Council backs plans to save Oswaldtwistle's arts centre and theatre

The centre was shut down last summer

A Lancashire council has backed a motion to rescue a town's civic arts centre and theatre.

Hyndburn Council took back control of the building in Oswaldtwistle after it suddenly closed down in July.

The closure was sparked by Hyndburn Arts Limited going into liquidation after managing the theatre for the past 13 years.

A motion was backed at Hyndburn Council's full meeting recognising the building as a "vital asset".

This means the council has agreed to fully explore "the options which will lead to the reopening of the premises".

Proposing the motion, acting council leader Peter Britcliffe, said: "Earlier today the borough welcomed back a number of our former residents who have made outstanding contributions nationally and internationally to the worlds of culture and the arts.

"Each of those people has a story - a story about how they started out in their respective fields and went on to achieve great things.

"Very often that story starts somewhere like the Ossy Civic theatre, where they are inspired by a show, or where they get to take part in a musical or dramatic workshop.

"And that's why I'm a big supporter of the Oswaldtwistle theatre and why it's so important to me that we make a very clear commitment to bringing it back into use as soon as is humanly possible."

Labour deputy leader Noordad Aziz said: "We fully support the reopening of the Civic but they should have brought a full report on it to council not just a two line motion.

"It is not good enough."