A COUNCILLOR has pledged that there are no plans to sell off Brierfield Town Hall.

Labour councillor Frank Clifford was responding to fears expressed by Liberal councillor Sajjad Karim who said that if the present situation was allowed to drift, the council could be forced into a sell off situation.

Coun Karim said a decision on the future of the town hall had been deferred while consideration was given to the provision of CCTV in Nelson.

Coun Clifford replied: "The sell off of Brierfield Town Hall has never ever been mooted nor is it in the mind of any Labour councillor.

"We have constantly sought to develop services at the town hall recognising its heritage and value to the community.''

Coun Clifford said he took great exception to Coun Karim's accusation that both Conservative and Labour councillors regarded Brierfield as little more than a suburb of Nelson. Having represented Brierfield for 12 years he both valued the town and its people. He had always listened to the wishes of the people of Brierfield and Reedley and would continue to do so.

He added: "I have never entered a pact or dialogue with the Conservatives on Pendle Council or in Brierfield and will not do so.

"I would always seek the views of the community before taking forward, for example, the council shop project which the Liberals sought to impose on Brierfield without consultation and with it possibly displacing the senior citizens from their 'home' in the Town Hall.''

Labour councillors had always been mindful of best value and practice and he did not need lessons from Coun Karim on how to manage public finance or how to provide public services.

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