NEW community gardens and an enclosed children's play area at St Philips Family Centre, in Nelson, are a step closer, after Pendle Council gave planning permission for the project.

Funding for the development has already been agreed by Pendle Partnership from its Single Regeneration Budget and Community Economic Development -- European Regional Development Fund regeneration programmes.

Manager Ian Hirst said: "I am delighted that we have got the planning permission for children's play facilities and a community garden in the grounds of St Philips Church. When we are finished, we will have made a big improvement to the visual appearance to the site and created better play facilities for local children.

"This is the first stage of our exciting and ambitious plans to convert the rest of the church into a proper centre that serves the whole community.

"As well as the existing childminding facilities for families we are hoping to provide computer facilities, training rooms, meeting rooms, catering facilities and a family room available for things like children's birthdays."

Anne Taylor, programme manager at Pendle Partnership said: "St Philip's has proved itself to be a successful project that has provided important affordable childcare facilities for local people."

"The new gardens and play area will clean up this site and create a much better impression for people driving along the main road into Nelson. Local residents and children will also benefit."

The former church currently provides subsidised childcare funded by Pendle Partnership's SRB and ERDF-CED Community Economic Development programmes.

The overall aim is for St Philips to become a community resource, open in the evenings and providing facilities to all age groups and everyone in the community.