GISBURN parents are celebrating after securing planning permission for a new community park in the village.

The Playing Fields Association, which was set up with the aim of providing a safe and modern place for children to play, has been given the go-ahead to put the facility on the field above the Gisburn Festival Hall car park.

Last month Ribble Valley Borough Council granted planning permission for the park and the association is now in the process of buying the land and work is planned to begin in June.

The ambitious scheme will see the field set out in three tiers, with access from the car park. The lowest tier will house a play area for the under fives, the middle tier will have an individually designed play area for six to 11 year olds and the top tier will provide the over 11s with a multi-sports area.

Meanwhile, at the very top of the park there will be a viewing platform featuring a piece of sculpture and the facility will also incorporate a cycle track.

Giles Bridge, chairman of the association, added: "When we asked local children what they wanted, the most popular request was for a cycle track. Children have nowhere safe to cycle in the village because it is bisected by the A59 and the A682."

So far an impressive £46,000 in funding has been raised to start the groundwork and purchase play equipment but a further £60,000 will be needed to finish the project. The association is now embarking on a fundraising drive around the village to raise the remaining amount.

Parents will be asking residents to purchase their own "piece of the park" for a £5 donation and a canvass of the village will take place over the next month to secure funding and pledges of time or skills to help transform the field. Already a number of local dads have volunteered to lay the cycle track and a sponsored cross country run by children is being organised to boost funds.

An open invitation has been extended to the next meeting of the group, which will be at 8pm on Monday June 18 at the festival hall. Anyone wishing to help with the project can contact Mr Bridge on 01200 445124.