A PAVILION could be built in Williton by 2016 in a bid to help improve the services available to the youth and community.

Williton Parish Council held a special exhibition showing off plans for a potential new sporting and community development.

Memorial Ground trustees, who are also parish councillors, are hoping to build a pavilion on a corner plot of the Memorial Ground.

Over 135 people attended, giving an overwhelmingly positive response to the plans, which were first suggested back in 1998.

Cllr Bill Vaughan said: “We have been working for the past ten months on plans for a pavilion in Williton.

“The existing social building has fallen into disrepair and the youth club had to stop using it a few years ago because of the damage; we no longer have our scout hut, either.

“We first had the idea back in the ’90s but we could not get permission, but we have come back to the idea and have been collecting feedback from residents and what they would like to see over the last year.

“Eighty per cent of respondents have been very positive about the plans. “A pavilion would provide somewhere for not only a youth club but also outside groups to come in and use the facilities.

“We’ve already had a lot of outside interest from sporting providers such as those offering martial arts classes and Minehead Eye has offered its support in setting up new youth club provisions in the town.”

The project would cost approximately £830,000 and would include a multi-games area and other improvements on the grounds.

The trustees are applying for funding from various organisations including the Big Lottery Fund, the Football Foundation, Sport England, West Somerset Council and the EDF Community Pot.

There would be a badminton court and space to seat 150 people for a meeting or up to 100 for an event.

Plans include a kitchen, changing rooms, showers and toilets.

There are also hopes to create a new remembrance garden, linking the pavilion to the war memorial with an area for a portable stage.

Land already purchased for a village hall would become a multigames area.

The village hall is unable to be built there due to constraints but plans have not been abandoned for one.

Members are hoping to submit a formal planning application to West Somerset Council by May this year.

Cllr Vaughan added: “It has been so encouraging to have great feedback so far and interest from outside, this would be great for Williton.”