Goals Soccer Centres has applied for planning permission to build a £2.3m site in Heaton Park, Prestwich, near Manchester, Lancashire.

However, according to the Prestwich & Whitfield Guide, the proposals have caused controversy, with locals divided over whether the site will be good for local sport or open the floodgates to overdevelopment of the park, which the paper refers to as the “gem of Prestwich”.

Some local schools have welcomed the news as Goals has said that pupils will be able to use the centre for free during the day, but others think it will encourage other firms to develop on the publicly-owned park, going so far as to form a Save Heaton Park action group.

The council’s planning committee is expected to make a decision in August.