The Playing Fields

May 2003.  The Friends of Memorial Park were formed after Hyndburn Borough Council  expressed concerns over the health of the trees at Memorial Park. (Please visit our web page titled "about us")  This led to a decision by the Council to fell a large number of trees (over 70 in total) surrounding the playing field.  This was challenged by the then residents as they believed the diagnosis by the Council was incorrect and many perfectly heathy trees were being felled.  As the felling was in reality a major part of a planned engineering project.to level the upper part of the paying fields, the felling continued unabaited.  The levelling operation affecting the upper part of the field was completed in 2005.

25th May 2023..  The Friends of Memorial Park were invited to a "Teams" meeting by representives of the Council to be held on "Friday 16 June (2pm to 3pm) to receive a presentation about the proposed playing field improvement works at Memorial Park in Great Harwood. . A representative from UU and their playing field consultant will be on the meeting to deliver the presentation and answer any questions". 

The invitation followed speculation that United Utilities and the Council were proposing to relocate a junior football team based in Huncoat villiage (approx 6 miles from Great Harwood) during essential works by United Utilities affecting their home playing pitches.  "The Haweswater Aqueduct project is a huge and very important piece of work that United Utilities have to complete and because of that and the fact they will be based on Bolton Ave for the period of work Huncoat United will be displaced for 4 or 5 years".

Following meetings with the local Great Harwood Councillors and representatives from Huncoat United it became clear that the footballers perfered to find a solution nearer to their present location in Huncoat villiage and not to travel to Great Harwood particularly during the winter months.

It was confirmed in the local press prior to the meeting, that the Council wished to "level the lower section of the field and create two additional FA stamdard football pitches.  Friends of Memorial Park members and many local residents voiced their concerns over the proposal following a successful public information poster campaign around the playing field.

16th June 2023.  The planned "Team Meeting" was curtailed on the day due to technical problems and a face to face meeting was scheduled to replace it later in the month.  This meeting scheduled for 25th May 2023 was prosponed and short;ly after it was announced in the press that a new arrangement had been made for Huncoat United Football Team closer to home.

30th November 2023   The Council mark out 2 football pitches on the lower part of the playing field (not levelled) and erect one set of goal posts.