THE former Earby Youth Hostel has taken another major leap towards a new future and its reopening this spring.

After a successful funding bid by Earby Town Council, the Lancashire Environment Fund (LEF) has awarded the hostel a £15,000 grant to convert the dilapidated hostel garden into a woodland and wildlife sanctuary and to carry out restoration works on the hostel building.

Councillor Chris Tennant, chairman of Earby Town Council and the Friends of Earby Hostel, said: “This is wonderful news for the old hostel and for Earby. It is the culmination of an immense amount of effort over the last decade by Earby Town Council, Friends of Earby Hostel, Pendle Council and other supporters who have fought to keep the hostel going and to embark on a new exciting future as an independent eco-friendly hostel for visitors wishing to enjoy our lovely local countryside.”

In addition to upgrading the garden area, the grant, along with a small contribution by the Friends of Earby Hostel, will be used to improve public access by renewing a damaged public footpath fence and bridge and contribute to preventative flood defence measures to slow water run-off that has contributed to flooding in Earby. Work is scheduled to start in the spring.

The LEF grant is another phase of ongoing repair and modernisation work at the hostel being undertaken by local contractors that is part funded by Earby Town Council, Pendle Council and newly appointed hostel managers, Mark and Lisa Baxby. Works include installing new central heating and domestic hot water systems, refurbishment of showers, external works and complete redecoration.

Earby Youth Hostel was known as Glen Cottage when it first opened in 1958. The hostel was bequeathed to the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) in the 1950s as a memorial to its previous owner, Katherine Bruce Glasier, a prominent social reformer and political activist of the early 20th century.

After the YHA ended its long involvement with the hostel in January 2017, a collaborative partnership led by new owners Earby Town Council with backing from the Friends of Earby Hostel and Pendle Council, worked hard to create a new future for the hostel.

Cllr Tennant said: “Earby Town Council’s direct role is a unique example of how town and parish councils represent the interests of the local community, help promote a greater commitment to environmental sustainability alongside benefitting the wider local economy.

“We are looking forward to working with our new hostel managers who will bring a lot of enthusiasm and experience in making the Earby Independent Hostel and the local area a place to visit and enjoy.”

Mr and Mrs Baxby said: “We are really looking forward to re-establish Earby as an independent eco-friendly hostel and have been encouraged by the commitment and enthusiasm from Earby Town Council and the volunteers of the Friends of Earby Hostel to get the hostel up and running again.

“We are keen to create a warm welcoming place for people to stay whilst enjoying the outdoors and exploring the local area.”