A CRICKET club in Poole wants to install more storage facilities to enable it to continue to use a recreation ground as a home match venue for years to come.

Broadstone Cricket Club is hoping BCP Council planners will approve proposals for the site in Charborough Road.

The pavilion and the pitch at the recreation ground has been leased to the club since 2015 and runs until 2040.

And now permission is being sought to upgrade the existing facilities.

A planning, design and access statement submitted in support of the application said: “Planning permission is sought for the additional smaller unit to be sited adjacent to the exiting storage container which is 20 feet but at right angles to it with minimum visual impact.

“The proposed development will ensure that the club can continue to use the ground and pavilion for club cricket matches. A building with modernised facilities will significantly benefit the club, player’s umpires, spectators and public.”

The club said the recreation ground is designated as public open space, in a conservation area and consists of a pavilion with a small kitchen and changing rooms, toilet facilities, a cricket pitch and a small, clad storage facility for pitch maintenance equipment.

The statement added: “An additional storage unit will provide upgraded facilities and enable Broadstone Cricket Club to continue to use the pavilion and pitch.

“Without this storage, the club would not be able to continue to securely house the equipment needed to maintain the grounds.

“A decision would also need to be made about the sustainability of the pavilion and pitch if the club were no longer to play at the ground.”

If approved, installation work for the new unit would be carried out by a qualified supplier under the supervision of Broadstone Cricket Club.

The new container would only be accessed by the club’s groundstaff.

A decision will be made on the application by the council in the coming weeks.

No objections have been raised against the plans based on the local authority’s planning portal.

The cricket club, which has several Saturday teams as well as a large youth membership according to its website, also uses Delph Woods for home fixtures. The first team play in Dorset Cricket League Premier Division, but this year’s regular league season was wiped out by the pandemic.