SPORTS fans in Earby are hoping for money to improve changing facilities at their recreation ground.

They have been campaigning for improved facilities and pitch in the town for several years and are hoping to secure half of the £80,000 needed to transform the sports pitch and changing area themselves.

The West Craven working group, which is co-ordinating the bid, has also asked for funding for drainage and a new football pitch from the council's capital programme.

It was originally thought that £80,000 would be needed from the council but that has now been cut to just £40,000 for the pitch after the residents took on half of the scheme.

Members of the executive were informed of the move by the residents at a special budget meeting in Nelson and asked to ensure that any work on the pitch was of the best quality.

Earby resident David Robinson said: "The allocation for council funding has been cut in half because the residents of Earby have taken over the provision of changing facilities. Mr Patten, service manager for parks, cemeteries and outdoor recreation, came up with this scheme and in so doing addressed the future of recreation of Earby. This shows considerable foresight but I would stress that it is crucial to undertake the scheme as a whole.

"Any attempt to compromise and cut corners with materials and it will more than likely end in failure."

Councillor David Whipp said: "A lot of effort has been put in to make it a playable pitch and it is one of the finest in Pendle but underneath the surface there are problems with drainage.

"We need to get the drainage right. I would support the plea by Mr Robinson to have that scheme included in the asset renewal programme."

Earby councillor Chris Tennant said the West Craven Committee working group would meet again in a fortnight to discuss the next step. He added: "Various groups in the town have got together and it looks like we are going to be able to fund the changing facilities. We intend to put in a bid to Vital Villages which is funded through the Countryside Agency with a view that it would be a multi-use changing facility.

"The pitch is maintained by the council but it was left in trust to the people of Earby. We had some work done on the pitch two or three years ago where it was levelled out and an embankment was taken away but that caused some of the drainage problems. It is a lovely pitch but the slightest bit of rain and it is unplayable."

The working group aims to come back to the April Executive meeting to show they can fund their part of the scheme.