BRANSTON COMMUNITY CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF CLAYS LANE PARK PAVILION

Branston residents turned out in force to celebrate the opening of Clays Lane Park Pavilion, the much anticipated facility developed by St. Modwen, the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, at Clays Lane Park, Branston.

Around 200 members of the local community attended a free family fun event on Friday evening, during which they got their first look at the new pavilion, which includes changing rooms, showers, a communal committee-style meeting room, kitchen, disabled WC, office, officials’ room, a 20-space car park, an outdoor under-5s play area and a football pitch.

Guests of all ages enjoyed cakes, ice-cream and refreshments, and children and youngsters took part in face-painting, balloon modelling, magic and football challenges with special guests from the Burton Albion Trust.

Ian Romano, senior development surveyor at St. Modwen, said: “The turn-out for this evening’s event has been wonderful, and we’ve received extremely positive feedback from residents viewing the community facilities we’ve developed here at Clays Lane Park for the first time.”

Mike Ackroyd, chairman of Branston Parish Council, added: “We have already received lots of questions about how members of the community, including a whole range of local committees, groups and sports teams, can put our pavilion to use.

“All they need to do is get in touch with us at Branston Parish Council to book it for their own meetings, events and sports games.”

Branston resident Eddie Young, who attended the family fun event with his wife, Debbie, and son Joshua, eight, said: “The new pavilion is awesome. It was something that the local area really needed and it will help to build more community spirit.”

The family, which runs magical entertainment business Phat Magic, kept the crowd amused throughout the evening. “We had a great time – it was wonderful for everyone to get together to celebrate the opening of our new, modern, well-built facilities.”

This is the first time Branston has had its own sports pavilion. St. Modwen consulted with members of the community and worked with Branston Parish Council before building the pavilion and enhancing the surrounding outdoor facilities.

The changes at Clays Lane Park are part of St. Modwen’s new Branston Leas community, for which construction work is underway on 660 three-, four- and five-bedroom family homes, and the extension to Rykneld Primary School, which will be ready in time for the start of the next academic year.

Part of the same development, work has begun on the new Branston Square local retail centre, Branston Leas Woods, and Burton Gateway Business Park, which is set to create up to 1,500 new local jobs.