FOUR thousand people are this year expected to visit Burnley's troubled Queen Street mill museum and each will cost Lancashire county a staggering £30.

And even if the county council reaches its 10,000 visitor target in future years, high running costs at Europe's last steam-powered cotton shed mean it will still work out at £12 per visit, Burnley councillors heard.

Burnley developed the Harle Syke mill museum at a cost of more than £1 million in cash and man-time.

It asked county to take over ownership when crippling costs made it impossible to carry on.

Part of the deal was that Burnley pay an annual £50,000 to support running costs.

That payment was suspended for two years as county, supported by national heritage groups, spent heavily on refurbishment. Now, however, the council and county are arguing over whether the £50,000 agreement, hammered out five years ago, is legally binding. Neither wishes to test the argument in court because of further high costs that would involve.

Burnley is also holding out on payment largely because council chiefs do not feel the present opening arrangements offer good value for money.

A report to tonight's meeting of the recreation committee says of particular concern is that at no times other than Bank Holidays will the mill, launched by Prince Charles in a blaze of a blaze of publicity in 1977, be open to the public at weekends.

The report states: "It seems to your officers that week-end opening is essential if the mill is to develop as a genuine attraction."

The cost per visitor at Towneley museum works out at £4, it adds.

The report goes on: "Although your officers do not necessarily accept there is a legally-binding obligation, there are strong moral pressures on Burnley to resume payments next year.

"This view is based on the spirit, rather than the letter, of the agreement reached with county in 1992.

"It would also be of benefit to the council to be actively involved in the operation of this historic building," the report adds.

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