CONTROVERSY now surrounds the name of another part of the Bolton Wanderers sports village development at Horwich.

Council chiefs yesterday agreed to go along with the name Middlebrook which has been used so far in marketing the site.

The Middle Brook runs through the site at Red Moss next to the M61.

Last week, the club announced that it is preparing to sell off the name of their new stadium to the highest bidder.

The latest row is over the name of the rest of the commercial development on the site.

Some councillors were clearly unhappy about the name Middlebrook at yesterday's management and finance committee meeting.

But the majority of councillors voted in favour because they were told it was probably too late to change it.

Labour Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said: "Middlebrook to me conveys the area around Heaton Cemetery or at the very most up to Lostock station. I would have thought Sefton Fold, Horwich or Bolton should be in the title."

But Labour Cllr Bob Howarth, Bolton Council leader said: "I am sure Bolton will be used in the marketing. It is probably a bit late now to think about changing the name."

Mr David Short, group planning director for Orbit, the developers carrying out the scheme with the Wanderers said: "Middlebrook was used because the council chose it when putting in its bid for European Regional Development funding and it seems to have stuck.

"If the councillors are happy to stick with this name, then so are we.

"The name sports village has been used a lot, but this only describes a part of the development. There is much more to it than just the sports facilities." The multi-million pound development will also include entertainment, commercial, retail and housing schemes.

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