A MUSEUM heralded as a vital part of Blackburn's heritage is to re-open as a centre for former drug addicts, just months after being controversially closed.

Campaigners failed to stop Blackburn with Darwen Counci shutting the Lewis Textile Museum in April in a cost-cutting move which saved £23,000 a year.

Now opposition councillors and a former museum boss have said the new use is an insult to the people of Blackburn.

The museum, opened in 1938, was donated to the borough by industrialist Thomas Lewis, who wanted to provide a lasting legacy to the cotton industry.

The Blackburn Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is to spend a grant of about £500,000 renovating the Exchange Street venue so it can offer reading, writing, and basic life skills lessons to "clean" drug addicts.

The partnership, including chiefs from the police, council and health bodies, insisted it would not be used as a hostel, and that drugs like methadone, used to treat heroin addiction, would not be administered from the site.

Instead the National Treatment Agency (NTA) grant will create an educational centre with classroom.

But Adrian Lewis, a former head of Blackburn's arts services, said: "There are plenty of properties in Blackburn that could have been used.

"I suspect they the council are embarrassed because they have got an empty building.

"The councillors have no interest in the town's heritage and will be blamed for this in years to come."

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the Conservative opposition, said: "The people who will be going in and out of there are not at a happy stage in their life.

"I am not convinced they need more attention being brought to them.

"Will they want to be seen traipsing into that building?"

Coun Paul Browne, former leader of the LibDems, added: "This is an insult to the town and a betrayal of its heritage.

"Don't get me wrong, I am all in favour of helping people like this, but not in the centre of town."

Coun Andy Kay, chair of Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety Partnership, said the facility would help reduce crime and substance misuse, and so "help to develop safer communities and improve the lives of people who live in them.

"We do however, realise the importance of getting this right for all people who come into Blackburn town centre and indeed, residents of the borough.

"But, we are confident that by working with people who are delivering the service we can do so effectively and responsibly.

"Some people will have concerns about the new arrangements but we are sure, in the coming months they will prove to be unfounded."

The renovation is likely to be complete by early summer.

Council bosses said the Lewis exhibits would be moved to a permanent exhibition at Blackburn museum, just round the corner.

The council has said that the Lewis, a Grade II listed building, is propped up with scaffolding inside and has a damp cellar.

Drug addicts are currently offered support at a building in Church Street.

But CSP Bosses said the current facility can only help between 10 and 15 people a day, whereas the Lewis will be able to assist 30 to 40.

Services will be provided by the drug rehabilitation charity Inward House.

Jerry Sutton, its chief executive, said: "Research has shown that helping people to overcome their drug and alcohol problems is an effective way of reducing many types of crime."