THE outside ground work is coming together, the electricity meter is due to be installed and the gas connected – and Williton’s nearly £1.5 million new pavilion will soon be ready to open its doors.

Everything has gone according to plan and bookings are already being taken for the new building, with an official handover planned for November and an open day for the public to look around in December, with details to be finalised once work is complete.

“It’s gone well,” said Cllr Bill Vaughan, project lead for the Williton War Memorial Recreation Ground charity, for which all parish councillors are trustees.

“We’re more than pleased with the progress, and we’ve had a very good working relationship with the contractors.

“From the residents’ point of view, this will be of huge benefit. Williton will have its own community building – it’s been much needed and will be well used,” he said.

Work started on the building last November after the charity was awarded a £947,000 Big Lottery grant. That along with funding from EDF and West Somerset Council meant the full cost of the construction work, £1.47m, had been reached.

The initiative to have a community building in Williton has been in the pipeline for over 20 years, with many residents involved in previous fundraising activities, and the building design evolved over several years of local consultation.

Read about the plans and progress in today’s Free Press.