HYNDBURN’s opposition leader has criticised the ‘wasting’ of almost £600,000 on a website project which has now been abandoned.

The Hyndburn Life site was meant to attract business and community investment into Hyndburn, but many sections had not been updated in three years.

In the news and events section of the site, the latest entry on Accrington Stanley claims they are a week away from possibly clinching the 2006 Conference title.

In news on the area’s housing regeneration, a school is praised for creating images to inspire the Elevate scheme as part of a 2006 calendar, and the latest council meetings advertised are also dated 2006.

Coun Graham Jones, leader of the opposition Labour group in Hyndburn, said the website was an example of a ‘spectacular’ waste of money.

He said: “It is taxpayers’ money spent on a project that has just been dropped.

"It is not the Government’s failing but the council leader’s.”

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said the website had been funded purely through central government grants.

He said: “The government themselves introduced it to every borough in the country and it has failed everywhere.

"Can Coun Jones name a part of the county where it has been a success?”