A LAST-DITCH attempt to save the historic Earby Youth Hostel has been made by the town council.

Pendle Council, which rescued the walking and tourism hub from closure in 2006 by buying the building, has decided to stop supporting it.

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It follows the Youth Hostels Association’s decision to lease the building back for 10 years but then announced it was going to end the arrangement in January.

Now Earby Town Council plans to take over the Birch Hall Lane building and its upkeep with a view to operating it as a semi-independent youth hostel.

The council or a local trust would then run the hostel which might be accredited by the YHA as an ‘Enterprise youth hostel’.

This meant it met the organisation’s standards but was operated or maintained by it.

The decision was taken at last week’s Pendle Council ‘Transfer of Services’ committee after Craven ward Councillor David Whipp raised the issue at the meeting.

He said: “Pendle Councils owns Earby Youth Hostel as a result of the last rescue of the building.

“Several years ago, the YHA wanted to close the hostel and sell off the building, me and Pendle director Brian Cookson travelled to the YHA HQ in Derbyshire to negotiate a rescue package.

“This involved Pendle Council buying the building and leasing it back to the YHA on favourable terms.

“The YHA informed Pendle that they wouldn’t be renewing the lease at the end of October.

“This has subsequently been extended to January, but there isn’t much time to save the hostel.

“With huge government cuts set to see Pendle’s annual spending slashed by a third, almost £5million, in the next three years, the borough council is already transferring property and services to parish and town councils or community groups.

“This is the best hope for the youth hostel.

“Whatever the outcome of discussion with the YHA, Earby’s hostel can remain in the safe hands of a local trust or the town council.

A YHA spokesman said: “We will cease to run Earby Youth Hostel at the end of January 2017.

“Subject to negotiations we may accredit it as an ‘Enterprise Youth Hostel’.

“This is a new concept where independent hostels meeting our standards can be approved by the YHA.”

Pendle Council said it’s happy with the idea.