By DAVID AYRTON

RESIDENTS were today celebrating victory after Burnley Cricket Club's plans to build a new stadium were hit for six.

Loud cheering and applause broke out from 100 local residents when Burnley's recreation and leisure committee decided not to sell land to the cricket club at Fulledge.

They unanimously agreed the land was not surplus to their requirements and therefore not available for disposal.

The proposal came about because of Burnley Football Club's plans to buy the adjoining cricket club ground so that they could extend one of the Turf Moor stands and provide other facilities possibly including a hotel to bring the ground up to Premiership standard.

Burnley FC director Clive Holt said today: "We say best of luck to the residents but feel they have lost a good opportunity."

Mr Holt added: "There are probably other sites in the area we can have a look at with the cricket club, there are a number of spare peices of land around town.

"I think Fulledge has lost a wonderful opportunity to work with the cricket club to improve the area and possibly with us, but that is democracy and there are no hard feelings as far as we are concerned."

Mr Holt said there was no timescale to Burnley FC's plans.

He added: "If we are successful in getting to a higher level then there will be a need for more capacity and revenue to maintain that capacity."

A crowd of 100 people packed into a committee room at the Town Hall where many had to stand during the near hour-long debate. All were against the sale of the land apart from one lone voice spoke on behalf of the cricket club and of the sporting facilities it provided for many young boys and girls.

Afterwards Raymond and Margaret Nelson who live in Thursfield Road overlooking the site said the result was tremendous.

Mr Nelson said: "It was always the wrong place for a cricket club, the site is far too small. this decision is what Lady O'Hagan, who sold the land to Burnley for use as recreation space a hundred years ago, would have wanted."

One of the leaders of the residents' campaign, Jack Howorth, of Mitella Street, said: "We are really please at what has happened tonight.

"It is a cause for celebration and I would really like to thank all the residents for their support. The land was sold cheaply to the council to be kept as recreation land in perpetuity and that is what we want. We will now look forward to talking to the council about any plans they may have for improving Fulledge Rec."

Mrs Nelson said residents in 88 of the 90 houses close by were against the proposed sale and 300 people all from the Fulledge area had signed a protest petition.

The residents got the backing of the Showmen's Guild who have staged fun fairs at Fulledge for almost 50 years.

Coun Tony Lambert said: "It has been a recreation ground since the 1890s. Development would deprive the residents of valuable recreation facilities. I propose this land is not surplus to requirements and is not for sale."

Committee chairman, Barry Guttridge, said there was a chance of some investment in the recreation ground and assured residents they would be fully consulted.

Nobody from the cricket club was available for comment today.