PEOPLE power stopped the controversial sale of part of a memorial ground paid for by workers from a factory more than 80 years' ago.

Councillors at Rossendale Council's corporate policy committee had recommended part of Trickett's Memorial Ground be sold to the owner of a house in Thistlemount Avenue who has leased the ground for many years as a garden. At the full council meeting Coun Graham Pearson held up a copy of the conveyance for the land off Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, which stated the land was to be for public use, public walks and leisure grounds.

He said: "If anyone wants to give land in the future to the council they should be aware that we may flog it to reduce council tax in the future -- that is what this is all about."

Workers at Sir Henry Trickett's footwear factory at Gaghills gave part of their wages to buy the land.

Coun David Hancock read out a statement from the Lancashire Royal British Legion expressing its concern about any 'encroachment' onto memorial grounds

Coun Alan Schofield proposed that the council offer the applicant a 50-year lease for the land instead of selling it.

He said: "I think to lease this piece of land is the best solution to everybody. At least this gives free access and also keeps it in the public domain."

The amendment was agreed 18-10 with two Conservative councillors abstaining. Coun Pearson tried to move a further amendment to refuse the lease but was not allowed.

Members of the Save Lea Bank Group attended the meeting along with chairman of Rossendale Civic Trust Kathy Fishwick and many former soldiers. They left disappointed that a lease had been renewed for the land, but pleased that the sale had not gone through.

Campaign co-ordinator for Save Lea Bank Rebecca Lawlor said: "I am glad that the council saw sense at the end of the day and they did not sell the land. At least this way the public still has access to the land which is theirs by right."

Two applications to speak at the meeting were made, one from the applicant and one from an objector, but the Mayor of Rossendale Coun Jimmy Grogan said he would not allow either party to address the council.