IN November 1979, Blackburn Council were making front page news when it emerged they'd spent more than £100,000 on producing a report on a scheme they decided to eventually scrap.

The document estimated the cost of turning the town's Public Halls into an entertainment centre to be more than £11million, an amount that councillors said they were unable to afford.

At a recreation committee meeting on November 21, the project was vetoed but another £2,000 report was authorised to be published into how the halls could be improved.

Disgusted by the amount the council had wasted on the reports, Councillor Christine Turnball said: "I'm appalled at this sort of spending on a report.

"Most people have to work all their lives to earn this sort of money.

"That money could be used elsewhere, on the roads in Darwen for instance.

"If we are going to have a report I don't think it should cost this much especially when we are not going ahead with its recommendations."

However, others were adamant the report was a record for the future, with Cllr Henry Dickinson calling it 'a priceless survey' that allowed councillors to be briefed on the state of the halls and what areas of King George's Hall needed to be worked on.