A MULTI-MILLION pound plan to develop Padiham Weir into a canoeing and fishing centre will falter if councillors fail to pay £10,000 towards the project, it has been warned.

The money is part of £70,000 needed to develop the abandoned weir site, which will be named Red Rose Rapids, into a regional centre for canoeing.

Funding for the project, which will cost £3.6m, has already been secured but the £70,000 is needed to develop the scheme to Sport England category two status, meaning it will be of regional and national importance.

Councillors will debate whether to release the funds at a meeting of the council on Wednesday. A report warns that if they refuse to agree the funding the project will stop.

The project will see the creation of a canoe slalom course. It will include a canoe run, fish pass, changing and training facility and public viewing areas.

It is expected that it will draw people from all over the North West as there are only three other national sites at Northampton, Teesside and Nottingham.

Part of the plan should lead to salmon and sea trout travelling further up the River Calder, providing new leisure opportunities for anglers.

Almost £3.2million funding has already been secured for the project which is due to get off the ground next year. The cash has come from a variety of sources including Sport England who have given £1.6m, the North West Development Agency with £600,000, Lancashire County Council with £150,000 and the East Lancs Partnership with £250,000. The Environment Agency has also contributed £370,000.

There is a current shortfall of almost £500,000 although this is expected to be made up by the existing project partners.

Coun Barry Guttridge, executive member for leisure at Burnley Council said: "This project should put Padiham on the map and help kick-start other projects in the area.

"It will be a fantastic facility and a real draw for the area."

The stretch of the Calder running through the site was constructed in the 1950s to control cooling water for the now demolished power station. The layout has meant that it has always been a barrier to migratory fish such as salmon and sea trout.

The Environment Agency is funding the fish pass which will provide a route for fish to by-pass the weir.