THE future of Cams Lane running track and the ambitions of Radcliffe Cricket Club could hinge on Radcliffe High School.

The high school is the steward of the Bury Council-owned track and will have a major say in how the site is developed.

But headteacher Graham Rollinson told a public meeting called by Radcliffe Area Board: "We don't have a decision yet."

Almost 100 people filed into Radcliffe Civic Suite to discuss controversial plans to sell Radcliffe Cricket Club's Racecourse ground for housing and for the club to establish a £500,000 multi-sports centre at the running track.

Representatives of three interested parties, the Cricket Club, Radcliffe Juniors Football Club which also wants to use the running track, and Radcliffe High School, all got the opportunity to present their opinions. Cricket Club spokesman Stuart Lever explained that the club does not have the £220,000 needed to bring the Racecourse up to modern day standards which was why it began to look at relocating.

A housing developer has already put in a seven-figure bid for the Racecourse, but permission to sell and permission to build would first need to be obtained from Bury Council.

Mr Lever said: "The Cams Lane site is the ideal scenario."

The club said a project based solely on cricket would not be sustainable and wants to diversify into other areas such as rounders, tennis and bowling. It hoped to build state-of-the art changing facilities and develop the Cams Lane site for use by the whole community.

Mr Lever said: "There is no hidden agenda. What you see is what you get. It would be run in the same way as the existing club and would not be a drinking hole or social club for the public. There would be a limited number of functions."

He announced that an open day will be held for the public at 1pm on January 27 where people can ask questions of the club and the housing developers. Before that the club will hold an extraordinary meeting for members.

Speaking up for Radcliffe Juniors Football Club was its general manager George Ramsay.

"We've always had problems trying to find a permanent site," he said.

He said the club proposed to initially create two 11-a-side and two seven-a-side pitches.

"There would be no major development. We might have a sports hall and changing rooms, but that would require planning permission."

Coun Barry Briggs, who chaired the meeting, said the role and opinion of Radcliffe High School was crucial.

Headteacher Mr Rollinson said that the school is currently considering the feasibility of developing the site for sports purposes, whether alone or in partnership with other organisations.

"The school serves the community of Radcliffe and we are committed to any project that enhances opportunities for the town, particularly its young people. We have three options: to look at the cricket club's project, to look at the football club's or for the school to do something with the land itself.

"Bury has £1.7 million from the Government's New Opportunities Fund to develop sports projects. Until we find out what funding is available to us and the governing body's preferred option we can't say what we intend to do."