Major scheme for Staffordshire canoeists

A leading Staffordshire sports club is preparing to build a new half-million pound clubhouse. Stafford and Stone Canoeing Club is one of the country's most successful slalom clubs.

But officials say the current facilities at the club base in Westbridge Park, Stone, are no longer fit for purpose. They are now planning to knock down the current 1970s prefab structure to make way for a new building.

The planned clubhouse will also include boat storage, changing facilities and a kitchen. Club chairman Phil Gooding said: "Our existing wooden, pre-fabricated building was built in the 1970s and, unfortunately, it's too small and doesn't have enough boat storage space.

"We have a high pedigree of producing very good paddlers and we need a suitable building. We are building a new clubhouse, which will be larger.

"It will have all the modern facilities and disability access and will be used by canoeists from all over the country."

The project will cost £510,000 and it is hoped construction will start in September.

Building work is expected to last 20 weeks.

The family of the late canoe coach Ruth Holdway, who died last year, aged 28, after a fall during a walking holiday, have donated money to the project.

And Stafford Borough Council will be contributing £40,000.

Other cash will come from fundraising events and money left to the club by a former member.

Funding is also being lined up from Sport England and the Staffordshire Environmental Fund.

Mr Gooding said: "Ruth was a very strong member of our club and a lot of our membership's success came from her coaching."

Coach Andy Neave added: "The old clubhouse has been there for some time.

"It will be nice to have a new, bigger facility.

"The appearance will help a lot. It will help improve the image of the club and the new clubhouse could help us attract new members."

During the club's 33-year history it has produced 16 gold medallists, 17 world silver and bronze medallists, 30 national champions, five Olympians and six world, junior and under-23 medallists.