MORE than 4,500 residents in Holt are to be consulted in January on providing a new £400,000 sports pavilion for the village.

Sport4Holt is proposing to demolish the Holt Bowls Club clubhouse in October 2020 and build a new sports pavilion which can be used by other village sports groups.

Chris Poole, chairman of Sport4Holt, said they want to make the proposed new facility available to other users, such as football, netball and tennis.

Mr Poole said: "There are no facilities for the other sports groups in the village. We hope to provide a new pavilion we can all use."

Holt Bowls Club, Holt Football Club, Holt Sports and Recreation Committee and Holt Parish Council have come together to create Sport4Holt.

Their aim is to plan for and raise funds for a new pavilion costing £350,000-£400,000 on the recreation field.

The committee will consult villagers on new plans for a two-storey building with changing facilities, showers and toilets on the ground floor, and social facilities, including a bar, kitchen and meeting room above.

Holt Parish Council has already voted to give £500 to help with initial set-up costs for the scheme.

The plans are likely to be available for public consultation before the end of January.

The committee is hoping to gain support from the parish council and villagers in February before consulting the public again in March.

A formal planning application is likely to be submitted to Wiltshire Council in the spring for approval.

It is hoped the new pavilion will be completed in time for Holt Bowls Club's centenary celebrations in May 2021.