COUNCILLORS have approved plans to build a bold new stand for Hilton Park, home of Leigh Centurions and Leigh RMI.

Centurions bosses say it is an essential step to fulfilling the dream of entering Super League next season by bringing the ground up to scratch.

The £750,000 stand will include an exciting community redevelopment on the currently open eastern, Glebe Street, side of the stadium.

Northern Ford Premiership table toppers Leigh Rugby League Club's ambitious project is a 1,600-seat covered stand and a row of 11 executive boxes.

During the week, the boxes will be converted into community classrooms in a ground-breaking joint venture with Wigan and Leigh College.

The community classrooms will be used for courses that are currently struggling for suitable accommodation at the college's Marshall Street campus.

The stand is 65m wide and runs from touchline to touchline at the scoreboard end of the stadium.

It will represent a 400-cut in fans to the ground's existing 7,500 capacity should the stand be all-seater.

Planners say the new stand will "significantly improve" the ground in terms of its appearance and would benefit the local community with the outreach classrooms.

The cost of the new stand will largely be met by grants including Coalfield Challenge and education grants.

Building could start during the closed-season in August and should take about six months to complete.

Six letters of objection were sent to planners complaining about extra traffic problems and a loss of light to homes.

Centurions commercial manager Kevin Ashcroft said: "It's very exciting. It will mean there is more community involvement. That's what it's being built for, the community. We are going in the right direction. It is a good step forward for the club." The club currently sees 8,000 children a year visiting the ground for education purposes and has links with more than 30 primary schools and high schools.

But some neighbours around the ground wanted the scheme kicked into touch.

Sharon Wardle of Glebe Street said: "I am not too happy about it at all. The club said they would consult with us all the way and I don't think they have."

She said councillors had declined her invitation to go into her house to see for themselves what impact the stand would have on light entering her house.

Miss Wardle, whose grandfather Nebby Cleworth played for Leigh and who is a dedicated Leigh RL fan, said fans had abused her in the street for speaking out against the stand plans.

She added: "The problems from people going to the ground is just getting worse and this stand will add to that. The litter from cans and plastic cups and other rubbish is terrible."