A £200,000 children’s centre looks set to open in Whalley, providing planning permission is granted next week.

A range of services would be offered at the centre, which would be based at the library in Abbey Road.

The centre is being funded by Lancashire County Council’s children’s centre programme, which has already helped fund facilities in Clitheroe and Longridge.

The proposal would see an extension built and a courtyard area filled in to create space for the centre.

An existing grassed area adjacent to the centre’s entrance is also to be fenced off and used as an outdoor space.

Coun Terry Hill, borough councillor for Whalley, said the investment in the borough was welcomed.

“The centre can only be good news for Whalley and it is always good to see county council money being spent in the area,” he said.

“The facilities and the support it will offer will be of great use to people living around here.

“We have a few pre-school groups and nurseries, but it sounds like the centre will complement them and offer different facilities.”

Services are likely to include access to early education, links to childcare, child and family health services, antenatal advice and support to pregnant women, drop-in sessions, help with job hunting and other activities for children.

County Coun Jennifer Mein, who was cabinet member for children and young people when the investment was announced, said: “This is great news for families in Whalley and I’m sure the centre will be very popular when it opens.

“It will bring together all the services for young families at the heart of local communities.

“Lancashire continues to lead the way in providing such services, with one of the largest and most developed children’s centre networks in the country.”

County councillors are to hear the planning proposals at Wednesday’s development control committee at County Hall, Preston.

The county council hopes the centre will be up and running by March 2010.