PLANS have been unveiled to create a new athletics track in Golcar.
The Three Valleys Sports Trust, an umbrella group representing sports organisations in the Holme, Colne and Dearne Valleys, has had outline plans drawn up for a new 400-metre training track.
The two-lane track is proposed on land owned by Kirklees Council near St John's C of E Junior and Infant School and Manor Road Junior and Infant School.
The track would surround a pitch that could be used by senior football or rugby teams.
A junior football pitch and junior rugby pitch have also been pencilled in along with a further senior pitch, along Leymoor Road, a parking area and changing rooms.
News of the proposal comes days after Kirklees Council admitted it had no cash available to improve athletics facilities in the area.
The scheme has been scaled down from two unsuccessful bids by the Three Valleys Trust to develop athletics tracks at Titanic Mill, Linthwaite, and at Berry Brow.
The Colne Valley plan collapsed through financial reasons while the Berry Brow scheme was handicapped by access problems.
Mr Tony White, treasurer of the Three Valleys, said: "Funding is tight from the National Lottery right now.
"There are a lot more demands made on it and people are not buying as many tickets.
"There are eight good causes vying for grants as opposed to three when it first began."
Kirklees already has one full size athletics track at Princess Mary Playing Fields, Cleckheaton.
Unfortunately, only two athletics clubs are based in North Kirklees and seven are in Huddersfield.
The Leeds Road athletics track, home to Longwood Harriers, can be used for athletics only two hours a week in summer and less in winter.
Mr White added: "Huddersfield has nearly 1,000 registered athletes.
"There is a need for a second athletics track in Kirklees but funding is the problem."
The Leeds Road athletics track has a soccer pitch in the middle and young athletes are often dodging footballs when they do use it.
"If you have young children training and there are footballs flying about it is not ideal," said Mr White.
Kirklees Council has admitted it would struggle to find the money for a new athletics track.
The sports trust is hoping to obtain a lease for the Golcar land from Kirklees Council.
If this is successful, a planning application will be submitted to the council and bids made to funding bodies.
The local council area committee has already expressed its backing and has offered a small grant.
The cost of the project is not yet known but will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
