the summer of 2017, Pendle Rise changed hands, with Bolton-based property developer Craig Brandwood pledging to plough up to £2.7million into the centre within three years.

Councillors and Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson also promised to work with the new team at Pendle Rise, which had previously seen one receivership occur in 2010.

Another company has since stepped in and taken control of the management of the shopping centre. Plans have also been submitted for a new McDonald's, following the demolition of the multi-storey car park there.

Proceeds from business rates are split 50-50 between central and local government. Pendle Council receives 40 per cent of the remaining half, Lancashire County Council get nine per cent and one per cent goes to Lancashire Fire and Rescue.