Public meeting for Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club plans to be held this week

Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club's new home represents a golden opportunity for the town, say club leaders who are inviting the community to hear about their vision.

Plans for the club's dynamic new facility, designed as a social hub for the town as well as an inclusive and accessible venue for cricket, will be explained at the meeting at 7pm in the Peter's Hall, Budleigh, this Friday 11 November.

Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club (BSCC) invites the community to hear about its plans for its new home on Janey's Field,  East Budleigh Road, awarded planning permission in the summer and due for completion in autumn 2023.

The club's new ground will feature two pitches, training facilities and a state-of-the-art clubhouse and is designed to host minor county cricket, league and youth cricket, women's cricket and disability cricket.  

The relocation from BSCC's Ottermouth Ground, is part of the Environment Agency's £15m Lower Otter Restoration Project and will end years of flooding misery for the club.

The plans have been drawn up by New Space Architecture and founding director Mitch Temple has described the facility as a "fantastic new space for the wider community to enjoy".

The cricket pitches are ready for play and construction of the new clubhouse started last month. The meeting is a chance for BSCC to share its hopes and aspirations to expand access to cricket and to create a destination which benefits the whole community. New Space Architects will be on hand at the meeting to outline the facility and, along with club representatives, to answer questions from the public.

Representatives from the town's businesses and organisations are encouraged to attend to hear how they might be part of the venue which, with its raised balcony, will boast 180° panoramic views across the two new cricket pitches and out to sea.

Club chairman Joel Murphy said: "The club has worked hard with New Space to create a venue which is accessible to all while being sustainable and sympathetic to its beautiful setting. Whilst the bulk of the funding is place we have further money to raise. The meeting is a chance for everyone to see and hear exactly what we have planned and to ask any questions.  As well as providing a new home for the club, the new ground is an opportunity for the town and the wider community."

The club is asking anyone able to attend the meeting to sign up to its Facebook event.