THE row over plans to build homes on a rugby field in Appleton has seen a Labour candidate hit back at his Liberal Democrat rivals.

Paul Carter, who is standing in the Appleton Parish Council by-election for Labour next month, says their comments about the Bridge Lane site are ‘misleading’.

Last month the group said Warrington Rugby Club, which leases the land despite not playing on the site for more than 10 years, was hoping to profit should the site be developed.

Mr Carter said: “To voice concerns without mentioning that Appleton Parish Council has been aware since March 2013 of detailed plans to develop the former rugby pitches by building 55 houses on their now unused site is misleading.

“As a resident of Cobbs for 30 years and a former playing member of the rugby club, I have attended several meetings of the parish council and spoken against this plan.

“To even consider a development like this would face bringing traffic chaos each morning to an area already overburdened with traffic from three local schools, queues of vehicles back up along Lumbrook Road, Bridge Lane and Dale Lane every weekday.

“House building is not the future for Bridge Lane, bringing all parties into a dialogue could ‘thrash out’ a workable solution.”

Meanwhile the club also hit back at comments from the Lib Dems.

Richard Woodward, chairman of Warrington Rugby Union Club, said: “We have worked for more than four years with parish and borough councillors and support partners in an attempt to bring significant benefit to the residents of Warrington south, an area which is so often overlooked with regard to infrastructure investment because of its perceived levels of affluence.

“Consequently, it is really difficult for us to understand why, four years on, this self-funded project which benefits everyone in the community equally is not being celebrated, supported and pushed by the council and councillors, especially as the people who local councillors are supposed represent have officially pledged their support for the scheme.”