Facilities near the Dourdan Pavilion are set to be improved following a vote by Great Dunmow Town Council.

At an extraordinary meeting of the town council on Thursday, August 17, councillors voted to fund a major programme to improve the facilities for Dunmow residents.

The programme includes the provision of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) with facilities for netball, basketball, football and other ball sports on the recreation ground.

The existing toilet block at the pavilion car park will also be demolished, and replaced with a new toilet block with disabled access and child changing facilities - neither of which are provided currently.

Finally a storage shed will be erected to replace the two old and rusty shipping containers, which have provided storage for sports equipment for many years.

Funding was approved for these three parts of the programme, to a maximum value of £450,000 - which includes a grant for £100,000 from Uttlesford District Council. The cost will be met from existing funds.

The final part of the project, to improve the car park and increase the number of parking spaces from 43 to 70, was agreed to be submitted for planning approval, but funding was not approved as there was not sufficient money available.

Cllr Patrick Lavelle commented: "After so many years of discussion and numerous public consultations I am delighted to see this project go ahead.

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"A town the size of Dunmow needs a MUGA to provide sporting facilities to our residents, and especially for our younger residents.

"It was also disgraceful that until 2023 Dunmow did not have public toilets that provided child changing facilities.

"With this programme, and the recent refurbishment of the toilets in the town square, parents can now visit Dunmow knowing that there are public facilities available for changing nappies."

The Dourdan Pavilion is a community centre located off the Causeway and set within the recreation ground.

Accommodating 70 people, it is a venue for smaller events such as children's parties, christening parties, small wedding receptions, meetings and clubs.

All booking enquiries to hire out the hall can be made by emailing bookings@greatdunmow-tc.gov.uk.