LEISURE chiefs are being urged to 'play fair' in a Chorley village.

Chorley MP Den Dover wants the council to allow the Earlsway play area in Euxton to be bought by local residents for rear gardens.

Conservative Mr Dover claims the redundant play area is being used by young drug and drink abusers.

He said: "I have lived in the village of Euxton for more than 20 years and my two children thoroughly enjoyed playing on the Balshaw Lane and Earlsway play areas.

"However, residents of Earlsway are up in arms because Euxton Parish Council want the local residents to buy the redundant play area and Chorley Borough Council seems not to be in favour of this proposal."

He added: "Euxton Parish Council will shortly be carrying out a major overhaul and upgrading of the Balshaw Lane play area at a cost of more than £30,000.

"This will cater for both young and older children and will meet the needs of that whole part of Euxton.

"The redundant play area at Earlsway is being abused by local youths with drugs, drinking and other unacceptable activities.

"I have asked the police to keep a regular check on what goes on. It is vitally important that Chorley Borough Council sees sense and allows the residents to change the play area into rear gardens and remove this blot from the landscape."

But Chorley Borough Council explained that it is bound by government guidelines to ensure play areas are provided.

This is the issue on which a decision will be made when the council's planning committee discusses a proposal to turn the parish council play area at Earlsway into gardens.

Alan Croston, Chorley's deputy director of community services, said: "The matter will in due course come to planning committee where we hope we can devise a mutually acceptable way forward."

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