Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, recently paid a visit to the Springhill Cricket Club, in Lower Penn.
Gavin was given the opportunity to take a tour of the site and to view the progress that is being made on a series of renovations to the club’s premises.
Springhill Cricket Club was established in 1949 and moved to its present site in 1950. In 2005, the club's old wooden Pavilion was gutted in an arson attack, and subsequently demolished. Since then, the committee has been working hard on developing its plans to erect a new building at the site, which is both fit for purpose and will enable significant sporting and community use.
The project started in June 2011, when the club began to consult architects on drawing up proposals for a new building. Initial planning permission for the building was granted in January 2012, and the bulk of the plans were solidified throughout that year, leading to a round of grant applications from August 2012 onwards.
The club’s first award, from SportEngland, was awarded in December 2012, and it subsequently received three further awards throughout 2013. The total achieved was £125,000, which covered the first of two project phases.
Phase 1 commenced in February, this year, and will provide two changing rooms, two toilets, provision for showers and a community space.
The club is now seeking further funding for the second phase, which would deliver a kitchen, dedicated disabled and ladies’ toilets and an increased community space.
Gavin said: “I was grateful for the opportunity to view the renovations that are currently taking place at the club. This is a wonderful project, which will provide modern sporting facilities that can be used by the community for decades to come.
“We need to ensure that we continue to support grass roots sport in this country, not only for the enjoyment and health benefits that it offers but, also, to ensure that young our athletes receive the proper training and opportunities that they need to excel.”