Members of the sports club last night voted to push ahead with plans to sell five acres of land at their Bretton Gate base in exchange for top class facilities for its hockey, squash and tennis sections.

Plans include a second astro turf hockey pitch, four brand new squash courts and six tennis courts, including an indoor tennis centre. The club's existing bar and social facilities would also be significantly improved.

There would be no room for the high profile Town Cricket Club on the new site, but under the terms of the resolution passed by members last night, the redevelopment would not start until the cricketers have secured a new home.

The cricket club are currently in negotiation with the proposed Thomas Deacon Academy to use their facilities.
Cricket club chairman Brian Howard said: "We are in favour of the proposals put forward as long as the finance is in place and the timing is right.

"We are an expanding club thanks to a thriving youth set-up and we will soon be in a position to field three sides on Saturdays and Sundays which means we would need moore room."

Town Cricket Club moved to Bretton Gate from Crawthorne Road in 1970. The sports club lease a 13.5 acre site from Milton Estates, five of which would be sold to developers keen to build a residential area on the site.

It's understood the agreed price is £5 million with half going to Milton Estates and half to the sports club for redevelopment.

The sports club has more than 300 members and approximately two thirds attended last night's meeting. A proposal to ask the cricket section to leave as soon as the redevelopment started regardless of whether or not they have found a new home was heavily defeated.

Sports Club chairman Peter Leaton said: "The whole process is about bettering the facilities for all sports and all our members."

Plans for the redevelopment are expected to be laid before councillors shortly. Local building firm Baxter & King won the tender for the redevelopment.

Peterborough City Tennis Club are expected to merge with Town's tennis section if the plans are approved.

Article by: Chief sports reporter, Alan Swann, email: alan.swann@peterboroughtoday.co.uk.