Determined villagers are pulling together to prevent a much-needed community hub from closing.
At the latest Pendle Council Executive meeting it was announced that Trawden Community Centre faces the axe at the end of June.
By shutting the facility, along with Brierfield Town Hall, it is expected the council will make savings of around £70,000.
But local residents say its closure would have a negative impact on their village, and are now working towards taking over the centre themselves.
They will be holding a meeting at the Trawden Arms on Monday at 7-15pm, to recruit volunteers and form a management committee.
Amanda Cunningham said: “The community centre is such a vital resource in our village, and we feel like we can’t just see it go.
“The council are being very receptive, and have said they will be helping us in any way they can.
“We don’t want to dwell on the fact it is going to close. We are staying positive, and trying to drive it forward.”
Trawden Community Centre was opened in 1979.
The Church Street site has since been used for many, including Yarnival, Stroke Association meetings, and the garden festival. And now it is hoped that by forming a new group, these services will still have a home.
For locals, like Rebecca Catterall, it is also a “fantastic opportunity” to improve the facility and take on board the views of residents.
She has just finished a degree in community leadership and said: “Although I don’t live in Trawden, I am really passionate about work coming from the community upwards.
“Everybody is really positive about setting the group up, and we don’t want to lose the centre.”
At the latest Executive meeting Coun. Tony Greaves said he felt the centre could be very successful under local management.
He said: “I was involved in the campaignsto get the centre built. I am determined to do what I can to help keep it open. I believe it’s often the best way to run village halls and community centres such as this.”
And Coun. James Starkie added that in his experience in the western parishes of Pendle, villages were better off running their own local facilities.
It is expected that the project will be discussed at the meeting of Trawden Forest Parish Council on April 7th. For more information and to get involved visit www.facebook.com/trawdencommunitycentre