THE majority of Ilminster councillors last night (October 14) voted to submit plans to South Somerset Council for new sports facilities on the space at Britten’s Field.

Over 150 people turned out to Greenfylde School both in support and against plans to revamp the area including a new clubhouse for Ilminster Football Club along with a parking area.

The clubhouse would include four player changing rooms, two referee rooms and a social room also available to the community.

Bosses at Ilminster Football Club say they have been working on for over ten years.

They say the new facility is vital to for the future of the football club and the progression of players.

But those opposing the plans say they don’t understand why the new facilities couldn’t be built at the club’s current home at Wharf Lane, which it shares with Ilminster Cricket Club.

Passionate speeches were made before the start of the meeting before the subject was discussed by councillors.

Youngsters from the football club said they were desperate for a new ground and changing rooms.

One said: “We would like a new ground so we can have somewhere we can be proud of.”

Rob Sutton who has been involved with the club for over 30 years said the town would benefit from the facilities as they would be available for them to use. He said now was the time to act.

“This has been discussed for many years and now is the time for us to do something about it and to act,” he said. But not everyone was in favour of the plans.

Susan Moore, spokesperson of the opposition group Save Britten’s Field, raised a number of concerns. She said that over 1300 people had signed a petition against the plans.

“By building on Britten’s Field, you are limiting and reducing its recreational use, not increasing it.

“The football club and cricket club do not feel the same way about these plans. “Surely it will cost more to build on Britten’s Way instead of refurbishing the existing facilities.”

Mayor Emma Jane Taylor said that cost comparisons had been done regarding building on the existing site and on Britten’s Field.

She said: “Either way it would essentially mean building from ground zero.

“The town council already decided at a meeting in 2011 that the football club should be allowed to move to Britten’s Field.”

Concerns were raised from a number of councillors about the cost of the project and any potential cost to residents.

Cllr Rose Neave said: “I am fairly new to all of this and it does concern me that we are talking about submitting plans when we haven’t been given the cost of anything.

“As cllrs are we therefore also supporting another bar in the town, promoting drinking?

” Cllr Stuart Shepherd added: “My concern is that we are being asked to vote on a project that we no cost for and no figures.

“If it goes wrong, who will; be paying for the mistakes, taxpayers?”

Cllrs were told to remember that this was only a planning application being submitted.

Overall nine cllrs voted to submit the plans, three voted against and two abstained from the vote.