PLAYING fields at the centre of a redevelopment row have been nominated to be named the UK’s best park.

Higham Playing Fields in Accrington is one of six East Lancashire green open spaces put forward by members of the public for the national award.

Campaigners seeking to block its redevelopment as a £2 million community and sports hub have vowed to use the nomination as evidence why the scheme should be blocked.

Cllr Malcolm Pritchard, who collected a petition with more than 1,000 signatures to save the Thorneyholme Road site from the proposals by Accrington Stanley Community Trust, said: “This is fantastic news.

“These playing fields are a great place for people to come and enjoy themselves and I believe they should win the award.

“This is further evidence as to why the scheme for a community sports hub should be stopped.”

In total 360 parks have been nominated by member of the public for the award run by the The Fields in Trust, a national UK charity dedicated to safeguarding recreational spaces and campaigning for their better legal protection.

Other green spaces put forward include Burnley’s Towneley Park, Blackburn’s Roe Lee and Witton Country Parks, and Chorley’s Astley and Yarrow Valley Country Parks.

Accrington Stanley Community Trust is looking to transform Higham Playing Fields to include a full size floodlit artificial football pitch and three grass pitches for rugby and football.

The site will also include a new multi-use building, an artificial cricket wicket and a 55-space car park.

Its chief executive Martin Fearon said: “Our scheme is about improving Higham Playing Fields and protecting them as a venue for sport and recreation for the future.”

Cllr Pritchard, ward councillor for Milnshaw, said: “We had a meeting this week with more than 70 people at St George’s Church and vowed to keep up the campaign.

“We shall now submit objections to any planning application for this unnecessary and unwelcome scheme.

“This nomination shows it is a nonsense.”

Burnley council leader Mark Townsend said: “I am delighted at Towneley Parks nominal as the best in the UK and that residents think so highly of it.

“It absolutely deserved to win the title. Towneley Park is the jewel in Burnley’s crown.”

The winner will decided by public vote and named on November 29.

Thirteen Lancashire parks are among this year’s 360 nominations, up on 2016’s 214.

Last year’s winner was Rouken Glan Park in East Renfrewshire, Scotland.