THE DECISION to re-name Colne Town Hall Town Hall Buildings' has been branded a "nonsense".

Council staff no longer work in Colne Town Hall, apart from in the reception area where residents can pay council tax and rents.

Since October, the historic building has been the headquarters of Housing Pendle, the borough's new housing association which has taken control of council houses.

Back then, council leaders assured everyone that the building would always belong to Colne people, and would not be taken over, and council meetings still take place there.

But it has now revealed that the building has been re-named Town Hall Buildings' as Housing Pendle wanted to distinguish itself from the council.

The news emerged after a full council meeting this week was told that council staff had been calling the building the former town hall' in emails.

Speaking after the meeting, Housing Pendle boss Patrick Collins said the address would remain as "Town Hall Buildings" rather than "Colne Town Hall".

But he said calling it "formerly Colne Town Hall" was a mistake and that staff had been told that was wrong.

Mr Collins said: "As a housing association we are separate from the council, and if we put our address as the town hall itself then that would link us to the council.

"It's still Colne Town Hall because the are meetings there and any mail from the council administration staff who still work there will say so, but from the housing association point of view we are always a bit wary of linking ourselves with the town hall itself."

But Coun Tony Greaves said: "To call Colne Town Hall Town Hall Buildings' is a nonsense and meetings will take place with Housing Pendle to tell them to stop this nonsense.

"They are getting instructions from the Government that it has to be that but I say that's bureaucratic and ridiculous.

"That building belongs to the people of Colne and it will always belong to the people of Colne."

Pendle Council leader Coun Alan Davies also told the meeting that the address was "nonsense".

But Coun Davies said that moving Housing Pendle in had helped secure the future of the building.

He said: "We now know that the building is going to be used for some considerable amount of time - not only that, but for the first time it is providing an income to the authority through the lease."