A £300,000 project to modernise a popular Burnham-On-Sea sports centre has been completed and an official opening ceremony is to be held later this week.
Burnham’s BASC Ground will officially open its refurbished changing facilities and new viewing terrace on Saturday morning (March 27th) at 11am.
Saturday’s opening ceremony will be led by Burnham’s Mayor and Mayoress, plus the Chairman of Sedgemoor District Council, several Somerset County Councillors, the Vice President of the RFU and a trustee of Viridor.
Around 50 other guests are expected, many of whom have been closely involved with BASC (the Burnham Association of Sports Clubs) in this project or as workers for their respective sports clubs.
The project includes the construction of a single storey 14 metre extension to the south of the existing clubhouse housing three new changing rooms, all with en-suite showers and toilets.
The existing boiler room has been replaced with a referee’s changing room, which includes ensuite facilities. Also, the existing changing room to the north of the clubhouse has been remodelled and toilets have been installed in what was the flagstore.
Furthermore, the existing toilets in the northwest corner of the clubhouse have been remodelled and extended to create new facilities including a unisex disabled toilet, all accessible from the ground floor.
The ground floor bar has been extended by incorporating what were the old changing rooms, and within the existing first floor bar area a new patio door now gives access onto the south-facing terrace. On match days this terrace will provide a comfortable sitting area where functions can take place.
Jim Bloodworth from the BASC Project Team told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This is a major project for the benefit of sport and leisure in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge, bringing our club house facilities up-to-date and further promoting BASC as the sporting venue of choice for all people of the area.”
He added: “We are pleased to say that our funding providers have shared this view and backed it with hard cash.”
“As our user clubs expand and improve, we need facilities that are up to date, child friendly and allow us to grow sustainably. We had simply outgrown what we had, which was cramped and, at 30 years old, out-dated.”
Funding for the project came from several sources. Waste management company Viridor’s Landfill Communities Fund gave a whopping £115,000.
Other cash came from the RFU (£100,000), Sedgemoor District Council (£35,000), Somerset County Council (£10,000), and the town council (£100). Richard House, owner of Holiday Resort Unity and Brean Leisure Park, also committed £11,500.
BASC is a not-for-profit organisation comprising rugby, cricket and archery clubs with facilities used by many community organisations.
The group owns and manage 32 acres of sports grounds for the benefit and enhancement of the clubs and, through them, many local community groups and clubs.
Our photos show the turf-cutting ceremony held at the BASC ground last year to mark the start of the project.
