A SPORTS club in Basingstoke will be renovating its facilities to be more inclusive.

Basingstoke Town Bowling Club, in Fairfields Road, is being supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) with a large grant from the Local Infrastructure Fund (LIF) for facilities to make the club more accessible to disabled bowlers.

The work, which is due to begin in October, will see concrete ramps installed to get onto the green, the clubhouse, the changing rooms and toilets, with new disabled toilets to be added.

Chair of the volunteer project team (pictured above), Frank England, said: “We want more people of all ages and abilities to come and try bowls, and we want to give everyone safe access.”

“We will be promoting the upgraded facility, due to open in April 2020, throughout the Eastrop community including residents, schools, businesses and disabled organisations.”

Plans have been supported by BDBC, Disability Bowls England, British Wheelchair Bowling Association, Basingstoke and Deane Disability Forum, and the Eastrop ward councillors Gavin James and Stuart Parker.

Club night for new members or anyone wanting to give the sport a try runs from 6pm every Thursday evening.