VILLAGERS in Eynsham were devastated when their cricket pavilion was destroyed in a suspected arson attack earlier this year.

Now, after raising funds, members of Eynsham Cricket Club are looking forward to a replacement building going up at their ground Cassington Road.

A planning application has been submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council for a new brick-built building designed by Martin Norton Architects.

Club chairman Sue Cook said the new pavilion was expected to cost about £120,000 and the club has received a “substantial” payout from insurers following the fire.

The mother-of-two, a business development manager for RM Education, added: “It’s fantastic news that we have now put forward plans for a new pavilion.

“The insurance money we got after the fire, and money from fundraising, covers about half the cost of the new building, and we have applications out for various grants.

“Local building companies have also pledged their support, and we want the pavilion to become a focal point for the village.”

The previous pavilion was built in 2006 after villagers spent five years raising thousands of pounds towards the cost.

Fire crews were called at 3.45am on February 20 but were unable to save the building.

Mrs Cook added: “Arson was suspected but never proven and everyone was devastated by the fire because we had all worked so hard to get the pavilion in the first place.

“We had spent five years fundraising and some of the men even appeared in a naked cricket calendar. We are using a couple of temporary cabins at the moment but we are now looking forward to a much brighter future.

“We hope we will get the go-ahead from the planners and then aim to start building next year — we want to get on with this as soon as we can.

“We are very excited about the prospect of having somewhere decent to meet rather than just a glorified shed.

“We have got about 40 players in the club and we want more young people to join.

“Once we get a nice new pavilion it will encourage more people to join the club.

“The club used to be at the heart of the village and I think it can be again.”

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