PLANS for the long-awaited extension to Cockfield sports field’s pavilion are finally due to be submitted to Durham County Council.
Members of Cockfield Parish Council, which owns and operates the Pauline Charlton Pavilion, have been talking about extending the building for the past three years.
The pavilion was built in 2014 and named after the former councillor who helped raise the £120,000 needed.
An extension was first mooted as a way to offer more space and stage indoor sports such as table tennis and badminton. It will be paid for using money from the sale of the village’s former community centre.
A year ago, plans were unveiled for a 10m extension which would connect to the existing meeting room via bi-fold doors.
A higher roof is planned along with an external door and additional security camera.
The Covid-19 alert led to another delay and fears were voiced about whether the building would be used in a post-pandemic world.
However, members decided it was better to press on and secure planning permission then decide how to progress, rather than shelve the scheme. At their most recent meeting, Cllr Neville Singleton said a final draft of the plans would be circulated to all members for a last look before documents were lodged with county planners.
“The architect has got everything ready to go in. Have a look at the plans and make sure you are happy with them,” he said.
Cllr Jonathan Milroy queried whether the small area of car parking next to the pavilion would be increased to cater for a larger number of users.
“If we are making the pavilion bigger and getting more users, the car park is not going to be fit for purpose,” he said.
The meeting was told the car park did not form part of the plan.
Cllr Milroy added: “It is something to consider. It is desperately needed.”
Since the sports pavilion replaced out of date changing facilities, it has proved popular.
Although Cockfield no longer has a village football team, the pitch and pavilion are used by West Auckland Town FC U23s and West Auckland Tunns FC.
The meeting room in the pavilion has also attracted a number of users, from arts groups to a temporary home for Staindrop Scouts while their new hut was under construction.
