PLANS have been submitted to further enhance the facilities at the Winklebury Football Complex.

The application forms part of the plans to make the facility ready for use for when Basingstoke Town Community Football Club make it their new home.

As previously reported in the Gazette the Winklebury site has already had construction work taking place on it to deliver a new state of the art 3G pitch in preparation for increased usage including the planned move of Basingstoke Town Community Football Club (BTCFC).

This new application looks to extend the existing hours of opening for the Winklebury Complex for mid-week football matches played at home by BTFC.

These infrequent matches usually kick off at 7.45pm and the additional half an hour opening time to 10.30pm is to allow the players / officials sufficient time to shower and change postmatch.

The flood lights for the pitch would not be required to stay on beyond the currently approved 10pm.

In the new proposal it sets out improvements to be made to the club house, new turnstiles, a new cover terrace stand and 34 additional seats to the main stand.

The planning design statement submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, it read: “The proposed layout locates the new clubhouse to the south of the Winklebury Complex to mitigate any impact on the amenities of existing residential dwellings located in north of Winklebury Way.

“The new covered stand and covered terrace are located at the north and south end of the recently installed 3G pitch.”

Access to the site will remain the off the Winklebury Way.

Since the idea of BTCFC moving to the Winklebury site had been floated around, one of the main concerns from residents was the parking availability.

In a statement from the club it said: “Our normal car parking needs could be accommodated within the 100 capacity car park

“Based upon our long experience,we would steward the adjacent area along Winklebury Way and deploy no waiting cones.

“We have been told by some of our fans that they would prefer to park in the Leisure Park and walk through the underpass.”

For more details on the plan or to comment on them visit planning.basingstoke.gov.uk and search for the application reference '19/03181/FUL'