Historic cricket club pavilion under threat

A 157-year-old cricket club in the Black Country could be forced to close its historic pavilion amid safety fears.

Stourbridge Cricket Club, which is based at the Memorial Ground, High Street, Amblecote, needs £10,237.

The cash will be used to update its 40-year-old wiring system to meet national heath and safety guidelines. The club's 366 members have applied to Dudley Council's Stourbridge Area Committee for £8,000 and plan to match the amount themselves through fundraising events.

Chairman Harilal Patel said: "The pavilion is 80-years-old and we are already undertaking an external refurbishment to preserve it as best as possible.We have known the wiring has been a problem for the last few years. It has got to a desperate stage and if we can't get the money then we may be forced to close it."

Mr Patel said that if they can't secure the funding, money from the club's sport development fund – which is earmarked to provide outdoor training nets – may have to be redirected.

Councillor Mohammed Hanif, Labour representative for Lye and Wollescote, said members of the club had contacted him to try to secure council funding.

"I have visited the pavilion and parts of it are crumbling away. I will support the committee in their attempts to secure funding."

The area committee meeting is being held at Wollaston Village Hall, Bridgnorth Road, Wollaston, tonight, from 7pm.