WESTBURY Rugby Club is urging the local community to get behind it to raise £46,000 for new changing rooms.

The club, which has a thriving junior programme, two senior men’s teams and a women’s team, wants to have the new facilities in place by September ready for the new season.

If the club fails to raise the required funds in time, it will be forced to play home matches away from Westbury, making it a logistical and financial problem.

Chairman Gareth Vaughan said: “At the moment our changing rooms, if you can call them that, are two very old wooden cabins, a bit like dilapidated mobile homes.

“Following bad weather in the winter, they are in an even worse state. The roof was blown off one of them which isn’t exactly ideal.

“We only have four working showers for all the teams here and there aren’t any toilets in the changing rooms, so it gets pretty awkward after home matches. There are some very long queues and lots of very cold people.

“We would like to create a good environment and experience for all users of the club, encouraging all players to shower and change at the club so they can stay for the post-match awards and festivities.

“Please get behind the appeal to create a nicer atmosphere at the club for the new season.”

The new showers, if enough money is raised, will be ‘bolt on showers’, which means more can be added to the existing ones to accommodate more users, as Westbury expects more houses.

If you can help sponsor Westbury Rugby Club’s changing rooms or know anyone who is able to help, contact Gareth Vaughan on 07583 346245.