Super surgery plans to be revealed

12:23pm Friday 29th August 2008

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PLANS for new facilties at Trowbridge Cricket Club could be announced at a meeting on Wednesday.

The Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is holding the meeting to explain its plans for a new super surgery to be built on the cricket club's hospital field, which it rents from the PCT. In May, the PCT vowed to find new facilities for the club and cricket bosses hope the details will be revealed during the meeting.

Chairman of Trowbridge Cricket Club, Brian Scrine, said: "Without the pitch we lose half the cricket club.

Without the pitch we lose all the youths that we've built up over the last five years.

"We've got literally hundreds of kids up there now.

"They try to keep kids off the streets and give them something to do and then they go and do something like that.

"There's nowhere else in Trowbridge to go."

The public meeting will be held at Trowbridge Hospital on Wednesday from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

Former Trowbridge mayor Tom James is keen to see the club relocated. He said: "I did say that I would look at it from both sides but it was always going to be a problem because we have always known that the cricket club was at risk.

"It has always been hoped that somewhere along the line the PCT would come up with another piece of land where it could go because it would be a great shame to lose the club. I'm just hoping for a miracle.

"Along with the PCT and all of the councils if we all put our heads together it shouldn't be impossible."

At a PCT board meeting in May, plans were approved to demolish much of the Trowbridge Community Hospital in Seymour Road and sell off the site to private developers. As we reported at the time, the trust said it would help in the relocation of the local sports facilities, but the club's vice-chairman Colin Poplett, is sceptical.

He said: "They are not in negotiations with us at all. "The last time they talked to us was two weeks ago and they wanted to do a survey of the land and we gave them a date and it didn't suit them and that's all we heard.

"There isn't any other land like it in Trowbridge. What we would like to see happen is that they build the new facilities on the existing hospital site.

"They have never spoken to us about this piece of land that they hope to find for us.

"We shall certainly be at this meeting but we don't expect to see anything positive come of it."

Despite his fears, the PCT say they have not yet even submitted a planning application for the new health facilities.

Alison Knowles, the PCT's director of corporate affairs and communications, said: "The meeting next week is being held to explain our plans to local residents and to hear from them their views on the proposed development.

"The PCT will work with the district council regarding any planning requirements and will enter into discussions with relevant organisations to support re-provision of sport facilities in the community."