Blow for extreme sports proposals

The centre would act as a magnet for the area's snowboarders

Plans to turn east Lancashire into a premier destination for adrenaline junkies has been dealt a blow after the project was denied a grant.

Lancashire County Council was bidding for the £50m Big Lottery Fund prize to help build a huge extreme sports centre at a former quarry in Rossendale.

But last week it was told it would not be going through to the next stage of the bidding process.

Organisers say they are determined to press on despite the disappointment.

Facilities at the Adrenaline Gateway, on the moors above Bacup and Stacksteads, would include snow sports, biking, skateboarding, rope courses and ballooning.

Inevitably it is disappointing, but it is by no means the end of the road for the project Gary Hood Rossendale Leisure Trust

The area is already home to Ski Rossendale, a large dry ski slope in Rawtenstall, which attracts enthusiasts from all over the region.

The total cost of the project was estimated at £70m and organisers hoped to attract more funding if their bid had been successful.

They will now revise their business model and look for private investment into the project.

'Very positive'

Gary Hood, chief executive of the Rossendale Leisure Trust, said: "Inevitably it is disappointing but it is by no means the end of the road for the project.

"The lottery process has been very positive and the work carried out to date has been of an exceptionally high standard."

Mr Hood said feasibility studies suggested the project would work and that the best location was in Rossendale.

Hazel Harding, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "We have a scheme that we all believe strongly in and now need to look to the future and continue to focus our efforts on how we move forward."