AN UNDER-threat community building could have a brighter future after licensing chiefs paved the way for it to stage more events.

The 102-year-old Barlow Institute in Bolton Road, Edgworth, has been granted an alcohol and live music licence to help it generate more income.

The venue used to have a temporary licence, which allowed for 12 events to be held annually. But now, volunteers will be able to hold more events around the calendar to boost funds.

The decision follows an announcement that Blackburn with Darwen Council is to slash £42,000 funding a year from the facility due to cuts.

Funds will gradually be withdrawn from 2012 over a four-year transition period.

It was granted permission for a premises licence by the licensing sub-committee of Blackburn with Darwen Council on Monday.

Complaints about the venue being used for hen or stag parties, or not being in keeping with the village, were dismissed.

Heather Dowle, chairman of the institute committee, said: “It is going to make a big difference. Now we know we have the licence we are going to have to get everybody motivated. It is going to be a case of getting the village to support us.

“We have said we won’t be doing hen parties and stag nights. We also won’t be doing 18th or 21st birthdays. Residents didn’t want it open until 11pm on Sundays so it will not be open past 10pm. It isn’t going to be turned into a night club. It will carry on as normal but now it means we can hold theatre shows, weddings and parties because you need a premises licence to dance, sing and play music.

“We couldn’t see how the council could ask us to run our own community centre and then say we couldn’t have a licence but if they had we would have had to apply again. There wasn’t any other option.”

Mrs Dowle said the licence would not transform the venue into a social club to prevent any competition with neighbouring Edgworth Cricket Club.