A COUNCIL is considering a management buy-out at one of East Lancashire's last independent cinemas - even though a community group was given the go-ahead to turn it into an arts centre.

Last month, councillors unanimously backed a bid by Trinity Community Partnership to lease and run Clitheroe Civic Hall Cinema for three years.

But now, Preston Film Services proprietors John and Dorothy Williamson, who currently run the venue, have offered to buy it outright for an undisclosed sum.

Ribble Valley Council was set to close the cinema last year because of falling attendances, but gave it a stay of execution when Trinity Partnership came up with a rescue package.

The cinema was costing taxpayers £40,000 a year in subsidy, but the partnership proposed to turn it into a multi-arts centre with late-night opening, an annual arts festival, concerts, plays and a cafe bar.

The scheme beat an offer by Preston Film Services to run the cinema with a reduction in subsidy.

Councillors unanimously backed it after hearing it provided the strongest option for attracting investment for the venue, which needs major refurbishment.

Mr Williamson confirmed today he had now made a formal offer to the council to buy the cinema. "We thought long and hard about the offer and feel we can make the cinema viable if we run it alongside our venue in Longridge. We have been in cinemas all our life and hope to restore Clitheroe Civic Hall to its former glory," he said. Members of the Trinity Partnership, who spent £5,000 on their bid, held an emergency meeting yesterday to consider the latest twist.

A spokesman said: "We are bewildered by the sudden turn of events. One day we were discussing the lease of the venue with council officers and the next we were told that the sale of the building was being considered.

"We will be spending no more money on this scheme until given a clear opportunity to run the cinema, as unanimously agreed by members of Ribble Valley Council's community committee.

"The deadline for submissions for the future of the venue was the end of August and we are shocked that this new bid is being considered."

A spokesman for the council said councillors had only backed the partnership scheme in principle.

A full report into the matter is being prepared and will be discussed at the next meeting of the council's community committee on November 11.

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