COUNCILLORS have backed plans for new facilities at three sports clubs in Wellington.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s planning committee met on January 6 where there were three separate applications put forward by Wellington Tennis Club, Wellington AFC and Wellington Rugby Club.

The Mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, took the unusual step of commenting ahead of discussions and told councillors that she expected them to support “our local sports clubs.”

Cllr John Thorne said: “I think we all want to support our sports clubs.”

Councillors gave their support to a new pavilion being built at the tennis club in Courtland Road.

The club aims to increase the capacity for seated spectators and enhance its hospitality offerings. The old pavilion will be repurposed for storage for various clubs and activities over time.

Councillors said they did not want to see any trees removed in order to allow the new pavilion to be built.

The committee also gave its support to Wellington AFC to build an additional covered standing area at its ground at Wellington Playing Field.

The football club was given a ground accreditation assessment by an officer from the Football Foundation on behalf of the Football Association.

It resulted in the club being told the bad news that the ground and its facilities did not meet the required standard for it to play at the current level it does in the Premier Division of the Western League.

The club now has until March 25 to carry out improvements – including the building of a new covered standing area.

Councillors also supported Wellington Rugby Club to install and operate a micro-energy storage facility at its ground in Corams Lane.

The ‘battery box’ will help to provide a low carbon, flexible and de-centralised store of electricity for the club.

All three planning applications will have to gain final approval from Somerset Council.