MEMBERS of Barnoldswick Horticultural Society hit out this week after hearing rumours that the rate they pay to hire out the town's civic hall would be almost tripled.

An air of gloom hung over the society's late show at the weekend with the news they would have to pay £86 to hire out the hall instead of their usual rate of £33.

Society honorary secretary and treasurer Alan Greenwood told the Herald he didn't know how long the show could keep going if it had to meet this new bill.

Mr Greenwood added the society used to get a grant from Pendle Borough Council when Pendle Leisure Services ran the hall towards the cost of hiring it out for the show.

However, the running of the hall was recently taken over by Pendle Council's housing and community services, despite most other similar halls in the borough being put in the care of Pendle Leisure Trust.

Mr Greenwood said: "When Pendle Leisure Services ran it we used to get a 75 per cent grant towards hiring out the hall, but when I inquired about our bill for this year, I was told we would no longer be getting a grant.

"I think we'll struggle in future years as we hold three shows a year and we'll have to pay that full price for all three shows."

Pendle Council's building and resources manager Joyce Leighton, told the Herald there had been a misunderstanding and the society would only be charged the same amount as last year.

She said: "The grants are not stopping and as far as I'm aware won't be in the future."

Despite these reassurances, Coun David Whipp told Barnoldswick Town Council on Monday that he was not satisfied at the way the hall was being run.

Coun Whipp said users of the hall were now being charged for the hours of the hall keeper.

Coun Margaret Bell said there was not even the facility at the hall to make an out-going phone call anymore.

Coun Whipp proposed a meeting for the users to discuss all the problems people were having with the hall.

He said: "It seems to me that at the moment it's set up in such a way to run it into the ground. They're heaping costs on to it and providing less of a service. It's like they've set it up to fall. We need to do something quickly."

Apart from worries about the hall, Mr Greenwood said the society's late flower show on Saturday was a success, in spite of the recent bad weather.

He said: "We were quite pleased with the show considering what a poor month we've had. The one thing chrysanthemum's don't like is rain and it's been really damp in the greenhouse. I did wonder whether anyone would turn up."

Entries for both the early and late shows were up on last year.