CEREDIGION MP Ben Lake paid a nostalgic return visit to the Parcllyn sportsfield where he played as a teenage Lampeter footballer today – and immediately launched into an impassioned plea for it to be saved for future generations.

Accompanied by MS Elin Jones, Mr Lake was responding to an invitation by Aberporth community councillors who are concerned over the sports field’s future after the Tivy-Side disclosed MOD plans to sell off the facility.

The MOD are also seeking to sell the site of the children’s play area alongside the now disused sports and social club on the opposite side of Hillfield Road.

And Mr Lake has been swift to add his own voice to the growing chorus to retain the facility.

“I will write to the MOD to underline to them the importance of such a community asset,” he said. “Getting rid of such a facility would fly in the face of all the physical and mental benefits we know can be gained from sport and recreation.

“To see them maximise financial returns at the sake of losing both a sports field and children’s play area would be a stain on the MOD’s record.

“I would respectfully suggest they pause to consider the human consequences of such actions rather than financial returns.

“The MOD’s budget is eye-watering, so selling off such an area of land would be a drop in the ocean.”

Community council chairman Aled Thomas said: “Once such a facility is lost it will be very hard to get it back again.

“But the local community need to show that they still want it.”