A NEW sports pavilion plan has been vetoed after a councillor claimed the building would become an 'adventure playground' for teenage troublemakers.

But Ribble Valley councillors agreed in principle to changing facilities for Ribblesdale High School being built on the site.

The school has requested permission from Lancashire County Council for the pavilion and disabled car parking space on playing fields off Langshaw Drive, Clitheroe.

Councillors on Ribble Valley Council's planning committee, which has been consulted as part of the planning process, voted to object to the design of the facility.

Coun Stephen Sutcliffe claimed the two-storey pavilion would become a magnet for trespassing youngsters.

And he said its proposed curved metal roof, which would be set into a steep bank, would in effect turn the building into a ramp for youngsters to slide down.

The 15 metre-long and 3.6 metre high pavilion would be built into a slope to minimise its overall height and would be given a soft, curved profile to help it blend into the surrounding area.

The lower level would be used for changing rooms while the upper level would consist of an office, disabled changing room and storage.

It's thought the pavilion would also be used by the community when not in school use.

Coun Sutcliffe, Lib Dem ward councillor for the Littlemoor area of Clitheroe, said: "This is a curved metallic structure that will be built next to a 12-foot-high fence that has been used by kids to access the playing fields.

"In effect we are talking about some kind of incredible adventure playground that would be too good to resist. The curved surface would create a giant slide and the metallic surface would make a tremendous noise.

"There will be a lot of juvenile nuisance on this site. It's closed off and the area should be locked and any access by youngsters is illicit."

Coun Ian Brown also told the meeting: "Most people in this area would agree there is a need for this building but the county council needs to come back with some better designs."

However, Lib Dem group leader Coun Frank Dyson called on councillors not to tar all youngsters with the same brush. He said: "We're constantly telling youngsters to get off their backsides and participate in sport, but here we are criticising them again.

"Don't let us give the idea to the people of Clitheroe that they should not use the playing fields."