A TOP amateur football league chief in Burnley has warned people would have to hang up their boots under controversial plans to impose parking charges at Towneley Park.

John Pilling, chairman of the Burnley and District Sunday League and vice-chairman of the Warburtons Youth League, today called on Burnley Council to scrap proposals to introduce car parking fees.

Mr Pilling said the authority would be scoring an own goal by enforcing the scheme, claiming it would stop people from taking part in sports because they could not afford it.

He added the Warburtons Youth League charged the lowest subs in the country and the senior league had not raised its fees for five years because many clubs survived on a weekly basis by charging subs.

Mr Pilling said the leagues kept rates to a minimum to allow people from deprived areas to play. This proves that if you keep your costs down, football at this level in Burnley will continue to thrive and not stop people participating in sport because they can't afford.

"That is why the clubs and leagues are strongly against car parking charges in Towneley Park," he said.

The Council, which owns the park and Towneley Hall wants to introduce parking charges of 50p a day or £6 a year to help fund a £3.2million restoration of Burnley's 'jewel in the crown' and at the same time double parking to nearly 400 spaces.

The charges, due to be discussed by councillors in February, will run from 10am to 5pm so early-morning or teatime dog walkers or visitors will be exempt.

Mr Pilling, who has written to the council opposing the scheme said volunteers had worked hard to improve grass roots football.

He said in 15 years the Warburtons league has grown from seven teams to 80 clubs in nine divisions and the Burnley and District league this season achieved its goal of having 40 members for the fist time in 30 years.

Mr Pilling added: "I have travelled the length and breadth of the country and I have never been asked to pay to park my car when playing football.

"This issue will only discourage people from participating in sport within Burnley."

A council spokesman said the authority had consulted with users of the park and would take into consider-ation their concerns but a decision on the plans aimed at reducing traffic chaos had not been made.

He added: "We are investigating all the issues surrounding possible parking charges, including how charges would be applied, what charges would be made, what exemptions if any there would be, what potential impact charging could have on groups such as the footballers and whether frequent users could receive a discount through season tickets for example."