TOFT Cricket Club expect their new pavilion to serve growing demand and be a ‘focal point for the town’ for up to 100 years.

With membership of the 91-year-old club having risen sharply beyond 400 due mainly to the success of developing junior and women’s cricket, a new facility that is fit for purpose is considered a necessity.

A revised planning application to demolish the existing pavilion on Chelford Road and develop a new one was submitted to Cheshire East Council last week.

The changes to previous plans seek to address issues that were raised, including some scaling down in size of the new facility and tree preservation.

“Toft are incredibly excited to announce that a revised new pavilion application has been submitted,” said a club statement.

“This is great news not only for the cricket club but the wider community in Knutsford.

“We firmly believe this new facility will be a focal point of the town for the next 50-100 years and we cannot wait to welcome everybody to it!”

Regarding the revised application, the club statement added: “Various issues were raised during the previous application.

“The main concerns were the perceived size and prominence of the previous design, and adverse impacts on high amenity trees and landscape without sufficient mitigation or detailed specification.

“The club has put much effort into re-designing proposals to reduce the scale and impact of the new building, whilst retaining the character setting of the cricket club and still providing a facility that meets requirements.

“Specialist consultants have provided strategies to mitigate for the inevitable effects on trees and landscape. These will protect and preserve the parkland setting and will also allow the club to remain in the location it has called home for nearly a century.

“If approved, the new pavilion will provide a facility where sporting excellence can be developed and a community asset can flourish.”

The statement added: “The initial aim was to have the pavilion ready for our 100-year anniversary in 2028, but we are hopeful that we can achieve this before this date.

“We have been officially fundraising since the autumn of 2019 and, although Covid has stalled that process, we are still actively looking for ways to raise the necessary funds.

“We have many events planned for 2021 and we are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the club when restrictions allow.

“Should you be interested in being part of the new pavilion fundraising project, please get in touch with chairman Nigel Muirhead on nigel.muirhead@agilisys.co.uk.”

The club have said the current building is no longer fit for purpose.

The main function room and bar area in the current pavilion were built in the 1940s, with the existing changing room and toilet block added later.

The annual running cost of the club is more than £100,000, which is raised through fundraising events and bar revenues.

An accompanying report with the revised application said: “The passage of time has inevitably meant that the pavilion falls well short of modern-day building standards and the standards required by Sport England and the England & Wales Cricket Board.

“The building is inefficient to operate and costly to run. It is nearing the end of its useful life.”

The club runs 12 teams from under 9s to over 40s.

Women’s cricket is also becoming increasingly popular and ladies teams are planned for coming season.

The clubhouse facilities are used for a host of activities for community groups as well as family functions.

The Canute Luncheon Club, The Garden Society, U3A Bridge Club, the Computer Club and the Ladies Fitness Club use the pavilion on a regular basis, while the cricket club also has strong links to the local schools.