Hyndburn Labour - Election Statement 2016

Hyndburn has suffered the deepest cuts in England while Southern Councils have been given millions extra. The Tories do not care about the North.

Labour have kept your HBC Council tax at the same level as 2010, garden waste collection, pest control and bulky goods removals are still free services and we will never charge for car parking.

Labour have fought for Hyndburn and continue to manage finances without resorting to additional borrowing. We are working with the private sector to bring in new investment and create jobs for local people at new business parks. We also work in partnership with several voluntary groups which has brought in millions of pounds for projects around the borough.

Labour continually source grants for parks and leisure, which enabled a new games area at Milnshaw, a forthcoming £2m revamp at Rhyddings and new sports facilities including 3G football pitches, changing rooms, saunas and a women's gym. We are now also entering into lease agreements with local football teams so that they can have dedicated home grounds, with Rishton Utd being the first of its kind.

Labour have invested over £22m into regeneration projects around Hyndburn since 2011, plus secured £7m for new homes and over £10m for a major town centre renovation starting this year.

Only Hyndburn Labour has protected you from these unfair Conservative government deep cuts. We offer continued sound financial management and innovative ideas across Hyndburn, not reckless spending in favoured areas.

Please vote Labour on May 5th.

Great Harwood: NOT FOR SALE - The truth about Bank Mill House

You may have read literature or heard comments that the Great Harwood Labour Councillors are selling Bank Mill House and pulling the rug from under the senior citizens of Great Harwood.

Well that is simply not true.

Cllr Gareth Molineux said, "When I was elected in 2011 it seemed that there was no real responsibility being taken for the building. The former chairperson had become very unwell and due to his age was unable to continue in his role. Mr Holt had served the senior citizens for fantastically for decades. However due to poor record keeping and keys being readily handed out for the building something had to be done.

"Hyndburn Council wanted to formalise the arrangement in the same way has it had with other community buildings in its ownership as the day to day booking of rooms and hire charges and income was being kept by the committee but the maintenance of the building and the running costs totalling over £17,000 per annum was being paid for by HBC."

The committee refused to sign the same agreement that Hippings Vale (Oswaldtwistle) had signed a few years before and over a period of 4 years the Council made a number of concessions at the request of the committee.

After 4 years it became clear that no agreement could be made as the committee wanted full use of the building and to keep the income but was not prepared to take on any responsibilty of the overall upkeep of the building.

The Council had been approached by organisations such as Great Harwood Civic Society who had formed a charity to take on buildings through a leasing scheme. Other buildings include Hippings Vale Community Centre, the Civic Theatre in Oswaldtwistle to name but two.

Bank Mill House is the last such building that is not in community hands.

Cllr Molineux said, "The Committee were reluctant to move forward and all of them had concerns regarding the legal and business implications. I made them the offer that Hyndburn Council would fund them taking both independent Legal and Business advice through a provider of there choice, to set their minds at ease and to give them a greater understanding of what was involved. The Committee refused this funding, and to my understanding have taken no formal advice."

At this point Hyndburn Leisure had come forward with a proposal that grants the committee and the senior citizens of the town the same use rights has they have now with the same terms. They have also offered to protect current bookings and honour the community group's current usage.


This agreement does not involve Hyndburn Council selling Bank Mill House. 

It will be leased to Hyndburn Leisure and funded by Hyndburn Leisure.

The Senior Citizens are NOT losing their centre.

St Oswalds 2016: Glen Harrison

St Andrews 2016: Stewart Eaves

Spring Hill 2016: Munsif Dad

Peel 2016: Patrick Short

Overton 2016: Stephanie Haworth