Centre: use it or lose it


by Natalie Cox


A CHALLENGE is being issued to the Clitheroe com­ munity to get behind the St Mary’s Centre or risk losing it.


Its doors could close at the end


of March leaving the town with­ out its own “village hall” facility. A bid by the Trinity Communi­


ty Partnership to buy the land­ mark St Mary’s Centre building from the Church of England has collapsed. Geoff Jackson, the partner­


ship’s chief executive officer, said the North West Development Agency had decided not to help fund the purchase. In February a bid was submit­


ted for £180,000 from the agency and Mr Jackson said a decision was made a few weeks ago that the application would not be approved. Mr Peter White, executive


director of development at the North West Regional Develop­ ment Agency, said: “Following


detailed consideration of this project, which took into account the centre’s long-term viability, the agency has decided not to proceed with investment in this project. As with all our invest­ ments, we have a responsibility to ensure that money is spent on projects that produce long-term economic, social and regeneration benefits.” According to Mr Jackson the


NWDA bid was the “one last hurdle” to overcome to buy the centre and he described the deci­ sion as putting a “rural social enterprise” for Clitheroe “in peril”. He said: “The bottom line is


that the NWDA has turned down a grant opportunity which makes the project very difficult to sus­ tain as far as the Trinity Partner­ ship board is concerned. They have decided to withdraw from the purchase. By the end of March, Trinity will withdraw from running the place. “We have invested a lot of


money and effort and feel this is a kick in the teeth by the NWDA.”


He added that the St Mary’s


Centre team had worked hard over the last two years to turn the centre around and was “starting to prove it works”. However Mr Jackson has said


he will continue to work up to the 11th hour on “Plan B” in a bid to secure the centre’s future and dis­ missed as “total tripe” allegations that equipment was already being sold off. Now Mr Jackson and Mr Nick


Lakin, the manager of the St Mary’s Centre, want to know whether the local community would support the continued pro­ vision of a village hall-type facili­ ty and major entertainment cen­ tre in the heart of the town. Said Mr Lakin: “It is a very


well used building and gaining in usage and reputation all the time, so it would be tragic for it to close now. A lot of significant improve­ ments have been made over the past few years and many people feel we are now on the cusp of a breakthrough with the SMC.


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‘Nutty Nana’ is top grandma!


BRITAIN’S greatest gran lives in Clitheroe - and that is official! Mrs Doreen Cowman, of Little-


moor, who has been a “pillar of strength” for her family, has been crowned the nation’s favourite and best-loved grandmother by genealo­ gy website “Genes Reunited”. The sprightly 75-year-old, who is


affectionately nicknamed “nutty nana” by her family, beat fierce com­ petition from the whole of the UK to take the Britain’s Greatest Gran title.


She was nominated by her 14-year-


old granddaughter, Sophie Cowman, pictured, above, with her. It was the grandmother-of-lO’s


amazing verve and unfaltering love for her family which saw her scoop the prestigious title.. Taking advancing technology and


a newly-found love of travel in her stride, Mrs Cowman, who is a mem­ ber of St Michael and St John’s Ladies Group, Clitheroe, is keen to


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