CAMPAIGNERS fighting a bid to purchase a section of Trickett's Memorial Ground in Waterfoot have collected nearly 200 letters of objection in just nine days.

Feelings are running high in Waterfoot and the neighbouring villages and districts where campaigners against the sale thought the plan had already been turned down.

Many letters of objection were received when the council publicly advertised that a resident of Thistlemount Avenue who had rented part of the memorial ground for a garden wanted to buy it.

Planning permission has already been granted for the resident to construct a conservatory on the land.

At the corporate policy meeting in October, councillors voted not to sell but at the full council meeting that decision was deferred and councillors voted to have a site visit before the next corporate policy meeting and then to make a decision.

One of the objectors Christine Lomax, of Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, will be presenting the letters against the proposal to Rossendale Council..

She said: "I am expecting to hand in 200 letters which we have managed to collect in just nine days.

"This land has been left in trust and I just can't see how they can consider the idea of selling it -- it is a memorial. I am surprised the council has allowed it to be leased for so long. I find it strange that it has gone back to the committee after they recommended refusing the sale. Does the council not have confidence in one of its most senior committees?"

"On Remembrance Sunday many councillors were in Rawtenstall paying their respects, and yet they are also considering selling on part of a memorial ground.

"I lost my grandfather in the war and here we are again fighting a war against terrorism. This should be a time for patriotism not selling off memorial grounds.

"It is land held in trust and in memory - what price do we put on such things?"

The land was bought by workers at Henry Trickett's Gaghills' Mill who gave money from their wages to buy the section of land off Burnley Road East which was given to Rossendale Council to look after in trust for the people in Rossendale.

The original application prompted a letter of objection from the widow of the nephew of the mill's founder.

The corporate policy committee will be recommended by officers to sell the land.