CASH-strapped East Lancashire has missed out on more than £50 million of Government money in favour of towns like Skelmersdale and Fleetwood.

Town hall bosses found out by fax that they had all missed the Single Regeneration Budget cash which would have paid for numerous projects, both large and small.

The councils submitted outline plans for their bids but were, in effect, told not to bother sending more detailed proposals.

The Government Office of the North West said it was 'not encouraging' the bids of £11 million from Blackburn, £15 million from Rossendale, £6 million from Burnley, £8. 5 million from Pendle and £11 million from Hyndburn.

Blackburn Council had wanted the money to help educationally disadvantaged pupils in the district.

Hyndburn Council had bid £11 million to pay for improvements to housing, stimulate business and improve the environment. Part of the cash would have put the finishing touches to the Globe Centre project to rejuvenate land around the former Platt Saco Lowell factory.

Rossendale had wanted the money for various improvement and regeneration schemes, including a plan for a cable car link between Newhallhey and Ski Rossendale. Burnley Regeneration Forum Ltd, a council-backed public and private sector initiative, was hoping to get nearly £6m, in addition to the £19.5m it secured two years ago, for work with people, communities and voluntary organisations.

And Pendle, which scooped £9.3m last year, failed to secure £8.5 million for its latest bid focused on youth projects.

Despite the setback, many of the councils are determined to press ahead with their bids.

Councillor Mohammed Khan, chairman of Blackburn Council's Urban Regeneration sub-committee, said: "We were aware that it was always going to be difficult considering our success in securing £37.5 million for City Challenge and £19.5 million for round one of the Single Regeneration bid.

"However, we do feel this is a good bid dealing with educational disadvantage and we feel, on balance, we should still proceed with a detailed bid."

Hyndburn chief executive Mike Chambers said: "When I was told that Hyndburn's bid had not been accepted I felt absolutely gutted.

"The indications were that we stood a good chance with our bid, so the final decision came as something of a surprise for us.

"We will be getting in touch with people to try to find out why the bid was turned down."

Rossendale Council leader Coun John McManus said: "The officers that worked so hard on the scheme are obviously disappointed, but we will look again at the bid and hopefully it will be resubmitted."

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