Plans to revamp a sports pavilion have been given the green light as a youth football club aims to boost the facilities at a town playing field.
Spalding United Youth Foundation and South Holland District Council agreed a 50-year lease for the town’s Monkshouse Playing Fields earlier this year – and followed that up by seeking permission to revamp the pavilion, off Pennygate.
The land is still owned by South Holland District Council (SHDC) and members voted to approve an application by the foundation to refurbish and repair the existing pavilion building at a recent planning committee meeting.
Chairman James Avery said: “I’m just going to quickly jump in and applaud Spalding United for what they’re doing.
“I think any group – whichever sport they belong to – if they can engage and attract young people into sport, it keeps them away from less savoury things as they grow up.”
The existing building will be given a fresh lease of life – with two changing rooms each served by an independent shower room.
Public toilets and a refreshment kitchen will also be provided.
A storage shed will also be built and the existing plant room will also be reduced to allow for an additional officials changing room.
Two separate covered areas – accessible to the public – and a main lobby area, will also be developed within the current overhanging roof, to the front of the main building.
The foundation, a registered charity dedicated to supporting grassroots football and youth development, has taken on the management and maintenance of the field and changing facilities, using it as a base for activities, clubs and games – alongside a commitment to retain public use.
The group has a total of 19 teams ranging from Teeny Tulips to Under 18s and has said that it wants to create a vibrant ‘community focused hub.’
