A NOTORIOUS former homeless hostel in the centre of Radcliffe could become a cultural beacon.

The old Radcliffe Times building on Church Street attracted widespread criticism and claims that it attracted drug addicts and criminals when it was used to house the homeless.

But now the arts charity, Commissions In The Environment (CITE), is hoping to seal a deal to use it as a base.

"We have already raised £90,000 from the regional development fund and £60,000 from the Arts Council," said CITE director Hope London Morris. "This will go a long way to refurbishing the building."

Bury Council currently owns the premises and CITE is in negotiations with it to take over the lease.

Deputy council leader Coun Wayne Campbell said of CITE's plans: "It's a breath of fresh air. Radcliffe has still got the scars of what that building used to be used for."

CITE, which commissions public works of art, took over from the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail, which is partly why it chose Radcliffe as a base.

"Radcliffe is ideally located at the centre of the trail, so it seemed ideal," said Mrs London Morris. "Being based here will make a huge difference to the town centre and could kick-start other changes and result in other derelict buildings being refurbished."

If it gets the go-ahead the Radcliffe Times building would be completely transformed, with CITE office space on the ground floor and studio space available for rent to local artists in the rest of the building.

Mrs London Morris, outlined the project at a meeting of Radcliffe Area Board on Tuesday (Oct 21) and area board chairman, Coun Barry Briggs, said the Board was "100 per cent" behind it.