Sports clubs in Winscombe are hoping to transform the village cricket club into a modern new sports centre to cater for the growing number of thriving teams using the facilities.

The sports club and pitches on the recreation ground are used by the football, rugby, hockey and tennis clubs but the changing rooms are currently ‘not fit for purpose’.

Sidcot School also opened a new hockey field and 3G rugby training pitch in September which is used by the school and community – but it has no changing rooms for people to use.

Speaking at Winscombe and Sandford Parish Council meeting on Monday, Andy Flint, chairman of Winscombe Football Club, said: “We are looking to bring together all the stakeholders that use the sports ground – the football, rugby, hockey and tennis clubs and social members.

“We want to maximise the fantastic facility we have there.

“The clubhouse has not been developed to its full potential and the changing rooms are not fit for purpose.

“There are no changing rooms for females – they need to have individual facilities which aren’t connected to the men’s changing rooms.”

The cricket club owns the lease which the clubs use, but Mr Flint said the club does not generate enough money to invest in the facility.

He said: “The clubhouse doesn’t enable access for all and it’s restricting the growth of the teams.

“Doing nothing is not an option. If we pull together we can develop a fantastic facility for the good of the village.”

The clubs are proposing to link up to become a sports and social club, which will enable them to apply for a number of different funding sources.

The new building could be built on the same footprint as the current club, but the plans are in the early stages and people are being asked to comment on the proposals on Winscombe Sports and Social Club Facebook page.

Ian Kilpatrick, parish councillor and headteacher at Sidcot School, added: “If we don’t do something we will be in the danger of having great playing facilities but no changing rooms to support them so eventually they will become obsolete.”