SENIOR Conservatives have welcomed the decision by a council to scrap the second phase of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme.

In papers published yesterday the Labour leadership of Rossendale Council revealed they had abandoned plans for the remainder of the £5.4million flagship Spinning Point scheme for Rawtenstall.

The U-turn has been hailed as a victory for commons sense by Cllr David Foxcroft, the Lancashire County Councillor for Mid-Rossendale.

His borough council colleagues Cllr James Eaton and David Standfield have joined him in celebrating the decision.

Cllr Foxcroft, whose ward includes much of Rawtenstall, said: “I feel like common sense has won the day for a change. I am just frustrated it has taken two years to see sense and could have cost council taxpayers up to £2m.”

Greensclough ward’s Cllr Eaton said: “I am pleased but not surprised. Spinning Point was always over-ambitious.”

Cllr Stansfield, who represents Helmshore, said: “I am glad this has been abandoned. It was always pie in the sky.

“It was a dead duck the moment it was proposed. We were right about it all along.”