Representatives from around thirty local community organisations and sports clubs joined parish and district councillors for the official opening of the Cheddar Community Pavilion at Sharpham Road Playing Fields, Cheddar. The new building includes a large function room/sports hall, smaller meeting room, bar and kitchen, with the existing sports changing room facilities on site also being upgraded.
Construction of the pavilion was made possible by a substantial grant from the Hinkley Point C Community Impact Mitigation Fund, awarded to the project in recognition of the effect on the village of the supply of construction materials from Batts Combe Quarry in Cheddar to the Hinkley Point site. It was therefore appropriate that the new building should be officially opened by Andrew Cockcroft, EDF Senior Manager – Community Relations.
The building is owned and managed by Cheddar Parish Council, and Chairman of Council Derek Bradley-Balmer spoke briefly to welcome all the guests and to thank EDF for the funding and the architect, Kelly Clark, main contractors, Jones Building Group and the parish council clerks and councillors who had seen the project through from start to finish. Andrew Cockcroft then said how pleased EDF were to be able to support a project of benefit to the whole community, a facility which he hoped will serve Cheddar well for many decades. He then cut the ribbon and declared the building officially open.
The formal proceedings were completed inside where a splendid cake made to scale in the shape of the pavilion by The Cheddar Cakery was displayed in the function room, and architect Kelly Clark was given the honour of cutting the first slice. Guests then enjoyed cake and refreshments served by the parish council and Cheddar Valley Rugby Club.
The new pavilion is available for hire for private and business functions as well as community groups and is proving very popular, with many organisations already having booked it. The next major event planned is the Jubilee Community Picnic at the playing fields on Friday 3rd June. For more information contact clerk@cheddarparishcouncil.org or 01934 743217.