DETAILS have been released of the £290,000 deal for Ilex Mill, thrashed out between councillors and jailed property tycoon Owen Oyston.

The semi derelict mill in the centre of Rawtenstall has been earmarked by Rossendale Council for a new town hall and police station.

But the disgraced tycoon, jailed for rape, had held out until determined councillors showed their willingness to go for compulsory purchase at a price which would have been fixed by a government official.

Councillors are expected to ratify the deal at a meeting of the policy and resources committee on Monday.

The purchase of Ilex Mill is being underwritten by English Partnerships.

Councillors need to be sure that £400,000-worth of funding is available to buy the mill and make it wind and weather-tight, as well as sealing ground floor windows and doors against vandals, before giving the deal final approval.

If necessary, up to £40,000 more will be made available from the Bacup and Rawtenstall Conservation Area Partnership to fund the project.

Once the police and town hall staff have moved into the renovated mill, valuable town centre land will be available for development as a shopping centre, linking the present bus station site with Bank Street, Rawtenstall's main shopping street.

The meeting is also expected to give final approval for plans to give Bank Street a 'new old look.' The English Heritage-backed scheme will see the reinstatement of the street's original Victorian cobbles, with the addition of appropriate street furniture and traffic-calming measures.

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