LIBRARY opening hours could be slashed and private firms brought in to run some of Blackburn and Darwen's leisure services as the borough council struggles to save £500,000.

Major cost-cutting in the Blackburn and Darwen Council's library and leisure department is set to begin in the next few weeks.

Town hall bosses are looking to save over £500,000 from the borough's leisure department budget over the next six months.

And they have warned they will look at all possibilities over the next six months before announcing their final findings.

The controversial decision to close part of the Lewis Textile Museum building is expected to be just one of the unpopular measures announced later this summer.

A panel of leading councillors is being set up to consider where savings can be made. The panel is likely to include council leader Malcolm Doherty, deputy chairman Gail Barton and leisure sport and cultural services chairman Eileen Entwistle.

Trade union representatives will be asked for their views and told about any developments over the next six months.

And Steve Weaver, the council's executive director, will be put in charge of the entire project.

The plan is to save £250,000 by the end of 1998, rising to £500,000 by the close of the financial year. Despite saving money the council still hopes to improve services by encouraging more people to use the borough's libraries, leisure centres and sports facilities.

The council will also look at involving worker's co-operatives, local trusts and private companies in running the leisure service.

The review will be discussed at a strategy committee on Thursday.

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