SPORTS clubs in Bradford on Avon are developing ambitious plans to create a purpose-built sports ground that will allow some clubs to move from dilapidated facilities.

Bradford Town Youth FC, along with Bradford Town FC and the town’s cricket club, are eager to move to a permanent base on the Beehive Field, on Trowbridge Road and build a state-of-the-art sporting facility.

Bradford Town FC currently play at Bradford on Avon Sports Club, further along Trowbridge Road, which has constant drainage problems, and the youth team rely on pitches at the rugby club on Winsley Road and at local schools, which costs around £11,000 a year.

“By combining our efforts and resources together with Bradford Town FC we want to build a facility which will satisfy the demands of both clubs and also offer professional 'sport for all” facilities,' chairman of Bradford Town YFC Dave Bolwell said.

“As a club that wishes to grow in an inclusive and environmentally-friendly way and one that wants to offer even more local children the chance to participate in sport, it has become increasingly clear that these wishes will not be granted without our club having a home of its own.

“At present we don’t have our own club facility and rely heavily on local schools, town council grounds and Bradford rugby club. Every pitch available to the youth club is rented at a cost and puts a considerable strain on our club finances.

“We also suffer terribly from the condition of the playing surfaces available to us.

"Many of the grounds we play at have very poor drainage and can become unplayable for months at a time, leading to match cancellations and a build up at the end of the season.”

Currently the youth teams, which have nearly 400 players, spend £11,000 a year on alternative facilities to train and the senior team consistently have drainage problems that have caused their matches at Bradford on Avon Sports Club to be cancelled.

Last week two meetings were held by Bradford Town FC to discuss the move. They declined to talk to the Wiltshire Times about the scheme this week, The plans, which could include Spencer Moulton Bowls Club, the town’s archery, table tennis and cricket clubs, would aim to include a sports club building for social, meeting, changing and storage facilities.

Mr Bolwell stressed that discussions are still in their infancy and no deals have been completed, nothing has been signed and there is no concrete idea of costs or where funds would come from.