A NEW sports facility in Rossendale has been put on hold for a month.

But Kevin Proctor, club secretary at Rossendale United in Dark Lane, Newchurch, said he didn't expect the delay to too adversely affect the club's £750,000 development plans which have already been approved in principal for grants from the Foundation for Football Development.

He said: "We had not posted a notice to give any land owner with a claim on the site which were are proposing to develop the opportunity to look at the plans.

"This has been done now, but it has put us back a month and we hope to get a decision from Rossendale Council planning department in May."

He said the multi-activity indoor sports hall would have indoor grass which is much more player friendly than the outdoor all weather turf.

Mr Proctor said: "This plastic grass is only available indoor at the JJB Stadium in Bolton at Wigan and in Manchester.

"The grass is quite different to outdoor which can hurt especially if young children fall on it -- it is player friendly.

"Once we get planning approval we will be applying for grants to carry out the work and I expect it will take about three months to get formal approval for grants and it could be September before work starts and it will take about five months for the development to be complete.

"The new facilities will meet a very real need in Rossendale which has been identified by the council. The only facilities are at Fearns High School and Haslingden Sports Centre and they are always full."

He said Rossendale United would probably only use the facilities for training four hours a week and the rest of the time it would be used by the junior teams and people from the community and other teams and organisations.

The new facility will create up to 20 new jobs and a car park for more than 100 vehicles is proposed.