Plans unveiled for a sports pavilion for The Grove at Nailsea

Only one person out of the nearly 100 people who viewed plans for a new sports pavilion at The Grove, Nailsea, recorded their objection to the proposal.

The plans for the new single-storey pavilion which would cost appropriately £400,000 and include separate changing rooms with showers for footballers and cricketers were revealed on Sunday at an informal public consultation.

There would also be rooms for the referees and umpires, a kitchen, storeroom and clubroom for teas.

Currently sportsmen and woman share temporary changing rooms located in a sunken cabin between the main football and cricket pitch with another in the Grove Sports & Social Club building.

But the temporary changing rooms do not conform to league standards and urgently need replacing.

North Somerset Council asked Nailsea Playing Fields Association to come up with a long term solution within the next few years when it extended planning permission for its temporary changing rooms for the second time.

NPFA chairman Maureen Brady said: "The consultation afternoon was well attended and most people were willing to listen to our proposals.

 "We may have missed a few at the beginning but 81 attendees signed-in.

"Of these 46 were not members of either the social or the sports clubs.

"Twenty two people filled out comments sheets, 19 supported the project, two were undecided and one was against the project."

Mrs Brady said some people asked why the original 1960s corrugated iron and brick Grove building couldn't be extended.

She said: "This isn't an option.

"The Grove is showing its age and is not an efficient building to run and it has been extended to its capacity.

"It is wholly inadequate for today's needs both in terms of quality and quantity and it would be better to incorporate football and cricket in a pavilion."

More than 150 footballers use the playing fields every weekend.

Nailsea United FC chairman Spencer Lee said: "We are delighted the NPFA has taken this initiative to improve sports changing facilities at the Grove, which have long been inadequate and insufficient for all of the sports clubs using the site. 

"We will obviously be working very closely with the NPFA and the other member clubs over the coming months to try to deliver the new pavilion and realise what would be a first class sports facility for the town. 

"So many people of all ages and genders who play sport at the Grove will benefit hugely and it is extremely encouraging that a concerted approach is being taken."

All the land at the Grove is owned by Nailsea Town Council and most of it is leased to the NPFA.

The social club is home to darts, skittles, table tennis teams and a purpose-built badminton hall.

The playing fields provide three pitches for Nailsea United FC and two full-size pitches for Nailsea Cricket Club.

Grants from bodies like Sports England will be tapped and there will be fundraising events at the Grove, added Mrs Brady.