A NEW play area for the children of Barnoldswick will be paid for with £30,000 of the council's money.

Barnoldswick councillors urged members of the Policy Committee to approve their idea of using the money, which the council will receive from the sale of land at Priory Way for housing development, to provide a play area on the new housing estate.

Liberal Democrat councillor David Whipp proposed that the income from selling two small additional plots of land to the developer, Erinmore Homes, which is already building on adjacent land should be used to provide an area for children.

He said: "The builders have avoided planning rules requiring play space by submitting a series of applications for small parts of the site. This is a way of remedying the position."

Coates ward councillor Margaret Bell said: "We're determined to get play areas in all Barnoldswick's housing areas."

Despite objections from committee chairman Coun Azhar Ali, who said West Craven's Area Committee should fund a scheme from their own capital programme, and from Coun Colin Waite, who agreed saying there were implications for future decisions and a lack of resources, the request was approved.

After the meeting, Coun Margaret Bell said discussions over the position of the play area would be held with the developer and local residents.