DOZENS of Cricket and football fans are expected to pack out a public meeting tonight (Thurs Jan 10) regarding controversial plans to sell Radcliffe Cricket Club's ground for housing.

The 7pm meeting at Radcliffe Civic Suite follows a previous gathering last month where angry opponents and supporters clashed over plans for the Racecourse Ground.

But council leaders are stressing that while views from all sides are welcome, the meeting they have called tonight will not bring any final decision.

As exclusively revealed by the Bury Times, the cricket club wants to sell its current base for housing and relocate to the Cams Lane running track where it hopes to establish a £500,000 multi-sports centre for the use of the entire town. A housing developer has already put in a seven figure bid for the land at the Racecourse.

Radcliffe Juniors Football Club also wants to use the running track, owned by Bury Council, but under the stewardship of Radcliffe High School, and create soccer pitches. In the longer term it hopes to build a car park, clubhouse and sports hall. Both sports clubs require the approval of Radcliffe High School and the council to use the site, either through means of a lease by Radcliffe Juniors or, in the case of the cricket club, through a sale.

However, it has now emerged that Radcliffe High School itself is considering developing the site.

Radcliffe Area Board chairman, Councillor Barry Briggs, said: "If the high school does not go for that option it will have to decide whether it wishes to release the site. It is then and only then that the council will be in a position to make any decision."

Coun Briggs added: "Whatever the rumour mill might have to say, the truth of the matter is that there is no done and dusted deal, either over Cams Lane or the Racecourse Ground.

"Should the cricket club wish to dispose of the Racecourse Ground to a developer for possible residential construction, they must first reach agreement with the council to release both the restrictive covenant and repurchase option which are currently on the land in question.

"Again no such decision would be taken by the council until the high school has determined its future intentions for Cams Lane."