COUNCIL bosses have unveiled a £1.5m project to complete Halton Stadium's missing fourth side.

The proposal would mean the redevelopment of the tiny East Terrace, currently out of use, to create a standing area and boost the capacity of the ground.

Councillors hope work will be completed in time for the the 2005 Super League.

Halton Stadium provides a home for both Widnes Vikings and Runcorn FC Halton.

The stadium was developed by Halton Borough Council on the site of Widnes Vikings' old Naughton Park ground.

The club's financial state and the condition of Naughton Park had kept the club out of the Super League since its inception in the early 1990s.

Two stands were built in 1996 and 1998 and the stadium was further developed four years ago with the opening of the West Stand funded by a £2.31m lottery grant and additional funds from the council.

The stadium is also home to the Halton Regional Table Tennis Centre, a cafe bar and sports injury clinic.

However, some councillors have raised objections to spending money on the stadium when budget cuts of nearly £2m have had to be made to keep the borough's council Tax rise below 5%.

But council leader Tony McDermott says the work is vital if the stadium is to attract representative games and national fixtures to consolidate itself as one of the best rugby league venues in the North West.

Cllr McDermott admits that the council decided to improve the ground after seeing bitter rivals Warrington Wolves move into the state-of-the-art Halliwell Jones Stadium at the start of the Super League season.

He said: 'It will cost £1.5m to complete the job and that will have to be rubber-stamped by the council but I believe it is vital we finish off the missing side. We don't want to be left behind by Warrington and we want Halton Stadium to maintain its position as one of the premier venues in the region.

'People point out that some of the crowds attracted by Widnes Vikings and Runcorn FC Halton have been disappointing but, in my opinion, it is important that we build for the future.

'In times to come both teams could be challenging for honours and it is vital that we have a ground that could deal with a big crowd in, for example, the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup.'