RESIDENTS and councillors have voiced concerns over plans to rejuvenate a contaminated recreation ground in Burnley.

Lancashire County Council is to spend £727,000 upgrading Fulledge Recreation Ground, which will see a new football pitch and footpaths, an extended wetland area created to attract more wildlife and improvements to drainage.

However, members of Fulledge Action Community Team (FACT) and ward councillors have expressed reservations about the scheme which they say they were not fully consulted on.

The work is part of the county council's REMADE project, which turns derelict land into open spaces, footpaths and cycleways, will mean Burnley's community bonfire and Wakes fair will have to move for up to two years. And football supporters going to Turf Moor will no longer be able to park there once it is finished.

Margaret Nelson, chairman of FACT, told a meeting of Burnley Council's executive that REMADE had gone back on a promise to liase with the group once the final designs had been completed.

She said building footpaths through the wetland area would disturb wildlife and this would be compounded if the new Unity College school, earmarked for Towneley Park was built.

She added: "We are fighting against the college being built. This would mean two footpaths going through the wetland area. It will not be left undisturbed if we have 1,050 people traipsing through it up to four times a day."

Brunshaw ward councillor John Jones added: "We are willing to accept the park side of it but not the other side of it with the school."

Fellow ward councillor Coun Donald Hall said the loss of parking on Fulledge rec would mean supporters parking in the streets around the area.

The executive has backed the plans but only on the condition REMADE consulted with residents and council officers, councillors and residents and tried to find an alternative car park for football fans.