CHANGING room changes costing £50,000 have been given the go-ahead at an Ipswich sports club.The borough council-owned Ransomes Sports and Social Club in Sidegate Lane, has a long history of needing repairs.

CHANGING room changes costing £50,000 have been given the go-ahead at an Ipswich sports club.

The borough council-owned Ransomes Sports and Social Club in Sidegate Lane, has a long history of needing repairs.

Now the executive committee has approved work that will not only replace the changing facilities but will tackle serious repairs to the building as a whole.

A council spokesman said £20,000 would also be spent annually – with a five- year maximum – by the council and the funding will be matched equally by Ransomes.

Council money to be used on the repairs comes from the community improvement fund – a fund set up by the borough from the sale of land at Bury Road and Ravenswood.

"Money was set aside for the sports club three years ago and has not come out of the council tax," said the spokesman.

"This is a very well used sports facility with the cricket and football pitches among the best in the borough.

"Users of the sports club submitted their ideas, these have been discussed and after a lengthy process has now been approved," he added.

The club was bought by the council in 1994 to prevent the sale of the land and subsequent redevelopment for non-sporting purposes.

It was built in the mid 1960s to replace the pavilion which was destroyed by an arson attack. It had an estimated life of 25 years but now 35 years on the building is in dire need of serious work.

"The alternative to solid repairs would be demolition which would cost around £750,000," the council spokesman added.

As with all council-owned sports facilities, site occupancy licence fees, fire safety and maintenance plus equipment are provided free of charge.

Among the members using the club are: Ransomes Football Club sides, British Sugar Football Club; Ransomes Bowls Club and St Margaret's Cricket Club.