HUNDREDS of people helped celebrate the official opening of Downend’s new King George V Pavilion.
Visitors tried activities and games, found out about community groups, browsed stalls and had a look round a fire engine brought by Avon Fire & Rescue Service at the family fun day on August 10, organised by Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council.
They were also able to have a look around the new pavilion and its facilities, which include changing rooms for sports teams, offices and meeting rooms, a kitchen with a bar/servery and a large function and recreational area.
The new building, on the playing fields off Sutherland Avenue, cost a total of £1.47 million.
It was completed in May, around nine years after the parish council first started discussing a replacement for the previous 1960s building, which had fallen into a “state of disrepair” and didn’t meet guidelines on safe use by children’s sports teams.
Parish clerk Kevin Spratt said at least 250 people had attended the fun day, which the council hopes to make an annual event.
He said: “The fire engine was really popular, as were the kids’ athletics and the yoga for adults.
“We had really positive feedback from everyone who spoke to us.
“Some people didn’t realise the size of it and a lot of people enquired about bookings.”
The pavilion has already had a busy summer hosting cricket teams with fixtures on King George V playing fields, and is now preparing for the football season.
Parish council chairman Janet Biggin said it was a “proud and emotional moment” to cut the ribbon on the building and declare it open.
She said: “It has been a long journey, but with a few bumps on the way in getting to the fruition of this wonderful build, which we hope people will enjoy.
“We are so grateful for everyone who participated – the councillors, our previous clerk, Angela Hocking, followed by Kevin Spratt and our pavilion manager, Chrisy DeNiro – along with various outside bodies we worked with during the planning stage to get the building the way we wanted it: Neighbourhood Watch, the police, Downend School and the sports teams who use the pitches.”
“Whether it’s used for meetings, events, sports, or celebrations, we hope it becomes a
lively, welcoming place that brings people in and brings people together.”
The cost of the project doubled after the pandemic. Most of the money has come from the parish council, which took out a loan of £400,000 to help meet cost increases, with the Football Foundation giving £249,000 and South Gloucestershire Council handing over £81,000 collected from developers in planning deals.
For more details about the pavilion email PavilionManager@dbhparishcouncil.co.uk or call 0117 956 7001.