COUNCIL chiefs have vowed not to close any community centres in Blackburn and Darwen.

A report by a team of consultants has sparked fears by recommending four community centres in the borough should be closed.

The £15,000 council-commissioned Royds review suggested Ivy Street, Little Harwood and Shadsworth, all Blackburn, and Sudellside, Darwen, centres be shut.

Following the results of the study, hundreds of residents attended a recent meeting at Sudellside to protest at the plans.

And at a meeting of the council's executive board this week, the ruling coalition sought to allay the fears, by agreeing its formal response to the review.

Executive member for housing and neighbourhoods Salim Lorgat said: "We have been through the recommendations, and we do not accept all of them.

"We will not be closing any centres."

However part of the review the councillors have accepted is for Darwen community centre to become a youth and community centre', meaning some activities that take place there have to move.

In their response to the rest of the review's findings, members agreed to split its neighbourhood engagement' service into two in a bid to make it more effective, and consult for the next six months over its future plans for the community centres.

The leader of the opposition Labour group Kate Hollern said six months was too long for the consultation period, claiming this meant an uncertain time for people at the centres.

She added: "You have actually closed Darwen community centre and you are opening a youth centre."

But Coun Lorgat said: "Youth activities take place in most community centres in Blackburn and Darwen."

Executive member for resources Coun Michael Lee said a lot of community centres were run by a "clique" of loyal members and said they should be run by the whole community.

Liberal Democrat leader Coun David Foster added: "I see this as nothing but a positive report. We back these community centres and we want to see them thriving."