HYNDBURN COUNCIL is to sell its freehold of Accrington's Arndale Centre and Broadway to pay for a switch to new offices in 1998.

But the idea has provoked an angry response from Tory councillors, who claim the decision has been made in haste.

Now a leading property investment company is set to become the new freehold owner of the centre and part of the Broadway shopping area in a deal said to be worth almost £1.5 million.

In a review of costs, the council's existing Eagle Street site, which houses the chief executive's office, was identified as being too expensive, compared to other offices.

Instead, the new Globe centre, in Scaitcliffe Street, has been earmarked as a more cost effective alternative.

Councillors last week agreed that the sale of the council's rights to receive future rental from the Arndale Centre - and shops 15 to 29 in the Broadway complex - would make significant savings if invested in new offices.

The meeting highlighted recent property sales and reinvestments, which have already saved the council more than £100,000.

Council officers insisted that the day to day management of the eight-year-old Arndale Centre, by P&O Shopping Centres, would not be affected.

Commenting of the property review, Council leader George Slynn said: "It is essential for the council to manage its assets prudently for the benefit of council tax payers.

"By recycling our investment in the Arndale Centre in the new offices, we will have extra spending power for improved services, while at the same time attracting a major new investor to Accrington town centre."

Coun Slynn said: "In addition we are investing further in the Globe site which is already offering new jobs, homes and training for local people."

But Tory group leader Peter Britcliffe slammed the sell-off as "hasty and diabolical".

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.