A DECISION on permission for improvements to Worsthorne Rec hinges on whether Sport England objects to the proposal.

The application, lodged earlier this year, is to be discussed by Burnley Council’s development control committee next week.

It is recommended members delegate authority to the head of housing and development control to approve subject to the receipt of no objections from Sport England.

Burnley Council is proposing a revamp of Worsthorne Recreation Ground in Lennox Street, in a bid to provide more pitches for junior football in the borough.

Worsthorne Recreation Ground is identified in the The Burnley Play Pitch Strategy 2015- 2025 as a playing field.

The strategy identifies that the site has capacity for two 11v11 pitches and a 5v5 mini pitch.

If proposals are approved, the pitches will be drained and a clubhouse and changing room will be built for use by Fulledge Colts Junior Football Club, which has more than 450 children playing in 32 teams.

According to a design and access statement submitted as part of the application, the development will provide additional pitches that the club badly needs, especially to accommodate the growth of girl’s football and will also provide the club with its own club house and facilities for meetings.

The proposed club house and changing rooms are portable, single storey, modular buildings that were previously used by Burnley FC as the player’s restroom at their Gawthorpe training ground.

The proposed development is being funded by a Football Foundation grant and fundraising by the club.

Funding from S106 contributions will support the other improvements to the recreation ground.

Fulledge Colts attracts most children from the east of Burnley with a significant number from the Worsthorne area.

The pitches will be used for competitive games on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the football season from late August to early May.

But they will not be used for regular training as Fulledge Colts FC has arrangements for training at alternative venues and because training on the pitches would cause them to become worn through over use.

Competitive football games will not be played during the week except at the end of the season when the league requires matches that may have been cancelled earlier in the season due to bad weather to be played.

As well as the pitches and clubhouse, there will be a multi-use game area which will double as a temporary car park when matches are played.

Fulledge Colts will manage the use of Worsthorne Recreation Ground under the terms of a lease with the council.