FURY has erupted over a primary school's plans to rent its car park to football fans.
Governors of Claypool School on Salisbury Road, Horwich, want to raise money by issuing 30 contract parking places.
The ground is just a short walk away from Bolton Wanderers' new Reebok Stadium.
The news has angered residents who live in quiet cul de sacs near the school.
The school has now organised a public meeting tonight in a bid to ease the fears of residents who have formed a protest group and signed a petition.
Mr Steve Cawley, co-ordinator of the action group, described the plan as "an outrageous idea which will ruin the peace and safety of our quiet backwater."
In a letter to thegovernors, he says: "Have you considered the impact this will make on local residents?
"The extra movement, the noise, even more undesirables coming into the area, the safety of many youngsters who play in the area, extra pollution, extra litter, car doors slamming at night after midweek matches.
"Arguments against such an ill-considered scheme are too numerous to list, with only one argument for it - the making of money."
Horwich Liberal Democrat Cllr Mrs Barbara Ronson said: "We have worked very hard with the police to minimise the impact the new stadium will have on local residents.
"We now fear that if this scheme goes ahead, others will also do the same." Stunned head says yobs will be excluded CLAYPOOL school headteacher Glenys Evans said she was surprised by the strength of feeling among resident.
But she added: "No definite decision has yet been made and we have invited residents into school to discuss this.
"We have only advertised this proposal in a Bolton Council staff newspaper and we would vet very carefully who was given a space. The idea is that our school caretaker would oversee the operation.
"It would be the same people every week and it would not bring the yobbish element into the area."
Mr Howard Barritt, Bolton Council's head of planning control, said: "It is likely that this scheme will need planning permission and we advise the school to put in an application."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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