Lancashire | Archive | 2000 | June | 19
From the Bolton Evening News, first published Monday 19th Jun 2000.
ANGRY residents have ruled offside a new changing rooms plan for young footballers.
Ladybridge Football Club wants to build a changing room pavilion and car park on land off Tempest Road at Lostock.
More than 100 residents have signed a petition objecting to the plan, claiming it will spoil a local woodland.
But the club say the residents have scored an own goal because they have entered into an agreement to tidy up and improve the area.
The site is on Green Belt land on the edge of Lostock Woods and protesters are angry that some trees will have to be chopped down.
Petition organiser Mrs Mary Berry, whose husband Don is postmaster at Lostock Post Office, said: "We think that this is absolutely dreadful.
"People have walked their dogs and children have played in the woods for years.
"The plan involves fencing off part of the area and a public footpath. We are all very upset about this."
But Mr Steve Hill, chairman and trustee, of Ladybridge Football Club, said: "We have agreed to carry out a woodland management policy which will improve the woodland. At present, it is used by fly-tippers and we will clean all that up.
"We have been in contact with the Ramblers' Association, the National Pathways Association and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
"We certainly do not want to spoil anyone's enjoyment."
He said that the car park plan would end on-road parking on busy Tempest Road near the former Lostock Open Air School.
He said that 12 local primary schools had expressed interest in using the facilities.
Mr Hill went on: "We have an agreement to use the football pitches regardless of what happens with this application. Would the residents prefer people carry on parking on the roadside?"
Ladybridge is one of Bolton's most popular football clubs for youngsters with more than 300 members.
The club hit the headlines when teams played at Wembley before the Bolton v Aston Villa FA Cup semi-final.
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