Welshpool Football Club should be getting new changing rooms and other facilities after receiving planning permission from Powys Council.
An application for a replacement building at Welshpool Town FC’s home turf in Maes Y Dre, has been approved by Powys County Council after being submitted in November 2023.
Welshpool FC hope that the new building, to replace one currently used for storing equipment, could include a store, medical treatment room, extra changing rooms and showers.
While the players have adequate changing room facilities, the club say they hope the new rooms will accommodate referees - especially with the rise in women and girls overseeing games at Maes Y Dre.
The application’s approval was noted at a meeting of Welshpool Town Council’s planning committee, where Cllr Nick Howells revealed that he had recently been on a tour of the existing building.
He said: “Club secretary Eva Bredsdorff showed me around the existing buildings a few months ago, and I have to agree that they really are in a bad state and long overdue a rebuild."
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At the time of submitting the application, Ms Bredsdorff said: “The plan is to replace the building just behind the stands, to knock it down and construct something new.
“With the increase in female referees we felt there was a real need for two changing rooms to accommodate officials at our matches.
"There’s a greater demand for changing rooms for female officials and better facilities in general, as well as space that can be used to install a disabled toilet and extra storage.
“As well as that the current structure is falling apart and is in a fairly dilapidated state, something has to be done about the space and structure in the current condition it’s in.
“This project has been in the works and on our minds for entirely separate reasons to the new pitches at Maes Y Dre. It’s simply something that we have needed for a while, as it would be ideal to have more up to date facilities.
“We have some time to finalise the plans for the new structure and will hopefully be ready to apply for grant funding before March next year.”
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