A TOWN'S dream of having its own community centre is one step nearer to coming true.

Stacksteads residents have been working to rejuvenate the Riverside Park area and plans to turn a derelict mill into a community centre have been central to their work.

Rossendale Borough Council has now granted planning permission for the change of use of the Acre Mill site.

Councillor Michael McShea, chairman of the Riverside Park Group, said: "This is really good news as we are one step nearer now and things are progressing.

"Now our next move is to get a feasibility study done to see if there is the need for a centre in the community. As far as we are concerned, there is definitely a need, as there is nowhere for the young people to go or for the community to meet.

"We use Holy Trinity School for the youth club and a general meeting place, but it is a limited facility as the school's needs must come first. We could do so much more with our very own centre."

The group is busy raising £5,000 to pay for the feasibility study, which would take around three months to complete.

Then the next step is to put in a lottery bid for cash.

"The mill has so much potential. It could house a youth club, creche, night school, an IT centre, indoor bowling, whatever the community wanted.

"Now we have to make sure the lottery bid we submit is a good one as we are up against a lot of other community groups, who also have great plans."

The group is also looking for sponsorship from individuals and local businesses to help them pay for the feasibility study.

Anybody who can offer help should contact Coun McShea on 01706 874607.

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