Row over area council grant to fund extension A COUNCILLOR has slammed a grant for improvements to an East Lancashire church, claiming the money should have been spent elsewhere.

Now Coun Jean Battle is calling on Accrington residents to say where they would like to see the £55,000, allocated to the town's area council, spent.

At its second meeting in the New Era centre, the area council approved a £1,000 grant for Christ Church to help towards the £126,000 cost of providing a new community facility.

A new room would have to be created at the rear of the church, which is expected to house OAP luncheon clubs and an after school club.

The church, run by the Rev Kevin Logan, had hoped to pay for the transformation by selling eight of its prized stained-glass windows to a private organisation.

After receiving bids from American and Japanese companies varying between £40,000 and £80,000, the church was told by the diocese that it would not be allowed to sell the windows -- despite the fact 92 per cent of the congregation were said to be in favour of it. The £1,000 grant could be increased by a further £3,000 once the church provides the council receives a breakdown of costs for the scheme.

But Coun Jean Battle said: "Surely this is money designed to help all people, not just a group of people who go to church.

"We need to be looking at projects which benefit everyone. This sort of project can get funding elsewhere.

"We need to be looking at ways of tidying up the borough, of creating new places for everyone to go and enjoy.

"This money could be spent on a new park.

"I am sure the people of the borough would agree with me. They need to come forward and say how this money should be spent."

Coun Bernard Dawson, who chairs the meetings, said: "I see the point being made but a suitable grant has been put forward to us and if people here have real objections they can always raise them."

Rev Logan, who has scaled down the plans for the new community facility, said: "The community needs this new facility. We have more than 470 children on a waiting list for an after-school club and we also have a lot of old, single people so the need for a luncheon club is obvious."