New Fry Club marks the shape of things to come at Somerdale in Keynsham
An exciting project to rebuild the iconic Fry Club at Taylor Wimpey’s Somerdale development in Keynsham is really beginning to take shape.
Bridgwater construction firm Pollards has now finished erecting the bulk of the steelwork forming the main structure of the new Fry Club building, which will include changing rooms, five flexible function rooms, a large sports bar with a skittle alley and a multi-activity room for the various groups that use us as a base.
Sports facilities will include 13 full-size football pitches – one of which will be an FA-standard floodlit pitch – plus two junior pitches, four cricket pitches and a nine-hole golf course, while the existing bowling green and tennis courts are being retained.
Work on the project started in May with ground clearance and foundations being laid, but now the steelwork has gone up, visitors to the site can really see the shape of what’s to come.
Kevin Thatcher, Chairman of the Fry Club, says: “It is exciting to see the new building taking shape with the steelwork now in place, providing such a visual impact, but I’m expecting it to be a more gradual process from now on. There are lots of contractors involved – bricklayers, electricians, plasterers and so on – and there’s still a lot to be done.
“Everything is on track and we’re expecting to be able to start moving things in by the end of April next year. We’re hoping the new main football pitch will be ready at more or less the same time.
“As the new building becomes available we will gradually transfer activities across and we’ll be working on a plan over the next few weeks looking at how this happens to keep business continuity. We’re really looking forward to getting into the new building and starting life down there.”
Functions in the existing Fry Club building will continue as normal while the sports and social club’s new home is built – but the club is already looking at ways of making the most of the exciting new opportunity the move offers to extend its role within the wider Keynsham community.
“The club’s history is part of the former Fry/Cadbury and more recently Kraft businesses. It is still used by ex employees, long term members and many local sports teams,” explains Kevin. “With the new homes and facilities at Somerdale being built around us, we now want to appeal to a wider audience and make sure we’re seen as welcoming and friendly, not as an exclusive members-only club.
“At the same time as moving into the new building, we’ll be creating a charitable trust to manage the club and a company that will manage the day-to-day running on its behalf, and we’re hoping to be able to apply for charitable grants which we weren’t able to before. It’s a whole new beginning.”
The club currently has about 1,400 members, including about 250 juniors, and offers a wide range of sports including football, bowls, tennis, cricket, netball and golf, while there are also various social functions organised including dances and entertainment.
The new state-of-the-art facilities will help the club in its plan to play an even wider role within the new community at Somerdale.
Kevin says: “The new club has been designed to enable a good flow of people around the building. There will be different function rooms available for a range of different uses and we’re also looking to include a soft play area for children.
“We want the Fry Club to be a place within the development where people want to come and bring their children, relax, take in the scenery, watch the cricket and where children can feel part of it all.”
The new mixed-use development on the former Cadbury factory site is set to deliver up to 700 new homes, including a mix of apartments and houses, together with a primary school, employment space, plus a range of community and sports facilities.
A local centre is also included in the masterplan for the site, including a small number of retail units, a medical centre, a riverside cafe and a care home, as well as a new 210-place primary school and nursery.
A riverside walk will be created with a cycle/pedestrian bridge over the River Avon, while substantial areas of public open space, including a wetland area for wildlife, are to be established. Some existing factory buildings will be used to create 120,000 sq ft of employment space.
Commuters will appreciate that Keynsham has its own railway station just a short stroll from the new development with direct services to Bristol, Southampton and London Waterloo, while Bristol city centre lies only six miles from home. The development is well located for access to the A4, the M32 and the M4.
The Somerdale Sales and Information Centre is located off Somerdale Road, Keynsham, BS31 2AU, and open daily 11am until 5.30pm. Alternatively, visit taylorwimpey.co.uk.
