WATCHET’s ambitions to have a state-of-the-art Bowling Club are closer to being realised thanks to a £50,500 grant.

Watchet Bowling Club is keen to transform its facilities and secured this grant from a Leisure Fund provided by Hinkley C and administered by West Somerset Council.

This grant will go towards the first phase of the project to replace old garages with a new indoor bowling rink.

A new indoor rink will give the club the space for county-level competitions and make it possible for games to be played simultaneously, rather than have to wait for the one rink to become available.

Further on the club want to alter the existing clubhouse to accommodate for 150 people and add an extension for a gym.

The Bowling Club started out on its journey to transform its premises four years ago and, after consulting the community, drew up plans to improve its own facilities while also providing a real community hub for educational, sporting and social activities for all ages. The club will now put in bids to other funding pots including Sport England, Power to Change and the Big Lottery.

Club treasurer Marilyn Binding said: “Watchet has no community venue able to accommodate large numbers.

"Our improved community venue will fill this gap and it will provide somewhere for all sectors of the local community to take part in a wide range of activities.

"Our project will act as an accessible and inviting focal point for our current population and newcomers moving here to work at Hinkley Point to join in with what is happening locally.” 

Cllr David Westcott added: “This is an ambitious project with a real community focus that will provide Watchet with facilities that many larger towns would envy.”