A NEW era for sports and leisure services in Rossendale will begin next month with the creation of Rossendale Leisure Trust.
Civic chiefs have agreed that management of the leisure facilities should be transferred from Rossendale Borough Council to the new trust.
It will take care of running Haslingden Sports Centre, Haslingden swimming pool, Marl Pits swimming pool, Bacup Leisure Hall and the borough's flagship tourist and leisure attraction Ski Rossendale.
The trust will also be responsible for sports and art development and encouraging healthy lifestyles.
Public confidence hit rock bottom in 2002 when the council announced it was to axe five of its leisure facilities in a bid to cut £400,000 from an over-burdened budget.
It is hoped the new system, which follows in the footsteps of a successful Pendle pilot, will vastly improve leisure services in the valley.
The trust has VAT exemption and can apply for grants not open to the council. The trust's board of directors will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the centres and halls but the council will retain ownership.
Intense negotiations between the board and councillors has ironed out concerns about how the trust will be funded.
Funds will come through a council grant and charges it can raise for admission and other
services.
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