A MAJOR revamp for Padiham Leisure Centre could rely on the goodwill of all councillors in Burnley, it has emerged.

Representatives from Cliviger and Briercliffe to Rosegrove and Daneshouse are being asked to forsake their £10,000 allocation, from Burnley Council's Capital Opportunities Fund, for the £1.25million refurbishment of the Park Road venue.

The overhaul is being funded by a Sport England grant and town hall borrowing, along with a suggested cash injection from the fund, totalling around £150,000.

The Capital Opportunities Fund was set up to support smaller schemes championed by ward councillors.

Councillors have questioned why the project, unlike others in Burnley, can only be funded by such a sacrifice.

Coun Andrew Tatchell, Labour group leader and Gawthorpe ward councillor, said: "The money allows councillors to help residents with capital projects in their own wards - so this proposal is both controversial and divisive.

"How would people in Cliviger feel about losing their allocation to help fund Padiham Leisure Centre? Why do we have to go out with our begging bowl?

"We didn't have to do this for projects like the St Peter's Centre in Burnley or for funding for Weavers' Triangle. So why should we take this approach for Padiham?"

Question marks have also been raised about why the fund needs to be plundered when it is currently believed to be running at a £300,000 underspend.

Coun Howard Baker said: "I still think it will go through when it comes to the budget but it will be difficult to sell it to some wards that need money spending on improvements."

The proposal has found favour with Coun Sharon Wilkinson, who represents the Hapton with Park ward where the leisure centre stands. She said: "It is going to be a bit of a controversial issue but from my point of view I think it is a very good idea.

"Councillors would obviously like to spend the money in their own wards, and they would not be doing their jobs as ward councillors if they didn't. But people are elected to represent the whole of Burnley.

"I am not saying I agree with the way we are getting the money as it is unfair on other wards, but it will be great for the town."

The issue will be resolved at the Burnley authority's budget-setting process later this month.

Coun Peter Doyle, head of resources, said: "The issue will be for members to decide for themselves. We have only got limited resources to spend.

"If members want this project to go ahead, and they do not agree with the suggestion which has been put forward, then they will have to find other ways of supporting this capital expenditure.

"The thing is we can only spend our capital allocation once and the council can only obtain more money by selling off land and property within the borough. But we can only do this in a sensible way."