RESIDENTS have slammed a council for keeping them in the dark over plans to allow a football club to lease playing fields and a park amid fears of a new stadium development.

Richmondshire District Council has transferred the land behind the Whitefields estate in Richmond to Richmond Town Football Club to allow their growing membership extra space to play.

The council advertised its intention to dispose of many of its parks and open spaces in 2012 – but residents say it did not go far enough to inform them of plans for the land.

Resident Chris Bailey, whose children grew up playing on the 4.7 acre field and adjoining play park, said he was furious to learn the football club could potentially build a new clubhouse in such close proximity to the one at Richmond School.

He said: “The council say residents have been consulted but we have not. At the very least a notice could have been placed at the access to the fields.

“It just seems like the council has no concern for residents whatsoever.”

Mr Bailey said he was concerned the football club intended to build a football stadium on the site and fears for the loss of the park.

Richmondshire District Council director Colin Dales confirmed the football club has taken over responsibility for the playground as well as the playing fields – but stressed that any developments would be subject to planning applications.

He said: “Any plans for a clubhouse or stadium would have to go through planning so there would be plenty of opportunity for residents to have their say.

“This is part of a bigger process of transferring land to community groups to make savings.”

Mr Dales added that he was not aware of what the football club’s plans were for the site, but Richmond councillor Stuart Parsons said he did not think that would be the best place for a stadium.

He said: “There is land at Swalegate in the town which has also been leased to Richmond Town Football Club in the same way to allow more space for them to practice.

“The land at Whitefields does have covenants on it, and there would be too many issues with parking and access to house a stadium.”

Stephen Andrews, chairman of Richmond Town Football Club, said: “At the moment we don’t have any plans for that site – but any plans we do have will have to go through a planning application, and it would not be a stadium.

“With the play park, we intend to replace that when we do decide what we will do with the Whitefields site and it will be for the whole community.

“What we do want to stress however is that the club has only in the last couple of weeks taken on the site and we know it is important to have an open book policy with residents.

"We respect and understand there will be concerns and we are currently in talks to set up a public meeting in the coming weeks so we can hear residents’ views and answer any questions.”