VOLUNTEERS at one of Tynedale’s largest sports clubs are pressing ahead with plans for a £600,000 plus development.

Members of Stocksfield Cricket Club have submitted an application to Northumberland County Council to improve facilities to cater for growing demand from local sportspeople.

Twelve cricket teams share the base with rugby, running and junior football teams and more space is needed to facilitate all.

The application seeks permission to remove the current bar area to make way for a two-storey extension, in addition to the extension of the changing area to accommodate new changing rooms, a multi-purpose room, a snooker club and a meeting room.

Club chairman and treasurer Chris Catnach said: “We decided we would try to get planning permission as that gives us a target of three years we need to work to.

“Our last extension when we upgraded the changing rooms was 1996, but what we are aiming for is to provide a fantastic facility when it’s open.”

Volunteers at the club will be out in force as they launch a large fund-raising drive. The club has applied for grants and funding, but a large chunk of the money will come from within the club.

Mr Catnach said: “The problem with all sports clubs is that you have to remain viable, and we’re currently just ticking over.

“We don’t have backers, although we do have a few sponsors, and we don’t pay players or coaches, and everybody involved in the club is a volunteer.

“So there’s a lot of hard work ahead of the next six to 12 months in respect of trying to raise funds for the project.”