DARWEN'S new multi-million pound academy will be built without its own playing fields, it emerged today.

The new school, replacing Darwen Moorland in September 2008 and based on what is currently Redearth Road, was meant to have purpose-built fields around half-a-mile away.

That plan had caused outrage in Darwen, with some councillors feeling that pupils walking to the pitches for after-school activities could be at risk.

The town centre site for the academy will include a sports hall and all-weather pitches, but all sports which need grass pitches, such as inter-school football, will now be played at Blacksnape Playing Fields, around 2km from the school campus.

The pitches at Blacksnape are already benefiting from a £500,000 grant from a Football Association fund.

And investment from the Academy Trust, run by Capita boss Rod Aldridge who will control the new school, will pay for two further pitches to be upgraded.

Coun Dave Hollings said: "The Priory Drive site originally planned will not now be required for sports facilities as the joint arrangements at Blacksnape provide a better overall solution." The town centre location of the academy has already prompted councillors to question safety for pupils there. Coun Fred Slater, a Darwen councillor said: "The existing Moorland site has playing fields and is safe for the pupils who go there.

"I can't see the benefit of having it in the town centre, which is already very busy with traffic all day, with a playing field so far away."

But supporters of the project, which received planning consent last month, say it will create a state-of-the-art school and bring a 400 place sixth-form centre to Darwen.

Demolition work on the site should begin later this year, although the remaining residents objecting to the plans are due to go to a public inquiry in March.