PLANS to transform Gloucestershire CCC’s County Ground at Nevil Road into the only permanent international sports venue in Bristol and the South West with seating for 20,000 have been unveiled for public consultation.

The proposals, including a world-class media centre and greatly enhanced sporting and corporate entertainment facilities, are essential if the county is to retain its coveted one-day international status beyond 2011.

The project, expected to cost around £10 million, will also contain accommodation for up to 550 students to provide vital enabling funding for the enterprising development.

Currently, the County Ground has a total of 3,668 permanent seats, which with the addition of temporary seats rises to a maximum of 16,000 for ODI matches.

For international cricket to continue at the County Ground (and in the South West), Nevil Road must conform to minimum standards specified by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

This requires a minimum of 18,000 seats for the bigger matches, a world class media centre, commensurate corporate entertainment facilities and a number of other technical requirements involving the playing facilities.

In order to compete with other international venues, Gloucestershire CCC is seeking to deliver a 20,000-seat capacity stadium, the majority of which should be permanent.

Keeping international cricket at the County Ground is vital as it provides an important source of revenue for the Club, helps develop players of international standing, and provides wider economic benefits for the city.

The county are seeking to be one of the host venues for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, which will take place in England, as well as the 2014 Twenty20 World Cup.

Therefore GCCC is currently producing plans for the enhancement of the existing ground. Chief Executive, Tom Richardson said “We have to comply with the England and Wales Cricket Board standards if the hugely popular one day internationals are to continue at the County Ground and if we are going to be one of the venues for the future World Cups.

“These matches are essential to provide the funds to develop players of international standing and have positive economic spin-off benefits for the city.”

The Club is distributing 2,500 leaflets outlining the scheme to neighbours and inviting them to attend an exhibition at Gloucestershire County Cricket Club on Friday July 31 (4-7pm) and Saturday August 1 (10am-1pm).