EXCITING plans for Melksham Community Campus have been revealed to the public this week in a roadshow taking place in various locations across the area.
The detailed plans show what is to be included in the campus, the size of each facility, the proposed building plan and also includes plans to completely re-design the Market Place.
The plans also depict the estimated building time frame for each phase, with campus building work to begin in autumn 2014 and work starting on Melksham House initially.
Phase two of the build will see Melksham Town Football Club vacate their Conigre home in early 2015, with the campus opening and being operational from summer 2016 and the work fully completed by autumn 2016.
Proposed new facilities include: • A main foyer with single point of contact • Flexible office space for NPT and MPAS • Cafe and exhibition space • Meeting rooms • Library • Multi-purpose activity space and youth facilities. • Clinical care room • Six rink indoor bowls facility • Four court sports hall • Squash Courts • Dry and wet changing facilities • Six lane x 25m swimming pool • Secondary swimming pool • Climbing Wall • 70-80 stations fitness suite • Dance studio • First floor spectator seating for 150.
Plans for the Market Place as part of the campus building work include a designated market area outside the Town Hall, a new roundabout for access to the campus, separate taxi and disabled parking area and speed reduction ramps with raised pedestrian crossings.
The roadshows started on Monday at the Assembly Hall and have also been held at Christie Miller Leisure Centre. A mobile roadshow has also seen the plans taken around surrounding villages, with the mobile library used to visit Seend and Semington to ensure the wider community is consulted. These roadshows have been well attended by the public who are keen to see what facilities they can expect to see in their campus.
Roadshows still to take place include: Christie Miller Leisure Centre – 25th November, 9.00am-12.00noon; Semington, Little Marsh – November 22nd, 9.30am. Semington Village Hall, 9.50am. Semington The Strand, 10.15am; Atworth, Mead Park – November 26th, 9.30am; Broughton Gifford, The Fox Pub – November 26th, 10.15am.
Wiltshire Council cabinet member with responsibility for campuses, cllr Jonathon Seed said, “The campus in Melksham is really taking shape and we’re now at a very exciting stage in the process. The Community Operations Board (COB) and campus team have worked extremely hard to get us to this point and we’re all looking forward to sharing the plans with the local community and hearing their views.”
Chair of Melksham’s Shadow Community Operations Board, Roy While said, “My thanks to fellow COB team members, the architects and the council campus team for their unstinting efforts .
“This impressive campus will offer something for many in our community, young and older, in addition to the sporting activities. Our town centre will benefit too.”
Further information on the plans for the campus and the consultation road show is available on www.melkshamcampus-scob.org.uk
• What do you think? Email news@melkshamnews.co.uk or write to Melksham News, 31 Market Place, Melksham. SN12 6ES
