BOSSES have hailed Nelson’s multi-million pound ACE Centre a massive success.

Phil Storey, chief executive of Pendle Leisure Trust, made the comments at a council meeting after claims the venue had become a ‘white elephant’ due to the cost to the community of hiring it out.

Before the £5.6 million ACE (Arts, Culture and Enterprise) Centre opened two years ago, leisure bosses said that, as well as hosting regular events, it would also be accessible for all sections of the community.

However, Mahboob Ahmed, who lives just a few hundred yards from the Cross Street venue, told the meeting it was not being used enough by community groups or local people because the cost of hiring it out was too high.

It is £50 an hour, £200 for half a day and £350 for a full day.

But Mr Storey, boss of the trust which runs the centre denied claims it was a white elephant and hailed it a success.

Mr Ahmed, a father-of-five who lives in Every Street, said he met Mr Storey to discuss his concerns a year ago, but had not heard from him since.

“This centre is too expensive, full stop,” he said.

“When it was being built it was stated that it would be for the whole community, but it isn’t being used by the whole community.

“Why would someone pay to hire it out when they can use another one for half as much?

"We have got another white elephant on our hands.”

Mr Storey invited Mr Ahmed to get in touch with him.

He said: “We provide facilities for all the community, not just pockets of the community.

“We have had some very successful specialist Asian events, including films, a fund-raiser for the Pakistan Floods Appeal and numerous weddings.

“But we have also had success with events for other sections of the community.

"The Garrick theatre group is enjoying its most successful season yet, we have the very popular Pie, Peas and Poetry nights, Cinema Paradiso and First Friday Frolics comedy club, so it definitely is not a white elephant at all.

“It is starting to grow and, like any new venture, it will take time.”