ROSSENDALE Council has agreed to allow a community group to run Whitworth Baths with an annual grant from the authority to pay rental costs.
Councillors agreed the grant to the Community Leisure Association of Whitworth Ltd (CLAW) to the value of £35,000 per year.
At last night's corporate policy committee, councillors accepted a management agreement and a five-year tenancy agreement giving CLAW access and use of the swimming pool.
The council will be responsible for any repairs as the landlords of the premises.
Conservative councillor Alan Schofield said: "I am scared that this could be an open-ended chequebook with this being something that we could all live to regret."
Committee chairman Coun Dave Hancock, said: "We have got to remember that this is something of great success thanks to CLAW.
"They have got local people to support them and get involved, which is what is great about the community. It's the gold dust magic that's really made this work and the group should be commended for this."
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