New indoor sports facility approved for Swindon
It will be built on land previously used by the County Ground Bowls Club
Sports facilities in the centre of Swindon will get a major boost now Swindon Town FC’s Community Foundation has approval for its plans for a covered training pitches.
The foundation will be able to use land previously used by the County Ground Bowls Club but which has been unused for four years since the club merged with Swindon Bowls Club round the corner in Shrivenham Road.
The new facility will be a large tented structure with light permeable material stretched across semi-circular wooden hops.
Inside it will house one full-size five-a-side football pitch, with two multi-sports courts oriented across the main pitch.
The proposal received overwhelming support from the public, with more than 100 letters send to the council in support.
One, from Emma Simmonds, is typical: “This will be the icing on the cake for football in the community. The buzz waking around this area is amazing since the facility has been available, and this will only support more people in the future with a covered dome.
“Swindon doesn’t have many things to shout about, but this will be something to be proud of, a venue that my child will train in and who knows, maybe even work in, in the future.”
Clair Power, from Highworth, was another who wrote in to support the plan. She said: “Since Foundation park has been here it has changed so many people’s lives and I believe this new facility will benefit more people in the community.”
Swindon’s two MPs Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson also backed the plans. They told planning officers: “This is a fantastic opportunity to secure much-needed community sports facilities for Swindon.
“The range of activities available would be of great benefit to a wide range of residents, including the elderly, those with disabilities and the very young – all of which have limited provision at present.”
The Community Foundation tweeted after receiving news of the approval: “We are delighted to announce that we have just received full planning permission to build a covered facility at Foundation Park. Can we sincerely thank the wonderful support that our participants, partners and supporters have given us to help achieve this planning approval.”
Work cannot yet start on the new facility. The Community Trust said on its twitter account it needed to get in the necessary funding for the completion of the project.
Leader of the council David Renard tweeted: “Delighted that Swindon Council and colleagues have worked with the Foundation to get this approved. A wonderful new development. Well done Jon and the team."