MELKSHAM Football Club and Melksham Rugby Club can expect to be playing at their new home by the start of next season, as building work is soon to begin at Woolmore Farm. Construction of the town campus in the Market Place is also expected to begin in February next year for completion in 2017.
With all building work approved and signed off by council officials, it means construction work will begin shortly on the 256-seater stadium, club house, 11 football pitches and four rugby pitches, with both Melksham Football Club and Melksham Rugby Club sharing the site.
The clubroom will be available as early as next April, with pitches available three months later in good time for the 2015/2016 season for both clubs.
In recent months there has been fewer updates than normal regarding the town centre campus but Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB) member Graham Ellis has assured the community that things are progressing. He said, “It’s all going ahead. It’s just that we’ve been in different phases, and there’s less consultation and less work for the SCOB to be doing.
“Once the Melksham Area Board of Wiltshire Council gave the go-ahead, and the cabinet of Wiltshire Council signed off on the plans, our architects had a lot of work to do with preliminary design; taking the campus through planning and detailed design, and then the council shortlisted possible contractors for the build.
“Yes, there was a little SCOB involvement here, but only a little. At present, the shortlisted contractors are writing their bids, which are due to be submitted within the next month, with a contract awarded fairly quickly thereafter.
“The build should start in late February or March 2015, and Market Place works a month or two thereafter. The building handover with facilities up and in use, should take place by September 2016. At that point, previous facilities such as the Blue Pool will close, and the final phase – demolition and changing to the car park – will go ahead, with the final completion of such jobs early in 2017. The footpath across the site will re-open at the end of the main construction period on a slightly modified route, and as a cycle and foot path.
“Looking forward – what’s on the SCOB’s agenda? Immediately, we’re looking at putting our programme together, specifying our way of working during the build, and working out how we work and relate to others such as the area board.
“This will be followed closely by engagement with the community, working out our marketing and branding approach and communications.
“A little later we’ll come on to setting up a volunteer system, transport, directions and signage, how the campus is run, when it’s opened and events and activities – both in the run up to opening, and making sure it hits the ground busy and running when it opens.
“I hope my update fills in some gaps towards the end of what’s been a quiet period.”
