A £1.5million 3G football facility that will “get kids off the street” could be under construction as early as April, according to a councillor.

The potential new investment at Haslingden’s Adrenaline Centre is yet to have planning approval but the Lancashire Telegraph understands Rossendale Borough Council has applied for a grant from the Football Foundation to fund the project.

The fields at the back of the sports centre are currently used for matches but the turf is often waterlogged with poor drainage.

David Reid, from Rossendale Valley Juniors FC, said: “As a club we’ve got more than 500 kids across 53 teams.

Drainage issues currently blight the grass pitchesDrainage issues currently blight the grass pitches (Image: NQ) “Seventeen teams have to travel outside Rossendale for training because we haven’t got the 3G facilities here.

“It would be great to have this as it would get kids off the streets and give them a place where they can go and play football, without any issues regarding drainage.

“We are desperate for this and want to help as much as we can, but we need the support of everybody.”

(Image: NQ) Richard Thompson, a resident of Causeway Head near where the development would be, said: “My main concern is that the land isn’t used for housing.

“We’ve only just moved here, and we moved here for the view that we have, so as long as it doesn’t get in the way of that I don’t mind too much.

“But the pitch is already used quite a lot by children for playing football.”

Councillors have also backed the refurbishment of the Adrenaline Centre's multi-use games area to a play zone.

Alan Woods, leader of the opposition group at Rossendale Borough Council, said: “The grant application is being put in now, for an elevated 3g pitch and multi-use games area, and the lower pitches will have new drainage.

“Work could start in April.

“My input is a concern over the lack of facilities in the interim while work is ongoing on the site as it's used by a lot of children to play football.

“There is some 106 money from developers that can only be spent on sports facilities.”

Section 106 funding is used to support the provision of services and infrastructure, including highways, recreational facilities, education, health and affordable housing.

It is usually contributed by developers as part of the condition of planning permission being accepted.

Cllr Woods added: “So I’m saying, ‘why can't we get on with it now with the money we have from that instead of waiting for the grant?’

“But I’m in full support of it, the only concern we’ve got to hope we get the grant.”