A ROW has broken out over plans to end funding for community associations.

Volunteers are furious after Blackburn with Darwen council decided to axe grants in a move they say could spell the end for some of the 13 associations that operate across the borough.

Council bosses insist they still support the groups but are shifting the focus towards the five recently-created ‘neighbourhood boards’ which are each given £50,000 to distribute in the community.

The move will also distance the council’s ruling coalition of Conservative, Lib Dem and For Darwen parties from some of the community associations, which include grass-roots supporters of the previous Labour administration.

Community associations provide a forum for residents to air local grievances and organise local activities and projects including fetes and street fairs.

They also liaise with the police and council on behalf of residents and are consulted before some key decisions are made.

In Blackburn with Darwen some have traditionally been given a share of the income generated by community centres, which they use to fund their activities. They are also able to use community centres for free. But not all are given funding, and some areas are not served by one at all.

Under the new regime, associations will have to apply for funding to neighbourhood boards, and will be charged to use community centres the same way as other groups in a move council chiefs say will save up to £25,000 a year.

Tory Coun John Slater, executive member for neighbourhoods, said: “Community associations are fragmented – they are strong in some areas but get no funding in others.

“They are complaining it’s not fair but I think it’s a fairer system. If they want money for a particular project they can apply for it.”

But Labour councillor Maureen Bateson said community associations were elected, unlike neighbourhood boards.

She added: “They are local and residents look to them for help. The council is saying ‘thanks for all the years you have looked after your community, but we think other people are more capable of doing it than you.’”

Brian Todd, chairman of Ewood and Fernhurst community association, claimed volunteers had not been properly consulted and said he expected some groups to shut down because of the funding cut.