Sports club revamp (From Daily Echo)

Eastleigh Borough Council to consider plans to overhaul Sholing FC's VT Sports Ground

10:35am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in News By Julian Robinson, Eastleigh Chief Reporter

Sholing FC (red and white stripes) in action against Mangotsfield United at VT Sports Ground

MAJOR plans have been unveiled to breathe life into the home of two well-known Hampshire sports clubs.

A new cricket pavilion, clubhouse and all weather sports pitch are being lined up for the VT Sports Ground – the home of Sholing FC and VT Cricket Club.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds would be ploughed into the overhaul, to bring “desperately”

needed new facilities to the Portsmouth Road grounds.

The proposals would also include a much-needed 112-space car park with widened access and driveway.

Sholing FC, known as the Boatmen, have long held ambitions to improve their coaching and development of talented players and to improve their community outreach offering.

With 12 teams and 350 members, club bosses want a state-of-the-art ‘3G’ surfaced sports pitch and training area to cater for all ages as well as an upgraded second pitch on the site.

VT Cricket, which has 60 members, says it needs new facilities to match its rapidly improving standards over the last five years.

The plans would see better changing facilities, a modern pavilion, a clock and scoreboard visible from the pitch and the possibility of including a spectator viewing area and catering provisions.

Meanwhile, the ground’s current clubhouse would be demolished to make way for a modern replacement complying with Football Association regulations and featuring new toilets, showers, first aid and officials accommodation.

Plans submitted by the Rund Partnership, the agent for VT Sports, say the current buildings are in a “very poor state of affairs”.

The planning statement adds: “There is an ideal opportunity to develop the site to provide a multi-use sports and social facility that is utilised weekdays and weekends and by all sectors of the community, and therefore becoming a hub for social and sporting excellence.

“VT Sports want to ensure that opportunities are provided for local vulnerable groups such as the over 60s, single parents and those families in local deprived areas, as well as providing top quality sporting facilities and developing local talented athletes.”

A period of consultation ends on January 25.

A decision date has yet to be set by Eastleigh Borough Council.