A NEW and larger home for Weymouth Amateur Boxing Club has been approved.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's management committee agreed to lease a site for the club on The Marsh next to Moonfleet Indoor Bowling Club.

Councillors also agreed to provide a grant of £20,000 to support costs of development.

As reported by the Echo, the club submitted plans to build new premises including adding eight parking spaces to the existing car park.

The club is attempting to raise £225,000 to build the new facility.

The Weymouth Amateur Boxing Club is currently based in Hardwick Street and has been there since 1951.

Councillors also agreed not to reinstate the existing fire damaged former Red Cross Hut as existing users of this facility will be accommodated in the new boxing club premises.

A report prepared for the committee said that the boxing club's membership is continually growing and as a result it has outgrown its existing home and is looking for new premises.

It added that funding for the project is reliant on a Sports England grant, the sale of the current premises and a series of donations from other organisations.

Cllr Andy Blackwood said: "It's a great example of cooperative working from a facilities point of view.

"It's all positive – the only caution is that we are committing ourselves to an ongoing grant."

Club president David Nelmes said the club had so far amassed around £157,000 towards the fundraising target and was awaiting a key decision from Sport England in September.

He added that the new premises was vital for the club in the light of the growing popularity of boxing since the 2012 Olympics, adding it would also provide a community facility for other groups to use.

Mr Nelmes said: "We need somewhere bigger not just for the club but for the community."

Cllr Mike Byatt, who is chairman of the Friends of the Marsh group as well as member of the management committee has already spoken in support of the plans, claiming it would be a significant boost to the area as well as the club.

He said: "It's a fantastic opportunity for this borough to back community actions.

"We should congratulate Weymouth Amateur Boxing Club for taking this forward.

"It would be a great asset for the community and for the future."

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