BARNOLDSWICK'S former Rainhall Road School will be turned into a community centre, three years after it closed its doors to pupils.

The town council has signed a 99-year lease from Lancashire County Council for the building which will be part of a £1.4million scheme to boost Barnoldswick's economy.

Councillors are preparing to ask people what they would like to use the building for.

Councillor David Whipp said: "There was a very strong local campaign to keep Rainhall Road School open.

"It was much loved by the local community and, unfortunately, the county council closed it.

"Since then it has been vacant and I am delighted that at long last we have got a meeting of minds to take this project forward.

"We are now going to start drawing up plans to make best use of the building.

"We will be having open consultation events for people in West Craven to say what they want."

Barnoldswick is part of a government scheme, the Market Towns Initiative, which aims to breathe new life into towns.

After two years of research into what is needed in the town, the council has submitted a bid for £1.4million of funding from the North West Development Agency to pay for the ideas.

Coun Whipp said there was a long list of possible uses for the community resource centre which residents could help whittle down.

He said: "One of the more exciting ideas is to have a community cinema. The town council could occupy part of it and use it for community events.

"Perhaps there will be space for artists' studios and it could be a venue for indoor events and festivals such as the folk festival.

"We have a thriving craft fair that could use it.

"It could also be a hub for local businesses to use with the latest state-of-the-art technology. The list goes on.

"It can't be used for everything and we will have to ask the local community what they think."