FUNDING for ambitious plans to build a £2.3million state-of-the-art sports centre in Bassingbourn have been given the go-ahead. South Cambridgeshire District Council has approved a scheme to pay towards the centre, to be built at Bassingbourn Village Coll

FUNDING for ambitious plans to build a £2.3million state-of-the-art sports centre in Bassingbourn have been given the go-ahead. South Cambridgeshire District Council has approved a scheme to pay towards the centre, to be built at Bassingbourn Village College. The facility will include a new gymnasium, changing facilities, reception area and a full size sports hall. It is hoped that the centre will provide a place for indoor clubs to use, including judo, trampolining and badminton. It is also planned to provide a pay and play facility for casual users, who will be able to book the facility for a range of activities. Cambridge County Council is giving £2 million to the project, with the village college raising £50,000, and the district council £300,000. District councillor Nigel Cathcart said: "I welcome these proposals in principle as they will provide a wide range of facilities, including a gym for the use of the people of Bassingbourn and surrounding villages. "It will cater for a wide spread of ages and sporting abilities, though it must be recognised that the proposed facilities are adjacent to a conversation area and to the residents of South End and their interests need to be taken into account. "There are also important design and planning considerations which need to be resolved before the scheme can be given approval." The parish council are all for the new plans, providing something is done about parking. Parish council chairman Jack White said:"The only bone of contention that Bassingbourn Parish Council, and indeed, the village has, is the problem of parking at the college. "But I think it's a good thing all round. "We've already got an excellent recreational ground, and we're working on improving the pavilion. At the moment, we've got excellent facilities for football and cricket but this new project will help with everything else a lot," he added.