TRADE union bosses are planning to fight controversial plans to transfer the management of Accrington Town Hall and Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre from Hyndburn Council to a private/public trust.

The idea has been put forward by the Conservative-run cabinet, as part of its cost-cutting budget in the wake of the authority's £1.8million financial black hole.

The Tories say transferring venue management would enable a trust to seek external grants unavailable to councils. And that would lessen the burden on council purse strings.

But the council's union branch secretary has said he personally opposes the plan, believing the venues should remain completely in control of democratically elected councillors -- rather than a trust board including private business people.

And council staff in the Unison trade union are planning a meeting about the Tory plans to transfer management of the venues from Hyndburn Council into a trust, possibly like Hyndburn Leisure Trust.

Hyndburn Unison branch secretary Steve Watson said: "I believe the council should provide council services, and control over decision should remain with democratically elected councillors.

"As Unison branch secretary, I oppose the transfer of staff from the leisure services department, on this principal. An official branch decision will be taken soon," he added.

Labour councillors have described the proposal as "privatisation" of Hyndburn's crown jewels.

But borough Tory leader Coun Peter Britcliffe blasted privatisation claims as "wild talk", saying Labour councillors were exploiting the issue ahead of the June local elections.

"These buildings remain firmly in the ownership of Hyndburn Council. Hyndburn Leisure Trust has invested over £1million in leisure facilities in recent months and much of that money has come from funds unavailable to the borough council.

"A recent cabinet meeting asked council officers to undertake a feasibility study into transferring-out parts of the management of the venues. This is under way with staff and trade unions, and the result will be known in the future.

"If it is feasible to transfer some services to a trust, this could keep the council tax down and save £40,000. But this is not privatisation," he said. He added: "If people want to lie or distort the truth, that's fine. But this controlling group will continue looking to see how we can lift (the burden on) the council tax payer and not make wild statements."