PLANS for a running track and sports complex in Golcar have reached stalemate.

The £900,000 development, proposed by the Three Valleys Sports Trust, was agreed by Kirklees councillors in December.

Plans include a running track, a rugby pitch and three junior football fields.

But before the plans can progress the council has to give the land to the trust, which represents athletics clubs in the Holme, Colne and Dearne valleys.

The proposed two-lane track would be near St John's C of E Junior and Infant School and Manor Road J&I School.

Clr Andrew Marchington (Lib Dem, Golcar) says he will oppose any decision to give the land up, saying it is not the best site for the track.

He added: "I have made my views known to the trust.

"The development would have been so much better at Low Westwood Road, near Titanic Mill, in Linthwaite. But that is not possible.

"I would like this area to stay as fields. It is the only green space in Golcar that does not have a football pitch on it."

A decision about whether the land should be given to the trust will be made once cash for the development has been secured.

Trust secretary Tony White said they were trying to get money from Sport England, the organisation which distributes lottery money to sports projects.

Mr White called for the trust and the council to sit down and find how the plans can move forward.

"We need to sort this out," he said. "It has taken years to get to this point and now there are yet more problems.

"The site has been agreed and about a year ago we were told by the education department, who own the land, there would not be a problem in giving it to us.

"But now it looks like that might be blocked. There is a huge need for this facility in this area.

"We tried other sites, but ran into all kinds of difficulties," he said.