A CONTROVERSIAL development in Helmshore has reached the end of its first phase with the opening of the new Holden Vale conference centre.

The complex, on the site of the former Holden Vale bleach works, Holcombe Road, also features a fitness suite in the basement, Adrian's at Holden Vale restaurant and a function room.

The first stage of the project, which is expected to cost more than £1.2million in total, was opened by Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson, with Rossendale Mayor and Mayoress, Coun Alan Neal and his wife Janet, also attending.

The second phase will be the construction of a 44-bedroom hotel, with four disabled access rooms.

Despite plans for the hotel and conference centre being turned down in 1998 because the site was in open countryside, Rossendale councillors, including Coun Neal, made a surprise u-turn and decided to allow the development to go ahead.

They agreed that if it was designed well, it would at least be replacing the empty red-brick eyesore of the former works' office block.

Coun Neal said: "I welcome this development because we haven't got anything like it in Rossendale where we can hold a conference and people who are travelling from far and wide can all be under one roof. It is creating employment for local people and also caters for disabled visitors, with access to all floors. "It is absolutely fabulous and there has been an awful lot of thought gone in to the layout.

"They have pulled out all the stops."

The owner of the family-run complex, Alan Davies, said: "It's a big relief to have the first phase completed and we are hoping to have the hotel open by September.

"We are also thinking of having a wet area which would include a Jacuzzi and sauna but we haven't finalised those plans yet.

"The local traders have been brilliant and very helpful."

Alan and his wife Anne, who have two children - Anthony, 12, and Claire, 26 - also have entertainment and late-night licences and plan to hold special nights on St Patrick's weekend and Mother's Day.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.