LIB DEMS STRENGTHEN CALL FOR VALLEY CENTRE PUBLIC TAKEOVER

In a renewed attempt to highlight the plight of the Valley Centre in Rawtenstall Town Centre, the Lib Dems are once more asking the Council to consider purchasing the site.

The Lib Dems feel this is the only way the Council can take control of this ongoing saga. They hold the view that the Valley Centre is a prime piece of real estate that has so much potential.

The LibDems first floated the idea of progressing this issue through a land swap during the autumn of last year. This land swap would be done with the developer who is in ownership of the Valley Centre. Unfortunately, ever since this creative proposal was suggested by the LibDems, there has been a wall of silence from the ruling Tory Group.

Group leader Catherine Pilling commented, 'The Valley Centre continues to be an embarrassing blight that is corroding confidence in Rawtenstall Town Centre. It is a huge priority for the people of Rossendale that the ruling group just cannot seem to get a grasp of.'

'All we have heard from the leader of the council is that the £6million price tag was unaffordable. Well we are calling for a fresh valuation of the land because, given the current economic downturn, we think this previous figure is unrealistic as there has been a correction in property prices of late.'

Dale Mulgrew added, 'We know that the Council has built up a reserve of a significant amount of money, and that they are wasting over £250,00 a year on maintaining empty buildings and renting temporary office accommodation.'

'We would propose a land swap, with an additional amount of money to cover any shortfall in the Valley's price tag. This could be financed from external funding similar to Burnley's recent grant of £5million from the North West Development Agency. We would also put to better use the wasteful sum that is propping up derelict Council buildings that are a short term drain on resources.'

'Once in possession of the Valley Centre site the Council could look towards developing a new square, a new Town Hall, and a range of new possibilities. In fact, a sorely needed strategy for the revival of Rawtenstall Town centre. '