Winchester City Council gives final funding to pavilion project

Winchester City Council approved giving £250,000 to The Pavilion Project which aims to build a new facility at River Park. The decision was agreed at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, October 15.

It is hoped that the new pavilion will be used by cricket teams and Winchester Rugby Club, as well as finding general wider use.

Addressing the cabinet, Mike Caldwell, who has been a key figure in the fight to fundraise for the pavilion, urged the cabinet to approve the funding, saying: “I have been involved in this project since the beginning. I first approached the council in 2015, with the idea of replacing the old pavilion and scoring huts at River Park with one new pavilion serving both cricket pitches and, most importantly, for all year-round use by other sports and non-sport users too.”

AR Design Studios original concept for the new pavilion - it is no longer being used due to costs

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He continued: “Today is tinged with some disappointment and sadness, however. We are disappointed that the initial striking design (from AR Design) was never fulfilled, and would like to thank Andy Ramus and his team for all the time and effort they gave to this project. We are sure that, if the project had received more support in its early days, this design could have been built out within budget. It was unfortunate that 2020 saw unprecedented increases in building costs and the tender process for that design came several months too late. We’re disappointed that, due to project delays, we have lost several thousands of pounds of funding. It has been very disheartening to lose money that we worked very hard to secure.

“Our funding is still a very important aspect of this project, in that it represents significant local community and business support, some 170 identifiable donors and many more non-identifiable donors who have contributed through fundraising events.

“So, please cabinet members, no more delays which, as we have already experienced, will lead to more costs. Please support this excellent report, and lets get the much needed pavilion at River Park built.

Cllr John Tippett-Cooper also voiced his support for the pavilion, calling it “a lasting legacy”.

He said: “I am very excited about this paper. The new pavilion is an inspiring project that promises district-wide benefits and embodies the council’s values of community, health and sustainability.

“River Park is one of the most extensively used and loved parks in Winchester and one of the most popular parks in the entire district. There’s a huge array of daily pursuits that take place there, and I want to emphasize how this facility has the potential to do far more than provide a base for cricket in the district, although on that it will be absolutely first-class.”

The city council cabinet meeting (Image: NQ)

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Cabinet member Cllr Lucille Thompson said she would back the funding for the pavilion, saying: “This really will be a vital community asset, especially in that part of town. We have already built a fantastic pavilion at the King George V play area, and so we have a magnificent facility in that part of town. I’m really delighted that we are at the stage where we can get on with the new pavilion in North Walls. I’m very happy to support the recommendations. As Cllr Tippett-Cooper said, this will be a lasting legacy for generations to come”.

Cllr Jackie Porter agreed, adding: “Most cricket pavilions you see are the natural home of one club, so I am happy to see that this one is available to anyone in the district. It is important that people understand that this is for the whole district. It was part of Mike (Caldwell), Tim (Fell) and Tony (Walker)’s legacy that this was two facing, in two directions, and although the design is not as it was then, it is definitely two facing.”

Cabinet leader Cllr Martin Tod called the pavilion “an important facility which is much loved, well beyond the city boundaries.”

He continued: “This is a fantastic improvement to the city park.”