Delight as £780,000 sport pavilion gets the go-ahead

A new and improved community centre will be built in Kennington.

The proposal for a new sports pavilion on the Spearpoint Recreation Ground, off The Ridge, was passed unanimously by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) planning committee last week.

Plans include demolishing the existing building – which has fallen into disrepair – and building an improved one in its place.

The new centre will include six changing rooms, an office, storage, a kitchen and bar area, plus an additional 23 parking spaces, and will be based south east of the existing pavilion, parallel to the ridge.

It will be available to hire for functions and for community groups, as well as the football, rugby and tennis clubs who already use the existing pavilion.

The development will cost in the region of £780,000.

Chris Morley, chair of Kennington Community Forum, which will help fund the project, said: “We’ve been pushing for this for many years, and we’re delighted it is going ahead.

“Having a new pavilion will contribute to making sports more accessible on the site. The old building is an eyesore.”

Members of ABC’s cultural projects team met officers from the Football Foundation – who will mostly fund the project – last week to finalise a grant.

The bid will be considered at the foundation’s January panel. Assuming it is successful, the project will go out to tender in March, with construction starting in the summer and completion due by the end of 2015.

Other funding will come from ABC, through Section 106 contributions, Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund, the Kennington Community Forum, Ashford Sunday Football League and Ashford Barbarians Rugby Club.

Earlier this year, a premises licence to serve alcohol at the site seven days a week was granted by the council’s licensing sub-committee. However as this application only relates to the existing building, a fresh application will be needed once construction is complete.

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk

The existing pavilion at Spearpoint Recreation Ground and inset, Chris Morley