THORNBURY Town Football Club have moved a step closer to building their new-look pitch and 100-seater stand.

Plans for the revamp were thwarted earlier in the year, amidst concerns the floodlights could affect nearby bats.

But following an ecological survey, in which the site was deemed to have ‘negligible potential for bats’, the proposals for an upgrade have been resubmitted, with planners set to make a decision next month.

Should the plans for the Number One pitch at Mundy Playing Fields go ahead, it would see the club meet the ground standards required to play at a higher level.

The club is currently top of the Gloucestershire County Premier Division, but even if they came first the state of their home would prevent promotion.

Club vice-chairman Toni Watola told the Gazette: “We’re very excited about being top of the league, and the planning application is partly there to support our promotion, to allow us to play in the Western League.

“It’s for the community of Thornbury too. The town is growing in size and deserves these improved facilities.

“The club is there to provide football facilities for the people of Thornbury. Players can start out with us at six years old and play their way all the way through to the adult teams.”

The club’s planning applications (PT17/5162/F and PT17/5163/F) are both still in the consultation period, which will end on December 18 and December 22, respectively.

Mr Watola is keen for residents to register their support for the development.

“We hope to get good support from local people.

“We hope they will put positive comments against our application on the council’s website.”

Mr Watola said: “The last time we got to a position where we could have won the league was in 2010, and back then it was a huge disappointment that we did not have the facilities to get promotion.

“We are having a good season right now and it would be a great disappointment if we again were not able to advance despite having the talent in our squad to do so.

“We also feel it is most important to consider our players and supporters, and improvements like the stand and floodlights will definitely be to their benefit.”

To comment on the club’s planning applications, visit: www.southglos. gov.uk/environment-and-planning/ search-planning-applications/