Huncoat pitches saved from housing after protests (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Huncoat pitches saved from housing after protests

11:21am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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FOOTBALL pitches that had been earmarked for housing are being removed from a list which placed them at risk of development.

Thousands of signatures had been collected in a bid to save the open space in the centre of Huncoat after children realised sports pitches and open fields surrounding Spothouse Woodland were at risk of being developed.

The land, next to Bolton Avenue, was listed as suitable for housing development.

But following the outcry bosses at Hyndburn Council said they have stepped in.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: “I have visited the site at Bolton Avenue with members of the cabinet and Coun Malcolm Pritchard and can only say I agree with concerned local people that we must save this beautiful piece of green land for residents.

“A working group has been set up and has been told that this land will be changed in the new plan and that an alternative housing site needs to be found and it will be the remit of the working group to find the alternative site.”