CHAMPAGNE corks were popped to celebrate Rossendale's biggest Lottery success - which will see a new community centre formed from a 140-year-old school building.

Members and users of Haslingden Community Link, in Piccadilly Street, are delighted to receive £302,00 from the charities board which, combined with a £248,000 grant from Action for Haslingden Partnership, has enabled the full project for its base in the former Haslingden St Mary's RC School to go ahead.

Barry Payton, community link co-ordinator said: "Everyone is over the moon with the news of the lottery grant. We had already secured a major award from Action for Haslingden Partnership, which was marvellous, but for the whole £550,000 project to go ahead as we wanted it, we needed the lottery money as well.

"We have worked hard to secure the money so we can provide a facility for the whole community. This will link various aspects of the community and provide them with a first-class environment.

"We understand from the National Lottery that this is its biggest award to a project in the Rossendale area."

Work on the school, off Bury Road, should start in October. Initially, it will see a new access route being created off Bury Road between St Mary's Presbytery and the disused Ainsworth House, the former home of Haslingden Borough Council.

Inside, the building will be remodelled, the power supplies and heating will be upgraded, the roof will be checked and the centre will be made more accessible for people with disabilities.

There are also plans to redesign and landscape a large section of the playground into a car park. The remainder of the playground will become a secure area for children to play.

The scheme should take four months to complete and will be phased so that community groups, college classes and advice groups can continue to use the building, which closed as a school in 1994.

Community Link is a registered charity, a limited company and is managed by a volunteer council. It was set up a year ago.

It has secured a 30-year lease from the Salford Diocese for the premises and former playground and access off Bury Road.

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