Khalsa hockey club submits plans or new ground on edge of Leamington

The club, which had a team in the Men’s Conference North Division of the national league last season, currently plays its matches at St Nicholas Park in Warwick and has a clubhouse in Wise Street, Leamington.

But plans have now been submitted to build a new floodlit all-weather hockey pitch and a clubhouse with car park on land off Bericote Road in Blackdown which is currently a sportsfield used by Arnold Lodge School.

Parminder Birdi, a member of the club’s executive committee and the mayor of Whitnash said: “It is what we need for the club to move forward.

“In terms of hockey we were punching way above our weight in the national league and while we are only able to train at St Nicholas park on one day a week other teams in the league train on three days a week.

“On match days teams turn up and do not have any place to park.

“We would like to see Khalsa in the top tier of the national league but with the current facilities it is not possible.”

The new ground would be built on land behind the Helen Ley Care Centre and near Leamington Rugby Club and Old Leamingtonians Rugby Club.

Cllr Birdi said the plans also include a pitch for its various cricket teams to play matches on.

He added: “We have been talking to one of the schools in the area and we are hoping the ground could be used all year round by the community as well.

“This is a very modest sports facility with a clubhouse about the same size to our existing one in town.

“If we can get the planning permission then we will work on our funding strategy but work could start very quickly and the facility could be built within 12 to 18 months.

“We’re hoping for a quick decision for what will be an excellent sports facility for the club and others.”