BOWERHILL’S new pavilion was opened at the sports field last Saturday, after years of campaigning to keep the space for recreation.
The pavilion was officially opened by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Wiltshire, Sarah Troughton, on Saturday 19th September.
Chair of Melksham Without Parish Council, Richard Wood said, “It was terrific to be able to open the pavilion at last; getting it built has been a contribution of hard work from so many people, stretching back around 18 years.
“Herman Miller’s involvement meant we had a great architect, and the new building is a big improvement, which we’re very proud of. The field is already heavily used so it’s important that we can offer people good facilities. The previous changing rooms were really not fit for purpose; this was something that needed to be done.
“As well as use by sports clubs, the building will have a lot of potential for other community use, and it’s up to us to make the most of it. It was great to have the Lord Lieutenant there to open it – she came in 2012 to designate the field as a Field in Trust and is a very cheerful and charming woman.”
The new pavilion beside Westinghouse Way on the industrial estate, was built by Herman Miller to replace the old building they demolished to make way for a connecting road to their new headquarters.
The pavilion has four new changing rooms and a kitchen and lounge area, which will be available for use by local community groups, such as Young Melksham, who are hoping to reopen the Bowerhill Youth Club on the site.
Its construction is the latest chapter in a project to ensure the land can continue to be used for public recreation. In 2010 Melksham Without Parish Council took ownership of the sports field from Wiltshire Council, and it has since been permanently protected by the National Playing Fields Association.
