Bath and North East Somerset Council has backed plans to expand a popular Croquet Club in Peasedown.

The Local Authority’s planning committee unanimously agreed to allow Peasedown Croquet Club to install a new, much larger club house – to cater for its growing number of visitors.

Cllr Sarah Bevan, who spoke at the meeting via a live Zoom link, said: “Croquet has been a regular feature of local recreational and sporting life in the community for at least the last decade when the Croquet Club opened in 2012.

“With huge numbers of people taking an interest in the sport, and now a membership of more than sixty playing regularly, the club’s current 4.5 metre square club house is far too small to cater for the community’s needs.”

Cllr Karen Walker added: “The Camerton & Peasedown St John Croquet Club has given lots of residents a new opportunity to get out of the house, take part in regular exercise and make new friends.

“As well as that, in these uncertain times, it’s one of the few sports that can be played under Covid!”

The plans have also received the backing of the Chairman of Peasedown Community Trust.

Chairman Gavin Heathcote said: “Activities like croquet are good for mental health as well as physical wellbeing. It tackles loneliness and isolation, particularly among older members of society.”