CONCERNS have been raised over maintenance at Ski Rossendale.

Council bosses had promised to keep the facility tidy with a view to a new operator coming in to start running it before the ski season starts in September.

But the slope currently has weeds and foliage littering it, and it is starting to turn green.

Axel Anforth, 19, from Haslingden, who works as a handyman in Haslingden Old Road, said: “It's such a shame the council haven't maintained the slope as they promised they would.

"Ski Rossendale puts Rossendale on the map.

“It needed a lot of work before it closed but the lack of mainentance is surely making it more difficult for someone to reopen it.

"It will need much more funding now.”

A former user also said he was concerned the lack of up-keep could make it more costly for whoever took over.

David Fuller, who is involved with the social enterprise which is keen to take over the running of Ski Rossendale, said: “The fact that nobody is using it means weeds will grow through and that is perfectly understandable.

“It is going to need some weed work doing and general maintenance but that is perfectly fixable.”

A spokesman for Rossendale Council said: “We are monitoring the site and our priority is to identify a new organisation to take forward the ski slope.

"We hope to have identified a new partner in July.”

The facility closed in March when the council pulled the plug on funding and decided they could no longer run it.

A few weeks ago the council revealed it had received two formal tenders to take over the slope which were being inspected, which included the social enterprise’s bid.

Final tenders must now be submitted to the council by June 17.

The future of Ski Rossendale has been clouded in uncertainty since 2009 when a report revealed it needed £10million worth of investment to survive against increased competition.