A COUNCIL has agreed to give up control of one of its civic halls after being told the move could kick-start a town's regeneration.

Ribble Valley councillors have approved plans for Longridge Civic Hall to be transferred out of their control and into the hands of a limited company called Longridge Social Enterprises Ltd, which will be run by the local Longridge Action Group.

A meeting of the borough council was told the civic hall -- which serves similar functions as village halls do elsewhere in the Ribble Valley -- was an 'anomaly' in the sense it was the only venue of its kind run by the authority.

A report to the community committee stated that a 'market town health check' recently conducted around Longridge had highlighted the potential the civic hall had in triggering other regeneration in the town.

A refurbished civic hall, the report said, would be able to offer a broader range of opportunities than currently available.

Chris Hughes, the council's leisure and tourism manager, said: "The partnership would be able to access more money than this authority could to implement those improvements."

Councillors agreed that the hall, in Willows Park Lane, was in need of refurbishment. The borough council has come under fire from residents in the town for its failure to improve the hall over the years.

The Partnership, run by local people with the aim of improving the town, hopes to take control of the venue by September 1.

John Heap, director of commercial services, said: "This move will provide a catalyst for the Longridge Action Group to implement key areas of its action plan and generate new interest in the hall."

Longridge councillor Jim Rogerson said: "I am glad this is happening, it should lead to a lot of improvements. It is something I have been chewing ears about for some time."