ROSSENDALE will miss out on a share of European industry cash - because the area does not meet the criteria for funding.

East Lancashire councils are bidding for £45m, part of a £290m package which is being targeted at industrial areas in the North West hit by the depression during the 1980s.

Council leader Coun John McManus said: "Three wards qualify for help in the single regeneration budget bid being made by Lancashire, but we don't qualify for economic development help from Europe.

"The problem is we have four small town centres and town centre schemes must be at least £2m and local development schemes have to create at least 250 jobs. Our schemes are not that big and we just don't qualify."

However Rossendale, like Burnley and probably Pendle, will be making regional applications for money for the East Lancashire Partnership to boost tourism, community economic development, help with businesses and information technology.

Burnley Council is preparing two £2m bids, one to further the regeneration of the town centre and a second to develop Shuttleworth Mead, the site of the former Padiham power station, and complete Network 65 Business Park.

Pendle has yet to finalise bidding but said it will be making applications.

Coun McManus said: "We are bidding for other funding sources such as Lottery, SRB and English Partnerships and we have been fairly successful."

He said the package for Ilex Mill, Rawtenstall, to relocate the town hall, courts and police station was "looking likely".

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