COUNCIL cutbacks have forced the closure of a Burnley training centre which has helped hundreds of unemployed people find jobs.

Leading local politicians have described the decision to close Livingstone Mill as a tragedy, and say government spending limits are to blame. But staff at the centre say the council has turned its back on Burnley's long-term unemployed.

The Cameron Street mill, which provides training for the construction industry, horticulture and catering, will be shut in October. The council hopes to move the 11 employees to new jobs and ensure that current trainees complete their courses.

The centre has cost the council £430,000 since it opened five years ago. Costs rocketed from £63,550 in 1995 to £144,892 this year.

The increase is due to a fall in payments from the East Lancashire Training and Enterprise Council. The TEC gives the council £1,000 for every trainee who goes on to find a job in the industry for which they have been trained.

But with jobs scarce - particularly those in the construction industry - only 39 of this year's 157 trainees have found employment.

At a meeting on Tuesday night, councillors rejected alternative proposals to switch to different kinds of training. Chairperson Pat Bennett said it was a tragedy.

One member of staff from the centre, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Citizen: "We cannot believe that a Labour council has given up its commitment to the long-term unemployed."

Council leader Kath Reade said: "We believe that training is the life blood of the economy. We totally condemn the government's lack of investment in training.

"We have homeless people, houses waiting to be built, and the ability to provide good quality construction training. But lack of government investment means jobs are not available."

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