A £150,000 grant from Hinkley Point C Planning Obligations Board towards Watchet Bowling Club’s proposed £1.6 million gym and community hall project was approved by West Somerset Council on Wednesday.

In August, the council also gave the go-ahead for a further £135,000 to be allocated to the project from Section 106 Hinkley Point C Community Funds.

At Wednesday’s meeting, councillors also approved an amendment asking Somerset Community Foundation to consider a bowling club application to the HPC Community Fund for any funds still needed for the project.

The scheme, at the club’s Ramon Avenue ground, suffered a setback in November last year when Hinkley funds were refused due to misunderstandings over preparations for the bid and a second application had to be made.

Chairman Mike Webber said that, apart from £315,000 in grants, the club had raised nearly £40,000 through local campaigns and there was a lot of support for the project in the town.

The council was told that the project, due to start in June next year and be completed by December 2020, would involve demolition of existing buildings on the site.

The scheme included a new community hall, gym, bar, kitchen, changing rooms, two indoor bowling rinks and a redeveloped car park.