Thame Sports Club gets over £88,000 towards new clubhouse

THAME Sports Club, which includes the Tennis Club and the Bowls Club, is to receive £88,280 from South Oxfordshire District Council to help completely rebuild its much-used clubhouse into a modern and efficient facility for the members to enjoy.

The existing Thame Sports Club’s clubhouse

The money comes from community contributions made by housing developers relating to new homes they’ve built nearby. This contribution is on top of an up to £250,000 community grant the council has already allocated towards the project.

The design for the new Club house for thame Sports Club

The plan is to demolish the old clubhouse, built in the 1920s, and build a new community building, that will have modern changing facilities, clubroom, kitchen and bar. The whole building project will cost around £500,000 and with the rest of the funds already raised coming from other grants schemes, such as Sports England and the clubs’ own fundraising, the plans can go ahead.

Robin Bennett, Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “It is absolutely vital that housing developers contribute to the infrastructure serving the communities near their developments. We are delighted that Thame Sports Club has been awarded this cash to go towards their fantastic new clubhouse, which will be enjoyed by existing and new residents alike.”

Peter Bozier from Thame Sports Club added: “We are thrilled and grateful to receive this money towards our much-needed clubhouse. The new building will provide improved and more modern facilities for both of our playing clubs and also the community groups who regularly use our clubhouse.”

Planning permissions have already been approved and Thame Sports Club hope to start their building project in late August this year.