COUNTY GROUND: A bowling green which has not been used for three years could be the latest piece in the rapidly growing sports hub at the County Ground.

Swindon Town Community Foundation wants to use the ground and clubhouse previously used by the County Ground Bowls Club as a multi-sports facility – and it wants to cover it so it can be used whatever the weather.

The application says the bowls club suffered dwindling membership until it merged with Swindon Bowls Club – which is based just round the corner in Shrivenham Road in 2017. The ground has since been left abandoned.

The foundation wants to upgrade the clubhouse, lay an artificial surface on the former bowling green and have it covered by a soft tented structure.

If approved three pitches will be laid out arranged in such a way that one full-sized five-a-side football pitch or two smaller sports pitches can be used at any one time.

GORSE HILL: Fans of Portuguese food could have a new venue to go to if Tiago Figueredo’s plans are approved. He runs Portugal and Brasil Foods at 45 Cricklade Road, which is a delicatessen, shop and café. He has lodged an application for permission to convert the flat above the shop into a small restaurant’s dining room.

PINEHURST: Electric car charging company Instavolt has applied to be able to install two rapid chargers in the car park between the shops. Three of the existing spaces will become electric car charging spaces.

RODBOURNE CHENEY: A company which sells specialist furniture from an industrial unit in Rodbourne Cheney Trading Estate can continue to do so. Cheney Manor Furniture, which specialises in electric chairs and beds for older people, can continue to use its unit as a showroom and sales office. The company moved to the industrial unit after experiencing financial difficulties in 2013 – with permission to use the unit for just a few years before it had to be reviewed and renewed.

WROUGHTON: The owners of Parsloes Cottage – a Grade-II listed semi-detached 18th century cottage in Overtown – have been given permission to replace 16 windows in the property. To comply with listed building stipulations the windows will have bespoke slimline double glazing panes installed.

EXTENSIONS: Application to build extensions, outbuildings or to convert lofts and garages to habitable rooms have bee submitted for: 18 Pleydell Road, Old Town; 38 Parkland Road, Old Walcot; Rose View, Widhill Lane, Blunsdon; 39 Woodside Avenue, Old Walcot; 2 Church Farm Cottages Lechlade Road, Highworth; 66 Clary Road Haydon Wick; 21 Kellsboro Avenue, Wroughton; 8 Portland Avenue, Old Town; 39 Ridgeway Road, Queensfield; 64 Hyde Road, Upper Stratton; Bourton Lodge 11 The Avenue, Stanton Fitzwarren; 24 Bessemer Road West, Rodbourne Cheney and 80 Churchward Avenue, Rodbourne Cheney.

Extensions and conversions have been approved for: 25 Sutton Road, Eldene; 17 Moresby Close, Westlea; 3 Farleigh Crescent, Lawn; 59 Hyde Road, Upper Stratton; 6 Furze Close, Peatmoor;10 Ridgeway Road, Queensfield and 11 St Helen’s View, Old Town.

A proposal put forward by a Mr and Mrs Hewer to build a two-storey rear and side extension at 22 Maldwyn Close in Middleleaze, and to put up a 1.8 metre high boundary wall has been refused.

Swindon council planners said: “The proposed two-storey extension is of a scale and mass considered inappropriate to the site and its surroundings. The extension is considered excessive in width and would have a dominant visual impact upon the street scene.

“The erection of a 1.8m wall to the boundary would enclose land that was designed as part of the planned character of the estate to be open and provide soft landscaping to the benefit of the street scene.”