FOOTBALLERS in Nailsea could soon have their own changing block at Grove Sports Centre, if new plans for the facility are given the green light.

Nailsea United Football Club has drawn up proposals to build a permanent block after previous plans had to be dropped as they were too expensive.

The club currently uses three temporary cabins on site as changing rooms, which North Somerset Council granted permission for, but recommended should be replaced before 2016.

The project, which is expected to cost �100,000-�150,000, will provide changing rooms for players and referees and storage space at the site in St Mary’s Grove.

It will be paid for through fundraising and grant applications to charitable and sporting organisations.

Club chairman Spencer Lee said: “The new changing rooms will not only provide hugely improved facilities for our players, but they are also a total necessity to maintain our current league status.

“Without a replacement dressing room facility, we will have no alternative but to revert to the dressing rooms in the main Grove Sports Centre building and these are already wholly over-subscribed and inadequate without extra demand.”

The club had previously put forward plans to build a �1million sports ground at Gaulacre, but the scheme was abandoned last year due to insufficient funds.

Members then planned to team up with Nailsea Cricket Club to build a single-story pavilion with changing rooms, store rooms, a food servery and veranda, but the scheme also proved too costly.

Mr Lee said: “This is a downsized, smaller version of the previous Nailsea Playing Fields proposal for a joint use pavilion with Nailsea Cricket Club at the Grove Sports Centre.

“That scheme was simply too costly and a more realistic approach was needed.

“To have these new changing rooms will make a massive difference to our club.”

Nailsea United Football Club is asking members of the public to comment on the plans, which will be on display at the Tithe Barn, Church Lane, until October 10.

The proposal is due to be discussed by Nailsea Town Council on October 10.