Council leader welcomes Haslingden bid progress

The Leader of Rossendale Council has welcomed news that a bid for funding for Haslingden town centre has progressed to the next stage.

Earlier this year, the Council submitted an expression of interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for money to help transform the town. The Council also ring-fenced money to support the bid.

The local authority has now been invited to submit a stage one application by August.

Councillor Alyson Barnes said:

“We are very pleased our initial expression of interest has been accepted and we will be working extremely hard over the next few months to perfect our bid and develop proposals which will improve Haslingden. Obviously there is still a way to go in the process but it’s great to see we are making progress.

We have already been talking to residents, businesses and other stakeholders to create a vision and masterplan for the town and we will continue to get people’s views as we work on the bid.I hope everyone in the town gets behind our bid as it is much needed funding. Improving the town is a top priority for this Council and I am personally committed to working with everyone to achieve that. Our search to secure further investment will be ceaseless.”