PLANS to mothball Nelson's Civic Theatre so a new use can be found for the building will be discussed by councillors tomorrow.

A Save the Civic Theatre campaign was launched earlier this month in a bid to save one of the town's landmark buildings amid fears it could close.

But council bosses have stressed permanent closure is a last resort and the building will be temporaily closed so new uses can be explored. The former Sunday school building in Stanley Street is used by a number of groups but is in need of a major refurbishment, including repairs to the roof and drains and may have to close until cash can be found to do it up.

Pendle Leisure Trust, which runs leisure facilities including the Civic Theatre building for Pendle Council, is carrying out a review and uses could include as a sports hall, health or IT centre.

Plans to build a replacement for the Civic Theatre and the Silverman Hall had to be shelved following the Government decision not to allow the clearance of homes in the Nelson West area. The decision means the proposed site for the new buildings is no longer available.

The future of the Civic Theatre will be debated at a meeting of the executive of Pendle council at their meeting at Nelson Town Hall at 7pm.