THE details of a proposed development that could deliver sporting and community facilities for Williton went on show this week.

A special exhibition outlining a hoped-for new pavilion on a corner plot in the village's Memorial Ground opened yesterday (Thursday) in the parish office in Killick Way and will run until Saturday.

Memorial Ground trustees, who are also parish councillors, want to hear local people's views on the project, which could cost an estimated £830,000 and include a multi-use games area and other improvements on the ground.

Outline designs of the proposal show a building that would be 29 metres by 13.7m with around 390 square metres of floor space.

The main area - 18.4m by 9.1m - would include a badminton court, seen by some potential funders as the template for the community space needed.

This would seat a maximum 150 people for a meeting or 100 for a function, such as a wedding reception.

The building, on the Robert Street side of the ground, would also include a kitchen, with a serving hatch out onto the ground, changing rooms, showers and toilets.

Cllr Bill Vaughan, who is leading the scheme, said all the facilities would be fully accessible to disabled people.

The glass fronted structure would be fitted with steel security shutters, and would be partially clad in a timber-style resin material, with a slate roof.

The project would also see the demolition of around a third of the existing run-down changing rooms on the ground, with the remaining building being converted to provide public toilets, a tea/mess room and storage areas.

But the large tractor shed would be totally demolished.

Land bought for a previously proposed village hall would become the multi-games area for tennis, basketball, netball and possibly five-a-side football.

And a new remembrance garden would be created linking the pavilion to the existing war memorial, with an assembly area that would double as a base for a portable stage.

But the development would require the Robert Street entrance to the ground to be widened by two metres, as well as the construction of a three metre permeable surface track to provide vehicular access for disabled drivers and deliveries.

Cllr Vaughan said the design of the pavilion had evolved from the response to a recent survey and the requirements of potential funders, who could include the Big Lottery, Football Foundation, Sport England, West Somerset Council and EDF, the French energy company behind the proposed Hinkley C nuclear power station.

The groundwork improvements are expected to cost around £150,000, while the installation of the multi-use games area could take up another £80,000 and the pavilion itself around £600,000.

Cllr Vaughan said discussions were also being held with a number of groups and organisations to ensure the building incorporated design features that would improve its accessibility and user friendliness.

"We believe the project will bring together a number of community inspired initiatives into a central hub that will provide a foundation to build a stronger sense of community within Williton," he said.

But plans for a larger community hall have not been abandoned.

If the pavilion project does not come to fruition, it could be back on the agenda, although an alternative site to the Memorial Ground would have to be found.

The exhibition will open from 10am to 2pm, with an additional evening session tonight from 6pm to 8pm.

Feedback from the event will be analysed and it is hoped a formal planning application will be submitted to West Somerset Council in April.