BLACKPOOL Football Club's goal of a £100m multi-event stadium could be upset by some hard tackles from opponents.

More than 40 influential organisations and individuals have objected to the whole principle of a sports stadium and supporting retail stores on 100 acres of farmland at Whyndyke Farm, beside the end of the M55.

The objectors include Preston and Wyre borough councils, the Ministry of Agriculture, Blackpool Town Centre Forum, the Council for the Protection of Rural England, Central and West Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Lytham St Annes Civic Society and Staining and Westby parish councils.

They all wrote to Fylde planning committee opposing the damage to the countryside, increased traffic and harm to town centre trade, saying the Government wants future development on urban sites, not agricultural land.

They were responding to a proposed change to Fylde's Local Plan, over-ruling its general protective countryside policy to accommodate the stadium scheme.

The same objections are expected to the actual planning application when it comes before the committee, probably in September.

The scheme, which includes a 25,000-seat stadium, 8,000-seat arena, leisure centre, hotel, restaurants and 340,000 sq ft of non-food retail stores, was drawn up for the landowners by McAlpine construction. Blackpool FC and the landowners are expected to announce a deal very shortly.

Fylde planning chairman Councillor George Bamber said: "Personally I support the scheme in principle. I think it would be beneficial to both Blackpool and ourselves to have it on the fringe of both areas.

"In principle it's an exciting scheme. I appreciate that some people oppose the loss of countryside but this is a sports and leisure complex, not a factory."

However, whether or not Fylde and Blackpool councils give their full support, the ultimate decision is likely to be taken by the Department of Environment.

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