Campaigners hoping to make one of Bispham's few open spaces an official town green say they're not worried that Blackpool Council has objected to the bid.

Friends of Leys Farm say they're 'happy' that Blackpool Council's current opposition is the right decision, for now.

The Friends want to see Whiteholme playing fields, better known as Bispham gala field, and land between All Saints Road and Warren Drive, become a town green, to prevent it being built on in future.

Blackpool Council owns the majority of the land and, as the local authority, must also decide on the application.

So Blackpool Council's cabinet has made a 'holding' objection to beat the applicatiion's February 27 objection deadline, and give their officers time to compile a report.

Asda has plannng permision for part of the land, which is owned by construction firm, Nordicline Limited.

Beverley Moy, secretary of the Friends of Leys Farm, said: "I'm quite happy that they're going to thoroughly investigate whether or not it should be a town green before they make their decision."

She added: "We are so very short of land and any space that becomes endangered is actually really needed.

"We are hopeful of success. This piece of land has been used by the community for over 100 years. There's always somebody on it, walking dogs and doing different things."

The Friends of Leys Farm -- named during a campaign to save land at Leys Farm, North Shore from development -- said designating the gala field as green space in the council's local plan would only guarantee its safety for 20 years, but town green status would keep it safe 'in perpetuity'.

Under the Commons Registration Act 1965 and Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, campaigners must prove that the land has been used for sports and pastimes by 'a significant number' of local residents, continuously, for 20 years. Users must not have needed permission, or been stopped from going on the land or been 'secretive' about using the land.

But Cllr Roy Fisher, leader of Blackpool Council, insisted the council's objection was not a 'final decision'.

Speaking before last Wednesday's cabinet meeting, he said: "The council owns the land, which is subject to the town green application, and is currently looking into the land's history to determine how it should react to the application."

He added: "We must emphasise that this does not mean that the council as landowner has reached a final view on the application. The holding position simply ensures that all options remain open."