AMBITIOUS plans by Burnley FC to build a new football academy at Gawthorpe have ruffled the feathers of wildlife campaigners.

Club agents have said there are ‘special circumstances’ as to why their new training HQ should be allowed in a countryside location.

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Six environmental groups, together with ecologists, have lined up in opposition to the Clarets’ proposals to overhaul their picturesque base - and bring ‘cramped’ and ‘rundown’ facilities up to modern standards so training is not split between Gawthorpe and Turf Moor.

New wetlands have been offered by the club’s architects, in return for the loss of a wintering bird habitat, amid fears snipes, lapwings, and the rarer jack snipes will be seriously affected.

Council planning bosses have recommended the project, including a 60m by 40m indoor pitch, gym, hydro pool, match analysis suite player and guest lounges and changing rooms, for approval.

Officers said that while the development may be considered ‘inappropriate’ in the green belt, this would be outweighed by the ‘significant community benefits’ attached to the work of the club.

Members of the borough council’s development control committee will make an initial ruling next today.

But even if the scheme is passed, and a legal agreement reached over alternative arrangements for wintering birds, it could still be ‘called in’ by Communities Secretary Greg Clark for a final determination.

The RSPB, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Burnley Wildlife Conservation Forum, the Ribble Rivers Trust, county council ecologists, East Lancashire Ornithologists Club, Ightenhill Parish Council and Lancashire Gardens Trust have all raised concerns about the plans.

A RSPB spokesman said: “The new wetland on the site should not be considered adequate mitigation for the loss of wintering habitat.

“The proximity of the proposed pitches, the extent of planting and the overall reduction in area available to feeding snipe will forcefully displace them from the site.”

And a Wildlife Trust spokesman added: “The application will result in a significant loss in lowland meadow and a habitat of principal importance.”

Others like Padiham Community Action are backing the development in principle - but still voicing fears over the loss of green belt land.

The group has said it could even increase the flood risk to homes further along the River Calder.

But planing agent Nikki Sills, on behalf of the club’s Manchester-based planning agents Zerum, said that strong reasons existed to offset some of the potential harm created by the academy.

She said: “It is important that the club continues to play a leading role in the life of the town by remaining at the forefront of the community.

“To do so it would need to compete on an equal footing with other clubs of similar standing. The new training facilities are fundamental.”

Club officials have offered to provide a financial contribution to provide an alternative wintering location for birds away from the site.

And Burnley FC has pledged to work with the Ribble Life project, run by the Ribble Rivers Trust, to identify such a target area.

Sport England has also backed the bid, claiming it represents a ‘significant investment’ in Burnley’s training facilities and fit in with their long-term objectives over participation.