BOWLERS in Burnley today saw red at suggestions to rip up their beloved green and replace it with a football pitch.

Users of the green in Scott Park are furious at a proposal from young people in the area to replace their facilities with a pitch and Burnley Council's agreement to introduce a ball games area, and possibly a graffiti wall and youth shelter.

And they are outraged that they may have to make way for youths who have terrorised other users of the park in recent months.

But Simon Goff, the council's parks services manager, said nothing had been decided and the council wanted to work for the good of all ages.

Brian Watson, a member of the Friends of Scott Park, was pelted with eggs while bowling recently.

He said: "I don't know what the council think they are playing at. A graffiti wall is an outrageous proposal. All it will do is encourage vandalism and graffiti to take place in the park.

"There has been enough vandalism of the greens here and graffiti on the walls. But what are the council going to do about it? Allocate a wall for that very purpose instead and encourage the vandals to write their rude messages on it."

Mr Watson, of Rosehill Road, Burnley, is now planning to voice his concerns during a public meeting on Wednesday, November 3.

He added: "I went down to bowl the other day only to be pelted by eggs by youngsters. This cannot go on and I do not want to see these proposals introduced."

Mr Goff met with the Friends of Scott Park last week to discuss the issue.

He said: "I am not aware of any such proposals. There are two bowling greens in Scott Park and they are fairly close to each other and although there is a need for a ball games area for youths, one we don't have the funding at the moment and two we haven't decided where it would go.

"Putting a ball games area near to a bowling green wouldn't be a good location because there would be a disturbance from the footballs. There is a need for us to make provision for youths in Scott Park and we are very keen to do something there.

"We will be consulting extensively with park users before anything is decided. We are hoping to provide facilities for all age groups and try to reduce some of the conflict which is occurring between the youths and elderly people at the moment."

The meeting between the Friends and the council last week followed an earlier meeting for local youths in June, when youngsters indicated they wanted the council to provide a football pitch instead of one of the bowling greens.

Many bowlers, who have been using the green for years, also feel disappointed that facilities for the elderly could be diminished in the area.

Mr Watson went on: "This really tops the lot. When are people going to realise that pensioners are not second class citizens and are no longer in the minority.

"Teenagers are already using the tennis courts as a football pitch anyway, so why should we lose our precious, indeed hallowed, bowling green?

"Lots of users are afraid to bowl because of these yobs terrorising the area so why should we allow them to take over completely? In the summer the green is well used for competitions and people travel from all over to compete here."

Wednesday's meeting begins at 6pm in the bowls pavilion, Scott Park.