Bid to save fields for future

Battyeford sports club is taking part in a new project for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year in 2012.

The club has nominated the West Mills playing fields for the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge which aims to secure outdoor spaces for generations to come.

Communities can ask for such areas to be permanently protected as a tribute to the jubilee celebrations.

And the club wants Reporter readers to back the campaign and vote for the West Mills site to be included.

Several attempts to use the land for other purposes have been staved off by the club.

President Keith Johnson said recent threats had included a bid to turn it into a lorry park and British Waterways plans to sell a triangle of land at Halfpenny Bridge.The club has been trying to secure the land against potential attack and predatory attempts to commandeer its use,” he said.

“So in partnership with Kirklees Council we have asked for West Mills to be accepted for the Queen Elizabeth Challenge.”

The nomination is now on the www.qe2fields.com website to be viewed by interested parties. But Mr Johnson said this was only the first step. “We need Reporter readers to vote via the website for West Mills to be recognised and accepted as a field worthy of being in trust for recreational use,” he said. “We want this to be a successful venture to protect the fields for future generations.”

The voting period ends on November 17.