Stadium upgrade delayed until end of the year

The work includes new changing rooms, stadium improvements and a classroom.

A £500,000 upgrade to a Somerset football stadium will not begin until the end of the year, due to delays in securing external grants.

The refurbishment at Frome Town Football Club's Badgers Hill Stadium on Berkley Lane was due to begin as "soon as the last ball" of the season was kicked.

But delays in accessing money from the government’s community ownership fund has held the project up, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The work includes new changing rooms, stadium improvements and a classroom.

In a written update, Peter Wheelhouse, Frome Town Council's economic development and regeneration manager, said: "In response to these delays, it has been necessary to revise plans for the replacement of the changing rooms and first aid facilities to enable the football club to make use of the existing changing rooms during the early part of the forthcoming 2024/25 football season.

"The new changing room and first aid block will also enable easy access to the clubhouse by players and officials, and will improve the appearance of the clubhouse as it will see the removal of the old turnstiles and Elliott building in this location," he said.

A revised planning application has been submitted to Somerset Council, which will be discussed at a meeting in September.