MORE responsibility is to be transferred to town and parish councils for parks, playing pitches, land and garages as Pendle Council seeks to save £4.8million over the next three years.

The policy of devolving facilities has been met with a mixed response with a warning that town and parish councils must understand the financial burden associated with taking on extra responsibilities.

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As well as maintaining parks, the councils could have responsibility for sports pitches, garage sites, parking areas, open spaces and gardens in their areas.

Earby Town Council will take over the running of the town’s youth hostel, while Barnoldswick will take over responsibility for CCTV in the area.

Pendle Council leader Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said spending on ground maintenance of parks comes to £750,000 a year.

He said: “We will be having future discussions over the transfer of parks.

“This has been ongoing for three to four years. Because of government cuts we cannot afford to sustain some of these services. Budgets are getting very tight.

“We are trying to work with town and parish councils to protect some of the facilities that the public use.”

But Cllr Joe Cooney accused the council of trying to “bully” town and parish councils.

He said: “I have some real concerns over the way the borough council is trying to almost bully town and parish councils into taking on services.

“When we started this we said we would never force them to do it, but it appears that is what we are trying to do and threatening that we will cut their budgets which is not a good way to go about it.”

He said Colne Town Council was keen to take over the market and municipal hall to bring the council income and so they would not have to rely on the council precept.

Neil Hodgson, chair of Blacko Parish Council, said: “The principal of transferring ownership is fine, but it is important the parish council understands the financial burden that brings with it. That money has to be raised from somewhere.”

Anthony Lancaster, chair of Barnoldswick Town Council, said: “We will be taking over responsibility for CCTV so it is a case of preparing for that over the next few months.

“After taking over the running of the Civic Hall it went from losing £22,000 a year to returning a profit of £15,000.

“It’s a cracking idea.”