AN ABORTED bid for Lottery cash to upgrade a Pendle theatre is being revamped to improve its chances in a new round of applications this autumn.

If successful, the £530,000 Lottery cash boost will be used to transform Nelson Civic Theatre into a multi-cultural arts centre.

Among the work planned are changes to the entrance and front of the theatre and a total refurbishment of the inside and outside of the building.

Council officers decided to withdraw the original lottery bid after the Arts Council of England slashed funding for schemes in the North West from £60 million to £5 million.

After lengthy discussion with the regional Arts Board, Pendle Council decided to pull out of a bid on the basis that if it was refused, which was likely, it could jeopardise the chances of any further application.

"Due to the bid being withdrawn the whole submission can be repackaged and resubmitted to the new lottery scheme to be launched in August," says a report by leisure manager Gary Hood to the council's Nelson area committee.

"This provides Pendle Borough Council with the opportunity to be first to the starting blocks again."

The report will go to the committee on Monday.

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