BARNOLDSWICK'S redundant Rainhall Road School is one step closer to being given a new lease of life.

The West Craven Together group has been offered a 99-year lease for the building by Lancashire County Council with a 100 per cent grant to cover the £18,000 yearly rent.

The group is now waiting for official confirmation, but the project's new manager, Hanna Atkinson, could be based in the building by Christmas.

Barnoldswick Town Council could also move there, along with other community groups.

The redevelopment of the school is part of the Market Towns Initiative, which has already been through a "health check" process, engaging local community groups, statutory authorities, residents and external bodies in a vision and consultation exercise.

The results have been used to form an action plan and it is now the job of Miss Atkinson to implement the plan.

One of her first projects is to redevelop Rainhall Road School into a community enterprise and resource centre.

The school closed in 2001 due to falling pupil numbers.

West Craven Together is currently in the process of finalising an application to secure a £1 million bid from the North West Development Agency, £300,000 of which is earmarked for the old school.

Other key projects include developing community resource centres in Earby, Kelbrook and Salterforth.

Money has also been earmarked for town centre regeneration schemes including funding towards CCTV, provision of full time police support officers, grants, wheelie parks and public transport.