A football ground is set to receive funding to help Basingstoke Town Football Club return home.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is proposing to release £150,000 in public money to fund improvements which will upgrade the facilities to enable the club to play there next season.

This means the town's club could return to Basingstoke to play for September.

However the funding does not address the longer term concerns expressed by Sport England, who argue that Basingstoke will be losing out on a sports facility if planning permission is granted to build on the Camrose.

A spokesman for the council said additional upgrades to Winklebury Football Complex are being planned, including the installation of turnstiles, improvements to spectator stands, changing room facilities and fencing at the site.

This follows the completion of a new state-of-the-art artificial pitch which was officially opened in December 2019 and is already proving popular with local football clubs.

The council is proposing to release £150,000 from developer’s contributions which provides new facilities or enhance existing facilities in the borough to benefit local communities.

Once complete, the improvements will help increase participation in local football by ensuring clubs in the borough are able to play at a higher level (Grade D standard).

Cabinet Member for Borough Development and Improvement Cllr Rebecca Bean said: “Ensuring we have high quality sporting facilities for local residents and clubs is a top priority for the council as participation in sport has wide ranging benefits for physical and mental health.

“The proposed improvements to the site at Winklebury will future proof the facility and ensure more clubs and players of all ages across the borough are able to benefit from top facilities.”

Neil Cassar, chief executive of Hampshire Football Association, added: “Hampshire FA is continually looking to improve the facilities at Winklebury Football Complex for the local football community and following the investment into a new 3G playing surface in August 2019, the news of further investment is much welcome.

“The funding from the council will allow us to make further improvements to the existing facilities to boost the number of people of all ages across the borough participating in football.”

n The Gazette launched a petition earlier this month calling on councillors to ensure that Basingstoke does not lose out on a sports facility by allowing the Camrose ground to be built on before ensuring Basron, the landowner, commits to providing a like-for-like facility.

To sign the petition, visit: https://www.change.org/p/basron-give-basingstoke-town-their-own-football-stadium-winklebury-is-not-the-answer