LANCASHIRE’S oldest surviving football club, Turton FC formed in 1871, has won permission to construct a new changing block and revamp its clubhouse.

It will now build a new single-storey pitched roof building to provide changing facilities for home and away fans.

The scheme was approved by Blackburn with Darwen council planning committee despite objection on grounds of parking, traffic, noise, litter and other anti-social behaviour.

The proposals include reconfiguring the clubhouse’s interior, built in the 1980s to provide improved referee changing facilities, male and female toilets and a kitchen.

Now the planning application has been approved, the club will receive a grant from Sport England to improve pitch drainage at the ground in Thomason Fold, Edgworth.

The club hopes that the improvements should reduce the number of games called off due to waterlogging, reducing the end of season backlog of matches.

The approval by councillors was subject to conditions including no social functions being held in the upgraded buildings.

Club chairman Peter Gray promised the committee that it would work closely with local residents to resolve their concerns, particularly over parking and traffic.

He told councillors that the improvements would “future-proof” the historic club and benefit the whole community.”