A block of changing rooms in Marlow that have been branded an “eyesore” are to get a £27k makeover.

The changing rooms at Gossmore Recreation Ground, on Gossmore Lane, will be improved and upgraded after councillors agreed that they were in “poor condition” and “totally unfit for purpose.”

There are several pitches at the recreation ground, used by local football teams and juniors, which are owned by Marlow Town Council.

The run-down building will be brought up-to-date with four new separate changing areas and four showers, two toilets, a new roof and new cladding on the walls.

The improvement works will be funded through a £5,000 donation from the Marlow Association of Amateur Football Clubs (MAAFC) and the rest from earmarked town council reserves.

The town council is working with the not-for-profit MAAFC, which has represented the amateur football clubs that play there since 1969, to upgrade the pitch so that it meets the criteria for it to be used as a “step 7 facility” within the FA National League pyramid.

Requirements for a step 7 facility include “secure and suitable for purpose” changing rooms and a pitch that is an “acceptable standard.”

Councillors praised the planned improvement works at a meeting of the town council on January 25.  

Cllr Richard Scott said: “It is important that the changing rooms are brought back into some sort of order. They are in pretty poor condition.”

Town council clerk, Annie Jones, said that suppliers were waiting with “bated breath” to start the work and it could be completed within eight to ten weeks.

She said: “We are really pleased about this, we are upgrading the facilities and the changing rooms will be brought up to a higher standard so they can play a higher grade of football down there which is really good.”