FERNHURST Recreation Ground Trust is celebrating this week after securing the cash needed to build a new pavilion.

South Downs National Park Authority has approved the crucial grant of cash needed to allow building to begin on the ’Pavilion2022’ project.

The planning committee has approved £200,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Despite Covid, the Fernhurst fundraising team had already scored some major successes, including a pledge of £100,000 from Sport England, in addition to many donations from local people.

Further grants and donations are still being sought to allow the best possible facility to be delivered.

John Mitchell, of Fernhurst Recreation Ground Trust, said: "We are thrilled to bits but we haven’t finished fundraising. We really need some final pledges to ensure we can make this a pavilion we are all proud of.

"I am so grateful to everyone who has helped and donated but we need a final push now."

The various lockdowns thwarted fundraising events – but, behind the scenes, many applications were made to various charitable trusts.

Planning permission had been granted in 2019 for a much-improved pavilion to cater for the large increase in membership of the various sports clubs. Cricket, football and tennis have all thrived in recent years, and a new, independent on-site caterer, Green Cafe, has proved very popular in 2021.

Donations are still very much welcome. To find the fundraising page, simply search ’Fernhurst’ online at GoFundMe.com