A COUNCILLOR has set up a petition to save a community 'focal point' from becoming the site for a new £2million sports hub.

Cllr Malcolm Pritchard, who represents the Milnshaw ward in Accrington, set up an online petition to keep Higham Playing Fields 'for the public'.

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The site in Thorneyholme Road is the council's preferred site for the proposed hub to be set up by Accrington Stanley Community Trust.

The petition yesterday had more than 159 signatures since being set up late on Monday.

Accrington Stanley Community Trust want to build a number of outdoor grass and all weather sports pitches, a community building which contains offices, coach education areas and a gym facility.

Cllr Pritchard said the council needs to maintain the land for the people of Accrington.

He said: "For many years Highams Playing Fields has been a focal point of the community.

"Children use it to play football, dog walkers use it and people just enjoying the green space, hundreds and hundreds of people use the fields.

"It needs to be kept there for the public, we can't let it by fenced off.

"I'll be doing everything I can to fight it."

Plans to move forward with discussions for the project were made at a council cabinet meeting last month.

However many people throughout the area voiced concerns about the project by signing the petition.

Scott Newton from Oswaldtwistle said: "There are a lack of outdoor recreational areas for children in the borough as it is without reducing the amount further.

"You don't fight childhood obesity by reducing sports facilities."

Alison Westwell from Accrington said: "Safe green spaces are more important than ever to encourage activity and tackle the very significant problem of childhood obesity."

Cllr Miles Parkinson, leader of the council, said the bid would improve facilities for further generations to come.

Martin Fearon, community manager at Accrington Stanley Community Trust, said: "The feasibility study is due to start in March.

"This process will take around eight to 10 weeks and will include a consultation of the public and exiting users as well as the wider community.

"There is no finer detail on the site as we are in the very early stages of a process that can take around 12 months.

"We have met some existing users already and plan to meet others in the coming weeks.

"This proposal is for the benefit for all aspects of the community.

"We will keep everybody informed along the way."