AMBITIOUS plans to build a visitor centre at Rivington have been scrapped after the scheme missed out on lottery funding.

But North West Water bosses are determined that other proposals for the beauty spot will not be shelved.

The decision by Millennium Commission bosses to snub an application by the Rivington Heritage Trust has delighted local protesters who feared the £6m Blue Planet centre would have been the beginning of commercialisation in Lever Park.

Graeme McIver, of the Lever Park Action Group, said: "We're absolutely delighted, if a little surprised. I didn't realise the decision was being made so soon.

"It is down to the hard work of people in the group who went out in the rain with petitions and the public who signed them. We would now like to see a more democratic trust with better local representation."

A decision on the trust's bid for Heritage Lottery funding is yet to be made and the trust is now looking for new ways to rescue the whole project, which includes restoration of the terraced gardens.

Chair of the trust, John Mayson Whalley, said: "We're disappointed but it is now up to North West Water and the trustees to find a way forward. But the project isn't completely sunk."

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