TOWN leaders are considering kicking off a search for land on the edge of Nailsea to provide sporting facilities in the town. Nailsea town council is starting a hunt for a 'sizeable pocket of land' on the outskirts of the town to develop extra amenities f

TOWN leaders are considering kicking off a search for land on the edge of Nailsea to provide sporting facilities in the town.Nailsea town council is starting a hunt for a 'sizeable pocket of land' on the outskirts of the town to develop extra amenities for sports organisations.The last time the town council purchased land for sporting activities was in 1964 when George Gallop sold it The Grove playing fields.Nailsea Town Council chairman Marston Dufty said: "Around 40 years ago, the town council had some vision and bought some land for sporting purposes."At the time, I expect they thought that was job done and it would suffice, but it is just not big enough."I don't suppose they then realised how Nailsea would grow in area, or population, to the size it is now."When we look further into the future there is no doubt that the town will gradually grow larger."We hope that this will be sustainable, managed growth and we know that adequate sporting and recreational facilities are of particular importance to the comfort and well-being of the population."The town council in 2006 needs to have the same sort of vision as councillors 40 years ago."The town currently owns half of The Grove playing fields, but in 2000, it started exploring the possibility of buying a 3.75 acres of land at the northern end of the pitch.The land is currently owned by Holy Trinity Church and leased to the town council.Cllr Dufty said: "We are currently negotiating about buying the remaining part of The Grove playing fields."But what we need is a large area of land which could be developed as a sporting facility on the outskirts of the town."The council is also planning to survey all sporting organisations in the town, asking them what facilities they would like.And an audit will also be undertaken to establish what in the way of pitches and premises are currently available to sporting clubs.Cllr Dufty said any landowner who may have a suitable site for such a sporting development should contact the town council on 01275 855277.