A POPULAR CRICKET club is to undertake an ‘exciting’ transformation to add another floor to its clubhouse.

Cherry Tree Cricket Club has submitted plans to build a function room, a sponsors lounge, home and away changing rooms, showers and umpire changing rooms in a major refurb.

The proposals, set to cost more than £300,000, follow the club’s recent resurgence and large increase in club membership, which has reached 1,400 members.

David Willacy, the Preston Old Road club’s treasurer, said the club, which plays in the Ribblesdale League, needed to make sure the facilities could cope with the amount of members.

He said: “Our partnership with the Hare and Hounds in Lammack saw the bar facilities at the club change and improve.

“The idea is to bring the rest of the club to that level. It’s a real exciting time at the club.

“We will also be changing the way traffic comes in and out of the club to cope with the traffic pressures.

“The club has a great support and we want to make it the club the best it can be.”

The proposals include creating an extra 24 car parking and three new disabled spaces.

They also include a balcony overlooking the cricket pitch, a kit store and a dedicated changing area for the Blackburn Road Runners, who use the club for meetings and changing.

The club was targeted by thieves earlier this month after Feniscowles Cricket Club and East Lancashire Sports Club were broken into.

Within a planning document, a spokesman on behalf of the club said the function room, which would have a dance area and stage, would be used for weddings and funerals.

The ground-floor bar, which was refurbished recently, would not be affected by the work.

The spokesman said: “The sport and leisure use of the cricket club is long established as a valued local venue.

“Continued and improved use of the cricket facilities is important to provide growth and development socially and for sport/cricket within the area.

“The proposals are prompted by a recent resurgence in use and interest at this club.”