ELLESMERE Town Council has pledged to work with a basketball star of the future to find space to build a court for him and other young people to play.

Riva Manley attended the council's latest full meeting on Monday to pitch for the chance to build a multi-use games area (MUGA) which would have a basketball hoop.

The teenager, who plays under-18 national level basketball for Shrewsbury and attends Thomas Adams School in Wem, highlighted potential spaces and ideas for the town.

He said: "From the research I've done, I can see there are some council-owned sites that could be potentially used, such as in Swan Hill, near the cemetery, and one near Tesco."

For the latter site, he argued a court near the supermarket could be used by young people while parents or guardians are shopping.

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However, town clerk Jo Butterworth said options put forward are not on Ellesmere Town Council land, but said that she and councillors would be willing to discuss alternative sites owned by them.

In a question and answer session that followed Riva's presentation, Councillor Pete Jones asked whether he factored in an opportunity to monetise the court in order to make it more accessible.

Riva replied that his research had highlighted potentially using coin-operated facilities with lights and added that overall costs for the project would be around £11,000.

Shropshire and town councillor Geoff Elner asked if he would be happy with a half court because it still offers a lot of space, and the teenager replied that he uses a similar sized court in nearby St Martins, and it would be a viable option.

He added that he has been previously able to acquire nets from Basketball England, and also that the national governing body has also sponsored a number of courts across the UK, and raised the possibility of talking to them.

Councillors thanked Riva for his presentation while Miss Butterworth urged anyone who supports the idea of the MUGA being built to contact her at jo.butterworth@ellesmere-tc.gov.uk or at the town hall in Willow Street.

This will enable the clerk to collate support for further residents consultations.