A NEW parish play area could bring better social facilities in Salford Priors say members of a lobbying group.

The Salford Priors Play Park Action Group is campaigning for a new play area as it feels the current one, in School Avenue, does not serve the needs of its young people.

It has now drawn up three options through which it hopes to achieve its aim.

To provide more equipment at School Avenue, including a skateboard/BMX ramp, at a cost of more than £40,000.

To sell and develop the land for residential use in conjunction with the development of allotments on School Avenue.

The group suggests that money raised from this could be used to finance the purchase of land opposite the post office in School Road and a crossing point could be installed along with traffic calming measures and a speed limit reduction.

This would include the provision of changing facilities and possibly an all-weather floodlit surface.

To sell and develop the land, including the Memorial Hall and the Scout hut and youth club which could then be moved to the School Road site, assuming money raised from a sale allows for a new facility there.

The group favours the second option, but says there are many hurdles to overcome and if implementation takes more than two years, the first option should be pursued.

However, plans to sell the land have been met with opposition from parish councillors who would rather see additions to the play area.

"We need to sell the land to release the necessary equity to create a play area for the parish which would benefit all ages," committee co-ordinator Mike Nisbet told the Journal.

He added that something needed to be done as parish youngsters had nowhere to go and added that the group was consulting with county councillor Susan Juned to see what funds were available.

At the recent annual parish meeting, the council chairman Mr Kim James told the group it would have to come back to them with a recommendation before any consultation could begin.

This would then be put to parishioners for approval.