A COUNCILLOR has called for proposed new football pitches in a Ribble Valley town to be axed -- in favour of netball courts.

Joyce Holgate, a councillor for the Whalley area, made her plea for women to be given a sporting chance when colleagues studied a sports action plan being drawn up by Ribble Valley Council.

Part of the plan includes adopting land made available by the developers of the Calderstones housing estate and turning it into public open space.

Government legislation means that all developers working on large-scale projects must make such land available to ensure the quality of life for residents.

Ribble Valley Council had planned to adopt the land and create football pitches. But Coun Holgate has other ideas.

She said: "There is an abundance of facilities for men and boys but not much for the girls and women.

"We have football pitches all over the place but there seems to be a shortage of netball courts for girls to use.

"I would be much happier if this site was used for netball courts or something like that with girls in mind.

"I am sure it would fill more of a need than would more football pitches."

But her calls come as nationwide research shows that girls are much less physically active than boys from a very early age.

The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, states that girls are less likely to take up physical activity because they were put off by things such as getting 'hot and sweaty' and gym kit.

The study found that girls are almost as half as active as boys, well before they reach their teens. A meeting of the community committee, at Ribble Valley Town Hall in Clitheroe, was told that officers would investigate the options available for the Calderstones site.

The committee was also told that improvements would be carried out at the Edisford sports site with changing rooms improved.

And tennis courts in the area are to be improved in conjunction with the Lawn Tennis Association.

Efforts will also continue to help schools in the area with funding to pay for swimming lessons.

A council spokesman said: "Funding was cut by county hall for such lessons two years ago. We have helped schools work together to share transport costs so those lessons can continue."