PLANS to build a playground in a wooded area near Darwen town centre have split opinion.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council launced the proposal for the Shorey Bank area after consulting the Darwen and Rural Neighbourhood Board and residents.

It would be paid for using money from the Government’s Play Pathfinder scheme.

But people living on nearby Robin Bank Road said the playground was not needed and would encourage anti-social behaviour.

John Buck, of Robin Bank Road, said: “There are no children living in the area who would benefit from the proposals. If parents and children do use the new facilities, they will be coming from other areas.

“It is highly likely that the greatest use of this play area will be teenagers who want somewhere to drink their booze.

“Should parents begin to make regular use of planned play area, this will only worsen the current parking situation on Robin Bank.

“Even though the spaces outside our houses are marked as residents parking, this is usually ignored and the people who live in the street always have a hard time parking outside their homes.”

Residents have also voiced safety concerns over children crossing Robin Bank Road due to the amount of traffic coming from the town centre.

Sudell councillor Roy Davies said: “I can understand the objections. Nobody wants to live near a playground because they think it’ll attract teenagers from other areas, but we have to provide something for the children to do.

“There aren’t that many children living in that area, that’s true, but where do we put the playgrounds?

“If problems do occur it’s only around the corner from the police station, and we can ask them to check in on it, so I think it’s an ideal location.”

Paul Browne, Sudell councillor and lead member for leisure and culture, said: “This is exactly what we need for the kiddies and more people want it than don’t.

“There won’t be any safety problems because children will be supervised and won’t go near Robin Bank Road because there’s a big gated entrance away from it.”