TWO libraries in Burnley and Padiham could be revamped as part of a three-year programme by Lancashire County Council.

Padiham and Pike Hill libraries have been placed on a list for potential improvements, if a capital bid for £423,000 is approved by County Hall financiers.

The possible upgrade for Pike Hill comes 12 months after it was announced that Pike Hill had survived a cull of Burnley libraries.

Barbon Street, Brunshaw and Colne Road libraries eventually shut, in return for the opening of a new ‘super’ facility at Burnley Campus in Barden Lane.

The initiative could also see improvements made to Accrington, Bacup, Brierfield, Longridge and Whitworth libraries in East Lancashire.

Another library which escaped the 2006-07 purge, Briercliffe, has already been earmarked for action under the Regenerate programme, along with sites in Crawshawbooth, Rossendale, and Oswaldtwistle.

Julie Bell, an adult and community services department spokesman, says in a county council report: “Capital funding has been made available to the county library and information service in order to regenerate libraries.

“Carnforth and Ingol were completed in the first phase, in 2007-08. Phase two, which includes nine libraries, has been approved and building work is due to start soon.

“Thirteen libraries are long-listed for phase three, should the capital programme receive approval.

“These include two libraries in Burnley (borough) — Padiham and Pike Hill.”

Padiham is based in the early 20th-century town hall in Burnley Road and is in a site owned by Burnley Borough Council.

County council officials say the revamp could provide opportu-nities for closer working ties with the borough authority.

Pike Hill library used to be connected to a health centre but NHS facilities have recently been withdrawn, leaving a greater potential for services to be expanded there.

Elsewhere Colne and Haslingden libraries are extending their services to users using a major grant from the Big Lottery Fund.