Wednesday, 9th March 2016
Marsden Park Golf Course will remain open for the next 12 months and The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival will once again be held this August Bank Holiday weekend.
The golf course and the festival were both under threat due to the reduction in Government funding to Pendle Council and consequently to Pendle Leisure Trust.
However, the Council has now set aside funds so that this year’s 27th Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival can go ahead and Pendle Leisure Trust will organise it on the Council’s behalf.
Other savings have been identified by Pendle Leisure Trust’s Board of Trustees and agreed to by Pendle Council to enable the golf course to remain open for the next financial year.
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The Trust’s Chief Executive, Phil Storey, said: “We have seen the huge amount of support given to both the festival and the golf course, with people expressing their views through various social media channels and petitions.
“While I’m sure this has helped both causes this year, people need to understand they will both be back up for review next year unless they can be made financially viable.
“In respect of the Blues Festival, although it is very important to Colne businesses, we need to look closely at how we can reduce the risks involved in staging the event, without reducing the quality and the reputation it has gained over the last 26 years.
“With the golf course, we need more players. It is as simple as that! While Marsden Park Golf Club operates from the course very successfully, we need more people to come and ‘have a go’!
“We are introducing some new initiatives, including a Pitch and Putt course and coaching programmes, which will hopefully attract new players and we also need those people who perhaps started to play the game at Marsden and are now members at other clubs, to come and play a few rounds to support the course.
“If the people of Pendle support both causes, hopefully both will be spared in the future. It really is a case of use it – or lose it!”
Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council, and Councillor Tony Greaves, Deputy Leader, are delighted that Marsden Park Golf Course and The Great Rhythm and Blues Festival will continue this year.
Coun. Iqbal said: “It’s fantastic news that Pendle Leisure Trust has managed to make savings within its budget to keep Marsden Park Golf Course open for the next 12 months. From 2017 we want to see it breaking even, which means it can remain open for the foreseeable future.
“So if you want Marsden Park Golf Course to remain open, please support it by putting your money where your mouth is and use it!
“And despite rumours that it’s being scrapped, we’re delighted to be able to continue to support The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival this year.
“We’re working closely with the Leisure Trust to give it a long-term future in the face of even greater pressure on our budgets.”