STRATTON Churchway Bowls Club have been handed £50,000 of National Lottery funding to upgrade facilities and build new changing rooms.

The Stratton St Margaret club formed in 1930 and have enjoyed various degrees of success over the last 80 years, with the ladies team regularly representing Wiltshire at national finals at Leamington Spa.

The club have also secured £2,150 of funding from Stratton Parish Council and £1,200 from Swindon Sports Forum which will go towards the overall project costs of £65,000.

The money will see the clubhouse rewired, new paving areas put down and access to the club improved, much to the delight of chairwoman Janet Willis.

“We are delighted to have secured this investment, which means we can upgrade the quality of our facilities that are available to our members and community, and all from part of the 2012 Olympic legacy,” she said.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson supported the bid, and was pleased to see them awarded the grant.

“I am delighted that following my visit with Stratton councillors to the club, and our subsequent support for the application, that Stratton Churchway Bowls have been successful in securing funding,” he said.

“The new changing rooms and improved clubhouse access will make a huge difference to the members and help encourage local young people to give bowls a try.” Sport England chairman Richard Lewis insisted the club was deserving of the money.

“This National Lottery investment will create a lasting sporting legacy for Swindon and Stratton St Margaret,” he said.

“This fund has really hit the mark with sports clubs in the West. It shows we’re offering the legacy that people want for their local community. For hundreds of clubs and tens of thousands of people, 2012 will be the year their local sports facilities got better.”