A TRUST has taken over the running of Whitworth Civic Hall from Rossendale Council.

Whitworth Recreation and Leisure Trust comprises members of several organisations including Hallford Theatre Group, Cancer Support Group, Whitworth Amateurs and the Historical Society.

The hall was formally handed over by the Mayor of Rossendale Coun Alan Neal who thanked Coun Ron Pickup for his work in bringing the Trust together and liaising with Rossendale Council.

He added: "The hall will be run by the community for the community. If we had not made this move the Civic Hall would probably have closed within a year. Rossendale Council is giving a grant of £20,000 but the Trust will achieve charity status so that it will be eligible for other grant funding and also become exempt from VAT and business rates."

Picture: Coun Alan Neal hands over Whitworth Civic Hall to Ken Makin, a director of Whitworth Recreation and Leisure Trust, watched by, from the left, director Ken White, company secretary Ron Pickup, director Pauline Mann and Rossendale recreation and leisure committee chairman Coun Lawrence Forshaw.