BASINGSTOKE Sports and Social Club showed off its plans for redevelopment last week.

The sports club is going to apply for money to redevelop the site to put in four new outdoor changing rooms, two squash changing rooms and two for officials. It also plans to add downstairs changing rooms and toilet facilities, as well as modernising the facility to accommodate disabled players.

The club was originally built in 1865, with the last major refurbishment taking place in 1990. The club is also used by BCoT and Fairfield’s School for sports practice during the week.

The plans state that the dated nature of some of the facilities means the club is not fully inclusive for mixed sports teams and disabled players.

The limited number of teams and age groups that the club can currently support are a barrier to those wishing to play.

They received the approval of Basingstoke's MP, Maria Miller. She said: “These are wonderful plans. It is an exciting opportunity and it is so important to keep these facilities going.

"We need to have more places available for women and people with disabilities in sport and these plans are what we need,” she added.

The plans were on display in the club’s function room on November 18 and 19 for members and the public to scrutinise and give feedback on.

More than 150 people went to see the plans over the two sessions. Ninety per cent of the survey responses said the redevelopment would encourage either them or their family to participate in sport. 

Club chairman Steve Rayner said: “We’ve been trying to get these plans in motion for a while now. We are hoping that we will be able to apply for planning permission before Christmas and if this is granted then we shall start applying for grants through sporting bodies, local government, businesses and any generous individuals.”

The plans are going to be submitted for planning permission before Christmas this year, in the hope that they can be approved and work can start in March 2018.