£3 million sports hall planned for Keynsham's Wellsway school

Wellsway School in Keynsham has submitted a planning application to build a £3 million sports hall.

The building, which will be mainly clad in wood, will be situated next to the AstroTurf pitch, the site which nearby residents said they would prefer during a recent consultation. The hall will have a gym, a six-court badminton hall and changing rooms. It will be available to use by the community outside of school hours.

Andrea Arlidge, headmistress of Wellsway which was recently rated "outstanding" by Ofsted, hopes the hall will build on the school's success.

She said: "The Sports Centre is a crucial part of our on-going development plans that will bring considerable benefits not just to our school but to the local community. We would like to thank all the residents who have offered their comments about thenew proposal at the recent informal consultation."

The application replaces earlier plans which were refused by B&NES Council in February this year. There will also be a consultation on the new plans, with the hope that they will be submitted in the autumn. If accepted, building should start at the beginning of 2012.

Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib-Dem, Peasedown), Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children, and Youth and Deputy Leader of Council, said,"These proposals are a key part of Bath & North East Somerset Council's intention to improve school buildings on the Wellsway site.

"They will help to change the lives of young people through providing sports facilities of the highest possible standard and offer a community facility for local people so that they can get involved in a range of sports and activitiesto support a healthier lifestyle."

For more information about the plans, visit: http://planning.bathnes.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=LOEZJFCTKL000