A SPORTS club has had its plans to develop community facilities hit on the head.

Fairfield Sports Club was hoping to use land on Broad Oak playing fields. But plans for a ball zone have been passed instead.

The sports club aimed to raise money to take on the playing fields and run it with a proper management structure.

But plans were passed by Bury Council's planning committee in June to build a multi-use games area and football pitch.

Peter Entwistle, secretary of Fairfield Sports Club, of Broad Oak Lane, said: "We were aiming to use the land for the club's teams and were hoping to have rugby, cricket and hockey pitches there.

"We wanted a sports club with facilities right in the heart of the community, and this spot would have been perfect. The way to the future is the youth, but the ball zone will only attract problems. It would be nicer for the youths to be part of a club."

Mr Entwistle said there was a similar scheme sited nearby just a few years ago but there were problems with teenagers abusing the equipment and anti-social behaviour.

Houses in Broad Oak Lane, Gorse Bank, High Grove and Cuckoo Lane were consulted, but a number of households overlooking the site say they were not given the chance to have their say.

There were 14 letters of objection from residents living near to the site, and a survey was said to have been carried out at a local primary school. The council sent out 254 questionnaires and 49 were returned, with 96 per cent of those asked agreeing that a ball zone near the school would be a good idea.

In files held at the council's planning department there are details of an e-mail from John Hodkinson from the planning department, to Tom Buggie, from the environmental development department, raising questions about the survey.

He asked if a full consultation exercise had been done and said that the survey included "does not say who has been surveyed but I understand from another source that it is primary schoolchildren."

Mr Entwistle said he and other residents are worried that older children using the facilities could in fact intimidate younger children who might want to use them.

He added: "I really think that the ball zone will create more problems, and the money for this project could be put to better use. People living in the area are very upset by this plan being passed and the council seems to be wasting their money doing it.

"It seems the project was already set in stone before the plan was even accepted by the planning committee. We live in a democracy and should have been able to have our say."

A spokesman for Bury Council said that various meetings have been held on site with residents, councillors and the sports club prior to submitting the planning application.

He added: "An independent survey was carried out by the National Playing Field Association. Following the planning approval a further meeting has been held between residents and ward councillors and a way forward has been agreed including providing equipment that is in various shades of green, not removing any trees and organising certain events when the facility is complete.

"Ball zones are extremely popular in other parts of the borough and provide all-weather facilities for local youngsters."