3,000 back fight to keep Huncoat football pitches (From Lancashire Telegraph)

3,000 back fight to keep Huncoat football pitches

7:10pm Wednesday 17th February 2010 in Hyndburn By Emma Cruces, Reporter

A FIGHT to protect football pitches has raised thousands of petition signatures after youngsters took up the gauntlet.

The fight by residents and councillors to save the open space in the centre of Huncoat has reached a new level after children realised sports pitches and open fields surrounding Spothouse Woodland were at risk of being developed.

Currently the land, next to Bolton Avenue, is listed as suitable for housing development.

Campaigners are now planning to raise the issue at the next full council meeting of Hyndburn Borough Council in a bid to have the area preserved as part of as part of a new planning document which will control development in Hyndburn for the next 15 years.

Huncoat councillor Paul Gott, who will be submitting the motion together with fellow ward councillor Dave Parkins, said support for the petition gathered momentum after young players at Huncoat United realised their pitches were in danger. Approximately 3,000 people in the area are thought to have pledged their support.

He said: “The pitches and open fields have always been in danger of being developed but not many people have been aware of it till now. A great many signatures were gathered by children from the Bolton Road area who realised their football pitches were under threat.

“We can’t go on with this land being classed as suitable for housing and now is the critical time because the new strategy document will shape what happens in the area for the next 15 years.”

Assistant coach Jason Maynard at Huncoat United, which runs under 7s, under 11s and under 16s teams said: “We were approached by one of the residents with a petition and asked for our support and we said absolutely. As you can imagine the kids were not too happy about the idea of their pitches being built on. It just cannot be allowed to happen.”

Coun Dave Parkins added: “It’s not that we don’t want new houses in Huncoat, just that this is totally the wrong place. These green spaces need to be safeguarded now because once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.”

The Full Council meeting takes place at Accrington Town Hall on Wednesday February 24 at 7pm. Interested parties may attend in the public gallery.