A leading business consultant who was employed to review leisure facilities throughout the Valley has told the council to sell Ski Rossendale.

A detailed report was presented by KKP consultants at a council meeting which underlined the challenges facing the ski facility, Bacup Lesiure Hall and Haslingden Sports Centre.

Council bosses admitted that around £10million of outside investment would be needed to save the ski centre venue earlier this year.

But the report by KKP said there would be difficulty sustaining the facility in the future because of competition from the Chill Factor indoor snow facility in Manchester.

During his presentation, chief consultant Dave Mchendry, said: “Rossendale is known for Ski Rossendale.

“However, the facility is now a cost to the council and needs to draw custom from a wider catchment area, which it has not been doing.

“The members of the council have to consider issues of quality and competition in their decision making.”

Rossendale Leisure Trust, which runs Ski Rossendale at arms length from the council, was advised by KKP to consider surrendring the lease on Ski Rossendale altogether.

Members of the overview and scrutiny board were told that three parties had shown interest in taking over Ski Rossendale, but details of the potential investors could not be revealed due to data protection laws.

The KKP report also drew up options for the future of Haslingden Sports Centre and Bacup Leisure Hall.

A proposal to use Haslingden as the site for the soon to be built swimming pool was welcomed by the committee.

The consultants also revealed there had been three expressions of interest for Bacup Leisure Hall despite concerns about its financial future.

Coun Jason Gledhill, member for leisure, said: “The leisure report sets out the challenges that the council and its leisure trust partners face at a time when public sector finances are being squeezed and sources of income are down. There are no quick, easy or painless solutions.”

A full version of the presentation will be available online in the coming weeks.

[From Lancashire Telegraph]

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