Update November 2022
The emergency access route is being created, during which time the pathway and tennis courts will be closed. We apologise for any inconvenience and hope to reopen the courts on the 10th November. Once the access route is completed the Pavilion will be ready for hire and the public toilet will be open at the following times – 8am to 4pm October to March and 8am to 8pm April to September.
Update September 2022
The Pavilion is nearly finished and we hope that it will be ready for hire late 2022. If you are interested in hiring the Pavilion please contact the office by emailing pavilion@melton-suffolk-pc.gov.uk or calling 01394 382 224.
Update July 2022
The build has progressed very well. The roof is now on and the windows and doors are being fitted. First fix electrics are going in and the floor has been laid. A Topping Out ceremony took place on Thursday 14th July to mark the final tile being fitted to the roof.
The Pavilion will be available to hire on the following basis:
- Sessions will be morning, afternoon and evening (9am-1pm, 1.30pm-5pm 5.30pm -10pm)
- £25 for weekday daytime sessions
- £30 for evening and weekend sessions
- 10% discount for charities/community groups and residents hiring for non-commercial events.
Update April/May 2022
The slab has now been poured and the external blockwork has begun. The Pavilion Working Group has met regularly to review the designs and layouts, making decisions about the electrics and fit out. The latest electrical and layout drawings are shown below:
View the gallery of construction photos
Update April 2022
Mixbrow Ltd started work on the site on 28th March 2022, by laying a temporary access road and breaking up the existing concrete slab.
A new foundation has been laid and the first course of bricks are being cemented into place.
Drainage works are due to commence w/c 11th April and a new retaining wall will be constructed to the west of the site.
The latest working drawing: Internal Layout April 2022
Update March 2022
Tenders were received from three contractors and were reviewed by Full Council on the 2nd March 2022. Mixbrow Ltd have been appointed and works will commence on the 28th March 2022. The initial works will involve laying a temporary access road from the car park to the site and relocating the memorial bench. Some car parking spaces in the car park will be temporarily unavailable during construction. Apologies for any inconvenience.
The latest working drawing: Pavilion Drawing March 2022
Update January 2022
The Pavilion was demolished in December and tenders for the construction were sent out in January 2022. These will be reviewed and a contractor appointed, hopefully in late February 2022.
Update November 2021
The demolition contract has been awarded and demolition will be taking place in early December. The Pavilion will be closed from the 22nd November and work will be undertaken to move the utilities to the temporary storage building from that date. The existing Pavilion will be demolished between the 6th and 10th December. The path approaching the play park may be closed off temporarily but users will still be able to access the play park.
Here are the documents that will form the specification for the Pavilion build which will go out to all tenderers:
Working Drawing Detail Plan, Sections & Foundation Plan
Scheme Drawing Plan, Elevations & Block Plan
Notes to Contractors for estimating purposes
Construction notes relating to replacement pavilion
The Pavilion Project
Following a number of public consultations, a design has been created for a new Pavilion to replace the existing building at the Melton Road Recreation Ground. The current building is no longer fit for purpose and is over 70 years old. The new building will be in the same location as the current Pavilion and have the same footprint.
The new design includes a public toilet (which will be open at set hours, not just when the Pavilion is in use), ability for a pop-up café to operate, shelter for spectators, a flexible community space and storage. All these facilities were supported by responses to the consultation process. The construction will be brick, weatherboarding – using the low maintenance, fibre cement cladding HardiePlank – and a pantile roof.
This revised internal layout sketch was brought to Full Council on 16th December and is the design being considered.
3D models of the Pavilion with HardiePlank weatherboarding are below:
Melton Parish Council invited residents to submit any comments they had on these proposals. The consultation finished on Friday 22nd January 2021. Overall the feedback was very positive.
Summary of main areas of concern and comment:
Footprint – the new building will be no bigger than the current footprint
Parish Room – It is not a new Parish room or village hall. It is emphatically not designed for meetings but for informal events linked to and used as an adjunct to outside space.
Loss of facilities – The only ‘facility’ that will be lost is changing rooms. However the current ones are not used and nor are they needed. The new Pavilion will bring additional facilities – public WC that is fully accessible, flexible community space, better storage, better shelter for users of the park and playing fields and ability for a pop-up café.
Loss of green space – the path will be slightly widened and the car park squared off which will result in a very small loss of green space.
Risk of vandalism – brick and HardiePlank are as vandal resistant as possible but no building is entirely resistant. Roller shutters and CCTV will be installed and we will work with the police to design out crime. The externally accessible toilet will be open at set times.
Environmental considerations – solar panels will hopefully be installed (see designs) and water reuse is being considered.
Full Council met on Wednesday 15th February 2021 to discuss the next steps. It was agreed to go forward with this design using anthracite grey hardieplank, red brick with grey mortar and red roof tiles. The windows and doors will be dark grey. A planning application was submitted to East Suffolk Council and planning permission was granted. The demolition contract has been awarded to Mixbrow and demolition is expected to take place in October/November 2021.
