Nailsea scout group plans to expand to meet demand

A successful scout group in Nailsea is planning to extend its headquarters to cope with the growing numbers of young people wanting to join the organisation.

Leaders at 1st Nailsea Scouts want to extend their current base at Clevedon Road by creating a bigger main hall.

The work would involve demolishing the main hall and building a larger hall and also creating two new meeting rooms.

The existing two storey extension on the side of the building would remain, along with the toilets and kitchen facilities and offices at the front.

The building work, expected to cost in the region of £100,000, is needed to cope with the growing demands on the scout group which has more than 200 members.

The group has two beaver colonies, three cub packs and two scout troops and an explorer unit, all of which meet at the hall each week.

The headquarters, which has been extended over the years, is also used as a training and activity centre by other scouting groups across the district.

The group, which has been running in the town since the 1920s, has looked for alternative sites for a headquarters in Nailsea without success.

1st Nailsea Scouts leader Karl Day said: "The building is used an awful lot, not just by the scout group, but by other local organisations and other scout groups from across the district.

"At the moment the main hall is very narrow, which does limit the activities we can run.

"With a bigger hall we would be able to expand the activities we offer and provide better meeting rooms.

"Currently we have insufficient room for storage and many of the scout leaders and volunteers have to store equipment at home.

"The extension would also provide us with a lot more storage space.

"We have looked for other sites in the town, but as Nailsea is so landlocked, this has proved difficult."

Scout leaders have met local residents and councillors to discuss the proposal and are hoping to submit a planning application this summer.

If the scheme gets the green light and funding is secured, work could start on site next year.

Mr Day said: "At the moment the scheme is an aspiration and we have got the ball rolling by drawing up plans and consulting with local people.

"The feedback so far has been positive and people are supportive of what we want to achieve."

Money to fund the project would be sought from a range of different charitable organisations including the scouting movement and the National Lottery.

The scout group, which is the largest in the Gordano scouting district, is also planning to launch its own fundraising appeal to help generate funds.