COUNCIL chiefs have been accused of secrecy over the multi-million pound Bolton Wanderers' Horwich sports village development.

Horwich Liberal Democrat Cllr Mrs Barbara Ronson said at a meeting of the council's policy sub committee that people were being kept in the dark about the development.

She hit out before councillors went behind closed doors to discuss a secret report into the latest developments at the site, which is now known as Middlebrook.

Mrs Ronson argued that parts of the report - detailing discussions of a Sports Village Working Party - could be revealed to the public and members of other council committees without betraying the commercial confidentiality of their partners. She said: "I realise that parts of this report are sensitive but I do feel some of the issues in it could be discussed more openly.

"I think members lack input and the opportunity to comment on what is happening."

Councillors and officials agreed to split the regular reports into two parts, including a general update to be made public.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.