26th February 2009

Sports and play benefits for Blackdowns villages

TWO communities in the Blackdown Hills will benefit from funds allocated from the sale of Exeter International Airport.

The Upottery “Young at Heart” project is to receive a significant boost of £53,000 while Culmstock will benefit from £15,000.

The Upottery project is to get a significant boost with the creation of new sports facilities thanks to £32,000 from Devon County Council's Community Fund plus a further £21,000 allocated by Honiton St Paul's County Councillor Roger Boote from his local projects fund.

The money will pay towards a new cricket pitch, double all-weather tennis court and better drainage of the football field. They will provide playing and coaching facilities for local young people. In addition, new changing rooms are to be provided thanks to a local initiative to recycle a portakabin previously used by the village school.

Councillor Boote said: "The members of this parish have worked very hard to get this project going. I am proud to be able to contribute."

Richard Wells, a fundraiser for the Upottery Playing Field Association, said: "This is a huge step forward for the village and its commitment to providing seriously good playing and coaching facilities for our up-and-coming generation of cricketers, footballers and tennis-players. We are very grateful indeed to Councillor Boote and to the Devon County Council for their investment in our enthusiasm."

Major improvements at Culmstock Playing Field are a step closer thanks to £15,000 allocated from the county council's Schools Estates Development Fund and was supported by Willand Uffculme County Councillor Ray Radford.

The money will go towards the cost of creating a purpose-built playground, a BMX track with teenage shelter and landscaping to form a picnic area and car park.

Councillor Radford said: "This money will benefit hugely the youth of Culmstock. There are very few recreational facilities for the young at heart and this will act as a starter for more to come in the future.

"Culmstock is a lovely friendly village for children to grow up in. It's a typical Devon country village. The Parish Council is working hard to raise the money for this project, and I was pleased to be able to support them with their application. This £15,000 will be a starter for one."

The chair of the Culmstock Playing Field Committee, Councillor Sophia Priddle, said: "The importance of play for young people is widely recognised, helping with not just fitness but social skills and interaction as well. This is a fantastic contribution and will mean that we can now look to start work on the construction of the park.

"Currently Culmstock has no play facilities for children and the Culmstock Playing Field Committee along with the residents of Culmstock have been working hard to raise the money so desperately needed.

"We hope that the addition of this park will benefit the whole community offering a safe recreational place for everyone to spend time together."