NEIGHBOURS have asked councillors to shift the goalposts in a row over damaged fences.

Young soccer aces have been finding the target only for the ball to carry on through the goals and smash into garden fences.

The goalposts were fitted on open space near Avondale Road and Woodbank Avenue, Darwen, in November 1997 after requests were made to the council by residents.

But during the late summer of 1998 the council's environment department received a series of complaints from Coun David Smith.

Environment committee chairman Coun Salas Kiani and vice-chairman Coun Tony Humphrys visited the area to see the problems for themselves.

They saw that one area of garden fencing closest to the goal posts had been damaged and they discussed the problems with residents in the area.

It was decided that the whole of the community could be asked for their views.

Householders nearest to the goalposts said they wanted to see the goalposts either removed or relocated.

A report to councillors says the open space is a sloping site and poor land drainage results in waterlogging during periods of heavy rain.

If the posts were relocated, more money would have to be spent to make the area suitable for all ball games.

There would also be no guarantee that similar damage or nuisance problem would not recur in the future.

The council's environment committee will be asked to make a decision on the goalposts at a meeting tomorrow.

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