WORRIED Burneside residents fear a well loved recreation field close to the centre of the village is set to be lost to developers.

The Willink Playing Field has facilities including a football field, bowling green and tennis court, and has long been regarded as a valuable green space in the village.

However, the area is the subject of a high profile competition currently in progress in which architectural firms have been invited to design a sustainable housing development for the location.

And though no planning permission has currently been submitted, residents lying close to the field believe there is a danger that will be the inevitable next step and the sporting facilities will be lost.

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"This field was left, in Trust, to the people of Burneside as a recreational field by Alfred Willink," said resident Gillian Allder.

She acknowledged that the land was allocated for development under South Lakeland District Council's local plan, though Mrs Allder insisted was against the wishes of most people in the village.

The contest, which run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on behalf of the Great Place: Lakes and Dales programme, attracted 110 entries from the UK and abroad.

Architects and designers worldwide were invited to submit designs for either the Burneside site or an alternative site at Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

The closing date for entries to the competition has now passed and the next stage is a public consultation on the entries.

This was due to take place this month but has been delayed until mid-July.

Cllr Robin Ashcroft, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure at South Lakeland District Council, said: “This exciting project has the potential to create an innovative opportunity for people to live and work in our community and I am very much looking forward to seeing the finished shortlisted plans.”

However, Burneside Parish Council and Burneside Parish Residents' Association have discussed the issue and have expressed their concerns, with worries in particular about what they see as a perceived lack of communication and lack of transparency on the matter.

Mrs Allder also pointed out that as the site is currently used for recreation, under current regulations an alternative site must be provided by developers.

But she said that the alternative site mooted on Hollins Lane was problematical as access was down a narrow lane which would be dangerous for children, and was also in an area prone to flooding.