GANNOW baths and Burnley Mechanics will stay open and there will be no charges for admission to Towneley Hall museum and art gallery -- if Burnley Labour councillors get their way.

The decisions were taken unanimously by the borough's Labour group which is blaming its own government for the financial mess facing the council and the harsh decisions yet to be made before they set set next year's budget.

With Burnley Council split 50-50 between Labour and opposition groups nothing is yet finalised or clear cut.

Speaking today as Labour group leader rather than council leader, Stuart Caddy, said decisions had to be taken and they would be trawling through all the service areas to decide how £600,000 savings could be achieved.

Last night's decision was for total opposition to the closure of Gannow baths and full closure of the Mechanics and for charges at Towneley Hall, all of which have created a storm of protest in the town.

The group was looking at increasing the Burnley element of the council tax by between 4.5-6 per cent. A six per cent increase he said would cost the average band D council tax payer only 19p a week but each one per cent increase would bring in £40,000 to the council.

They agreed with the government's policies on spending on the community but that should be backed up with the resources to do the work.

Coun Caddy is to meet local MP Peter Pike this week to try to put pressure on ministers to make Burnley a special case because of all the costly sporting and leisure facilities it provides.

This year Burnley paid £85,000 for travel for the disabled which was previously paid by the county council.

He said: "We have not received government help for that and that alone would go a long way to saving Gannow baths." Two special meetings are to be held by the Labour group tomorrow and again next week to thrash out the budget crisis.

Slashing cuts in after schools play provision and a double inflation rate six per cent across the board increase in fees and charges are still on the agenda. A petition against the threat to after schools play provision has been launched.

A report to tonight's resources committee says that even with an assumed six per cent increase in council tax and additional £200,000 income from increased fees and charges there will still be a budget gap of £537,000. Exceptions to the proposed six per cent fees increases are:

Car parking which has only recently gone up

Burial charges which are scheduled to increase by 16 per cent to reduce the deficit on the cemetery budget

Markets, a three per cent increase is suggested because of the "delicately balanced" trading position

Trade refuse charges, three per cent is again recommended because of the intense competition from the private sector.

Several options for savings on the after school play schemes are being considered including staff redundancies and building closures.