GOVERNMENT funding is being sought by Ringwood Town Council to turn land at Long Lane into a multi-sports site.

An application has been made to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) to buy eight acres at the 18-acre site, with an application made to the Football Foundation and Hampshire FA for match funding.

The funds would be used to install an all-weather pitch and add drainage to the site that houses Ringwood Town Football Club and Ringwood Youth Football Club.

Ringwood Town Council clerk Steve Nash said: “We lease eight acres and the district council leases ten. So we would be purchasing the land that we already lease. Some 240 people use the site and we would like to turn it into a multi-sports site with a couple of rugby pitches added eventually.

“If we can bring all the sports sites together to one site, long-term it will save us a huge amount of money.”