£¼ million grant for Thame Sports Club

THAME Bowls Club and Thame Tennis Club, which together are Thame Sport Club, are celebrating after learning that South Oxfordshire District Council has awarded Thame Sports Club a grant of £250,000 which will help to provide a new building for the whole community to use.

Thame Sports Club’s clubhouse doubles up as a community building where many other groups meet to take part in a variety of activities including whist, art, wine appreciation and toddler groups.

The South Oxfordshire District Council Capital grant will make up over 45 per cent of the estimated total project cost of £554,000. The sports club has now raised around 70 per cent of the total cost and the sizeable funding from the council will make it much easier for the club to attract the final 30 per cent.

The grant was agreed by the capital grants panel and has now been given the final stamp of approval by South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for community services, Cllr Lynn Lloyd.

Cllr Lloyd said: “I am absolutely delighted that we were able to make such a substantial contribution towards the rebuilding of the clubhouse, which has been a part of Thame for almost a century.

“However, all those years of use have taken their toll and a full rebuild will make it a wonderful community hub for generations to come.

“I hope that our contribution will encourage other funding organisations and local residents to support them. I also hope the new building means that people in Thame will continue to have great place to meet for decades.”

The original part of the clubhouse was built in the 1920’s and is in poor condition, especially the roof and much of the woodwork. Also, because it has little insulation it is expensive to heat during the winter months.

The club has, in their own words, “…an ambitious project to demolish it and to replace it with a modern pavilion”.

The new designs could mean that the clubhouse could accommodate indoor bowling which means the Bowls Club could join the local winter leagues, increasing participation numbers during winter months.

The rebuild committee is aiming to start building in October this year with completion by the end of March next year.

To see the sports club’s plans on the Thame Sports Club website HERE

SOURCE: Press release