A MAJOR improvement in sports facilities for the parish of Colerne could be on the cards, following a consultation with the village.

Colerne Parish Council has a unique opportunity to buy an extra sports playing area next to the Rugby Club, which could be used to create additional pitches for football, rugby and other sports such as cricket, archery and hockey.

The overall cost would be £61,000, of which £26,000 would be funded from council reserves while the rest would be paid for through the parish precept - the part of the Council Tax that goes to the parish council.

The extra cost to each household was calculated at six pence a week, in return for a major improvement to community facilities - but the parish council wanted to find out what the community thought of the plan.

An online survey and paper questionnaire asked for feedback - and the results will be discussed by the parish council.

Coun Rob Child said: "There has been a lot of interest in the the idea. The survey has closed now and the results are being collated and at the next parish council meeting we will have the results of that."

He added: "The rec is basically a football pitch and children's play area with a pavilion.

"We needed to increase the space we have. The Colts Football Club has been very successful and needs more pitches too."

Coun Dick Tonge said: "The person who owns the land is willing to sell it to us, and we found a way of funding it."

He said the results would be discussed, and if the plans went ahead, a further consultation was likely to test opinion on what kind of sporting facilities should be available.

Paul Carey, chair and head coach of FC Colerne Colts, said: "The main reason for the development is to create recreation space for everyone.

"We want to support broader recreation facilities for the whole community. For us, it would give us a chance to expand further and develop our age groups and adult football."

He set up the Colerne Colts eight years ago, and now has around 75 members aged between seven and 14.

Extra space would allow the club to expand and also extend its scope to include community recreation such as walking football for older people.