THE owner of the former Bradford on Avon Golf Course is to be asked to sell the land so that it can be turned into a wildlife area.

A small group of people plan to approach John Hussey, the course owner, to see if he will sell.

John Potter, the chairman of Bradford on Avon Preservation Society, who is one of the group, says they wants to re-wild the nine-hole course.

He said: “The old golf course is closed and wild growth is taking over.

“A small group of people is hoping to become a very large group, which will attempt to buy the land and turn it into a permanent meadow and woodland, keeping it as part of a great green corridor from Bristol and Bath to Malmesbury, rather than yet another building site.”

Mr Potter says the group plans to approach Mr Hussey, 74, who lives at Brittle Springs Farm at Westbury.

He is now believed to be the sole director of the golf course company, after Phyllis Hussey, 97, of Wingfield Road, Trowbridge, died in May.

Mr Hussey, who also runs JH Hussey (Construction) Ltd at Westbury, told the Times he had not received any approaches yet.

“ There is absolutely nothing happening with the golf course right now,” he said.

He closed the golf course last year after attacks by vandals damaged the club’s premises and green-keeping machinery.

In October 2009, the West Wiltshire District Council lifted a covenant protecting the land from development.

Housing applications in 2008, 2009 and 2013 came to nothing following campaigns by local people to stop development on the land, which used to be the site of the town’s tip.