KEIGHLEY Road residents in Skipton are once again fighting to retain their recreation ground.

Families living around the Bold Venture playing field intend to oppose plans by the town's Jehovah's Witnesses to build a new Kingdom Hall on part of the park.

The owners of the site, Skipton Town Council, has agreed to look into the possibility of selling part of the land to the congregation.

But Bold Venture residents say the council cannot do this due to a legal covenant which states that the land can only be used as open recreation space.

Local homeowner Stephen Phillip said he did not know why the council appeared determined to sell off the "rec".

He said: "It would be the loss of an amenity. It's the only safe place for children to play, what with the canal, the road and railway line. If they take this land away, it would be the thin end of the wedge."

Residents say they have nothing against the Jehovah's Witnesses and would be rallying around to keep anyone from developing the site.

Angelina Burnside said: "If they come here, are they going to be coming out and telling the children to stop making so much noise? And where are they going to park?

"How dare they try to take land that belongs to children?"

Local mother Allison Smith has started a petition against the plan, which has so far gained 126 names.

She said the ground was well-used, not just by adults and children living around Keighley Road but on Burnside and Greatwood estates too.

She said: "Everyone in the houses around the recreation ground look out for the children playing there. If the building goes there, half of it will be blocked off and people won't be able to see them."

Mrs Smith led a successful campaign in 2000 to get the town council to re-think a decision to sell off Bold Venture and use the proceeds to equip other parks.

Last year residents were once again forced to defend their park after a consultant's report, commissioned by the town council, said it was poorly situated and under-used.

Local resident Stanley Phillips said they would put up a legal challenge if the Jehovah's Witnesses tried to build there.

No officials from Skipton Town Council were available to comment.

Ward councillor Paul English, who serves on the town council, said he was deeply opposed to the plans and was standing shoulder to shoulder with the residents.

He also said that a covenant protecting the play area was in place and he could not understand why the matter had even been considered by the council.

Skipton Town Council's discussion about the land and the Jehovah's Witnesses' request to purchase it took place at its full council meeting on Thursday, September 20 and was listed to take place in private, excluding press and public.

Coun English said it was due to be discussed again at a strategic policy meeting next week, where he hoped to get it wiped off the agenda. "We have no need or hunger to sell off any of our recreation grounds," he said.

Jonathan Harrison, trustee chairman of the Jehovah's Witnesses congregation said it was up to the council to decide what they wanted to do with the land.

He said it was his understanding selling off the land would help finance the town council's plans to overhaul its recreation grounds - including Bold Venture.

Asked whether he knew there was a covenant on the land, he said: "It's the council's land. They would be aware of the position."