A PIONEERING vision to create a disabled sports hub for the south with a social conscience has been revamped.

SportsAble’s amended £5m plans to transform its Braywick Road base went on display on Tuesday for the public to have their say and learn more about the proposals which could see the club become a centre of excellence in a range of disabled sports.

The nearest comparable facilities are in Liverpool and Newcastle though SportsAble bosses are keen to ensure the club retains its social responsibility ethos.

John Jenkins, SportsAble president and Paralympian, said: “They are run very differently to how we run this place.

“We are a club first and foremost. As we have always said, this is about providing an inclusive environment for disabled people through sport as much as it is about producing Paralympians.

“We would be providing more sports and more disabled people getting the benefits of disabled sport – sport is an enabler and we are very aware of the social aspect sport can play.” The design for the new SportsAble over two floors on a footprint up to five times the size of its current site includes three sports halls, physiotherapy facilities and one of the country’s first purpose-built wheelchair accessible gyms as well as a bar/lounge, a cafe/restaurant and conference facilities.

SportsAble hopes to submit a planning application before Christmas.

The proposal is split into four stages: l to build two new sports halls and adjoining facilities to the north of the current site l tearing down the current building l building another sports hall and facilities on the old site l incorporating the neighbouring Maidenhead Athletic Club (MAC), renovating the running track outside SportsAble for use by both clubs for track and field events and finalising parking facilities of 229 spaces, up from the current handful.

The first phase would take around nine months with six months of work estimated for the rest with neither club closed at any stage during the process.

Cathy Ison, president of the MAC, said: “It is a natural partnership for us both.” The plans would allow SportsAble to offer 19 different sports – up from 11 – and become a centre of excellence for more sports.

It is anticipated building work would cost £3m with a further £2m needed for operating costs.

A funding strategy is already in place with fundraising to begin if planning permission is granted.

The plans have been amended since first being mooted in September last year to ensure the number of sports pitches around SportsAble are retained.

Kerl Haslam, chief of operations at SportsAble, said: “We have listened to concerns so now we have the new design that is state-of-the-art, but also we don’t impinge on any concerns.” The charity is still keen for public feedback on the plans via its website www.sportsable.co.uk **PICK up a copy of the Observer, out now, for all the latest sports news and action** **FOLLOW the Observer on Twitter at @Observer_sports**