A FORMER school building could be transformed into accommodation for people with mental health issues under new proposals being considered.

Councillors are hoping the Old School Rooms, Exchange Street, Colne, will be converted into flats and support services for people with mental health issues.

The building, which used to house a Sunday school and a scouts' hut, was bought by Trescom Research and Consultancy, a Bradford-based company in 2005.

The company planned to use the building, which has been empty for a number of years, as a community centre but this clashed with Elevate-backed plans for a similar scheme in the area.

Councillor Tony Greaves said something had to be done on the problem site', which is the subject of a council report, before it became derelict.

He said: "When the owners discovered that Pendle Council had set up a neighbourhood management scheme through Elevate they realised there would be duplication.

"So we had a number of meetings with the owners and this report has now come about as a result .

"The idea of a community centre should be put to one side and if Trescom are serious about getting the building back into use then some kind of sheltered accommodation is appropriate.

"The owners have discussed this proposal with Pendle Council Housing and the matter of funding the scheme needs to be looked into."

Colne and Waterside currently have a range of community facilities such as the Ambulance Hall and Waterside Youth Centre but some have closed because of a lack of use' and support for the organisations, the report said.

But, the report adds, with the large number of adults within Colne with mental health issues' there is a need to provide support for people needing such accommodation.

Coun Greaves said: "This is a practical proposal for a lot of people in needs of support for accommodation and this is not a bad location because it is within the community on self contained premises.

"This is quite an important building and we do not want it to become derelict when it would be putting something back into the community."

The report will go before the Colne and District Committee on Thursday January 10.