A new sports pavilion for Manea has moved a step closer to reality.

Cambs Times: Where the new pavilion would be built.Where the new pavilion would be built. (Image: Archant)

Fenland District Council says it will provide Manea Parish Council with up to £100,000 of funding from its Rural Capital Grants Scheme towards the £303,000 project if planning permission is granted later this month.

Manea Parish Council has already raised £140,000 towards the project and is on the lookout for further grant funding to achieve the shortfall.

The report, which will appear before Cabinet on Thursday, says the proposal “meets the criteria for funding”.

Since it was established five years ago, the Rural Capital Grants Scheme, whose current budget is £203,000, has approved 17 applications totalling £619,000 of funding.

Under the proposal, the existing pavilion and changing rooms, which are in a “deteriorating” condition, will be demolished, with a new larger pavilion built elsewhere on the field.

The new pavilion, as well as catering for the village’s sports teams, will include a kitchen and function room to serve the whole community.

There will be parking for 70 cars, including disabled parking bays. A footpath will be provided from the car park to the pavilion and the children’s play areas will be retained.

A brick wall will be built to shield the pavilion from the street and a noise management plan will be in place to prevent residents being disturbed.

Manea Parish Council’s proposal says: “The existing pavilion suffers from a lack of basic facilities and is at the end of its natural life with the concrete panel construction being difficult and costly to adapt to modern requirements.

“The old pavilion offers virtually no facilities for the disabled visitors or less able bodied and is therefore limited in its use and many events cannot be satisfactorily provided for.

“The proposed pavilion has been designed to reflect the design and nature of buildings in the area and by its siting ensures that the construction will not affect the nature and sporting function of the playing fields.

“It would provide modern changing facilities for events on the field together with a new multi-purpose function room.

“It would meet modern requirement in a low maintenance and cost effective structure, which will provide a new social hub for the village community.”