A RESIDENTS’ group has unveiled plans to create a memorial garden on land they claim is a ‘dog toilet’.

Jim Smart, chairman of Colne’s North Valley Residents’ Association, said the memorial garden would be created on a 100metres sq patch next to the community centre, which they already run, in Birtwistle Avenue.

It would be a permanent tribute to members of the asso-ciation who had died. Coun-cillors are backing the group’s bid to lease the land from the council for a nominal £1 per year.

Mr Smart told Pendle’s Colne Committee that he had written to Liberata Property Services in May to ask who owns the land and whether the group could use it. But he did not receive a reply until last week.

Bosses have told him a planning application for a change of use would probably be required. Mr Smart said: “The land is waterlogged and being used as a dog toilet and it is detrimental to residents of the estate.

“There is a footpath up to Holt House playing fields and we would like to put in a fence and make a memorial garden.

“Members of the youth club wanted to provide a space where past members can be remembered.”

Coun Tony Greaves welcomed the plans and urged Liberata to make the issue more of a priority.

He said: “It seems a brilliant idea and the people who run the centre should be congratulated for the initiative. It is not satisfactory for Liberata to have taken so long to respond and we should express our concern at that.”

The committee agreed to ask Liberata for a report detailing whether planning permission is required. It is to be prepared in time for next month’s meeting.