Staff at Rossendale’s struggling artificial ski slope are holding a public meeting to drum up support to run the facility as a social enterprise.

The group of workers has approached Rossendale Council to see if they would be receptive to hearing a proposal that could include the facility being run by the com-munity.

The council has agreed to listen to any suggestions from Ski Rossendale staff that could help save the ailing tourist attraction.

Councillor Jason Gledhill, portfolio holder for leisure, said: “We are looking at all the options for the future of Ski Rossendale because it needs substantial investment and it is losing money at a time when we need to make massive cuts across the board.

"The council’s efforts over the last few years to try to attract the funds it needs to help it survive and prosper have come to nothing.”

The 40-year-old Ski Rossendale, which needs updating, has been losing money for several years and costs the council more than £100,000 a year to operate.

The impact of the multi-million pound Chill Factore in Manchester in 2007 has also been dramatic and caused the number of visitors to the Rossendale slope to halve.

Coun Gledhill added: “In the current financial climate when people are losing their jobs and funds are being cut, we have to look at whether we can afford to continue spending huge amounts on the ski slope when visitor numbers are dwindling.

“We have tried to attract other operators without any success but a social enterprise may present a way forward.”

The exact plans being considered by the centre’s staff are still under wraps.

The public meeting on the centre’s future is at the venue’s cafe from 8pm on Thursday January 20.

Anyone who wants to support Ski Rossendale is invited to attend.

[From Lancashire Telegraph]

---