YEARS of hard work and fundraising have paid off for the Avon Valley Runners after the club’s plans to build a new training track were approved.

With the club’s membership numbers skyrocketing to more than 700 from 250 in the last couple of years, the Trowbridge Rugby Football Club-based group has sought to build a track of its own to cope with the rising demand.

And on Thursday, its application to build a 440m-long, three-metre wide training track around a floodlit pitch at the Hilperton facility was granted by Wiltshire Council.

Club secretary Ian Isaacs said he and many others were overjoyed at the decision and now they can look forward to having their very own track built by September.

“It really is a momentous time for us all. To think that we will have our own track in a couple of months after all our plans and raising nearly £30,000, it is a great feeling,” he said.

“We have runners come down to the rugby club from Monday to Wednesday and then they go to Culver Close in Bradford on Avon on Thursday, but we have needed something like this for a very long time.

“Our numbers have shot up over the years and now with this great development, we can cater to our top competitors, our junior members and those just who do it recreationally.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for us to grow and have a great future. We have done all sorts of fundraising events, such as karaoke, bingo, meals and races and all that work has paid off.

“The club has superb facilities and now we can enhance that further still. Everyone is so excited about this as there has been a good concerted effort for the past year.

“Work to build it should begin in the next few weeks and it will be finished by September and, with a bit of luck, maybe even at the end of August.

“This is a massive step for the club. We can look forward to using the track instead of having to use paths, look out for pot holes and uneven surfaces. I want to thank everyone who made this possible as it has taken a huge team effort.

“We have a very bright future ahead, I am sure of that.”

The track will consist of geotechnical membrane covered with 125mm deep type 1 stone, topped with 25mm deep “Redgra” type cinder finish dressing contained by wooden edging.