A BITTER new row has broken out over the redevelopment of two parcels of council-owned land.

Pendle’s Conservative group leader Joe Cooney is demanding that some of the cash raised from selling and leasing the two sites in Colne should be spent in the town.

Borough deputy leader Lord Greaves has accused the Vivary Bridge councillor of being ‘unprincipled’ and ‘playing politics’ with the issue.

The new cross-party argument follows a meeting of Colne Town Council on Thursday to discuss the sale of 6.8 acres of land off Red Lane in Vivary Bridge to Beck Developments for 55 homes.

Cllr Cooney also raised the council’s decision to grant long-leases on the former Urban Altitude centre, and nearby astro-turf Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) off Vivary Way to Boundary Mill and Lloyds BMW as a car park.

Cllr Cooney said Pendle Council would raise £1million and is calling for £100,000 or more be invested on facilities for young people

He hopes some will be spent on off-road parking and traffic management a on Red Lane near Sacred Heart RC Primary School next to the proposed housing estate

He said: “I understand Pendle Council will receive £1million from these transactions.

“Residents have lost a valuable piece of green space and a leisure area.

“As an absolute minimum, we should have some of this cash for developing the Wheel Park, and to develop much-needed youth facilities on the North Valley estate.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Greaves said: “The town council actually agreed that we look at traffic management improvements to Red Lane including a possible turning circle, a roundabout and a lay-by or parking at the school.

“On the former Urban Altitude centre we are going to move the MUGA to Alkincoats Park and have reserved land for the ‘Wheel Park’ if the volunteers come forward with a funding. We never suggested contributing..

“There is not £1million and Cllr Cooney is being unprincipled and playing politics with the people of the town.”

Cllr Cooney said: “I am not playing politics and I am representing the people of my ward and my town as I am elected to do.

“We are not asking for all the money just a six-figure contribution.

“We accept the council needs most of the proceeds to maintain services.”

The borough’s Labour leader Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said: “Joe is being irresponsible in view of the state of the council’s finances and playing politics for his own and his party’s advantage.”