MAJOR plans to replace dilapidated changing facilities in Hagley have taken a step forward after funding was agreed by councillors.

Hagley Parish Council will put up £90,000 from its reserves to trigger a further £100,000 of funding from the Football Association to build a new state-of-the-art ‘pavilion’ on the village playing fields.

Under the council’s plans, the existing building will be demolished and replaced with the new facility, which will provide modern changing rooms for West Hagley Football Club as well as the other activities taking place on the playing fields.

Bromsgrove District Councillor Steve Colella, leader of Hagley Parish Council, said: “Parish councillors are delighted to be able to help fund these much needed facilities.

“The existing changing rooms are no longer fit for purpose and have been a maintenance drain on parish funds for several years.

“This initiative represents a major investment in one of the parish council’s key assets and will be a great benefit to the local community.”

The ‘pavilion’ project, which Cllr Colella expects to be completed in 2017, is one in a line of “ambitious” projects which the parish council has been involved in.

Last year, the council installed a skateboard ramp and zip wire facility on the playing fields which Cllr Colella said are “proving extremely popular with older children in the village”.

They are also involved in a project with Hagley Community Association over the planned replacement of the community centre with a new, integrated ‘community hub’, which would see the parish council, library services, West Mercia Police and community groups brought together under one roof.