The people of Halesworth are today being given a chance to have their say on proposals that would lead to new state of the art sports facilities in the town.

Halesworth Campus group is inviting people in the town and nearby villages to attend a public meeting to vote on whether they support a move to sell the town's existing sporting site to allow improved facilities to be built where the middle school currently is.

Tony Goldson, county councillor for Halesworth and chair of the Halesworth Campus group, said: 'What we need though is the support of local people to make this possible. I'd like to urge everyone to come and see the proposals for themselves and give their support to the project.'

If the proposals get the go ahead, the Dairy Hill Playing Field, which is owned by the Halesworth Playing Fields Association, will be sold for housing, with the money and other grants used to transform Halesworth Middle School, which is closing in the summer. Suffolk County Council has offered the site for free, with the hope of it being turned into a campus with excellent sporting, educational and employment facilities.

The long term plan includes doubling the number of grass pitches, creating an all weather pitch, building an indoor swimming pool and fitness gym, retaining the old school's sports hall for a variety of sports, improving the educational facilities on the site, and creating business starter units, conference and training facilities and office accommodation.

It is hoped that major works on the site would start at the beginning of 2013 and that, at the earliest, the pool and fitness gym would be open to the public before spring 2014.

The vote, which is for residents aged 18 and over, will be held between 11am and 8pm today at Halesworth Middle School.