PLANS for an expensive new playground in Darwen are set to be scrapped after hundreds of residents signed a petition against the scheme.

Last year Blackburn with Darwen Council successfully bid for £2.5million from the government to develop new adventure playgrounds across the borough.

But the plans earmarked for land near Haldane Road, in the Earcroft area, are set to be axed due to the number of opponents, who believe it would attract vandals to the area.

Meanwhile, road safety fears have been raised in another protest petition against a playground, relating to plans for a site off Haslingden Road in Blackburn.

It follows a similar backlash against plans for the Sunnybower area, where a proposed adventure playground was shelved because of residents’ concerns.

Opposition councillors have accused bosses of not doing their research.

But Coun Michael Law-Riding, Conservative executive member for leisure and culture, said: “We picked sites, then consulted with local people.

“We have listened to what people had to say. The Haslingden Road site is going to be moved because of health and safety.

"With the other one there is already a problem with anti-social behaviour there, and we didn’t want to encourage it.”

When the funding was announced in April 2008, the council promised to end the “no ball games” culture around children’s play.

A total of 28 sites have been put forward, in two phases, across the borough.

The petitions will be presented to the council at a meeting tomorrow night.

Labour opposition group leader Kate Hollern said: “In my opinion the consultation has been very poor and, in many cases, the residents don’t know what they are getting.”

They have also promised to replace a £50,000 playground at Newfield Drive, burned down by vandals in October.