THE Haworth Art Gallery, free parking and bin collections could be next in line to be 'sold off' to ease Hyndburn Council's cash woes, it was claimed today.

Tory council leader, Coun Peter Britcliffe, hit out at scaremongering rivals - and said free parking would always safe.

But he revealed the Accrington art gallery, which has a world famous collection of Tiffany glass, could one day be run with the county council to spread costs.

And the cash-strapped authority revealed it is to look at all its buildings and facilities in a bid to save money.

Accrington town hall and Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre already look certain to be transferred to a trust as part of council cost-cutting. And councillors have been warned they face a repeat of last year's £1.8million budget crisis if it continues to overspend.

It now plans to investigate an investment partnership to run Accrington Market Hall.

Coun Britcliffe recently announced he was to start a "bonfire of bureaucracy" with council-owned sites.

Labour leader, Coun Jean Battle, said: "The cleansing, free parking, bins, the Haworth Gallery, grounds maintenance - nothing seems sacred at the moment.

"I am not sure how much control the council would have, I think that is always the danger."

And Joe Treacy, chair of the West Accrington Residents' Association, said: "People can see it's like selling off the crown jewels.

"It will get them out of trouble this year but after that all these things that produce revenues will have gone, so the inevitable conclusion will be council tax will have to go up to cover the drop in revenue."

Coun Britcliffe said: "There are those who wish to frighten people at this stage. I would challenge them to tell me how to address the problems that the borough faces."

Unless we raise money the only way to do the things people want us to do is to increase council tax.

"It would need a massive hike to make people's dreams become a reality. Is this what they are saying we should do or would they rather not agree with me and say we should keep our minds open and look at all options?"

Mike Booth, chair of the Oswaldtwistle Civic Society, said the council was right to look at other options.

He said: "I think we have to be flexible and we have to be sometimes a little bit more adventurous than perhaps might seem the normal thing to do."

THE Haworth Art Gallery, free parking and bin collections could be next in line to be 'sold off' to ease Hyndburn Council's cash woes, it was claimed today.

Tory council leader, Coun Peter Britcliffe, hit out at scaremongering rivals - and said free parking would always stay.

But he revealed the Accrington art gallery, which has a world famous collection of Tiffany glass, could one day be run with the county council to spread costs.

And the cash-strapped authority revealed it is to look at all its buildings and facilities in a bid to save money.

Accrington town hall and Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre already look certain to be transferred to a trust as part of council cost-cutting. And councillors have been warned they face a repeat of last year's £1.8million budget crisis if it continues to overspend.

It now plans to investigate an investment partnership to run Accrington Market Hall.

Coun Britcliffe recently announced he was to start a "bonfire of bureaucracy" with council-owned sites.

Labour leader, Coun Jean Battle, said: "The cleansing, free parking, bins, the Haworth Gallery, grounds maintenance - nothing seems sacred at the moment.

"I am not sure how much control the council would have, I think that is always the danger."

And Joe Treacy, chair of the West Accrington Residents' Association, said: "People can see it's like selling off the crown jewels.

"It will get them out of trouble this year but after that all these things that produce revenues will have gone, so the inevitable conclusion will be council tax will have to go up to cover the drop in revenue."

Coun Britcliffe said: "There are those who wish to frighten people at this stage. I would challenge them to tell me how to address the problems that the borough faces."