ANGRY Parkwatch members say a lodge at Blackburn Corporation park should be let out to local groups rather than sold.

The Parkwatch committee fears the sell-off of the East Lodge could be the thin end of the wedge, with Blackburn Council putting other property up for sale in the future.

"We have applied for lottery money to improve the park, and yet the council is selling bits of it off," complained Parkwatch committee member Martin Dixon.

"We would like to see the lodge available for public use, it could be hired out to community groups.

"We wrote to the council to protest, but we got nowhere." Senior assistant community and leisure services director Steve Rigby denied there were plans to sell off other parts of the park.

"There is no hidden agenda to sell off other sections of the park.

"The lodge is no longer required for council use, it has been used as offices but now it is surplus to requirements, so rather than leave it empty and open to vandalism, we are trying to sell it."

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