COUNCILLORS from Earby have stepped in to help a small parish council in West Craven get back on its feet.

"There was an issue last May about the members of Kelbrook and Sough Parish Council," said new parish council chairman, Cllr Mike Goulthorp. "They came up for re-election and insufficient numbers applied. For whatever reason, only (outgoing chairman) Paul Maskell stayed on.

"That meant Kelbrook couldn't operate as a parish council because there was no quorum.

"As part of its role in local government, Pendle Borough Council had to put into play three borough councillors."

So Earby ward councillors Mike Gouldthorp, Morris Horsfield and Rosemary Carroll joined Kelbrook and Sough Parish Council on June 25.

Since then, two previous parish councillors – Bryan and Anne Thompson – have re-joined with the former becoming vice-chairman and Cllr Goulthorp taking on the role as chairman.

Although Cllr Goulthorp said he and his ward colleagues will eventually like to step down as parish councillors, he added they had an important role to fill now.

"We want to revitalise the enthusiasm in the village to get people involved with their parish council," he said. "Pendle is devolving services and transferring assets like play areas, bus shelters and benches to parish councils, but to do that you need a parish council that is functioning and you need to have a precept.

"Kelbrook always survived on grants coming from the government, but this is the last year they will be receiving it."

This financial year's allocation is £1,084, which Cllr Goulthorp said was half of what it was last year, and in 2016/17 it would be zero, like all other town and parish councils in Pendle.

"It's a simple equation because there is no more money," he added. "Because Kelbrook hadn't precepted, they only have some money in reserve so the council wouldn't survive very long."

"We're not talking about raising a massive precept. It would be nowhere near the precept of other town councils in the area."

But he assured residents money raised would be spent locally.

"The play park next to Kelbrook Primary is quite well used," said Cllr Goulthorp. "The five bus shelters and roadside seats do need attention and looking after.

"If the parish council doesn't take them over, they will lose them. We want to safeguard the assets that are there."

The parish council is now holding a residents meeting in Kelbrook Village Hall at 7pm on November 9.