PLANS have been unveiled to replace the ageing cricket pavilion in Winchester.

At Winchester Town Forum the scheme for the new building at North Walls Recreation Ground was presented to city councillors who saw 3D images and even a video of the proposals.

The plan, which is promoted by local community organisation Hyde900, already has £300,000 worth of council money earmarked, but it is seeking a further £80,000 from grants, crowdfunding, corporate sponsors, and community fundraising.

Their enhanced scheme would see a facility that faces both cricket pitches, to the north of the River Park Leisure Centre, and aims to provide a facility for the community of Hyde.

The building will also have increased floor space, a bar and a community room.

The new facility would also be energy efficient and made of timber, and designed by Winchester-based AR Design Studios.

Praising the look of the pavilion was Conservative councillor Fiona Mather: “It looks fantastic. I would support it, having a son that plays cricket in Winchester quite a bit, and having seen a lot of pavilions the one at North Walls currently does not look well.

“I think it is an excellent scheme and well done for conceiving it.”

Conservative councillor Eileen Berry also praised it, but said making a commercial success of the facilities is vital.

Cllr Berry said: “Make sure that any design incorporates everything that you think can help it commercially.”

However Conservative city councillor Ian Tait, feared that the pavilion may be “elitist”.

Cllr Tait said: “My issue is social inclusion, I need to have that assurance that it is not an elitist facility.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Tod also reiterated that point and said that the facility must have inclusion for other uses.

Hyde 900 will update councillors on the Winchester Town Forum in January.

The city council had proposed using part of the cricket pitch for a new leisure centre but dropped the plans after a public outcry.

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