AN HISTORIC Worcester landmark which was once home to the county’s cricket club will be revived as part of a major project after being left abandoned for ten years.
Members of Worcester City Council’s cabinet backed proposals to re-open the Cinderella Sports Ground as a centre for cricket and football at a meeting last Tuesday (March 21).
Currently owned by the developer Arndale, the Bransford Road site is rented to the City Council on a 25-year lease.
The project will see the council work with Heart of Worcestershire College to jointly refurbish the sports ground and sublet it to the college for a very small rent.
Funding from the council, the college, Sport England and from financial contributions made by developers under agreements attached to planning permission, will help revive the site.
And a mystery benefactor has also stepped in with vital funds to breathe a new lease of life into one of the city’s sporting landmarks.
A new cricket square, four football pitches and, subject to planning permission, a new multi-use pavilion with changing rooms would be created to provide educational and community engagement activities.
Speaking at the meeting, council leader Coun Adrian Gregson said: “Like most things on the west of the river this is one of those things which could be well used and is well liked by the people of the city.
“It’s good that we have got to the point where working with partners we can now deliver more sporting facilities over there.
“I am very interested to see the involvement of Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings with this project as they will preserve the historic pavilion.
“All in all this is a very reasonable outcome,” he added.
Coun Roger Berry also lent his support to the plans and said: “It is very good news – and this will save the pavilion, which is so important.”
“This has to be good news for the west bank and it brings back into use what is to me an excellent sporting venue,” he added.
A planning application will now be submitted for the site with work expected to begin later this year.
The new venue is expected to open in 2018.
