A SCHOOL'S 15-year battle for a safe play area could finally be over with plans for a consultation with nearby residents.

Horwich Parish CE School has been trying to secure funding to convert muddy Slater's Field, off Longworth Road, into a play area for the pupils and local community for more than 15 years.

The Church Street school had successfully fought plans by a developer to build houses on the field and residents who had objected to the residential development will be contacted to see what they think about a community play area on the same spot.

The 391 pupils at the school have no grassed area to play on, and the fed-up football team can only play 'away' games with training sessions held on the hard surface of the playground.

Head Richard Fairclough is working closely with Bolton Council's Leisure Department in an application for money from the 'New Opportunities Fund for Green Spaces' to improve the quality of the field and have it fenced to stop dogs roaming into the area.

Mr Fairclough said: "All the local playgroups, Scouts and Cubs are writing in with their support and it will be very much a community initiative.

"It would be superb if we could have the field as it is only a few minutes away from the school and the children wouldn't have to cross any roads to get there."

Cllr Barbara Ronson is keen to see the area transformed into a play area as it is near enough to the Resource Centre in Beaumont Road to be used by youngsters on the annual summer playscheme in which she is involved.

She said: "The school is on a very cramped site and desperately needs a playing field.

"It is a very densely populated area with lots of children needing somewhere to play. A previous Ofsted report criticised the lack of an open space for sport at the school.

"We just hope the same residents who were opposed to building houses will now support a community play area because not everyone is happy if a play area is put near their homes." Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly promised to lobby on behalf of the school and is liaising with Council leisure boss John Shepley.