A COUNCILLOR has slammed planning officials for "hijacking" £90,000 she says should have been spent on a new community centre in her ward.

The money is part of a legal agreement with developers Barratt Manchester, which has applied to build a 82-home development on the site of the former Rists Wire and Cables factory, in Pickup Street, Accrington.

Spring Hill ward councillor Edith Dunston said she approached Hyndburn Council about using the money to help people living close to the site.

But now the windfall has been earmarked for improvements to Rhyddings Park, Oswaldtwistle, which she says is a quarter to half a mile away over the ward boundary.

Coun Dunston said: "Planning gain cash is supposed to provide for the local community. The hijacking of £90,000 from Spring Hill to a park in Oswaldtwistle may not be illegal but is certainly immoral, and totally out of order - a blatant act of modern-day piracy.

"Spring Hill is one of the most deprived areas of the borough and is desperately in need of resources for much-needed community initiatives.

"Early negotiations are already underway with the county council regarding the possible re-use of part of the old Spring Hill Primary School as a community centre.

"This money would be ideal in helping the residents to achieve their dream of a community facility for that area of Spring Hill."

Head of planning services Brendon Lyons, said the money spent on Rhyddings park would benefit a wide section of the population.

He said the council's priority at the moment was to bring facilities like parks, which do benefit lots of people, up to scratch rather than spreading the money thinly on individual projects.

He said the developers were also paying for improved cycle access on the Rists site, which was of immediate benefit to the area.

The application is re-recommended for approval at a planning meeting tomorrow.

A report to planners says: "This money will be used to enhance existing play facilities at Rhyddings Park. The contribution will be secured by the completion of a section 106 planning agreement which will equate in total to a contribution in the region of £90,000."