Plans change for £1 million sports hub near Oswestry

Proposals for the sports hub next to St Martins School were revealed in March following extensive talks between the school, St Martins Parish Council, Shropshire Council.

It was due to be built on land donated to the project by Ian Hill-Trevor of the Brynkinalt Estate.

Plans were submitted from Shropshire Council and work started to secure grant funding.

Work is still in progress, but the plans need to be changed as the 10 acres of land that have been donated have been moved to a new area behind the school.

County councillor for St Martins Steve Davenport said things were moving in the right direction and funding had been sorted.

He added: “Things are moving on, we have most of the money sorted for the project.

“We are having to change the plans because of where the 10 acres of land is.

“The new land will be behind the school so we will have to re-submit the planning application.

“We have progressed with looking at grants and things are coming together, the majority of the money is sorted.”

New homes are being built on the estate’s property and Mr Hill-Trevor said he was keen to work with the community and offer extra land to provide recreation facilities for the village.

The plans will include an all-weather football pitch with floodlights and a spectator stand of a standard good enough to enable St Martins FC to play in higher grades of football.

It will also include a new grass football pitch, a cricket pitch, hard-standing tennis courts and a hockey pitch.

Other features include a pavilion large enough to hold community meetings – and to enable refreshments to be served during football matches, and extra car parking.

Councillor Davenport added that he believed the plans had gone down well with the local community.

He said: “It has been well received by the village, as everything is positive about the project. Again we must thank Mr Hill-Trevor for the support to the village and for donating the land.”