Plans to demolish sports pavilion given green light

A 70-year-old sports pavilion that has ‘reached the end of its life’ is due to be knocked down, leaving a football team temporarily without changing facilities.Planners at South Holland District Council have given the green light to demolish the football pavilion at Sutton Bridge Memorial Park which no longer meets current Sport England standards.Contractors will start the demolition of the 1953 pavilion, near the Curlew Centre, in the next couple of weeks, making way for a £700,000 replacement and multi use games area (MUGA) and play zone.David Earth, secretary of Sutton Bridge FC, said, “I have said it must stay up until we get a new one but there doesn’t seem to be any alternative but to knock it down now.“It is not ideal as far as the football club is concerned as without definitely knowing what is happening it is difficult to organise anything.“We have competed games this season so we don’t need it at the moment but a temporary unit will need to be organised.”The season restarts in August and the team can continue with away games but will need suitable facilities for home matches. Mr Earth said: “I have been working on quotations but it is hard to know how long we will need it.“A unit that would cover one team, with showers and a toilet would cost £65 a week plus VAT.“We would really need two of those units and for the match official – which could be a couple of hundred a week.”“Our main concern is that we ensure the future of the club. “This is my 40th season with the club and I would like to keep going as long as I can.”He is appealing to companies for sponsorship to cover the cost of the temporary unit or provision of a suitable space that the team can use in the interim.The new pavilion will be in a slightly different place and the planned MUGA will be on the site of the current pavilion with trees having been removed to make space.Coun Mary Middleton, chair of Sutton Bridge Parish Council, said: “The demolition should be done in a fortnight’s time. “It was going to start March 10 but the contractor was not able to do it.“We need to proceed with that as it is the only thing we will have and we are hoping to get funds to get temporary accommodation.”The design of the new pavilion, which will be used by the football club and other groups, is aimed to “complement the nearby Curlew Community Centre, improving the overall appearance of the area of the centre of the village”.It will be situated nearer to the car park but has to remain near to the original position for drainage purposes.Coun Chris Brewis is pleased that permission to demolish the old pavilion has been granted, although the work has been delayed, so that the project for the new pavilion “can get going”.He said: “”I am very hopeful that the funding and grants will allow Sutton Bridge to have a new and improved pavilion and sporting facilities, fit for the twenty first century. “The old pavilion, opened in 1953, has now reached the end of its life, and clearly needs replacing.“Better facilities for young and old will benefit everyone in our community at the very south eastern edge of Lincolnshire.”What do you think? Post your comments below.