WORK has started on constructing the new £7m football and rugby clubs in Melksham this week – with not a newt in sight.

Plans to develop Melksham community campus will see the football and rugby clubs, which are currently based on the Melksham House site, move to a new location at Woolmore Farm.

Construction company Beard is constructing the new clubhouse and Kestrel is carrying out the ground modelling.

There had been previous concerns over the development of the work after a colony of Great Crested Newts were discovered at the site, bringing plans to a halt, but after none were found, work finally got underway this week.

Both clubs will continue to play at their existing site next season and will move to the new facilities for the start of the 2016/17.

Work will then start on the community campus at Melksham House with completion expected in late 2017.

John Thomson, cabinet member for campuses, said: “Both the rugby and football clubs are a focal point for their local community and they will have facilities that make them sustainable for many years to come and hopefully bring them success.”

The new state-of-the-art stadium will see the clubs combine into one area which will build upon the training grounds currently offered to players.

Andy Cadwallader, club secretary of Melksham RFC, said: “Melksham RFC is glad to see the work on the new sports grounds at Woolmore Farm commence. We are looking forward to moving to the new ground and making it our home.”

Dave Wiltshire, chairman of Melksham Town football club added: “The new facilities will further enhance our football club and will help us achieve our future expansion plans as well as ambitions.

“This new hub for football will not only benefit more than 500 local players from the age of five through to 40 but the whole community in general.”

With the assistance of the Melksham Community Operations Board, the council is now identifying what services should be housed at the campus within the £15m budget.

Jonathon Seed, from the town’s area board added: “The fact we are here at the start of the first phase of the campus just puts to bed any nonsense that is being talked about regarding the campus not going ahead. I can assure people it is and we look forward to seeing work start on the second phase in the future.”

A campus workshop will take place at the next Melksham Are Board on September 9 from 7pm at the Assembly Hall.