ACCRINGTON Stanley Community Trust bosses are seeking permission to use a temporary car park to allow people to use the new 3G pitch at Higham playing fields from October in a bid to deter vandals.

The Trust is currently building a sports hub on the site but the main building and car park will not open until January.

Bosses hope Hyndburn Council will grant permission for them to use temporary parking at Accrington Cricket Club and say the opening of the 3G pitch would have to be delayed.

And they fear if the facility is left unused, it could be subjected to vandalism.

A spokesman said: “We are encountering a lot of vandalism to both ours and the contractor’s property, including but not limited to; fences being damaged, locks broken, materials damaged and graffiti to signs.

“By varying this condition, staff and users will be occupying the 3G pitch area during opening hours from October 2019, and our presence will discourage the vandalism of the new £750,000 pitch and associated fencing until the full site opens in January 2020.

“We have also consulted the local police force and they believe this will be a good idea as they are concerned about anti-social behaviour and possible damage if the new 3G pitch facility is left unattended every evening and weekend from October 2019.

“Lots of local grassroots teams, community organisations and local groups have already reserved training slots on the facility and would like to start using it for the 2019/20 season.

“Whilst we cannot accommodate from the start of the season in September, by opening in October we will be providing these teams and groups with a facility to use.

“By not opening the 3G pitch in October 2019, many of these teams and groups will be left with nowhere to train, contributing further to the already high inactivity levels in Hyndburn.

“We believe that the information and solutions provided in this request are suitable for the condition to be varied.

“We would like to clarify that this is for a very short period of time whilst the contractors finalise the construction of the building and on-site car park.”

In May, the Lancashire Telegraph reported vandals had been causing endless trouble for Readstone Construction builders since fencing went up around the site boundaries in preparation for work to being.

A flyer detailing a number of ways residents could protest against the project had been circulated prior to building work starting by the Save Higham Playing Fields campaign group, but chairman of the group Malcolm Pritchard was insistent that the group had nothing to do with the vandalism.