A BID to win new sports and leisure facilities for Ilkley has homed in on three sites in town which could be developed.

Former Ilkley Middle School land on Valley Drive, land at Ben Rhydding Sports Club, and the field beside Ashlands Primary School on Leeds Road are now among the possibilities being studied by a working group of parish councillors.

But developing green belt land behind Ilkley Pool and Lido, owned by Bradford Council, is looking unlikely, say the councillors.

The Denton Road site was one of those initially suggested by parish councillors, concerned about a shortage of public sports and leisure facilities in Ilkley, particularly after the closure of Bodies Health Club and of Clevedon House Preparatory School, which used to open its facilities up to children from other schools.

A private developer, meanwhile, has been enquiring about opportunities for leisure developments in Ilkley, and talks are expected to begin with parish councillors soon.

Ilkley parish councillors recently formed a working group to study all facilities currently available in town, and what options are available for gaining new facilities.

They now say they are know in the early stages of investigating the possibilities for three sites in Ilkley, although no funding or developer has been secured, and no planning permission is currently being sought.

A sports hall next to the Denton Road pool was one of the early suggestions from Ilkley councillors.

Councillor James Richards, who chairs the group, said: "The situation with the pool site is that it is difficult to develop further because the houses around it might get flooded. The swimming pool site is green belt, but there are other sites to look at as well."

The Middle School site itself is earmarked for housing in the Bradford District's Unitary Development Plan, although the adjoining playing fields are to be retained as leisure space. Ben Rhydding Sports Club's land, close to the River Wharfe on Coutances Way, is privately owned and is already home to a variety of sports facilities.

There had previously been a suggestion of creating public sports facilities at Clevedon House Preparatory School in Ben Rhydding, which closed earlier this year - although a developer has been in talks with planners about creating an assisted living complex for older people on this site.

The leisure group has also taken it upon itself to look at various ways of funding new facilities in the valley.

Councillors believe Government cash may be available for regional sports facilities in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics. The group has far from given up on the ambitious idea of attracting private investment for the benefit of Ilkley's community.

Councillors are expected to meet shortly with Ilkley architect Sense of Space, which was recently approached by a developer interested in creating leisure facilities.

Richard Addenbrook, of Sense of Space, told the Gazette the suggestion is at a very early stage, and the company has yet to meet up with councillors. He said, however, that he was looking forward to being involved in the discussion.

Sense of Space was responsible for an ambitious proposal earlier this year for redesigning the South Hawksworth Street car park, to create a Continental-style piazza with underground parking.

The parish council leisure group has also been appealing for local sports clubs and organisations to come forward and discuss what is already on offer, and what new facilities there is a demand for in the area. A member of Ilkley Harriers recently visited the group to provide information.

Any sports or other organisations interested in talking to Ilkley Parish Council's leisure group about current or future facilities can get in touch via the Parish Clerk at Ilkley Town Hall, on 01943 436212.