WATCHET Bowling Club has been given the go-ahead for a new prestige building which will include a range of facilities and a function room for up to 100 people, club chairperson Elaine Preston announced this week.

The signing of a contract for the new build follows several years of problems over funding the ambitious development, but work will finally begin on preparing the site this month, including the demolition of garages which will make way for a new community and sports asset for the town.

This facility will include a bar, lounges, a kitchen and a function room catering for 100 people which will be available for weddings and community activities.

Completing the main project is estimated to take 38 weeks, and will be followed by alterations to the existing bar, lounge and kitchen to create an area which will accommodate a gym.

“Watchet is a lovely place to live but currently there is no venue with the substantial space that will be provided by the new function room,” Mrs Preston said.

“Nor is there a standard gym for use by the community and which will include provision for doctor referrals. We hope to create a great asset for Watchet and local people.”

She added: “We are so excited to be finally at the actual start of this project. It has been a long journey to get here and has been made possible by the successful efforts to raise the necessary capital, including donations by club members, and fundraising exercises.”

Grants for the project have come from Watchet community book shop and the Magna community engagement fund, as well as a significant award from the Hinkley Point community impact mitigation fund (CIM) and Section 106.

Mrs Preston added: “These fundraising efforts will continue to ensure maximum self-funding and, of course, any contributions will always be gratefully received. We have only reached this stage through the hard work of the WBC committee, supported by club members and by Naomi Griffith of the Onion Collective.

She concluded: “It really will be wonderful when we get to the end of this, enabling the delivery of a fine facility not only for the bowling club but, importantly, for the wider Watchet community.”