Plan for extra parking at Wiveliscombe recreation ground

The management committee at Wiveliscombe ‘Rec' wants to create a hard surface area on a grassed plot currently used for overspill parking.

A planning application has been lodged with Somerset Council suggesting the area could be used throughout the year, alongside the existing parking spaces outside the adjacent rugby club HQ.

The rec is used by a number of rugby sides, as well as cricket, tennis, swimming and rounders teams.

A statement accompanying the planning applications says: "With the growing support of these sporting endeavours and the growth of Wiveliscombe, through the many housing developments over recent years, the old car parking facilities are no longer sufficient.

"At peak times when the rugby club is busy at weekends and the pool is in use, parking can be a significant issue.

"A patch of land has been used for overflow parking, but as it is grass it cannot be used when wet/becomes rutted and is accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles.

"This has caused significant problems in the winter over the last three years."

With Wivey Pool opening into the winter, there can be "chaos" in the car park when rugby matches are on, with vehicles parked up on the main road or in the town.

The statement adds: "We should all be delighted that these local clubs, the children’s play facilities and skate park are being so well used.

"The management committee now need to make what has been overspill car parking in drier months, car parking for all the year round.

"This will require removal of top soil and laying of graded stone to provide an all year round facility.

"The finished level remains the same.

"This will mean cars and team coaches can park and manoeuvre safely, reducing the impact of car parking on the road into Wiveliscombe."

The recreation ground was gifted to the town in memory of local people killed in the First World War as a place where residents could come together and be involved in physical activity.