RESIDENTS are furious after workmen moved in to build sports facilities at a beauty spot and wildlife area near their homes.

People in Brinscall are worried that the development next to Lodge Bank, Brinscall, which will include a metal youth shelter, football and basketball nets, will scare away wildlife and attract troublemaking youths.

Nicole Waters, of nearby School Lane, said: "We only found out about this last week by accident when one of the residents asked some council workmen on the park to move a path.

"The men said they couldn't because it would go through the new football pitch. We were shocked.

"It's a really lovely, natural area where you can see squirrels, foxes, ducks and there are even some deer in the woods."

Mrs Waters has started a petition against the development and Chorley Borough Council has agreed to halt work on the site for a week.

Mrs Waters claimed teenagers congregated and were involved with drug-taking behind the nearby baths.

She said: "This is only going to escalate the problem. People are extremely angry that they weren't given a chance to discuss this before it went ahead.

"I feel sorry for the teenagers who are going to lose out because of what we have suffered at the hands of a few. If anyone has any opinions on what I'm doing, I would rather they expressed them to me and leave my children out."

Resident Patricia Miller, of Lodge Bank, said: "The reason I moved to Lodge Bank was because of the view and the relative peace and quiet. "There is already noise from a few teenagers being a nuisance and we do not need loads of young people here all day until late."

But local councillor Kerry Jones said she had consulted local clergy, police and parents at parish council meetings and the plans were announced last year in a Withnell and District Labour News newsletter sent to 1,500 residents.

She said: "I'm sorry they feel it will reduce their quality of life, but it will increase the quality of life for a lot of people. I do have sympathy but it's a community project for the community as a whole.

"Youth shelters are said to reduce nuisance and vandalism because the police know where the young people are and the shelters are quite open so the police can keep an eye on them.

"We thought we were helping to a certain extent by moving the young people right across the field. Our intentions were honest."

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